Employee Work Visa (Visado de trabajo por cuenta ajena)

Spain's Employee Work Visa (cuenta ajena) lets third-country nationals work for a Spanish employer. The employer must first secure work authorization from Spain's labor authorities, confirming the role cannot be filled locally. It covers roles from industrial and agricultural to technical and administrative.

The authorization is tied to the specific employer and role; changing employers requires formal approval. Stay matches the contract duration, typically 1 year and renewable. After 5 years of continuous legal work, holders qualify for long-term residency. Family reunification is available after year one.

This visa is ideal for non-EU/EEA workers outside Spain with a formal employment contract with a Spanish company seeking a stable, renewable work pathway with full labor rights.