Salary for Highly Qualified Professional in Spain 2026
One of the key factors to obtain a highly qualified professional visa in Spain is the salary offered by the company to the relocating non-EU worker. It is essential for companies and visa candidates to know the minimum required salary for a highly qualified professional in order to comply with the requirements set by current legislation.
Table of contents
- Minimum salary for Highly Qualified Professionals
- Benefits in kind to Highly Qualified Professionals
- Variable Remuneration for Highly Qualified Professionals
- Alternatives to the Highly Qualified Professionals Visa
- Minimum wage changes for Highly Qualified Professionals
How much must a Highly Qualified Professional earn in 2026?
For a foreign worker to be considered highly qualified in Spain and be eligible for this type of work permit, they must receive a salary that meets certain salary thresholds established by the immigration regulation.
Minimum salary to apply for a Highly Qualified Professional Visa
In May 2026, the salary thresholds for highly qualified professionals in Spain rose slightly to:
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€41,356.36 gross per year.
Unlike under the previous regulation, a reduction coefficient can no longer be applied to professionals under the age of 30.
Does the minimum wage for Highly Qualified Professionals include benefits in kind?
No. The minimum base salary that a highly qualified professional must receive in 2026 corresponds to the amounts specified above. If the company wishes, it may also add a portion of the salary as benefits in kind, which must not exceed 30% of the total salary. In other words, benefits in kind cannot reduce the minimum amount to be received in euros.
Does the Minimum Wage for Highly Qualified Professionals include bonuses?
No. The minimum salary requirement for highly qualified professionals only considers the fixed part of the salary compensation. The variable part, if any, such as bonuses, commissions, or performance-based rewards, will not be taken into account when assessing the application.
What if the job offer does not meet the minimum salary to apply for a Highly Qualified Professional Visa?
If the job position does not meet the minimum salary for a highly qualified professional visa, there are several options the company can consider to apply for a work permit for this candidate to work in Spain:
- Apply for a general work permit: This type of permit follows a slower immigration process than the highly qualified professional visa. However, the minimum required salary aligns with the applicable collective bargaining agreement for each specific job position in Spain.
- Intra-company transfer work permit application: If the candidate is already employed by the hiring company at another location outside Spain (i.e., another entity within the same corporate group), the company may apply for an intra-company transfer work permit for the candidate to work in Spain. In this case, the candidate would retain their employment contract in the country of origin.
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