Visa for Highly Qualified Workers and for Intra-company Transfers

·         Visa for Highly Qualified workers: Visa to carry out a work activity as an employee in Spain as a highly qualified professional, member of senior management personnel meeting certain criteria set forth in prevailing legislation, or as a graduate or post-graduate of a prestigious university and/or business school. 

·         Visa for Intra-company Transfers: Visa to carry out a work activity as an employee in Spain as a member of senior management personnel, a specialist or a trainee, to perform a contract, or in respect of a professional relationship, when the transfer is made within the same company or group of companies. 

• The Consulate of Spain in Chicago will consider applications for residents in this jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
• Applications are in person by appointment only. Follow these instructions:  
  

1. Send an email with the appointment request to  cog.chicago.cit@maec.es
2. Attach a PDF copy of the applicant`s ID (State ID, Driver's License, or Student ID)  
3. Include this mandatory information (emails that do not follow the below format, won't be answered):
   

• Name and last name of the applicant (for a family group, include all the applicant's names in the same email)
• Email address 
• Phone number 
• Type of visa  
• Intended dates of travel 

​ REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

1.     National visa application form.​ The applicant must complete and sign an official application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application

2.   Photo. Glued to the application form. An updated photo-paper picture, passport size,  facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face. Photographs of toddlers and babies must not show any part of the adult holding them

3.     Valid, unexpired passport. Original and photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must have a minimum validity of 1 year and contain at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.   

4.     Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction:  State ID, Driver´s License, or Student ID. 

5.     Proof of legal residence in the United States (Non-Americans). Must present one of the following documents:

• Original and copy of Permanent Resident Card (Green card)
• Valid US long-term Visa  
• Holders of B-1/B-2 visas cannot apply in the United States; they must apply in their country of permanent residence. 

6.     Authorization of Initial Residence for Highly Qualified workers (Autorización de residencia inicial para trabajadores altamente calificados)/ Authorization of Initial Residence for Intra-company Transfers (Autorización de residencia inicial para traslado intraempresarial), issued by Dirección General de Migraciones. 

7.     Criminal record check certificate. Applicants over 18 must present an original and photocopy of the criminal record check certificate issued by FBI,  It cannot be older than 6 months from the issued date, and legalized with the Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention requested to the Department of State in Washington DC.  Local State Apostille is not valid.

• The applicant must present criminal record certificates from the countries of residence of the last 5 years
• The certificates must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator. American Translators Association   https://www.atanet.org/

8.     Visa fee. For nationals of Australia, Ethiopia, Canada, the United Kingdom and others, different rates are applied based on reciprocity. Please check the complete most recent visa fees 2024  

Present the payment the day of your appointment. Only money orders are accepted, payable to the Consulate of Spain. No cash, personal checks, nor credit cards. The processing fee will not be returned even if the visa is not granted or canceled.

9.   Pre-Paid Priority/Express mail envelope from the United States Postal Services along with a tracking number. Once the visa is approved, the Consulate will return the applicant's passport inside that envelope. 

10.  Shipping Disclaimer form must be downloaded here. 

For representative (Attorney):  Copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and notarized power or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, if necessary, submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

FOR FAMILY MEMBERS 

The following family members of the worker may also obtain the visa: 

• The spouse or unmarried partner.
• Children.
  
• Relatives in the ascending line in the worker's care.
  

Family members with Authorization of Initial Residence (Autorización de residencia inicial para familiares), issued by Dirección General de Migraciones.  must submit : 

·        All the required documents specified in the above sections from 1 to 8.

·        Original and copy of birth certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator.

·        Original and copy of marriage certificate issued in the last 6 months, apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator, or any other document proving the relationship (joint taxes/bank statements)

·        Children over 18 must prove their financial dependence and civil status.

·        Relatives in the ascending line, must submit original and copy of worker birth certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator.​

The Consular Office may request additional documents