SPAIN VISAS
Highly Qualified Professional Visa Spain (HQP / PAC)
The Highly Qualified Professional Visa lets non-EU executives, managers and specialists live and work in Spain on a fast-track route, without a labour market test.
GETTING STARTED
What Is the Highly Qualified Professional Visa in Spain
The Highly Qualified Professional visa, known in Spain as PAC, is for non-EU nationals hired into senior, technical or managerial roles by a Spanish company. It's processed centrally through the Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones rather than through the standard regional immigration offices, which is what makes it faster than most other routes. The initial permit is valid for three years and renewable.
HQP vs Cuenta Ajena: Why This Route Exists
Spain's standard employee route, cuenta ajena, requires your employer to prove the role couldn't be filled locally. The HQP route skips that step entirely, on the basis that the role and salary already demonstrate a level of qualification the local market can't easily match. If your role and salary don't meet the HQP thresholds, cuenta ajena is usually the right route instead.
The Official Name: Profesional Altamente Cualificado (PAC)
In Spanish law, this visa is called Profesional Altamente Cualificado, or PAC. "HQP" is the English shorthand used internationally, but PAC is the term that actually appears in your application and in the legislation. Knowing this matters because it's what your employer's HR team and Spanish authorities will refer to.
National HQP Visa vs EU Blue Card: Article 71 vs Article 71 Bis
Spain actually offers two versions of this visa under the same law. The national HQP route sits under Article 71 of Law 14/2013. The EU Blue Card sits under Article 71 bis, added in 2023. They look similar on paper, but they're calculated differently, particularly on salary, which is where most people get confused. We'll cover that distinction in detail further down.
REQUIREMENTS
Highly Qualified Professional Visa Spain Requirements
01
Qualifications and Experience You Need
You'll generally need a university degree relevant to the role, or at least three years of equivalent professional experience. Graduates from recognised business schools or universities also qualify under a separate criterion. Roles must fall within Groups 1 and 2 of Spain's CNO-11 occupation classification, broadly meaning directors and managers, or scientific and intellectual professionals. There's no single "correct" path here, it depends on how your background matches the role.
02
The Job Offer and Employer Criteria
Your employer needs to show the role genuinely requires high-level qualification, and that the company meets the criteria for this route, typically company size, turnover, or belonging to a strategic sector. This is assessed case by case, not against a fixed checklist, which is part of why the paperwork matters more here than in most visa routes.
03
Highly Qualified Professional Visa Salary Thresholds in Spain
Salary thresholds are set by role type. Directors and managers need a gross annual salary of around €54,142. Other qualified professionals, technical and scientific roles, need around €40,077. Applicants under 30 may qualify for a 25% reduction on these thresholds, and a reduced threshold can also apply to strategic-sector SME hires, though both are assessed individually rather than applied automatically.
THE PROCESS
How the HQP Visa Application Process Works
01
Applying Through the UGE-CE Fast-Track Unit
Applications go through the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos, or UGE-CE, a centralised unit within the Ministerio de Inclusión set up specifically to process this type of authorisation. Everything is submitted electronically, which is part of why this route moves faster than the regional offices handling standard work visas.
02
Highly Qualified Professional Visa Spain Processing Time
The UGE-CE has 20 working days to resolve your application. If they don't respond within that window, Spanish administrative law treats the application as approved by default, known as silencio administrativo positivo. In practice, this gives HQP applicants a level of certainty that the standard work visa route doesn't offer.
03
Documents Needed for Your PAC Application
Typically:
- Signed employment contract or firm job offer
- Proof of qualifications or equivalent professional experience
- Company documentation showing the employer meets HQP criteria
- Valid passport
- Criminal record certificate
- Proof of private health insurance valid in Spain
Exact documentation depends on your specific profile and role, so this is a starting point, not a final list.
WHY HQP
Benefits of the Highly Qualified Professional Visa
No Labour Market Test Required
Unlike the standard cuenta ajena route, your employer doesn't need to prove no EU candidate was available for the role. This alone is often the deciding factor for companies choosing HQP over the standard route.
Bringing Family: Spouses, Children and Dependent Relatives
Spouses, dependent children and, in some cases, dependent ascending relatives can apply alongside you, with the right to work included. Families don't need to file separate, unrelated applications.
Beckham Law: Tax Benefits for HQP Visa Holders
HQP visa holders may qualify for Spain's Beckham Law regime, a flat 24% tax rate on Spanish-sourced income up to €600,000 a year, instead of standard progressive income tax. Whether this applies to your specific case depends on your circumstances, so it's worth confirming early, not after you've already started working in Spain.
HQP OR BLUE CARD
HQP Visa vs EU Blue Card: Which One Fits Your Case
Salary Calculation Differences Between the Two Routes
The national HQP route uses fixed salary figures, the ones above. The EU Blue Card works differently: the threshold is set as a multiple of Spain's average gross salary, published by the national statistics institute, and it's updated periodically rather than fixed in law. In practice, this means the two routes can produce different salary requirements for what looks like the same job, which is exactly the kind of detail worth getting a second opinion on before you commit to one application.
When the EU Blue Card Makes More Sense
The Blue Card's main advantage is EU mobility: after a period working in Spain, holders can move to work in another EU country under the same status. If your role is genuinely Spain-only, the national HQP route is usually simpler. If mobility across the EU matters to your career plans, the Blue Card is worth weighing seriously.
WHY PONTE
Why Work With Ponte on Your HQP Visa
Legal Expertise Across Portugal, Spain and Brazil
We don't start by assuming you need the HQP route just because your role sounds senior. We look at your qualifications, your employer's profile and your salary against both the national and EU Blue Card criteria, and tell you honestly which one actually fits, even when that means recommending the simpler option.
A Clear Quote Within 24 Business Hours
You'll have a clear quote within 24 business hours, plus a free first Strategy Session to talk through your specific case before committing to anything.
NEXT STEPS
Don't Meet the HQP Salary Thresholds? Cuenta Ajena May Still Apply
If your role or salary don't reach the HQP thresholds, the standard work and residence permit route is usually the right fit instead, subject to a labour market test rather than the fast-track process covered above.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Highly Qualified Professional Visa
What are the requirements for a Highly Qualified Professional visa in Spain?
You'll need a job offer or professional relationship with a Spanish company, qualifications matching the role (a degree or equivalent experience), and a salary meeting the applicable threshold for your role type.
What are the requirements for a Highly Skilled Professional visa?
This is the same visa, HQP, sometimes referred to as "highly skilled" rather than "highly qualified" depending on the source. The requirements are identical: qualification, job offer and salary threshold.
How long does the HQP visa processing time take?
The UGE-CE has 20 working days to decide. If they miss that deadline, the application is treated as approved by default under Spanish administrative law.
What's the difference between the HQP visa and the EU Blue Card?
Both fall under Spain's highly qualified professional framework, but they're governed by different articles of the same law and calculate the salary threshold differently. The Blue Card also allows easier mobility to other EU countries later on.
Book Your Free Strategy Session for Your Spain HQP Visa Case
Not sure if your role and salary meet the HQP thresholds? Book a free Strategy Session and we'll confirm exactly which route fits your case.