Residence visa with work permit exemption

This visa allows the applicant to work in Spain without the need of applying previously for a work permit. 

a) 90 days or less (Schengen Visa code EET): 

b) More than 90 days and less than 180 days (national visa code TEE)

c) Over 180 days (national visa code TRE). 

This situation applies to professionals who, due to their knowledge, specialization, experience or scientific practices, are invited or hired by one of the mentioned Administrations for the development of a technical, scientific or general interest activity or program.

US holders of diplomatic or official passports who needs a visa: please find information in the Diplomatic & Official visas section)

1. That they belong to a church, denomination, religious community or religious order that is registered in the Registry of Religious Entities of the Ministry of Justice.
2. Those who have, effectively and currently, the status of minister of worship, member of the hierarchy or professed religious for fulfilling the requirements established in their statutory regulations. 
3. Expressly excluded from this article are seminarians and people preparing for the religious ministry, even if they temporarily carry out activities of a pastoral nature, as well as people linked to a religious order in which they have not yet professed, even if they carry out a temporary activity in compliance with their religious statutes.
4. That the activities that they are going to carry out in Spain are strictly religious or, in the case of professed religious, are merely contemplative or respond to the statutory purposes of the order; work activities not included in this area are expressly excluded.
5. That the entity on which they depend agrees to take charge of the expenses caused by their maintenance and accommodation, as well as to meet the requirements in accordance with the regulations on Social Security.
   

A.- Technicians, researchers and scientists invited or hired by the General State Administration, the Autonomous Communities, universities, local authorities or organizations whose purpose is the promotion and development of research promoted or majority owned by the above.

Documents: Invitation or work contract signed by the legal representative of the Spanish authority or public institution, indicating the project description and the professional background required for its development.

B.- Teachers, technicians, researchers and scientists invited or hired by a Spanish university to carry out teaching, research or academic tasks.

Documents: Invitation or work contract for the exercise of the above-mentioned activities, signed by the legal representative of the university.

C.- Management, teaching or research staff, from cultural or educational institutions, private or dependent on other States, of accredited prestige, officially recognized by Spain, who develop in Spain cultural and educational programs of their respective countries. The studies, programs, degrees or diplomas issued must be valid and recognized by the countries on which they depend.

Doc​uments: proof of the validity in the country of origin of the degrees or diplomas issued in Spain, of the employment contract or designation for the exercise of management or teaching activities and, in the case of private entities, of documents justifying their official recognition by Spain.

D.- Civil or military officials of foreign State Administrations who come to Spain to carry out activities under cooperation agreements with a Spanish Administration.

Documents: certificate issued by the competent Foreign State Administration and justification of such aspects.

E.- Correspondents or special envoys of foreign media. Information professionals at the service of foreign media who carry out their information activity in Spain, duly accredited by the Spanish authorities as correspondents or as special envoys, will have this consideration.

Documents: authorization issued by the Spanish authorities.

F.- Members of international scientific missions duly authorised by the relevant Spanish administration that will engage in studies or research activities programmed by an International organisation or agency.

Documents: authorisation issued by the competent Spanish administration to take part in the International Scientific Mission.

H.- Religious ministers and members of the hierarchy of the different churches, confessions and religious communities, as well as professed religious of religious orders. The following requirements must be met:

1. That they belong to a church, denomination, religious community or religious order that is registered in the Registry of Religious Entities of the Ministry of Justice.
2. Those who have, effectively and currently, the status of minister of worship, member of the hierarchy or professed religious for fulfilling the requirements established in their statutory regulations. Expressly excluded from this article are seminarians and people preparing for the religious ministry, even if they temporarily carry out activities of a pastoral nature, as well as people linked to a religious order in which they have not yet professed, even if they carry out a temporary activity in compliance with their religious statutes.
3. That the activities that they are going to carry out in Spain are strictly religious or, in the case of professed religious, are merely contemplative or respond to the statutory purposes of the order; work activities not included in this area are expressly excluded.
4. That the entity on which they depend agrees to take charge of the expenses caused by their maintenance and accommodation, as well as to meet the requirements in accordance with the regulations on Social Security.​

Documents: : “Certificate for Temporary Residence” issued by the “Registry of Religious Entities” from the Spanish “Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts” (“Certificado para Residencia Temporal” expedido por el Registro de Entidades Religiosas” del “Ministerio de la Presidencia, Justicia y Relaciones con las Cortes”) certifying the requirements from article 117.h of the Royal Decree 557/2011, of April 20.

I.- Foreigners who are part of the representation, government and administration bodies of internationally recognized trade unions and business organizations, provided that their activity is strictly limited to the performance of the functions inherent to said condition.

Documents: certificate issued by the trade union or business organisation.

J.- Foreign minors of working age supervised by a competent minor protection service, for those activities that, at the proposal of the aforementioned entity, while they remain in that situation, favor their social integration.

Documents: documentary evidence that the minor is under the guardianship of the child protection agency, and activity proposal of the entity that will favor the social integration of the minor.

9.- Medical certificate. Original and a copy of a medical certificate accrediting that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. 

• This certificate must be issued within 90 days of submitting the visa application.
• This certificate must include a stamp f​rom the issuing Medical Center, doctor’s signature and doctor’s License Number.
• The certificate must be written on letterhead paper from hospital/doctor’s office or directly on the provided template. The recommended template can be found here: MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.​
• The certificate must be signed by a Doctor (Physician), not by a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician Assistant. 

10.- Criminal background check certificate. Applicants of legal age (18 years old and older) must submit the original and a photocopy (not notarized) of their criminal background check certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence for the past 5 years. 

• The criminal background check must be issued by the U.S. Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). We do not accept State or Local Police Background Check.
• The background check must be issued within the 6 months preceding the submission of the visa application. 
  
• The background check must be authenticated with The Hague Apostille. We do not accept background checks without the Hague Apostille. The Apostille must certify the signature on the Criminal Background check, not other signatures. We do not accept apostilles that certify the signature of a local notary that stamps a seal on the criminal background check.
  
• The criminal background check will not be accepted if it has been altered or damaged in any way, including damage caused by removing staples. 
  
• The background check must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish by a sworn/certified translator (the translation does not need an Apostille and the Apostille does not need a translation). ​

If the applicant has spent more than 6 months (more than 180 days) during the last 5 years in another country (outside the USA or Spain), an additional criminal background check from every country of residence must be provided. The criminal background checks must be authenticated with the The Hague Apostille, unless it is issued by an EU member state. The criminal background check issued by an EU authority does not need to be apostilled to be accepted. If the country in which the applicant has lived in the past 5 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 this country. The background check must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish (if the original is not written in Spanish or does not include the text in Spanish).​

Please submit an original and a copy of all documents: Criminal background check, Apostille and official translation.​

You may​ find certified translators through the AMERICAN TRANSLATORS' ASSOCIATION or Buscador de traductores jurados del MAEC.

15. Disclaimer form. 

16. Payment of fees. Cash or money order. 

​​BLS - SPAIN VISA APPLICATION CENTER, WASHINGTON DC

​1660 L St NW, Second Floor, Suite: 216, Wash​ington, DC 20036

Email: info.wases@blsinternational.net

Phone number: 516-888-1169 (BLS call-center for USA)

Please be sure that you have already all the required documents before scheduling an appointment, as only complete applications with all the requirements will be admitted.

To find more information and schedule an appointment at BLS Spain Visa Application Center in Washington DC, please follow the link: BLS Spain Visa Application Center​

Please note that there are different sections for Schengen Visa and for National Visa appointments.