Before applying for a telework visa, it is necessary to obtain a N.I.E. (Número de Identidad de Extranjero / Foreigner Identity Number). Please check the procedure and the necessary documentation in the following link: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/pekin/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/NIE.aspx
This visa is intended for nationals of third countries who travel to Spain to carry out a remote work or professional activity for companies located outside the national territory, through the exclusive use of computer, telematics and telecommunication media and systems.
This visa does not apply to citizens of the European Union or to those to whom European Union law applies.
In the case of exercise of a labor activity, the holders of a telework authorization of international character will only be able to work for companies located outside the national territory.
In the case of exercise of a professional activity, the holders of a telework authorization of international character will be allowed to work for a company located in Spain, as long as the percentage of the above-mentioned work does not exceed 20% of the total of his/her professional activity.
Qualified professionals may apply for a visa or telework authorization if they accredit being graduates or postgraduates from universities of recognized prestige, professional training and business schools of recognized prestige, or a minimum of 3 years of professional experience.
The following family members of the worker may also obtain a family visa:
The spouse or unmarried partner.
Children and adult children who are financially dependent on the worker and who have not created a family unit of their own.
Relatives in the ascending line under the worker's care.
FOREIGNERS WHO ARE LEGALLY IN SPAIN CAN APPLY FOR A TELEWORK RESIDENCE PERMIT DIRECTLY IN SPAIN, WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A PRIOR TELEWORK VISA. THE RESIDENCE PERMIT CAN BE VALID FOR A MAXIMUM OF THREE YEARS. IN CONTRAST, THE VISA HAS A MAXIMUM VALIDITY OF 1 YEAR.
Foreigners who are legally in Spain means, among others:
- Foreigner that are legally in Spain without the need of a visa
- Foreigners that are legally in Spain with a visa (it can be any type of visa, e.g. tourist visa) during the period of the validity of the visa.
These foreigners can apply for the authorization of Residence to the UGECE (“Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos", del “Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones" de España – “Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit", “Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration" of Spain). Please find more information on their web page: https://www.inclusion.gob.es/en/web/unidadgrandesempresas/teletrabajadores
Please note that, if you do not have (as a non-resident foreigner) an electronic certificate or CLAVE, you can interact and carry out all types of procedures with the Spanish administration through an authorized legal representative in Spain who will use a valid electronic certificate.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (ORIGINAL & COPY) FOR THE TELEWORK VISA APPLICATION
1.- One Application form (https://www.exteriores.gob.es/en/EmbajadasConsulados/Documents/Consular/20210611-Formulario%20nacional%20espa%c3%b1ol-ingl%c3%a9s.pdf ): Each applicant must complete and sign a national visa application, filling out every section. It can be filled out electronically or handwritten in capital letters. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents or a duly accredited representative must sign the application.
Please do not forget to fill out numbers 17 (your address, email and telephone number), 21 (intended date of entry), 23 (address in Spain), 24 -25 (NIE) and 27 (complete information about the employer or company) on the application form.
2.- One photograph: Glued or clipped (not stapled) onto visa application form. Photo specifications: Passport-size, color photograph, recent (taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance), printed on matte/glossy paper, taken against a white, light, clear, uniform background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the applicant's full oval of the face.
Photos with a dark background or with objects or people that can be seen behind your head will not be accepted. Photographs of 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 be valid for at least the requested time of stay and must contain at least two free pages for visas. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
If the passport does not meet the requirements, it must be renewed before applying for the visa.
4.- Proof of residence in the consular district. Residence must be proved by Hukou or rsidence permit.
5.- Foreign Identification Number (N.I.E.): Certificate of Assignment of N.I.E.
6.- Certificate of Mercantile Registry showing the date of Constitution of the company and the type of activity performed. This certificate must prove real and continuous activity for at least 1 year of the company or group of companies with which the worker maintains a labor or professional relationship.
This document must be apostilled and submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
7.- Company certificate, reflecting:
If the worker is employed: Seniority of the worker in the company (at least 3 months), the worker's income, and explicit permission from the company for the worker to carry out his/her job remotely from Spain.
If the worker is self-employed: Length of the contractual relationship, as well as the terms and conditions under which the worker will exercise the professional activity remotely.
This document must be submitted in Spanish or accompanied by a translation to Spanish.
8.- Financial means: Documents proving sufficient own financial means, or accrediting a regular source of income for the teleworker and, where applicable, for the family members accompanying them.
The minimum required amount is equivalent to 200% of Spain's Minimum Interprofessional Salary (in 2024, aprox. $2.500) (SMI in 2023: 1.088 €).
For accompanying family members, an additional 75% of the SMI (in 2024, aprox. 850€) is required for the second family member and an additional 25% of the SMI (in 2024, aprox. 250€) must be added for each additional member counting from the third member of the family.
These amounts can be accredited, among others, with a contract, certificate of the company, etc.
9.- Criminal Record Certificate: Applicants of legal age who apply for a visa must submit the original and a copy of the criminal record check certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence for the past 2 years. Additionally, a responsible declaration of the absence of criminal records of the last five years will be presented. CRIMINAL RECORD RESPONSIBLE DECLARATION.pdf (exteriores.gob.es)
The Certificate must be authenticated with The Hague Apostille. We do not accept Certificates without the Hague Apostille.
It must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish
If the applicant has spent more than 6 months (more than 180 days) during the last 2 years in another country (outside China or Spain), an additional criminal background check from every country of residence must be provided. The criminal background checks must be authenticated with the Hague Apostille. If the country in which the applicant has lived in the past 2 years does not subscribe to The Hague Convention of 1961, the background check must by authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and then by the Consulate of Spain in said country. The background check must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish (if the original is not written in Spanish).
10.- Responsible Declaration (original and a photocopy) of the absence of criminal records in the countries where you have resided during the previous 5 years.
11.- Health insurance: Proof of having public or private health insurance arranged with an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain.
The insurance entity must be registered in the list of insurance and reinsurance entities of the General Directorate of Insurance and Pension Funds of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.
The insurance must cover all risks insured by Spain's public health system for the entire duration of the authorization.
The health insurance must not have a deficiency, copayment, or coverage limit, that is, it must cover all of the medical, hospital and out-of-hospital expenses, preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation assistance that are carried out in health centers as well as urgent health transport. Travel insurance is not accepted.
It is not necessary to present a health insurance certificate if coverage by the Spanish public Social Security system is proven.
12.- Proof of coverage in the Social Security system. This can be: Proof of registration (or having requested registration) in the Spanish Social Security System.
+ Responsible declaration of the company (or of the self-employed worker) where the commitment appears, prior to the start of work or professional activity, to comply with the obligations of the Spanish Social Security System.
The Proof of registration can be:
Registration of the company in the Spanish Social Security System, or;
Registration of the teleworker as a Self-Employed worker (RETA: Régimen de Trabajadores Autónomos de la Seguridad Social española) in the Spanish Social Security System.
Please note that, if you do not have (as a non-resident foreigner) an electronic certificate or CLAVE, you will not be able to make the electronic registration request or obtain the aforementioned proof. In this case, you can obtain it through an authorized legal representative in Spain who will use a valid electronic certificate to interact and carry out all types of procedures with the Spanish administration.
The responsible declaration must be submitted in Spanish (or with an official translation into Spanish) together with the proof of registration in the Spanish Social Security System.
13.- Copy of the degree or documentation that proves a professional experience of at least 3 years.
Original and a copy of the graduate or postgraduate degree from a university or business school of recognized prestige. Alternatively, documents that prove a minimum of 3 years' professional experience in functions similar to those of the position to be held as an international teleworker. The experience must be comparable to the required qualification and relevant to the performance of the remote work.
To practice a regulated profession, the approval of the qualification necessary for its practice must be accredited.
If there are doubts about the equivalence of a vocational training degree in the Spanish educational system, accreditation of the validation of the degree before the competent educational authority may be required.
A visa for teleworking cannot be granted when the conditions of the application coincide with those of the Visa for Intra-Company transfer.
14.- Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and of the power of attorney or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
15.- Payment of the visa fee
Required documents for family members
For each family member accompanying the worker, the following must be submitted:
All the required documents specified in sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 15. Where applicable, those specified in 10, 11 also. In the case of minors, the visa application must be signed by one of their parents or by a duly accredited representative.
Documents proving family relationship with the worker: Birth or marriage certificates issued by the civil registry, certificate of registration as an unmarried couple.
In case of an unregistered couple with a stable emotional relationship equivalent to a registered couple: notarized declaration stating that you are an unregistered unmarried couple with an stable emotional relationship equivalent to a registered couple, and any other document proving the unregistered partnership with the applicant for at least 1 year, for evaluation.
In the case of adult children (18 y.o. and older): Documents proving their financial dependence and civil status. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
In the case of relatives in the ascending line, documents that prove they are under the worker's care. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
Foreign official documents must be apostilled or legalized and must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
Please submit the original and a copy of all the documents proving family relationship.
When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.
PROCEDURE
Who can apply for a visa: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant, or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor. They may also be submitted through a duly accredited representative.
Place of submission: Applications must be submitted in Visa Application Centre BLS https://web.blscn.cn/