Quick Facts
- Processing: 20 business days
- Duration: Up to 3 years (or contract length)
- Who qualifies: Scientists, professors, PhD students, research staff
- Family: Included with full work rights
- Employer type: Universities, research centers, R&D institutions
- Labor market test: Not required
What is the Researcher visa
The Researcher Visa provides a fast path into Spain for scientists, professors, and research staff taking positions at universities and research institutions. It’s part of Spain’s Entrepreneur Law (Ley 14/2013), which created streamlined immigration routes to attract international talent in academia and R&D.
What makes this visa different from standard work permits is that your institution handles most of the process. They apply to UGE for authorization to hire you, and once that’s approved, you simply apply for your visa at the Spanish consulate. Processing takes about 20 business days, and permits can last up to 3 years.
Who qualifies for the Researcher visa
The visa covers several categories of academic and research positions:
- University professors and teaching faculty at Spanish institutions
- Research scientists and investigators at public or private R&D organizations
- PhD students conducting research as part of their doctoral programs
- Scientific and technical staff working at research centers and institutes
The common thread is that your work involves research or teaching at a qualifying academic or scientific institution. Corporate R&D departments at regular companies don’t qualify under this visa. If you’re taking a research-oriented role at a tech company or pharmaceutical firm, you would use the Highly Qualified Professional visa instead.
Requirements
- Hosting agreement signed with a Spanish research institution
- Your institution must first obtain authorization from UGE to hire you
- Criminal record check covering all countries where you’ve lived in the last 5 years
- Private health insurance that meets Spanish visa standards
- Proof of sufficient financial resources to support yourself during your stay
- Passport valid for at least 1 year with at least two blank pages
The hosting agreement is the centerpiece of your application. It’s a formal contract between you and the institution that spells out the research project or teaching role, the duration of your position, and how your work will be funded. Your university or research center prepares this document as part of their recruitment process.
How the process works
- Your institution submits an application to UGE requesting authorization to hire you as a researcher
- UGE reviews the request and grants approval within 20 business days
- You apply for your visa at the Spanish consulate in your home country
- After arriving in Spain, you apply for your TIE residence card within 30 days
The institution-driven process makes this visa easier for researchers who want to focus on their work rather than immigration paperwork. Your university’s international office initiates the authorization request, and you join at the consulate stage once approval comes through.
Bringing your family to Spain
Your spouse or domestic partner, children, and dependent parents can all be included in your Researcher visa application. They receive residence permits that allow them to live and work in Spain immediately, rather than waiting for a separate family reunification process that can take months.
For academics with families, this is a significant benefit. You’re not asking your partner to put their career on hold while waiting for work authorization, and your family can settle into life in Spain together from the start.
Which institutions qualify
The Researcher visa works with public and private institutions that engage in research and development:
- Public universities such as Universidad Complutense, Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Universitat Pompeu Fabra
- Private universities and business schools with research programs
- CSIC (Spain’s National Research Council) and its affiliated research centers
- Hospital research units and medical research institutes
- Private R&D institutions and scientific foundations
If you’re unsure whether your institution qualifies, ask them if they’ve sponsored researchers under this visa before. Most established Spanish universities and research centers have experience with the process and international offices that handle these applications regularly.
Researcher visa for PhD students
If you’re pursuing a PhD that involves research work, and most doctoral programs do, you have the option to apply for a Researcher visa instead of a Student visa. The advantages are significant: the Researcher visa offers a longer initial permit duration, and your family members receive work authorization immediately.
Talk to your doctoral program coordinator about which visa makes sense for your situation. If your PhD is primarily research-based and funded through a research grant or assistantship, the Researcher visa is often the better choice.
Path to long-term residency
Time spent in Spain on a Researcher visa counts toward permanent residency, which you can apply for after 5 years of continuous legal residence. It also counts toward Spanish citizenship, which requires 10 years for most nationalities but only 2 years for citizens of Latin American countries, the Philippines, Portugal, and several other nations with historical ties to Spain.
If you’re planning a long-term academic career in Spain, the Researcher visa is your entry point to building permanent status.
What we handle
We coordinate between you and your institution to ensure all the paperwork comes together correctly. While universities often have international offices that manage researcher visas, they’re not always immigration specialists, and gaps can occur. We fill those gaps.
We prepare your consulate application, help you navigate the criminal record requirements that vary by country, and ensure that your family members’ applications are submitted correctly alongside yours.
Have a research position in Spain?
Book a consultation to start the visa process and coordinate with your institution.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work outside the university or research center?
The Researcher visa is tied to your research position at the sponsoring institution. You can engage in related activities like consulting, guest lectures at other institutions, or conference presentations, but your primary activity must be the research or teaching you were authorized for.
What if my research contract is only 1 year?
Your visa duration matches your contract length. For a 1-year contract, you receive a 1-year visa. If your contract is extended, you can renew the visa accordingly. Many researchers renew their permits multiple times over the course of postdoctoral positions or multi-year projects.
Do I need to speak Spanish to get the visa?
Spanish language proficiency is not required for the visa itself. Whether you need Spanish for your work depends on your institution and field. Many research environments in Spain, particularly in STEM fields, operate primarily in English.
Can my spouse work in Spain?
Yes. Family members included in your Researcher visa application receive residence permits with full work authorization. Your spouse can work for any employer in Spain without needing a separate work permit.
What’s the difference between the Researcher visa and Student visa for a PhD?
The Researcher visa offers longer initial permit durations, and family members get work rights from the start. The Student visa has more limited work hours for the student and no initial work authorization for family. If your PhD involves substantial research activity, the Researcher visa is typically the better option.