1-year Residence permit for job search
What if you could legally move to Spain, live there for a year, attend interviews in person, and only then decide which company to work for?
Until recently, that was almost impossible. Spain’s immigration system traditionally required a job offer first and the visa later. But under the new 2025 immigration framework, a powerful new pathway has opened: the Job Search Visa.
This visa lets qualified foreign professionals live in Spain for up to 12 months purely to find work.
- No employer sponsorship.
- No pre-signed contract.
- No need to leave the country once you get hired.
If you’ve been dreaming of starting your career in Spain but were stuck at the “no job offer, no visa” barrier, this changes everything.
What Is the Job Search Visa?
The Job Search Visa is a temporary residence authorization that allows you to:
- Convert your status to a full residence and work permit once you get hired
- Stay legally in Spain for up to 12 months
- Look for work anywhere in the country
- Attend interviews and recruitment processes
Important:
You cannot work immediately. The visa is for searching, networking and securing a job. Once you receive a valid offer, you switch to a normal work permit from inside Spain.
This removes one of the biggest historical obstacles: companies no longer need to hire you from abroad.
Who Can Apply?
This visa is not open to everyone. It targets professionals in occupations where Spain has a shortage of workers.
Eligibility is linked to the shortage occupation list published by Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal (SEPE).
Typical high-demand areas include:
- Construction and skilled trades
- Healthcare
- IT and technology
- Hospitality and tourism
- Agriculture
- Maritime and transport roles
- Specialised technical professions
If your profile matches one of these shortage areas and you can prove your qualifications or experience, you may qualify.
Why This Visa Is a Game Changer
- No job offer required in advance
You enter Spain first, then search locally. - No “national employment situation” test
Normally, employers must prove they couldn’t find a candidate already in Spain. With this visa, that step is skipped when you get hired. - Faster transition to legal work
Once you receive an offer, you apply for modification to a residence and work permit directly from Spain. - Real access to the Spanish job market
You can attend in-person interviews, networking events, and trials instead of relying only on remote applications.
What Can You Do During the 12 Months?
- Apply to jobs across Spain
- Register with employment offices and job portals
- Attend interviews and selection processes
- Negotiate and sign an employment contract
- Start the legal change to a work permit before the visa expires
Think of it as a legally protected landing period to build your career on Spanish soil.
Documents You’ll Typically Need
- National visa application form
- Passport valid for at least one year
- Criminal record certificates
- Medical certificate
- Proof of professional qualifications or experience in a shortage occupation
- Properly translated and legalised documents where required
We help you prepare these documents for your successful Job Seeker Visa application. It is submitted at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence. Decisions usually take around one to one and a half months.
What Happens When You Get a Job?
As soon as you receive a valid job offer:
- You submit an application to modify your status to residence and work.
- The employer proves they can legally hire you.
- Once approved, you can start working fully legally in Spain.
You do not need to leave the country or start the visa process again from scratch.
How Is This Different From Other Spanish Visas?
- Unlike a normal work visa: you don’t need an employer first.
- Unlike a student visa: you’re not limited to part-time work during studies.
- Unlike a digital nomad visa: you are aiming to join the Spanish labour market, not work remotely for foreign companies.
It is specifically designed for professionals who want to integrate into Spain’s local job market.
Common Reasons for Refusal
- Inability to prove your profession matches a shortage occupation
- Missing sworn translations or legalisations
- Insufficient or poorly documented qualifications/experience
- Incomplete or inconsistent paperwork
Small technical errors can lead to rejection, so preparation matters.
Who Should Seriously Consider This Visa?
- Qualified professionals in high-demand sectors
- People who want to explore real opportunities before committing to one employer
- Candidates confident they can secure a job within a year if physically present in Spain
If your strategy is “arrive, network, interview, get hired”, this visa was built for you.
The Bigger Picture
This visa signals a shift in Spain’s immigration policy: from restrictive and employer-led to flexible and talent-attracting. It allows Spain to fill real labour gaps while giving international professionals a fair chance to compete on equal footing inside the country.
For the first time, moving to Spain to look for work is not a loophole or a grey area. It is a structured, legal pathway.
Final Takeaway
The Job Search Visa gives you 12 months in Spain to turn your CV into a Spanish job contract.
No pre-arranged employer.
No forced exit to change status.
A direct bridge from “looking for work” to “legally employed”.
For qualified professionals in shortage occupations, it may be the most practical and realistic route to start a new life and career in Spain.
Ready to Check if You Qualify?
If you want to know whether your profession fits the shortage occupation criteria and whether your profile is strong enough to apply, getting a proper pre-assessment can save you months of trial and error.
A personalised review can help you:
- Confirm your eligibility before applying
- Prepare the correct professional and legal documentation
- Avoid common mistakes that lead to refusals
- Plan the transition from job search visa to full work permit
If you would like expert guidance through the entire process, from visa application to securing your first legal job contract in Spain, you can get in touch directly.
Contact us
Easy Spain Guide
📞 +34 641 342 001 (WhatsApp available)
📧 info@easyspainguide.com
🌐 www.easyspainguide.com
A clear strategy and correctly prepared application can be the difference between a rejected file and a successful move to Spain with a real career opportunity waiting for you.
