Visa for Highly Qualified Workers and for Intra-company Transfers

December 27, 2024

GENERAL INFORMATION

· Visa for Highly Qualified workers: Visa to carry out a work activity as an employee in Spain as a highly qualified professional, member of senior management personnel meeting certain criteria set forth in prevailing legislation, or as a graduate or post-graduate of a prestigious university and/or business school.

· Visa for Intra-company Transfers: Visa to carry out a work activity as an employee in Spain as a member of senior management personnel, a specialist or a trainee, to perform a contract, or in respect of a professional relationship, when the transfer is made within the same company or group of companies.

The Consulate of Spain in Chicago will consider applications for residents in this jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Spanish Government has signed a contract with an external company (BLS International) for processing visas for Spanish Consular Offices in the United States.

IT IS MANDATORY TO REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT

For this type of visa, request an appointment through this link, choosing NATIONAL: https://usa.blsspainglobal.com/Global/account/login

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

1. National visa application form. The applicant must complete and sign an official application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application

2. Photo. Glued to the application form. An updated photo-paper picture, passport size, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face. Photographs of toddlers and babies must not show any part of the adult holding them

3. Valid, unexpired passport. Original and photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must have a minimum validity of 1 year and contain at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.

4. Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction: State ID, Driver´s License, or Student ID.

5. Proof of legal residence in the United States (Non-Americans). Must present one of the following documents:

Original and copy of Permanent Resident Card (Green card)
Valid US long-term Visa
Holders of B-1/B-2 visas cannot apply in the United States; they must apply in their country of permanent residence.

6. Authorization of Initial Residence for Highly Qualified workers (Autorización de residencia inicial para trabajadores altamente calificados)/ Authorization of Initial Residence for Intra-company Transfers (Autorización de residencia inicial para traslado intraempresarial), issued by Dirección General de Migraciones.

7. Criminal record check certificate. Applicants over 18 must present an original and photocopy of the criminal record check certificate issued by FBI, It cannot be older than 6 months from the issued date, and legalized with the Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention requested to the Department of State in Washington DC. Local State Apostille is not valid.

The applicant must present criminal record certificates from the countries of residence of the last 5 years
The certificates must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator. American Translators Association https://www.atanet.org/

8. Visa fee. For nationals of Australia, Ethiopia, Canada, the United Kingdom and others, different rates are applied based on reciprocity. Please check the complete most recent visa fees 2025

Present the payment the day of your appointment. The processing fee will not be returned even if the visa is not granted or canceled.

BLS International will charge their aditional services.

APPLICANT FROM JAN. 1ST 2025

Americans $ 190

Other Nationalities $ 94

For representative (Attorney): Copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and notarized power or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, if necessary, submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.

FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

The following family members of the worker may also obtain the visa:

The spouse or unmarried partner.
Children.
Relatives in the ascending line in the worker's care.
Family members with Authorization of Initial Residence (Autorización de residencia inicial para familiares), issued by Dirección General de Migraciones. must submit :

· All the required documents specified in the above sections from 1 to 8.

· Original and copy of birth certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator.

· Original and copy of marriage certificate issued in the last 6 months, apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator, or any other document proving the relationship (joint taxes/bank statements)

· Children over 18 must prove their financial dependence and civil status.

· Relatives in the ascending line, must submit original and copy of worker birth certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator.

The Consular Office may request additional documents

PROCEDURE

Who can apply for a visa: This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district. Highly qualified professional, member of senior management personnel meeting certain criteria set forth in prevailing legislation, or as a graduate or post-graduate of a prestigious university and/or business school.
Employees transferred to Spain by the same company or group of companies in the United States.

Place of submission: Applications must be submitted in person by appointment at BLS International Office, located at 121 W Wacker Dr. Suite 1307, Chicago, IL.

Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Home.aspx

Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is 10 days as of the day after the submission date of the application, but this period may be extended when an interview or additional documents are requested.

Collecting the visa: The visa must be collected in person by the applicant or by their representative within a maximum period of 1 month after the approval. Or, it will be sent in the prepaid envelope provided by the applicant.

Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.

Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives the notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.

The validity period of the visa: The visa is valid for 1 year, or for the same period as the residence permit granted, provided that this is for less than 1 year.

The visa accredits residence in Spain during its validity period, making it unnecessary for the worker to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card. However, the worker may apply for this card at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the corresponding Police Station.