How to Employ a Foreigner in Spain | Bon
A Spanish company that wants to hire a non-EU national needs to go through a work authorization process before the person can start legally. The exact route depends on the role, the employee's nationality and whether the position falls under a shortage occupation list, but the general structure is similar across cases.
What the process generally involves:
- Confirming the company meets the requirements to sponsor a work authorization: active business, sufficient turnover or staffing needs
- Preparing the employment contract and job offer documentation
- Applying for the work and residence authorization on the employee's behalf
- Supporting the employee's visa application at the relevant consulate once the authorization is approved
- Registering the employee with Spanish Social Security once they start work
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a work authorization to be employed in Spain and can start once the standard employment and Social Security registration steps are done, so the process above applies specifically to non-EU hires.
We support both sides of this: companies that registered in Spain or bought a business and now need to bring in specific staff, and individuals who already have a job offer from a Spanish employer. If payroll and ongoing employer obligations are new territory for your company, our accounting and bookkeeping service also covers payroll processing.
Frequently asked questions
Can any Spanish company sponsor a foreign employee?
The company generally needs to show it is an active, viable business with a genuine need for the role, so newly registered companies with no trading history yet may need to build that record first.
Do EU citizens need a work permit to work in Spain?
No, EU, EEA and Swiss nationals can work in Spain without a work authorization; the sponsorship process described here applies to non-EU nationals.
How long does it take to get work authorization for a foreign employee?
Timelines vary by nationality and role, but the process generally runs from the work authorization approval, to the employee's visa application at the consulate, to arrival and Social Security registration, so we plan the hire's start date around that full chain rather than just the first approval.
Money-back guarantee
Long-term experience accumulated our experts are fully responsible for their quality of work and results. Good relationship with the Department of Immigration, Tax Inspectorate, the Social Insurance Inspectorate, Centre of Registers and other state and non-state institutions helps to ensure the highest quality services.
We do not operate in automatic machine principle and look deeper into the needs of each client. Whether it is business acquisitions, advice on migration, finance, accounting, or other issues - this is a unique process.
Only in this way we can ensure the highest quality services. Therefore, we provide our clients 100% money back guarantee if due to our fault you do not receive a temporary residence permit. We also guarantee that the company You will purchase has no debts or other liabilities. Our accounting services are insured, so if fees are wrong calculated, we or our insurance company will cover all losses.
RESIDENCE PERMIT
Process time for a temporary residence permit for each country depends on that country's laws. Usually it takes 2-6 months. If you have additional questions, the Migration Department may extend length of the proceeding up to 3 months. The answer may be a negative if the client:
- Was deported;
- Punished for crime;
- Has records in the police department;
- Other negative entries of personal biography;
- The information about the client is false, untrue;
- Going to false immigration.
If it turns out that the negative response to the temporary residence permit is due to one of these reasons, we will not return your money.
If the client has a clean biography and correct data about him/her, but due to our fault do not receive a temporary residence permit, in this case within 30 days we will return 100% of his/her money and will not ask for any compensation concerning experienced costs.
Business acquisitions and start-up
All of our sales companies do not have any debts or obligations. If you buy a new company (without any history), the company has absolutely no bookkeeping records. If you are going to buy an existing company with a history of activity, in this case you will provide the company financial reports and you will be able to assess the Company's status. If after the acquisition of the company, there would be unforeseen events and it would be our fault, we will take all the responsibility on ourselves.
Accountancy services and consultations
We take full responsibility for the provision of accounting services. Our accountants have many years of experience, good skills in preparing various reports to the state institutions; also we provide representation during an inspection. We look very responsibly to our work that is why we insured our employees from the possible errors, so if fees are calculated wrongly, we or the insurance company will compensate them.
