Kingdom of Spain · work sponsored · Leads to settlement

Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit

By · Last reviewed:

Residence permit for highly qualified workers with a Spanish employment contract, processed under the Law 14/2013 regime.

Requires sponsorshipLeads to permanent residency3 years; renewable for 2 years; leads to permanent residence after 5.
Processing time
UGE-CE target 20 working days.
Government fees
Employer and employee fees apply; TIE fee additional.
Typical duration
3 years; renewable for 2 years; leads to permanent residence after 5.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
Yes

In short

As of 8 July 2026, the Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit for Kingdom of Spain is a sponsor-led Spain immigration route. Sources: official Kingdom of Spain government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/spain/highly-qualified-professional#answer

What is the Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit in Kingdom of Spain?

Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit is a sponsor-led Spain route. Indicative government fees are Employer and employee fees apply; TIE fee additional; indicative processing time is UGE-CE target 20 working days; typical duration is 3 years; renewable for 2 years; leads to permanent residence after 5. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations on 22 June 2026.

Overview

The Highly Qualified Professional permit is Spain's fast-track work-authorisation route under the Entrepreneurs' Law (Ley 14/2013). Applications go to the UGE-CE unit with 20-working-day target processing. The route is routinely used by multinationals and tech employers for senior hires.

Guidance by nationality

Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

  • ✓Job offer from a Spanish employer for a highly qualified role.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations (Spain) ↗
  • ✓Salary meeting the current UGE-CE threshold: €41,356.36 for national highly qualified professional authorisations and the general EU Blue Card threshold; €33,085.09 may apply to reduced EU Blue Card cases.
  • ✓University degree or 5+ years of equivalent professional experience.

Common blockers

  • !Salary below the specific threshold for the employer size.

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Employer prepares the UGE-CE dossier

    Most employers use specialist firms or in-house mobility teams.

  2. UGE-CE decision

    Target 20 working days.

  3. Obtain visa or travel, then TIE

    Visa at consulate if abroad, then TIE appointment in Spain.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Spain. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. ApplyEmployer
    Submit HQP residence application ↗

    The Spanish hiring entity uses this official electronic procedure to file the Highly Qualified Professional authorisation.

    Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones · verified

  2. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Check HQP requirements ↗

    Employer and applicant use this official guidance to confirm role, qualification and evidence requirements.

    Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones · verified

Fees and processing time

Indicative government fees: Employer and employee fees apply; TIE fee additional.. The issuing authority does not publish a central processing time for this route, so plan against comparable cases. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.

Matches these professions

Also explored by

Compare Kingdom of Spain with

Related routes

Frequently asked questions

Is the HQP permit the same as the EU Blue Card?+

Spain separately implements the EU Blue Card. The HQP permit is a national Law 14/2013 route with faster UGE-CE processing. Employers choose the fit based on salary threshold, intra-EU mobility needs, and family-provision differences.

Do I need a university degree to qualify for Spain's Highly Qualified Professional permit?+

You need either a university degree or 5+ years of equivalent professional experience, plus a job offer from a Spanish employer for a highly qualified role at the route's salary minimum. It is an employer-sponsored route, so a Spanish job offer is required. Confirm thresholds via the official Ministerio guidance.

How long does the Spain Highly Qualified Professional permit take to process?+

Applications run through the UGE-CE unit with a target processing time of 20 working days, which is the route's fast-track feature. Actual timing can vary, so check current guidance from the official source.

How long is the Spain Highly Qualified Professional permit valid, and does it lead to settling permanently?+

It is initially valid for 3 years, renewable for 2 years, and leads to permanent residence after 5 years. Confirm current settlement rules with the official source.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Spain

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations

Last checked: 22 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology