Sheet 4 bis - Access to employment for persons holding a long-term residence permit for studies, student mobility, voluntary services or training activities

* 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

  • Authorization of work for someone else
  • Authorization of self-employment

 

  • The activities must be compatible with the authorization of long-term stay and not exceed 30 hours, except in the case of intensive professional training that will be determined by the sectoral legislation. Failure to comply with this limit will result in the expiry of the long-term stay authorization.
  • The authorization will be limited geographically to an autonomous community. However, work activities can be carried out in localities of another Autonomous Community that are bordering.
  • The validity of the authorization to work will coincide with that of the authorization of long-term stay. The loss or refusal of the extension of the authorization of the long stay will cause the expiration of the authorization to work.
  • The authorisations to work shall be extended ex officio by the competent body if the circumstances giving rise to the previous concession persist, provided that the extension of the long-stay authorisation has been obtained.

In the case of the authorization of long-term stay for higher education or post-compulsory secondary education, in addition:

 

  • The long-term stay authorization obtained for higher studies will authorize work on own account and on behalf of others, automatically and without the need for an additional procedure provided that this activity is compatible with the performance of these studies.
  • The long-term stay authorization obtained for post-compulsory secondary education studies shall automatically authorise, without the need for any additional procedure, the development of training activities in a company or a comparable body, in accordance with the requirements and conditions of the sectoral legislation, in the event that they are carried out within the framework of general or intensive vocational training in the intermediate and higher levels of training, as well as in vocational training leading to the obtaining of professional certificates.
  • In the rest of the cases, the foreign person may be authorized to exercise a paid activity for an employed or self-employed person within the limits mentioned.
  • No additional authorization will be required to conduct curriculum practices that are part of the curriculum. This point will also apply to the authorization of long-term stay to participate in a student mobility program.

 

WORK AUTHORIZATION FOR EMPLOYED PERSONS

EXIGIBLE DOCUMENTATION

Note: in general, copies of the documents must be provided and the originals must be displayed at the time of submitting the application.

  • The tax identification number and, in the event that the company is incorporated as a legal person, a public document that grants its legal representation in favor of the person who makes the request. If the employer is a natural person, he/she will not be required to present the tax identification number if he/she agrees to the verification of his/her data through the Identity Data Verification System.
  • Copy of the work contract, in an established official model.
  • The documents accrediting the economic, material or personal means available to you for your business project and to meet the obligations arising from the contract signed with the foreign worker.
  • Copia del pasaporte completo o documento de viaje en vigor de la persona trabajadora extranjera.
  • Documentation accrediting the training, and, where appropriate, the professional qualification legally required for the exercise of the profession, where appropriate, homologated qualification and certification of tuition.
  • Documentation accrediting the compatibility of studies with work activity.

Important note: when documents are provided from other countries they must be translated into Spanish or co-official language of the territory where the application is submitted by a sworn translator.

List of sworn translators.

On the other hand, any foreign public document must be previously legalized by the Consular Office of Spain with jurisdiction in the country in which the document has been issued or, where appropriate, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation except in the case where the document has been apostilled by the competent authority of the issuing country in accordance with the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 and unless the document is exempt from legalization under the International Convention.

Information on translation and legalization of documents.

PROCEDURE

  • Subject legitimated to submit the application: the employer, personally, or through having attributed the legal representation of the company, must submit the corresponding application for initial authorization of residence and work for others.

          Information sheet on legitimated subjects.

  • Place of presentation:
    • In person, in the Immigration Office of the province where the work center is located.

                  Address information, telephone numbers and hours of service to the public.

  • Corresponding fee: if the work authorization lasts for six months or more, it will accrue at the time of admission of the application and must be paid by the employer within ten working days:
    • Model 790 code 062, section 3.2. “Processing of work authorizations on behalf of others”.

The form for the subscription can be downloaded from this page.

  • Deadline for the resolution of the application: three months from the day following the date on which it entered the register of the competent body for processing. Once this period has elapsed without the Administration having made the notification, it may be understood that the request has been dismissed by administrative silence (When it has not been possible to notify the resolution, it will be announced in the Single Edictal Board (TEU). If you have opted for electronic notarization or if you are legally obliged to use this medium, the resolution will be notified by publication in the electronic headquarters. If the resolution is not accessed within ten calendar days of its publication, it will be given as notified).

 

SELF-EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:

Note: in general, copies of the documents must be provided and the originals must be displayed at the time of submitting the application.

  • Full passport or travel document or in force.
  • Documentation accrediting the training, and, where appropriate, the professional qualification legally required for the exercise of the profession, where appropriate, homologated qualification and certification of tuition.
  • Documentation accrediting the compatibility of studies with work activity.
  • In retail commercial activities and provision of the services listed in the Annex to Law 12/2012, which are carried out in permanent establishments, whose useful area is equal to or less than 750 square meters, responsible declaration or prior communication (in the terms of article 69 of Law 39/2015) and, where appropriate, proof of payment of the corresponding tax.

In the rest of the activities and services of professional services, list of authorizations or licenses required for the installation, opening or operation of the planned activity or for the professional exercise, indicating the situation in which the procedures for its achievement are found, including, where appropriate, the application certifications before the corresponding bodies.

  • Copy of the documentation proving the sufficiency of the investment foreseen for the implementation of the project and on the impact, where appropriate, on the creation of employment, including as such self-employment which,

Regardless of their justification by other means admissible in law, they can be accredited by the valuation report issued by one of the following organizations:

    • National Federation of Employers' and Self-Employed Workers' Associations (ATA)
    • Union of Professionals and Self-Employed Workers (UPTA)
    • Intersectoral Confederation of Spanish Self-Employed Persons (CIAE)
    • Organization of Professionals and Self-Employed Persons (OPA)
    • Union of Associations of Self-Employed Workers and Entrepreneurs (UATAE)

 

Important note: when documents are provided from other countries they must be translated into Spanish or co-official language of the territory where the application is submitted by a sworn translator.

 

List of sworn translators.

On the other hand, any foreign public document must be previously legalized by the Consular Office of Spain with jurisdiction in the country in which the document has been issued or, where appropriate, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation except in the case where the document has been apostilled by the competent authority of the issuing country in accordance with the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 and unless the document is exempt from legalization under the International Convention.

Information on translation and legalization of documents.

PROCEDURE  

  • Subject legitimated to submit the application: the foreign student person personally or through representation.

         Information sheet on legitimated subjects.

  • Place of presentation:
    • In person, at the Immigration Office of the province where he/she has his/her domicile.

                   Address information, telephone numbers and hours of service to the public.

  • Corresponding fee: if the work authorization has a duration equal to or greater than six months, it will accrue at the time of admission to the processing of the application and must be paid by the student within ten working days:
    • Model 790 code 062, section 3.3. “Processing of work authorizations on its own account”.

The form for the subscription can be downloaded from this page.

  • Deadline for the resolution of the application: three months from the day following the date on which it entered the register of the competent body for processing. Once this period has elapsed without the Administration having made the notification, it may be understood that the request has been dismissed by administrative silence (When it has not been possible to notify the resolution, it will be announced in the Single Edictal Board (TEU). If you have opted for electronic notification or if you are legally obliged to use that medium, the resolution will be notified by publication in the electronic headquarters. If the resolution is not accessed within ten calendar days of its publication, it will be given as notified).