First, check for which work visa you are going to apply. If you are applying for a Spain employment visa, you will need to get a job at a company, institution or organization in Spain. You should have a concrete job offer, as stipulated by the Spanish authorities.

On the other hand, if you are applying for a self-employment visa, you must prove you have an investment plan or a freelancing plan, and the means to finance your idea

Apply at most three months before your intended to trip to Spain. Make sure you apply well in advance. You will need to submit your application at one of the following:

• The Spanish Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.
• A third-party visa application center.

Where you need to apply, it depends on how the Spanish representative authorities in your country of residence have established visa submission. You should check with them to know for sure where you need to apply.

You should collect the Spanish D Visa application form, your passport and copies of pages with important data, older passports and visas, and two recent photographs. In addition, you should collect the following documents:

• Work Authorization. Your employer should get this document for you. Note that on the submission date, this document cannot be older than one month.
• Police record. A document no older than six months, that shows that you have committed no criminal activity in the last 5 years.
• Medical Certificate. A document issued by a legally known physician which states that you are not suffering from any disease or that you may have a serious public health impact.
• Proof of accommodation.
• Proof of the professional qualification for the job you have been offered in Spain.
• Work contract. A document sighed by your employee and you, which indicates your work conditions, including the monthly payment.
• License or registration required to carry out the work in Spain.

Note that depending on the job offer or to your investment plan you will need to submit additional documents. Your nationality also plays a role in the list of the documents you need to submit. The consulate will provide you with a full list of the documents required according to your case.

There are two ways to make an appointment for a Spain Work Visa application, through the call center of the Spanish consulate or third party visa-processing center or online through their website or the website of the visa-processing center.

It all depends on how the Spanish representation has regulated this issue in your country. In some countries, you can make the appointment in only one of the ways and in others in either way.

On the day of your interview, you will need to do the following:

1. Give your biometrics, your facial image, and fingerprints, if you have not traveled to Schengen countries in the last 5 years.
2. Pay the visa fee. Again, it depends on your country how the payment is completed. You may have to pay in cash during the interview or at a bank before or after the interview.

Attend the interview. The interview is a short meeting with a visa consular. You will submit your document to this person, as required. You will also need to respond to several questions regarding your trip.

Most countries process your visa application within one month. In some others, this process can be extended for up to 2 months. That is why you should make sure you apply well in advance, in order to avoid any possible delays.

As soon as you arrive in Spain, depending on the intended length of your stay, you may need to complete some other actions. If you have a visa with a six months validity, which indicates “exempt from work permits”, you can go on and work. You will not need to register or obtain work authorization.

On the other hand, if you have a visa with three months validity with the obligation of obtaining a residence permit (explained below) you have one month to register at the corresponding Social Security scheme in Spain. If you are an employee, your employer will complete this process for you. If you are self-employed, you have to apply by yourself.

Upon registration, you should immediately apply for your foreigner identity card at the Foreigners’’ Office or at the Police Station.