What you should know about the Spanish job-seeker visa in 2026

Spain does have a job-seeker visa, but it’s not open for any professional who wants to move and searches for work. Recently, the validity period of Spain’s job-seeker visa was extended up to 12 months – for you, we sorted out who can apply, how the application process is structured and what happens once you find a job.

Spain’s job-seeker visa in 2026

Spain's job-seeker visa (visa de búsqueda de empleo) gives eligible applicants 12 months to find employment in the country. Previously, you had only three months to settle a job, but in 2026, the period was extended up to a year.

"The 12 months will make it easier for people to find a job suited to their professional profile and, at the same time, for companies to find the professionals they need." – Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.

Numbers of Spain's job-seeker visas: The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration can establish maximums granted for:

• children or grandchildren of Spaniards of origin;
• particular occupations;
• particular geographical areas.

The rules are set out in Real Decreto 1155/2024, Spain’s current immigration regulation.

That being said, let’s find out who can get the job-seeker visa.

Eligibility for Spain’s job-seeker visa

Spain's job-seeker visa requires you to be either a child/grandchild of a Spanish-origin national, or covered by a government programme for a specific occupation and region – no other applicants qualify. Therefore, the eligibility requirements for the visa de búsqueda de empleo depend on which of these two routes applies to you.

Children and grandchildren of Spaniards of origin

The first category covers a son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter of a person who was Spanish of origin (español de origen). This is the wording used in Article 44 of Real Decreto 1155/2024.

"Spanish of origin" has a specific legal meaning. The Spanish Civil Code includes, among other cases, people born to a Spanish father or mother, as well as certain people who acquired Spanish nationality of origin because of the circumstances of their birth (BOE – Article 17 of the Civil Code).

Having a parent or grandparent who later became a naturalised Spanish citizen doesn’t necessarily put you in this category. What matters is whether that relative was legally a Spaniard of origin.

How do you prove it?

You need to establish two things:

1. that the relevant parent or grandparent was of Spanish origin;
2. your direct family relationship to that person.

In practice, you usually should collect civil-registry documents that form an unbroken family chain. For example:

• if your father or mother was of Spanish origin, you'll need your birth certificate together with Spanish civil-registry documentation showing the parents' status;
• if your grandfather or grandmother was of Spanish origin, you need documents connecting all three generations: your birth certificate, your parent's birth certificates, and documentation establishing the grandparent's Spanish status.

However, the exact list required for the job-seeker visa may change in your exact case, so verify it with the local Spanish authorities.

Workers in specific occupations and areas

Spain opens job-seeker visa slots for specific occupations and regions – not for all professionals (under Article 45 of Real Decreto 1155/2024). The important word here is specific. Being a nurse, engineer, software developer, electrician, or construction worker doesn’t automatically make you eligible.

Spain first needs to open places for a certain occupation and location. For example, if the government opened a programme for a certain type of technician in a particular province, people who met that programme’s requirements could then apply.

"Without migrants, it would be impossible to understand why Spain has been growing above the European average for several years, has more people working than ever and has recorded its lowest unemployment rate in 17 years." – Pilar Cancela, Secretary of State for Migration.

How do I know that I qualify?

Start with the GECCO section of Spain’s Ministry of Migration. This is where Spain publishes information about recruitment programmes for people coming from abroad.

When a job-seeker programme is open, you’ll see practical details:

• which professions and areas are included;
• who can apply;
• how many places are available;
• what qualifications or experience you need;
• when applications open and close;
• how to apply.

Spain has used the system before. In 2019, for example, the country opened a job-seeker visa pilot for children and grandchildren of Spaniards living in Argentina. The government published clear eligibility rules, an application period, selection criteria and the number of available places. That is the kind of announcement you need to look for.

As of August 2026, there is no open nationwide programme for the “specific occupations and areas” route. The 2026 GECCO rules allow the government to open these programmes, but they don’t currently provide a list of eligible professions, regions or an application window.

If you want to use the occupation-based route, you need to wait until Spain opens a programme that covers your profession and area. Until then, another option is to look for a Spanish employer from abroad and, if you receive a job offer, use the regular work-permit and work-visa route.

Digital nomad visa in Spain: everything you need to know.

Job-seeker permit for graduates in Spain

International graduates who completed a qualifying degree at an authorised Spanish institution can stay up to 24 months to job-search – without any special government programme. It’s different from the 12-month job-seeker visa described. For example, if you came to Spain for a bachelor’s or master’s degree and finished your studies there, this may be the route to check.

Who qualifies

You may qualify if you studied in Spain with the relevant study at an authorised institution and:

• reached at least Level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework, which is roughly university degree level;
• have health insurance;
• have enough money to support yourself*;
• meet the criminal background check and other legal requirements.

*The minimum is 100% of IPREM per month. In 2026, IPREM is 600 EUR per month (IPREM values are set annually and may change; verify the current figure). So, for a 24-month permit, you’ll need to have 14,400 EUR in total. If you have already paid for your accommodation for the whole period and can prove it, the requirement drops to 50% of IPREM – 300 EUR per month, or 7,200 EUR for 24 months;

The full official requirements are available on the Spanish Ministry of Migration website.

How to apply

You apply from inside Spain, while you still have or recently had your student status:

• during the 60 calendar days before your study authorisation expires;
• or during the 90 calendar days after it expires.

The application is submitted online through Spain’s Mercurio system. In other words, the application processing time is normally 20 days. After approval, the TIE card is the next practical step.

How long can graduates stay

The permit lets you stay in Spain for up to 24 months, as of 2026. During this time, you can:

• look for a job that matches your level of education;
• prepare a business project if you want to become self-employed or start a company.

The permit is not renewable for another 24 months, so you should use this period to find a job or move to another suitable residence status.

Working during the 24 months

You can’t work without switching to another permit type. The job-seeker permit gives you the right to stay in Spain and look for work, but it doesn’t give you permission to start working.

For example, if you find a company that wants to hire you after six months, you can’t simply start the next day. You first need to switch to the appropriate residence and work authorisation.

The same applies if you decide to start a business: you need to move to the immigration status that allows that activity.

Now, let’s get back to the 12-month job-seeker visa and its requirements.

Requirements for Spain’s job-seeker visa

In 2026, Spain's job-seeker visa applicants generally need: a valid passport or recognised travel document, criminal-record documents, a medical certificate, proof that the relevant immigration conditions are met, and proof of visa fee payment. Article 43 of Real Decreto 1155/2024 sets the baseline, while each published programme may add its own requirements.

• If you qualify through a Spanish parent or grandparent, you’ll need civil-registry records proving the family relationship and the relative’s status as a Spaniard of origin.
• If you qualify through a profession-based programme, you may need diplomas, vocational certificates, professional licences or evidence of experience. The exact requirements depend on the programme and occupation.

Always double-check the requirements on the official websites.

This is why it makes little sense to start translating, legalising and paying for documents before you know that an application route is open for you. First, find the programme. Then use its official checklist.

How to apply for Spain’s Job Seeker Visa

Applying for Spain's job-seeker visa requires five steps: confirm you fall into an eligible category, check GECCO for an open programme, follow the selection procedure, prepare the required documents, and submit your application at a Spanish consulate. Don’t prepare or pay for documents before confirming that a programme is open for your category.

Step 1. Check whether you fall into an eligible category

First, comfirm whether you are the child or grandchild of a Spaniard of origin. If you aren’t, your possible route is through a specific occupation and geographical area, in that case.

If neither route applies, the 12-month job-seeker visa is not currently an option for you. Consider looking for a job in Spain from abroad or applying to a local university.

Step 2. Check the current GECCO arrangements

Go to the official GECCO page and check current announcements as well as the 2026 GECCO rules.

If you see that Spain may issue job-seeker visas for certain occupations and areas, that only tells you that the legal mechanism exists. What you really need is an announcement saying something closer to: applications are open, these applicants can take part, these are the professions or locations covered, and this is how to register.

Step 3. Follow the selection procedure

Once you find an open programme, read its conditions carefully before preparing your visa documents.

Check whether there are rules concerning your country of residence, age, profession, education, experience or professional licence. Also, check the application dates and whether candidates must pass an interview, qualification assessment or practical test.

The programme should also explain where you register and how the selection process works.

Step 4. Prepare the required documents

After confirming that you can participate, prepare the documents listed in the official programme. Depending on your route, this can include family records, diplomas, professional certificates and the general visa documents.

Documents issued outside Spain may need an Apostille or legalisation and, where required, an official Spanish translation.

Step 5. Submit the visa application

Follow the order of steps given in the programme. A programme may first require you to register and pass the selection stage, and only then will you be allowed to book an appointment at a Spanish consulate.

The programme should also tell you which Spanish consulate handles your application and where to check the expected application processing time.

Once the visa is granted, you can travel to Spain and begin the job search.

After arrival in Spain

Your 12-month job-search period begins on arrival in Spain and you must find work before it ends. When you receive a qualifying job offer, your employer must apply for your residence and work authorisation before you can start working. Several important rules apply during this period:

• If your visa is about to expire, you can stay in Spain as long as your employer submitted the work permit authorisation application before your job-seeker visa expires.
• You need to wait for the approval. Your work authorisation must be approved first, and you must then be registered with the Spanish Social Security.
• If you don’t find a job within 12 months, the job-seeker visa doesn’t automatically renew. To stay in Spain legally, you need to qualify for another residence status; otherwise, you must leave Spain.

Tips: How to get a NIE number in Spain – requirements & process.

Sending money home after moving to Spain

If you need to send money from Spain to family or friends abroad, you can use the online transfer service, Profee. We send money to over 90 destinations – and 95% of our transfers arrive within minutes, as of 2026 (transfer speed and availability may vary by destination and payment method). You can check the exchange rate, transfer fee and the exact amount your recipient receives on the transfer page or in the Profee app.

Once you start building a social circle in Spain, you may also know other expats who regularly send money home. Profee has a referral programme: you can share your personal link or code and receive 20 EUR for each eligible friend who signs up through it and sends a total of at least 400 EUR within 30 days to one of the eligible destinations (as of August 2026). There is no limit on how many friends you can invite.

FAQ: Spanish job-seeker visa