Work permits
Working with papers gives you peace of mind and rights. We explain which work permit suits you and take care of the procedure.
What it involves
The work permit (autorización de residencia y trabajo) is what allows a foreign national to work legally in Spain. It can be as an employee, when a company hires you, or self-employed, if you want to work as a sole trader (autónomo) or set up your own business. Each route has its own conditions and its own procedure.
Is this your case?
- A Spanish company wants to hire you and you are still in your country.
- You live in Spain with another type of permit and want to start working.
- You want to open a business or work as self-employed and don't know which permit you need.
- You have a company and want to hire a foreign national without making mistakes.
How we help
We look at your profile and the company's to choose the most suitable route. We prepare the documents for both parties, submit the application and let you know each step that remains after it is granted, such as the visa, Social Security registration or the fingerprint appointment. If a request for documents arrives, we respond to it for you. We can help you in Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight, French and English, at our offices in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Málaga and Barcelona or online, wherever you are in Spain.
If you already have another permit and want to change to a work permit, see permit modifications; and if you are going to work for yourself, we help you with self-employed registration.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between an employee work permit and a self-employed one?
- As an employee, you work for a company that hires you, and it is usually the company that starts the procedure. As self-employed, you work for yourself, as an autónomo or with your own business, and you have to show that your project is viable.
- What do I do if a company wants to hire me but doesn't know how to do the paperwork?
- This is very common. We can handle the procedure together with the company: we explain what documents it has to provide and submit the application for you both.
- Can I start working while the permit is being processed?
- Generally it is not a good idea: until the permit is granted and you take the next steps, working can cause problems for you and for the company. We tell you when you can safely start.
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Tell us about your case.
A first conversation — confidential and without obligation — to understand whether we can help, and how.
We speak Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight (Berber), French and English.