Highly Skilled Professional Authorization in Spain: Complete Guide

Spain offers a residence and work authorization for Highly Skilled Professionals (often referred to as a highly qualified professional authorization). This route is designed for foreign nationals who will carry out an employment activity in Spain as:

  • a highly qualified professional hired as an employee in Spain in Spain
  • a company executive or senior manager in Spain (for companies meeting the conditions set by applicable regulations)
  • a graduate or post-graduate from universities or business schools of recognized prestige, hired in Spain

On this page you will find a practical, step-by-step explanation tailored to Spain: what the authority checks, what the employer must submit, the key personal documents, and how to avoid common reasons for delays. You will also see the post-approval path in Spain, including the TIE residence card and renewals.

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Key idea for Spain: This is an employee-based authorization. The company hiring in Spain must provide a clear employer file (NIF, representation powers, signed contract, job profile), while the applicant provides personal compliance documents (insurance where applicable, police clearance, CV/qualifications).

Who is the Highly Skilled route for in Spain?

The highly skilled authorization in Spain is commonly used by:

  • Engineers, IT specialists, senior analysts, managers and other specialized profiles hired in Spain
  • Executives and directors relocating to Spain to lead a business unit or strategic function
  • Graduates and postgraduates from recognized universities or business schools, hired for a role in Spain aligned with their profile
  • Multinational hires where the Spanish entity in Spain needs to bring in a specialist with defined responsibilities
Important for Spain: The authorities will look at the consistency between the job profile in Spain, the candidate’s CV, and (where relevant) higher education credentials. A vague job description or a mismatch between duties and qualifications is a common source of requests for clarification.

Main requirements (what the file must prove in Spain)

A strong highly skilled application in Spain is usually built on two pillars: (A) the employer file (company + representative documents) and (B) the applicant file (personal compliance and professional profile).

🏢 Employer identification in Spain

Copy of the employer’s NIF and the public document that grants the legal representative the power to sign applications, plus ID copy (DNI/NIE). If a third party acts, authorization must be proven for Spain.

📝 Signed contract for Spain

Copy of the employment contract or proof of professional relationship dated before filing, signed by both parties, clearly connecting the job to Spain.

📌 Job profile in Spain

A well-defined position profile describing functions and tasks in Spain, aligned with the candidate’s seniority, specialization, and responsibilities.

📄 CV + qualifications for Spain

The candidate’s CV and, where relevant, higher education degree or equivalent credentials that support the role in Spain.

🧾 Criminal record certificate

A police clearance certificate, usually needing Apostille or legalization depending on the issuing country, and sworn translation if not in Spanish for Spain.

🏥 Health coverage in Spain

Proof of health insurance with an entity operating in Spain, unless the employment in Spain means the worker will obtain coverage under the Spanish National Health System through Social Security.

The two-part file: Employer documents + Applicant documents (Spain)

The fastest highly skilled cases in Spain are the ones where the employer and applicant coordinate the documents as one coherent dossier. Below is a clear split you can use when preparing your file for Spain.

A) Employer file (company in Spain)

  • Copy of the employer’s NIF in Spain
  • Public document confirming the representative’s powers to sign applications
  • ID copy of the representative (DNI/NIE)
  • If a third party files: authorization showing they can act on behalf of the company in Spain
  • Signed contract or proof of professional relationship dated before filing
  • Position profile / job description for the role in Spain

B) Applicant file (professional relocating to Spain)

  • Passport and identity documentation
  • Criminal record certificate (apostilled/legalized + sworn translation if required)
  • Health coverage evidence (if not covered via Spanish Social Security from the job in Spain)
  • CV tailored to the job profile in Spain
  • Higher degree / equivalent qualification (when relevant)
  • Evidence of graduate/postgraduate status (where used as a key eligibility element for Spain)
Common cause of delays in Spain: The company provides NIF but not the correct public document confirming signature powers, or the job profile is too generic (no tasks, no responsibilities, no seniority level). We typically fix this by drafting a clean job profile for Spain and aligning it with the candidate’s CV and qualifications.

Health insurance vs National Health System coverage in Spain

For highly skilled residence in Spain, insurance documentation depends on whether the employment relationship implies that the worker will be covered by Spain’s public health system. In practice, the file should clearly show one of these two situations:

  • Option 1 (covered by Spanish Social Security): The job in Spain will provide Social Security registration and therefore access to the National Health System. In that case, separate private insurance may not be required, but the file must make the coverage situation clear.
  • Option 2 (private insurance required): Provide proof of a policy with an entity authorized to operate in Spain, with coverage suitable for residence in Spain.
Practical tip for Spain: Do not leave insurance ambiguous. A short, clear paragraph in the cover letter explaining whether the employee will have public coverage through the job in Spain (or will provide private coverage) helps avoid unnecessary requests.

Job profile + CV alignment (the “make it obvious” test in Spain)

The job profile is one of the most important documents in a highly skilled application in Spain. It should state:

  • the title of the role in Spain
  • the department and reporting line (where relevant)
  • specific functions and tasks the professional will carry out in Spain
  • the level of responsibility (specialist, senior, manager, director) in Spain
  • how the duties connect to the candidate’s experience and qualifications
What works best in Spain: a job profile with bullet points and measurable responsibilities, plus a CV that matches the same language and scope. When the tasks, skills and experience “mirror” each other, cases in Spain tend to move with fewer clarifications.

Application process in Spain (step-by-step)

The highly skilled route is usually an employer-driven process. Regardless of the filing route used in your specific case, the practical preparation sequence is usually the same in Spain:

Confirm eligibility for Spain (role + candidate)

Review whether the position in Spain can be framed as highly qualified, executive, or linked to recognized graduate/postgraduate credentials. Identify what will be the core strength of the Spain case: seniority, specialization, executive role, or academic profile.

Build the employer file for Spain

Collect NIF, signature powers, representative ID, and authorization documents if a third party files. Draft a strong job profile for Spain and ensure the contract is signed and dated correctly.

Build the applicant file for Spain

Prepare the criminal record certificate with apostille/legalization and sworn translation if needed. Align CV and qualifications with the Spain job profile and ensure naming consistency across documents.

Clarify health coverage for Spain

Confirm whether coverage will come from Spanish Social Security due to the job in Spain, or provide a private insurance certificate from an entity operating in Spain.

Submit and respond to clarifications (Spain)

File the application with a complete dossier. If the authority requests clarification, respond with targeted evidence: updated job profile wording, additional proof of experience, or corrected legalization/translation issues for Spain.

After approval: travel / local steps in Spain

Once granted, complete the required steps to begin employment in Spain and proceed to the residence card phase where required.

TIE residence card in Spain

The TIE is your physical residence card in Spain. Depending on your route and situation, you may need an appointment, forms, fee payment proof, passport, and address evidence in Spain. We guide you through the local process in Spain.

Family members (Spain)

Highly skilled professionals relocating to Spain often bring family. In those cases, you typically need civil status documents (marriage/birth certificates) properly legalized and translated, plus proof that the family relationship is valid and recognized.

Frequently Asked Questions (Highly Skilled in Spain)

Is the highly skilled authorization in Spain only for executives?

No. It can apply to highly qualified specialists and senior professional profiles in Spain, as well as executives and, in some cases, graduates/postgraduates from recognized institutions hired for appropriate roles in Spain.

Do I always need private health insurance for Spain?

Not always. If the employment in Spain means you will obtain coverage under Spain’s public health system through Social Security, separate private insurance may not be required. The file should clearly document your coverage situation for Spain.

What documents usually cause delays in Spain?

Common issues in Spain include (i) missing employer representation powers, (ii) contract not properly signed/dated, (iii) job profile too generic, (iv) criminal record certificate missing apostille/legalization or sworn translation, and (v) unclear health coverage.

Can the company use a third party to file in Spain?

In many cases, yes, but the file must include proof that the third party is authorized to act on behalf of the company for Spain.

Need help with a highly skilled application in Spain? We coordinate employer documentation (NIF, signature powers, job profile), review contract and CV alignment, plan translations/legalizations, and support the full process through TIE steps in Spain.

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Disclaimer

This page provides general information for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements and administrative practice may vary depending on the route used, the employer profile, and the applicant’s circumstances in Spain. For a tailored review, contact our team.