Select business travelers will benefit from a new law that goes into effect today. The Act for Entrepreneurs, aimed at stimulating the economy, creates a new immigration route for property investors and streamlines the immigration process for:

  • Investors.
  • Entrepreneurs.
  • Highly qualified professionals at the management level.
  • Researchers.
  • Intra-company transferees.
  • Spouses and children (under age 18) of those who are eligible, as well as dependent family members over age 18 who have health concerns.

The new law broadens the definition of “large company,” which will make it easier for companies to sponsor expatriate employees. It also shortens the immigration process. Under the new law, successful applicants are exempt from the labor market test requirement.

More details about the new law and its implementation will be available soon. BAL will provide updates accordingly.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Spain. For additional information, please contact GlobalVisaGroup@bal.com.

Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

Effective immediately, there are new, lower minimum salary thresholds for EU Blue Card holders and foreign employees who use the fast-track process. The Instituto Nacional de Estadistica recently updated the minimum salaries for various fields in the Clasificación Nacional de Actividades Económicas (National Classification of Economic Activities, or CNAE). Due to the recent economic downturn, the thresholds for some foreign workers have been lowered accordingly. Although the formula for determining the minimum salary for EU Blue Card holders has not changed, the base salary for each field specified in the CNAE has decreased, so Blue Card salaries are effectively lowered.

The table below is a guide to the changes in minimum salary for EU Blue Card holders and foreign employees using the fast-track process. Gross salaries are expressed in euros.

Type of Hire Employee Type Previous Minimum New Minimum
Intra-company transfers Highly qualified employees 28,254.40 28,001.24
Senior managers 56,508.80 56,002.48
Local hires with work permits processed through fast track Highly qualified employees 28,254.40 28,001.24
Senior managers 56,508.80 56,002.48
EU Blue Card Specific shortage skills 1.2 times the minimum gross salary for the specific field 1.2 times the minimum gross salary for the specific field
Other skills 1.5 times the minimum gross salary for the specific field 1.5 times the minimum gross salary for the specific field

A foreign employee is eligible for the fast-track process if he or she is:

  • Hired by a Large Business Unit (Unidad de Grandes Empresas, or UGE) company.
  • A university professor hired by a Spanish university.
  • A highly-skilled scientist or technology expert hired by a state or local government.
  • A renowned artist or technician participating in a culturally relevant project.
  • A senior manager or highly-skilled employee participating in a project found to have significant public interest. Qualifying projects are those that can be shown to result in job creation, local socioeconomic investment or scientific or technological innovation.

View the updated CNAE salaries at the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica website.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Spain. For additional information, please contact GlobalVisaGroup@bal.com.

Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.