Kingdom of Spain · work sponsored · Leads to settlement
Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 4 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
Residence permit for highly qualified workers with a Spanish employment contract, processed under the Law 14/2013 regime.
- 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 has typical processing of 3 weeks – 6 weeks. Sources: official Kingdom of Spain government pages, reviewed 8 July 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.
Indian applicants
Indian nationals using the HQP route typically do so via Spanish tech subsidiaries (Madrid, Barcelona). The UGE-CE fast-…
Venezuelan applicants
Venezuelan nationals benefit from Spain's relatively liberal recognition of engineering and medical qualifications from …
Colombian applicants
Colombian professionals use the HQP stream heavily in finance, consulting, and engineering. Shared language and the Conv…
Brazilian applicants
Brazilian HQP applicants concentrate in fintech, SaaS, and renewable-energy roles, often via Spanish subsidiaries of Lat…
Russian applicants
Russian HQP applications grew sharply post-2022, particularly in IT and cybersecurity. UGE-CE has applied additional scr…
Chinese applicants
Chinese HQP applicants are concentrated in tech and finance roles at multinational subsidiaries in Madrid and Barcelona,…
Turkish applicants
Turkish HQP applicants concentrate in IT, banking, and management consulting at Madrid and Barcelona subsidiaries of mul…
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
- ·Employment contract.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations (Spain) ↗
- ·Degree or experience evidence.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations (Spain) ↗
- ·Employer's corporate evidence to UGE-CE.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations (Spain) ↗
Application pathway
Employer prepares the UGE-CE dossier
Most employers use specialist firms or in-house mobility teams.
UGE-CE decision
Target 20 working days.
Obtain visa or travel, then TIE
Visa at consulate if abroad, then TIE appointment in Spain.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
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.
- ApplyEmployerSubmit 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
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorCheck 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.. A decision then typically takes 3 weeks – 6 weeks. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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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 SpainHow 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