Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa
- Fast‑track residence and work authorization
- Designed for executives, specialists, and skilled professionals
- Competitive salary‑based eligibility
- Immediate family inclusion with full residency rights
- Schengen travel freedom
Overview
The Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa (HQV), also known as the PAC (Permiso para Altamente Cualificados), is designed for foreign professionals, not EU/EAA nationals, with advanced skills seeking to live and work in Spain, while being employed by a Spanish company or organization seeking highly skilled talent.
Family Inclusion
Spain’s HQV allows applicants to include their immediate family members under the same application. Spouses/partners and dependent children under 18 may obtain residence permits, enabling them to live, study, and access public services in Spain. Parents may also qualify for Spanish residency if they are financially dependent on the main applicant and a proof of dependency is provided.
Eligibility
Applicants for the Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years of age and a national of a non-EU/EAA country
- Hold a clean criminal record
- Be in good health
- Have a confirmed employment offer from a Spanish company that meets the required thresholds for annual salary, role seniority, and professional qualifications or experience
Residence Permit Validity
Successful applicants are granted an initial residence and work permit valid for up to 3 years, or for the duration of the employment contract if shorter. The permit is renewable, provided the employment conditions and eligibility requirements continue to be met. Continuous legal residence under this route counts toward permanent residency eligibility after 5 years
Benefits
Legal Residency & Work Rights
Family Reunification
Visa-free Travel
Access to Spain’s Social Security System
Fast-Track Processing
Pathway to Long-Term Residency & Citizenship
Requirements and Applicable Fees
Salary Requirements
Salary thresholds for Spain’s Highly Qualified Professional Visa vary depending on the nature of the position offered.
| Minimum Annual Salary for Managerial or Executive Roles | €54,000 |
| Minimum Annual Salary for Academic or Scientific Positions | €40,000 |
In certain cases, a reduction of up to 25% may apply to the minimum salary requirement. This applies where specific criteria are met, including applicants under 30 years of age.
Where non-cash benefits such as housing or transportation are included in the remuneration package, these may account for no more than 30% of the total salary required for visa eligibility.
Required Documents
HQV Applicants must submit the following documentation:
- Valid passport – Minimum validity of 1 year with sufficient blank pages
- Passport photographs – Recent passport-size colour photo, light background, full-face, no glasses or face coverings
- Completed national visa application form – Duly completed and signed
- Employment contract or job offer – Issued by a Spanish company for a highly qualified position
- Professional qualifications – Relevant degrees, diplomas, and certificates
- Curriculum vitae (CV) – Demonstrating relevant professional experience
- Proof of financial means – Bank statements and/or salary slips
- Criminal record certificate – Covering the previous two years, plus a signed declaration confirming no criminal record over the last five years
- Medical certificate – Confirming absence of conditions posing a public health risk
- Health insurance – Public or private coverage valid in Spain
- Proof of payment of visa fees
- Spanish company documentation – Including corporate registration and tax identification details
If applied together with a family:
- Spouse or partner: Marriage certificate or proof of registered or unregistered partnership
- Minor children: Birth certificates
- Adult children: Proof of financial dependency and civil status
- Parents: Proof of financial dependency
Application Process
Bayat Group conducts an initial eligibility review to confirm that the applicant meets the requirements for the Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa. This includes verification of a valid job offer from a Spanish employer, compliance with statutory salary thresholds, and assessment of professional qualifications or equivalent experience.
Signing a retainer agreement with Bayat Group. The applicant works with Bayat Group’s legal team to compile all required documentation. This includes employment contracts, professional credentials, criminal and medical certificates, financial documentation, and supporting documents for accompanying family members. All documents are reviewed for accuracy and legalized or apostilled where required.
Depending on the applicant’s location, the application is submitted either through the relevant Spanish Consulate or Spain Visa Application Centre in the applicant’s country of residence or directly from within Spain, where eligible applicants may bypass the visa stage and apply directly for a residence permit valid for up to three years. Bayat Group provides full guidance on appointment scheduling, online submissions, and payment of applicable government fees.
Spanish authorities assess the application against legal and employment criteria. Upon approval, the applicant is notified and may collect the visa.
Upon arrival in Spain, applicants must complete local registration formalities, including registering their address with the local town hall and obtaining or confirming their NIE (Foreigner’s Identification Number), which is required for employment and administrative purposes. Applicants who applied from abroad proceed with the issuance of their residence permit card upon arrival in Spain. The permit is issued in accordance with Spanish immigration regulations and remains valid subject to continued compliance with employment and residency conditions