The residence permit for highly qualified professionals (PAC) is a visa that allows citizens from outside the European Union to live and work legally in Spain, provided they do so in a highly qualified position.

To obtain it, the interested company offers a contract to the worker as an employee. Or there may be a contractual relationship between the company and the professional. That is to say, the worker will be self-employed, but the income from this relationship must represent 75% of his or her income.

What are the job profiles that can access the residence for highly qualified professionals (PAC)?

• Non-European citizens with higher education in a prestigious university or business school.
• People who manage a large team within a corporation.
• Employees working in highly specialized positions.

Benefits of residency for highly qualified professionals.

This visa will provide authorization to live and work in Spain for two years, renewable for two-year periods.

• Family reunification.
• Telematic processing and expedited processing (twenty days).
• Free mobility within the Schengen zone.

If the worker is outside Spain, he/she will be able to apply for a permanent residence visa once the residence for highly qualified professionals has been approved.

Who can submit the application?

The application for residence for highly qualified professionals (PAC) must be filed by the company requiring the worker’s services, or by a duly accredited legal representative of the corporation with the Large Companies and Strategic Collectives Unit (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos).

The UGD will require detailed accreditation of the position to be performed by the worker. In this case, the applicant’s company must submit a Job Description Report, i.e., a document describing the specific position to be held by the worker, as well as the duties he/she will perform in the company and the salary he/she will receive.

Important aspects for the application of residence for highly qualified professionals

To process this visa, the most important thing to consider is the worker’s experience in relation to his or her field of work.

If a company is interested in incorporating a highly qualified professional who does not belong to the European Union, it can benefit from the PAC residence regime if it is a large company or a holding company.

SMEs in a strategic sector, or a worker developing a business project of general interest, can also do so.

The company’s documentation must be submitted once and registered with the UGE-EC. It is valid for three years, renewable, if the requirements of the contract are maintained.

Does the residence for highly qualified workers allow me to work in any company in Spain?

Can I lose my residence and work authorization if I leave my position in the company where I obtained the authorization?

How long does the process take if the worker is abroad?

All these questions can be solved at Duguech&Dip. Contact us and we will schedule an appointment.

Esta información no constituye bajo ningún concepto asesoramiento jurídico, sirviendo sólo a efectos informativos. En caso de necesitar servicios profesionales en materia de Inmigración Global y Movilidad, póngase en contacto con nosotros.

*Debe tenerse en cuenta que la normativa de cualquiera de los países analizados, así como los procedimientos establecidos pueden cambiar en cualquier momento y sin previo aviso.

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