Employment Visa

Visa for individuals over 16 years old who plan to carry out paid employment in Spain under a labor contract. Seasonal work activities are included.

Required Documents

Legalization and Translation: All foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled. If they are in a language other than Spanish, they must be accompanied by an official translation.
National Visa Application Form: Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application form in all sections. If the applicant is a minor, a parent or legal guardian must sign.
Photograph: One recent, passport-size color photograph with a light background, taken from the front, without dark glasses, glare, or clothing that hides the face.
Valid Passport: Original and a photocopy of the biometric data page(s). The passport must be valid for at least one year and have two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.
Initial Residence and Employment Authorization: Original and copy of the authorization for residence and employment signed by the employer.
Criminal Record Certificate: Required for applicants above the age of criminal responsibility. Submit the original and a copy, covering the last five years of residency. It must be translated and legalized.
Medical Certificate: Original and a copy proving the applicant does not suffer from diseases that could pose serious public health risks under the 2005 International Health Regulations. All documents must be translated into Spanish. (Accredited hospital list available.)
Proof of Residence in the Consular District: Original and photocopy of a document verifying residence within the consular jurisdiction. For Chinese applicants: Hukou—original, all pages copied, and translated into Spanish.
Proof of Identity and Authority of Representative: If the applicant is a minor, present the original and a copy of the parent's or guardian's ID/passport and proof of the family relationship.
Visa Fee Payment: The fee is the equivalent of €90, plus the BLS handling charge (amount updated in RMB in section 14 of the consular webpage).

The Consular Office may request additional documents or information, and can summon the applicant for a personal interview if necessary.

Procedure

Jurisdiction: This Consular Office is responsible for processing visa applications from individuals residing within its consular district.
Who Can Submit the Application: The visa application must be submitted personally by the applicant. If the applicant is a minor, one of their legal guardians may submit it. Submission by a duly authorized representative is allowed only in justified cases, subject to consular evaluation.
Deadline to Apply: The visa must be requested within one month from the day following the employer's notification of a favorable decision on the initial residence and work authorization.
Submission Location: An appointment is required via the BLS Visa Application Center: https://web.blscn.cn/
Proof of Submission: The Consular Office will issue a receipt with a code that allows you to track your application status via this portal: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es
Correction of Application: If necessary, the Consulate may ask the applicant to submit missing documents, additional information, or attend a personal interview.
Decision Timeline: The legal time limit for a decision is one month from the day after the application is submitted.
Visa Collection: The visa must be collected in person by the applicant or their legal representative (if a minor), without an appointment. Passport delivery will follow the procedure agreed upon with BLS during submission.
Visa Denial: If the visa is denied, a written explanation stating the grounds for the decision will be provided.
Appeals:

A reconsideration appeal (recurso de reposición) may be filed with the Consular Office within 1 month of receiving the denial.
Alternatively, a judicial appeal can be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within 2 months of notification of the visa denial or the rejection of the reconsideration appeal.

Visa Validity:

If the initial residence and work authorization is 6 months or less, the visa will be valid for up to 180 days.
If it exceeds 6 months, the visa will be valid for 365 days.
Upon arriving in Spain, the worker must register with Social Security before starting their job.
If the authorization is for more than 6 months, the applicant must request a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) at the corresponding Foreigners' Office or Police Station within 1 month of Social Security registration.
For seasonal contracts, the visa will cover the entire authorized work and residence period, up to 270 days. The employer must register the worker with Social Security within 3 days of entry into Spain, and the TIE must be requested within 1 month of that registration.