Spain | New requirements for Entrepreneur’s Act applications

Spanish immigration authorities announced new criteria to obtain permits regulated by the Entrepreneur’s Act.

Key Points:

• The new requirements will be applied to permits regulated by the Entrepreneur’s Act 14/2013, in relation to the qualification accreditation either through academic credentials or comparable experience.
• The new requirements classify the type and format of the required documentation, specifically:
• Certain academic credentials must now be apostilled/legalized and duly translated depending on whether the profession is regulated or unregulated. Previously, the submission of degrees without apostille/legalization was allowed.
• For certain comparable experience qualifications, applicants must now provide an employment history (such as earning records) and a certificate of professional qualification.
• These documents should both be issued by the competent equivalent authority in an applicant’s country of origin as an official document that allows the worker’s professional competences to be demonstrated.

Additional Information: The Entrepreneur’s Act 14/2013, established Sept. 27, 2013, aims to facilitate the establishment and internationalization of entrepreneurial ventures and offers a longer residency period and a faster resolution process. Foreign nationals who wish to enter Spain to make a significant financial investment may apply for a residence visa for investors to facilitate the establishment of businesses, particularly those with innovative projects.  

BAL Analysis: The Large Companies Unit of Spain’s immigration authority has started to apply new criteria to permits regulated in the Entrepreneur’s Act. Employers should be aware of this change of practice and factor additional document acquisition time frames into employment strategies.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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