Working in Spain
For India passport holders · Checked 2026-08-15
Spain has a real employer-led work route for Indians, but the Spanish employer must first win a residence-and-work authorisation in Spain — normally possible only if the job is on Spain's shortage list or provably unfillable locally — so direct hiring from India is uncommon.
What the employer must have
- The Spanish employer (not the worker) files the application for the initial temporary residence and work authorisation ('por cuenta ajena') with the immigration office in Spain.
- The employer must clear the 'national employment situation' gate: the occupation is on SEPE's quarterly shortage-occupation catalogue, or the employer proves the vacancy could not be filled from the local labour market.
- The employer must offer a genuine contract covering the whole authorisation period at no less than Spain's statutory minimum wage (SMI) on a full-time basis.
What you must do before you leave
- After the employer's authorisation is approved, you have 1 month to apply in person for the national work visa via the Embassy of Spain in New Delhi (or the Consulate General in Mumbai, depending on your state), with passport, police clearance certificate and medical certificate.
- Spain is NOT on India's ECR country list, so no emigration clearance is required even if your passport is ECR-stamped — there is no mandatory India-side pre-departure registration for Spain.
- If a recruiter is involved, verify they are a registered agent; a genuine Spain file always starts with an authorisation issued in Spain to your employer — never with a visa an agent 'arranges' for a fee.
Things to watch
- Spain's immigration rulebook was replaced by Royal Decree 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025 — procedures are changing, so re-check official pages before filing.
- The shortage catalogue is per-province and quarterly, currently dominated by maritime, construction and sports occupations (road-transport jobs such as truck drivers are notably absent); most ordinary jobs require the slower labour-market-test path instead.
- Counterfeit Spanish visas sold by Indian agents are a documented racket — police have arrested agents after passengers with fake Spain visas were caught at Delhi airport.
What you may lawfully be charged
THE MOST A REGISTERED RECRUITING AGENT MAY LAWFULLY CHARGE YOU is ₹30,000 plus 18% GST — ₹35,400 in total, once. Not per year, not per document.
Rule 25(1), Emigration Rules under the Emigration Act 1983.
⚠️ Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa on this route. Legitimate employers and licensed agents do not charge workers for jobs.
Official sources
This describes the immigration system, not your personal case, and not this specific vacancy.