International Researchers

INITIAL PROCEDURES FOR WORKING IN SPAIN

This section is specifically intended for researchers who will be entering into a contractual relationship with UAM. Here, you will find all the information you need regarding the procedures to be completed before your arrival, the administrative procedures applicable depending on your nationality, and the steps to follow to regularize your status in Spain. In both cases, you are required to have a Foreigner Identification Number (NIE) and a Spanish Social Security Number (NUSS).

EU, EEA and Swiss Researchers

If you are a EU citizen (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom), an EEA citizen (Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland), or a Swiss citizen, you have the right to stay freely in Spain for up to 3 months.

Citizens who intend to stay in Spain for a period longer than 3 months (90 days) are required to register with the Central Register of Foreign Nationals and obtain the Registration Certificate for EU Citizens, a document that includes their NIE.

To do so, you must make a prior appointment, available through the Public Administration website (administracionespublicas.gob.es), by selecting the option: “POLICÍA - CERTIFICADOS DE REGISTRO DE CIUDADANO DE LA UE.”

Non-EU Researchers

As a non-EU citizen, you must apply for a temporary residence and work permit for research purposes in order to undertake a research project under a hosting agreement signed with a research institution.

In these cases, UAM, through its International Welcome Office, will manage the application process, which is governed by Law 14/2013 of 27 September on Support for Entrepreneurs and their Internationalization. This law facilitates entry into and residence in Spain for reasons of economic interest for investors, entrepreneurs, highly qualified professionals, researchers, employees undertaking intra-company transfers within the same company or group of companies, and family members of the aforementioned groups.

Where is the application submitted?

UAM will be responsible for submitting the residence and work permit application to the Immigration Office.

What documents are required?

Researchers must send the following documents to the International Welcome Office:

• Full passport, including all pages (including blank pages).
• NIE and/or TIE (if you have ever had one).
• Pre-contract with UAM (signed by both parties).
• Application Form for Residence Authorization for MI-T Holders, with the section entitled “Foreigner's Details” duly completed. It is mandatory to provide a postal address in Spain. If you do not yet have one, you must provide the address of the Department where you will be carrying out your research activities.
• Proof of payment of the 038 fee: Issuance of work authorizations and authorizations for foreign nationals. In the case of initial applications, UAM assumes the cost of this fee through the budget of the hiring Department or through the research project under which the researcher is being hired.
• Official certificate confirming that you have no criminal record, officially translated into Spanish and bearing the Hague Apostille (only for contracts lasting less than 180 days).
• Research project report (if the contract is funded through a research project).

Do I have to pay a fee?

No. UAM has undertaken to cover the initial fee. The residence and work fee becomes payable once the application has been formally admitted for processing and must be paid through Fee 038.

How long does it take to obtain the permit?

The processing period for the application by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration is 2–3 weeks, starting from the day following the date on which the application is registered with the competent authority responsible for processing it.

Obtaining the Researcher Visa

Once the residence permit application has been approved, if the researcher was already legally residing in Spain at the time the residence permit application was submitted, they may proceed directly with the application for their Foreigner Identity Card (TIE).

If, at the time the residence permit application was submitted, the researcher was abroad, they have one month from the notification of the granting of the residence permit to personally apply for the researcher visa at the diplomatic mission or consular office responsible for the area where they reside.

This is a type of visa for carrying out training, research, development and innovation activities in public or private entities. The researcher's family members may also obtain a visa. In general, the required documents are:

• National visa application form.
• Photograph.
• Valid and current passport.
• Residence authorization.
• Certificate confirming that you have no criminal record.
• Proof of residence within the consular district.
• Private health insurance.
• Proof of payment of the visa fee.

You should check the procedure to be followed with your consular office, as this application must be submitted personally and exclusively by the researcher. You may need to make a prior appointment and provide additional documents.