TELEWORK VISA​

July 2, 2025

​​​General Information

Before applying for a telework visa, it is necessary to obtain a NIE​It opens in new window  (Número de Identidad de Extranjero / Foreigner Identity Number). ​​

This visa is intended for foreigners who travel to Spain to carry out a remote work or professional activity for companies located outside the national territory, through the exclusive use of computer, telematics and telecommunication media and systems.

This visa does not apply to citizens of the European Union or to those to whom European Union law applies. 

In the case of exercise of a labor activity, the holders of a telework authorization of international character will only be able to work for companies located outside the national territory.

In the case of exercise of a professional activity, the holders of a telework authorization of international character will be allowed to work for a company located in Spain, as long as the percentage of the above-mentioned work does not exceed 20% of the total of his/her professional activity.

Qualified professionals may apply for a visa or telework authorization if they accredit being graduates or postgraduates from universities of recognized prestige, professional training and business schools of recognized prestige, or a minimum of 3 years of professional experience.

The following family members of the worker may also obtain a family visa: 
  • ​The spouse or unmarried partner.
  • Children and adult children who are financially dependent on the worker and who have not created a family unit of their own.
  • Relatives in the ascending line under the worker's care.
FOREIGNERS WHO ARE LEGALLY IN SPAIN CAN APPLY FOR A TELEWORK RESIDENCE PERMIT DIRECTLY IN SPAIN, WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A PRIOR TELEWORK VISA. THE RESIDENCE PERMIT CAN BE VALID FOR A MAXIMUM OF THREE YEARS. IN CONTRAST, THE VISA HAS A MAXIMUM VALIDITY OF 1 YEAR. 

  • Foreigners who are legally in Spain means, among others:
    • Foreigner that are legally in Spain without the need of a visa (for example holders of a US passport ​can stay in Spain without a visa for 90 days in a period of 180 days). 
    • Foreigners that are legally in Spain with a visa (it can be any type of visa, e.g. tourist visa) during the period of the validity of the visa.
  • These foreigners can apply for the authorization of Residence to the UGECE​It opens in new window (“Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos”, del “Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones” de España – “Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit”, “Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration” of Spain). ​​

  • 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, following these instructions for BLS International:​​BLS Appointment

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 has to be 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 or babies must not show any part of the adult holding them. 

3.     Valid, unexpired passport. Original and copy 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). The applicant must be a legal resident or be enrolled in in-person studies in a center within our consular jurisdiction.

6.    Visa feeFor 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.​​​

  • U.S. citizens: $190
  • Citizens of Australia: $3166
  • Citizens of Canada: $1647
  • Citizens of Ethiopia: $535
  • Citizens of Mauritania: $276
  • Citizens of the UK: $998​
  • All other citizens: $104​

7.  Company certificate, reflecting:

  • If the worker is employed: Seniority of the worker in the company (at least 3 months), the worker’s income, and explicit permission from the company for the worker to carry out his/her job remotely from Spain. 
  • If the worker is self-employed: Length of the contractual relationship, as well as the terms and conditions under which the worker will exercise the professional activity remotely. ​The documentation must prove that the worker has had a professional relationship with one or more companies not located in Spain for at least the last three months before the date​ of the application, that the professional relationship will continue for at least 1 year while working remotely from Spain, as well as the terms and conditions under which the professional activity will be carried out remotely.​

8. Certificate of the state Division of Corporations (similar institution to the Mercantile Registry in Spain) showing the date of Constitution of the company and the type of activity performed. This certificate must prove real and continuous activity for at least 1 year of the company or group of companies with which the worker maintains a labor or professional relationship.

This document must be apostilled and submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.


9. Financial means.Documents proving sufficient own financial means, or accrediting a regular source of income for the teleworker and, where applicable, for the family members accompanying them.

​The minimum monthly required amount varies each year and is calculated according to Spain’s Minimum In​ter-professional Salary (SMI). The SMI in 2025 is 1.184€. For the year 2025, the minimum monthly required amounts are as follows:
  • If applicant is applying alone: 200% of monthly IMS = ​2.368€ per month (approx. $ 2500).
  • For the first accompanying family member: 75% of monthly IMS = 888€ per month (approx. $950) must be added.
  • For each additional family member: 25% of monthly IMS =196€ per month (approx. $315) must be added. 
These amounts can be accredited, among others, with a contract, certificate of the company, etc.

10.  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 dateand 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/

If the applicant has spent six months or more during the last five years in another country, he/she must submit the police records from that country/State, legalized with the Apostille Certification and translated into Spanish. If the country is not part of the Hague Convention the document must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Spanish Consulate in that country.

11. A responsible declaration of the absence of criminal records penalties of the last 5 years.

12. Proof of public or private health insurance from an insurer recognized and authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance must cover all risks normally covered for nationals and must be maintained for the entire duration of the authorization.

It must cover at least all the preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation assistance activities that are carried out in health centers or socio-health centers, as well as urgent health transport.

It must be health insurance (not travel). Therefore, it is not necessary to cover repatriations and/or evacuations.

The health insurance must not have a deficiency, copayment, or coverage limit, that is, it must cover 100% of the medical, hospital, and out-of-hospital expenses.

13. Proof of coverage in the Spanish Social Security systemIt can be one of the following documents:


  • Proof of registration of the company in the Spanish Social Security System, or;
  • Proof of registration (or having requested registration) of the teleworker as a Self-Employed worker (RETA: Régimen de Trabajadores Autónomos de la Seguridad Social española) in the Spanish Social Security System.​
Please note that, if you do not have (as a non-resident foreigner) an electronic certificate or CLAVE, you will not be able to make the electronic registration request or obtain the above-mentioned proof. In this case, you can obtain it through an authorized legal representative in Spain who will use a valid electronic certificate to interact and carry out all types of procedures with the Spanish administration.

14.- Responsible declaration of the worker (or the company) where the commitment appears, prior to the start of the work or professional activity, to comply with the obligations of the Spanish Social Security System.

The responsible declaration must be submitted in Spanish (or with an official translation into Spanish). A recommended model can be found here​Declaracion Responsable cumplimiento SS Esp Eng.pdf


15.- Copy of the degree or documentation that proves a professional experience of at least 3 years.

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be apostilled or legalized and must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

To practice a regulated profession, the approval of the qualification necessary for its practice must be accredited.

If there are doubts about the equivalence of a vocational training degree in the Spanish educational system, accreditation of the validation of the degree before the competent educational authority may be required.

A visa for teleworking cannot be granted when the conditions of the application coincide with those of the Visa for Intra-Company transfer.​

Required documents for family members:

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All the required documents specified in sections 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11 y 12. In the case of minors, the visa application must be signed by one of their parents or by a duly accredited representative. 

2.     Documents proving family relationship with the teleworker: birth or marriage certificates issued by the civil registry, certificate of registration as an unmarried couple or any other document proving that the relationship is an unregistered partnership. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.

3.     In the case of adult decedents, documents proving their financial dependence and civil status. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.

4.     In the case of relatives in the ascending line, documents proving they are in the teleworker's care. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.

When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.

Procedure :

This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district.

Who can apply for a permit: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant, or by one of their parents if they are a minor. They may also be submitted through a duly accredited representative.

Place of submission:

BLS Internacional in Chicago

 121 W Wacker Dr, St 1307, Chicago IL 60601, USA 



Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es

Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.

Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is 10 days as of the day after the submission date of the application, but this period may be extended when an interview or additional documents are requested.

Collecting the visa: The visa must be collected in person by the applicant or by their representative within a maximum period of 1 month, counted as of the day after the date on which the favorable decision is notified. The Consular Office will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation.  

Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.

Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideratio​​​n appeal.​

Validity period of the visa: The visa is valid for 1 year.

The visa accredits residence in Spain during its validity period, making it unnecessary to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card. However, this card may be applied for at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the corresponding Police Station.



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