Entry and residence of teaching and research staff (TRS) from outside the EU

Residence and work permit as a researcher (Law 14/2013)

Article 72 of Law 14/2013, of 27 September, on support for entrepreneurs and their internationalisation, describes the procedure for obtaining a residence and work permit for researchers. It can be requested whether the researcher is in Spain in a regular situation or in his or her country of origin.

If the researcher is in Spain, the initial application corresponds to the company and involves the payment of the 790 038 fee. This application is submitted electronically to the Large Companies Unit.

If the researcher is outside Spain, the company submits the application under the same terms as in the previous case and, once authorisation has been obtained, it is sent to the researcher so that he/she can request a residence and work visa from the corresponding consular office.

More information

This permit is recommended in cases where the researcher has family members, because it allows the family members to apply for a residence and work permit together with the family regrouping permit that allows them to work without having to apply for any other permit.

For any questions or queries, you can find us at:

Technical and management staff and administration and services: pas@ub.edu

Academic staff: personal.academic@ub.edu

Research staff: personal.investigador@ub.edu

Postal address:

Pavelló Rosa - Recinte Maternitat

Travessera de les Corts, 131-159

08028 Barcelona

Residence permit and work permit exemption

It is the recognition of the exception of the authorization of the work in the performance of a certain lucrative, labour or professional activity, provided that the duration of the activity is more than 90 calendar days.
In the event that the foreigner does not reside in Spain and whose duration of the activity does not exceed 90 calendar days, he must apply, regardless of his nationality, for the corresponding residence visa to the Spanish Diplomatic Mission or Consular Office in the province where he resides. A short-stay visa will be processed at the rate of proof that it meets the conditions for inclusion in the cases described below.

Article 88 of Royal Decree 1155/2024 of 19 November establishes the conditions to be met by foreign persons who are included in article 41 of Organic Law 4/2000 of 11 January, in order to be exempted, from the obligation to obtain the authorization of work, for the exercise of the lucrative, labour or professional activity, without limitation, of the geographical scope.

In paragraph (b) of this article, it is indicated that these permits can be requested by "teachers, technicians, researchers and scientists invited or hired by a Spanish university".

In other words, it is aimed at foreign teachers who are invited or hired by the University of Barcelona, to carry out teaching, research or academic tasks.
It is accredited by submitting the employment invitation or contract for the exercise of the aforementioned activities, signed by the person to whom the legal representation of the University of Barcelona has been attributed.

In the event that the teacher is not a legal resident in Spain, he must process the temporary residence visa with the exception of the authorization of work in the Spanish Consulate of his country of origin or of legal residence.

The UB must provide the signed contract or invitation letter.

You can search the consulate or embassy of Spain of the country co-responsorient on the website Embassies and consulates.

It is recommended to have this permit if the researcher does not provide for the transfer of his relatives, because in this type of permit the decisions of the holders and relatives are not always joint, and the permission of the relatives does not enable the family to work.

In accordance with article 89 of Royal Decree 1155/2024 of 19 November, if the foreign teacher is a legal resident in Spain, he must process temporary authorization with the exception of the authorization of work before the office of foreigners corresponding to the province where the activity begins, at least two months before the expiry of his legal status.

The validity of this authorization shall be the same as the duration of the activity or programme that takes place, with the maximum limit of 1 year the initial authorisation and of 4 in the extension, if the circumstances that have led to the exception persist.

Requiered documentation

Application form in official model (sheet EX-09) in duplicate, duly completed and signed by the foreigner or his/her legal representative in the case of minors.
A complete copy of the passport, travel document or registration card valid for at least 1 year.
Documentation accrediting the case of exception to the work permit.
In case of not being a resident in Spain at the time of making the application:
- Criminal record certificate issued by the authorities of the country of origin or the country or countries where you have resided for the last five years.
- Medical certificate.

Important note: When documents from other countries are provided, they must be translated into Spanish or the co-official language of the territory in which the application is submitted. On the other hand, any foreign public document must be previously legalised by the Spanish Consular Office with jurisdiction in the country where this document was issued or, if applicable, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, unless this document has been apostilled by the competent authority of the issuing country according to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 and unless this document is exempt from legalisation by virtue of an international convention.

Information on translation and legalisation of documents

Procedure