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Residence and nationality

Hiring a foreign worker: initial residence and employment permit

Contratar a un trabajador extranjero: autorización inicial de residencia y trabajo por cuenta ajena

What it is

The employer applies for it to hire a foreign national over 16 for more than ninety days and less than five years. The worker cannot be in Spain irregularly and must have no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where they lived in the last five years. The national employment situation must allow the hiring: the job is on the hard-to-fill occupations list the SEPE publishes every quarter, or the employer proves the difficulty of filling it (with a vacancy posted on Empléate and the Public Employment Services). A signed contract is required (if part-time, annual pay must be at least the full-time minimum wage), and the employer must be up to date with tax and Social Security and have sufficient means. It is filed through Mercurio with form EX-03. Fees: form 790 code 052 (section 2.1.3), paid by the worker, and code 062 (section 3.2.1), paid by the employer if the permit is for six months or more. The decision takes three months (no answer means refusal). If granted, the worker applies for the visa at the consulate within a month, enters Spain within the visa's three-month validity, registers with Social Security and, within a month of registering, applies for the TIE.

Official wording
Es una autorización de residencia temporal y trabajo por cuenta ajena que solicita un empleador o empresario para la contratación de una persona trabajadora extranjera mayor de 16 años por un periodo superior a noventa días e inferior a cinco años.

Official sources

Where it applies
All of Spain

Official information

Official sources

Go to the official website: Information sheet 12 (Ministry of Inclusion)

When

When a company or employer in Spain wants to hire you and you are not in Spain irregularly. The employer files the application.

Official wording
Sujeto legitimado para presentar la solicitud : el empleador o empresario, personalmente, o a través de un sujeto legitimado que tenga atribuida la representación legal empresarial.

Official sources

Steps

  1. Step 1: Check the national employment situation

    Hiring is possible if the occupation is in the catalogue of hard-to-fill occupations published quarterly by the SEPE, or if the employer shows it could not fill the post with workers already in the labour market (with an offer on the Empléate portal and the public employment services).

    Official wording
    La ocupación que va a desempeñar el trabajador en la empresa está incluida en el catálogo de ocupaciones de difícil cobertura que el Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal publica trimestralmente.

    Official sources

  2. Step 2: The employer files the application

    The employer files form EX-03 with the documents online, on the Mercurio e-office. Fees are paid within the following ten working days.

    Official wording
    Telemáticamente, a través de la sede electrónica del Ministerio de Política Territorial y Memoria Democrática (Mercurio).

    Official sources

  3. Step 3: Decision

    The time limit is three months from registration of the application; without a reply, it is deemed refused.

    Official wording
    Transcurrido dicho plazo sin que la Administración haya practicado la notificación, se podrá entender que la solicitud ha sido desestimada por silencio administrativo .

    Official sources

  4. Step 4: Apply for the visa

    Once granted, you have one month from notification to the employer to apply in person for the visa at the consulate for your area, with a passport valid for at least one year, criminal records for the last five years, a medical certificate and the fee. The consulate decides within a month; you collect the visa within one month and enter Spain within its three months of validity.

    Official wording
    En el caso de concesión, el trabajador dispone de un mes desde la notificación al empleador, para solicitar personalmente el visado, en la Misión Diplomática u Oficina Consular en cuya demarcación resida.

    Official sources

  5. Step 5: Social Security registration and TIE

    After entry, Social Security registration must happen within three months; within one month of registration, apply in person for the TIE at the police station where you live.

    Official wording
    En el plazo de un mes desde que el trabajador se haya dado de alta en Seguridad Social, deberá solicitar, personalmente, la tarjeta de identidad de extranjero

    Official sources

Documents

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🖨 Printable bilingual document card (you can show it at the counter)

Fees

Form 790 code 052, section 2.1.3, paid by the worker; and form 790 code 062, section 3.2.1, paid by the employer if the work authorisation is six months or longer. Paid within ten working days.

Official wording
Modelo 790 código 052, epígrafe 2.1.3.

Official sources

FAQ

Can I also be self-employed?

Yes, during its validity, as long as the main activity is the employed one.

Official wording
La autorización inicial de residencia temporal y trabajo por cuenta ajena autorizará también para el ejercicio de una actividad por cuenta propia durante su vigencia, siempre que la actividad principal sea la actividad por cuenta ajena

Official sources

Is there a minimum salary for part-time?

Yes: pay must be at least the full-time national minimum wage, calculated annually.

Official wording
Si el contrato fuera a tiempo parcial, la retribución deberá ser igual o superior al salario mínimo interprofesional para jornada completa y en cómputo anual.

Official sources

Related procedures

Terms used on this page