Sheet 24 - Collective management of contracts at source

* The content of this page is for guidance only. Only the provisions of the regulations in force at the time of submission of the application are applicable. 

Last Updated: May 2025

Index of contents 

  • Type of Authorization
  • Basic regulations
  • Requirements
  • Procedure
  • Countries with which Spain has signed agreements on the regulation and management of migratory flows
  • Countries with which Spain has signed collaboration instruments in this field

TYPE OF AUTHORISATION 

The collective management of contracts in origin is the procedure for the granting of multiple initial residence and work authorizations or multiple residence and work authorizations for seasonal activities simultaneously with respect to those foreign working people who are not found or reside in Spain through their collective processing in origin from the offers presented by one or several entrepreneurs. 

BASIC REGULATIONS 

  • Organic Law 4/2000, of 11 January, on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration (article 39).
  • Royal Decree 1155/2024, of 19 November, approving the Regulations of Organic Law 4/2000, of 11 January, on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration (articles 100 to 123)
  • Order ISM/1488/2024, of 27 December, regulating the collective management of contracts at source by 2025.

REQUIREMENTS 

  • The Administration:  
  • The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration may approve the corresponding Order for Collective Management of Contracts at Origin, with provision for occupations and, where appropriate, for the number of jobs that may be filled at origin in that year.  

In particular, the Ministerial Order may include:

  • The occupations
  • The figures for stable jobs (one-year employment contracts).
  • Figures of seasonal jobs, which may be covered through this procedure by foreign working people who are not located or residing in Spain.
  • Cases in which it will be possible to process nominative offers.
  • Number of job search visas for children or grandchildren of Spaniards of origin, as well as number of job search visas limited to certain occupations and territorial areas.  
  • In any case, it will establish the procedure for the recruitment of workers.
  • Throughout the year, the number and distribution of admissible job vacancies may be reviewed in order to adapt it to developments in the labour market.
  • After the year, if the recruitments were less than expected, the validity of the figure that remains may be extended. 
  • The workers:  
  • Not to be found or to reside in Spain. 
  • Not to be a citizen of a State of the European Union, of the European Economic Area or of Switzerland, or a family member of a citizen of those countries to which the regime of citizen of the Union applies.
  • Lack of criminal records in Spain and in its previous countries of residence, during the last five years, for crimes existing in the Spanish legislation.
  • Not to appear as rejectable in the territorial space of countries with which Spain has signed an agreement in this regard.
  • Not to be found, where appropriate, within the commitment period of no return to Spain that the foreign person has assumed when voluntarily returning to their country of origin.
  • That the corresponding Order regulating the collective management of contracts at source allows the contracting of the foreign worker.
  • Not to suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious, public health consequences in accordance with the 2005 International Health Regulations.
  • In seasonal jobs, commitment to return to the country of origin.
  • The employers:  
  • Present generic offers, in which workers are selected in their countries of origin, which will preferably be with which Spain has signed agreements on the regulation and management of migratory flows.
  • The offers may be presented by employers or by whoever has the legal representation which, in this case, may also be business organizations.
  • Employment contracts must be signed and contain, in addition to the essential elements required by the rule, a forecast of the net wage to be received by the worker.

PROCEDURE 

  • The Order of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration regulating the collective management of contracts of origin for the corresponding year will establish the procedure for processing the offers.
  • Selection process:  
  • Employers may participate directly or indirectly at their request, representatives of the General Directorate of Migration Management, and as advisors and when the Administrations of both countries request it, representatives of the most representative trade union and business organizations in Spain or the country in which the selection process takes place.
  • The requesting employer must be registered in the regime of the Social Security system and be aware of the fulfillment of their tax obligations and against the Social Security.
  • Training courses can be developed in Spain or in the countries of origin aimed at the selected workers.
  • Residence and work visa of workers:  
  • The maximum period for submitting the application is two months following notification of the decision granting the temporary residence and work permit.
  • The visa application shall be submitted to the competent Diplomatic Mission or Consular Office by the worker or, on his behalf, the employer, the business organization or the duly accredited representatives.

The appointment of a representative for this procedure, when it is different from those mentioned above, will be made in the document established as annex II in Order ISM/1488/2024, of December 27, which may be stamped by the area, unit or Office of Foreigners, by the General Directorate of Migration Management, the Ministry or Section of Work, Migration and Social Security of the Diplomatic Mission in question or by the Consular Office where it must be presented.

The application will be accompanied in a consolidated manner by the following documentation:

  • Official national visa application form signed by the interested party or by their representative.
  • A recent photograph, of card size, in color.
  • Ordinary passport or travel title, recognized as valid in Spain, with a minimum validity of one year.
  • Certificate of criminal record issued by the authorities of the country of origin or of the country or countries in which you have resided, during the last five years, for crimes existing in the Spanish legislation.
  • Medical certificate.
  • Resolution of granting the authorization of temporary residence and work.
  • Contract signed by both parties.
  • In the case of circular migration, commitment of return signed by the working person.
  • In the case of presentation of the application through a representative, document that accredits such representation.
  • Payment of the visa fee and proof of payment of the other fees required.
  • The visa will be issued by the consular authority within a maximum period of five habile dayss. Exceptionally, this period may be extended to a maximum of fifteen days when the large number of applications makes it essential.
  • The validity of the visa: In a seasonal activity, the visa may be issued for the duration of the authorised annual activity period.
  • In stable activities, it will be equal to the period authorized to reside and work on behalf of others, with the maximum limit of one year in the event that the authorization is granted for a longer period.
  • Effectiveness of residence and work authorization:  
  • In seasonal activities, the employer must proceed to discharge in the corresponding Social Security regime within a maximum period of three days from the entry into Spain of the worker. If the employer does not register the worker within this period, it may be agreed to withdraw the authorization and declare its extinction.
  • In activities of a stable nature, in three months from the date of entry, the corresponding social security scheme must be discharged.

https://extranjeros.inclusion.gob.es/es/InformacionInteres/InformacionProcedimientos/Ciudadanosnocomunitarios/hoja052/index.html 

COUNTRIES WITH WHICH SPAIN HAS SIGNED AGREEMENTS ON THE REGULATION AND MANAGEMENT OF MIGRATORY FLOWS 

    • Colombia
    • Ecuador
    • Honduras
    • Guatemala
      • Morocco
      • Mauritania
        • Dominican Republic
        • Ukraine

         

        COUNTRIES WITH WHICH SPAIN HAS SIGNED COLLABORATION INSTRUMENTS IN THIS FIELD 

          • Gambia
          • Guinea
          • Guinea-Bissau
          • Cape Verde
          • Senegal
            • Mali
            • Niger
            • Mexico
            • El Salvador
              • Philippines
              • Paraguay
              • Argentina