The requirements for the recruitment of Highly Qualified Professionals in Spain have recently been made more flexible in Spain, a country that, like many others, is committed to technological innovation and entrepreneurship, which requires Highly Qualified Professionals, including telecommunications engineers, computer and industrial engineers, cybersecurity experts, architects, economists, managers and other profiles in high demand by companies today.

By means of Law 14/2013, on support for entrepreneurs and their internationalisation, and specifically in its latest wording as amended by Law 28/2022, on the promotion of the start-up ecosystem, the entry and stay in Spanish territory of certain groups and their family members who meet the requirements established by law, and who do not represent a threat to public order, public safety, public health or national security, is facilitated.

In this regard, technology companies, startups and others in general that require the incorporation in Spanish territory of foreign professionals to carry out a highly qualified activity (incorporation of Highly Qualified Workers) may apply for their residence permit, or the professionals themselves may do so, when they meet the following requirements for the recruitment of Highly Qualified Professionals in Spain:

• the activity to be performed requires a qualification equivalent to level 1 of the Spanish Framework of Qualifications for Higher Education, which corresponds to level 5A of the Spanish Framework of Qualifications for Lifelong Learning, or
• accredit highly qualified knowledge, skills and competences through work experience of at least 3 years, under the terms established by law.

Hiring highly qualified foreign workers in Spain is very simple, following the reform of Law 14/2013, which supports entrepreneurs and their internationalisation. Covering highly sought-after profiles such as engineers, programmers, cybersecurity experts, architects, etc., is simple and quick, bringing foreign experts to your company in Spain. Contact us so that we can help you obtain a residence permit for these highly qualified foreign workers, so that you can incorporate them into your company with guarantees.

The duration of the national residence permit for Highly Qualified Professionals is:

• 3 years, or
• equal to the duration of the contract plus 3 additional months if this is less than 3 years,
• renewal for 2 years can be requested within 60 days before the end of the validity of the residence permit, provided that the requirements that generated the right to hire Highly Qualified Professionals are maintained.

Long-term residence permit may be obtained after 5 years of continuous residence in Spain, if the requirements are met by the Highly Qualified Professional.

It is important to bear in mind that the requirements for the recruitment of Highly Qualified Professionals do not include passing the filter of the spanish national employment situation, so the recruitment of this type of highly qualified foreign professionals is quick, relatively simple and ideal for technological and innovative companies, startups and other companies in general, which require this type of highly qualified professional profiles, which are not easy to find at present. For example, the Technology Park of Andalusia (Malaga TechPark) currently has a high demand for Highly Qualified Professionals (telecommunications engineers, computer engineers, industrial engineers, mathematicians, programmers, etc.), with a very high growth of national and international companies, not being enough with the number of engineers graduated from the University of Malaga, having these companies a great opportunity to hire this type of profiles that offer foreign workers willing to move to live and work in a city like Malaga.

Thus, Directive (EU) 2021/1883 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment has established a new regulatory regime for the entry and residence of highly qualified foreign workers in Spain in the European Union, which allows them to be attracted and recruited through faster procedures, more flexible and inclusive admission criteria and more extensive rights.

At Pérez Parras Economists & Lawyers we are experts in Immigration Law, and we have extensive experience in the recruitment of Highly Qualified Workers for companies in general, and for technology companies in particular. We know in detail the procedure and requirements for the fast and effective recruitment of foreign Highly Qualified Professionals in Spain, and the obtaining of their residence permits in Spain. We have professionals with double degrees in Immigration Law and Engineering who know the details of the job profiles of Highly Qualified Professionals, and professionals with double degrees in Law and Economics who are experts in international taxation, for the tax return of residents, tax return of non-residents and workers to whom the Beckham Law applies. Do not hesitate to contact Pérez Parras Economists and Lawyers, with offices in the centre of Málaga and Nerja, if you wish to incorporate Highly Qualified Foreign Professionals in the staff of your company.