If you want to live and work in Tenerife (Spain), you need to contact the Immigration Service at the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones) and the Labor and Employment Service at the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy (Ministerio de Trabajo y Economía Social).

For EU, EEA or Swiss nationals, moving to Spain is easy and they can live, work and study in the country without restrictions.

Employees who are not from EU countries must obtain a work visa to be able to live and work in Spain. Without a work visa, a company cannot legally employ non-EU citizens.

For citizens of an African country, a work visa is required.

There are different types of work visas to Spain for different types of work and different lengths of work.

Some of the most common types of work visas are:

• Long-term work visas
• Seasonal work visas
• Au Pair visas
• EU Blue Card

How to get a visa to work in Spain?

There are many different types of Spanish work visas. Most require a visit to the Spanish embassy or consulate in the person's country of residence, although for some specific types of visas, the potential employer submits the initial application on behalf of the employee.

Working as a highly skilled worker

To work as a highly skilled worker in Spain, non-EU nationals need to find a job that is included in the list of "Shortage Occupations":

• business consultant;
• doctors
• engineers
• marketers;
• company/business managers;
• translators
• Aircraft pilots (commercial flights);
• teachers
• programmers
• general laborers
• specialists in tourism;
• sports coaches;
• construction workers
• agricultural workers;
• chefs.

These are jobs for which there is a shortage of suitable candidates in the EU. The employer must then apply for a work visa from the Ministry of Labor.

It can take up to 8 months to process a work permit application, so you need to plan ahead. After the Ministry of Labor approves the application, the embassy or consulate issues a work and residence visa.

Visa for seasonal workers

The process of obtaining a work visa for seasonal workers is similar to that for highly skilled workers. Employers must apply for a visa on behalf of the employee at the Ministry of Labor.

In addition to this process, seasonal workers must demonstrate that they are provided with appropriate accommodation, travel expenses are covered, and that they will return to their home country upon completion of their work. Visas are valid for the duration of the employment contract.

Self-employed and freelance workers

To work in Spain as a freelancer, you need to apply for a work visa at a Spanish consulate or embassy. Work visas are valid for one year, but can be extended if all conditions are still met. 

The required documentation includes:

• Proof of sufficient finances to support yourself.
• Proof of relevant skills and experience.
• Business plan (if available).
• Any contracts or commissions from companies.
• Any required licenses or registrations (industry or job-specific).

Useful resources

Spanish Immigration Portal - provides information on the different options for long-term visas to Spain