- In Spain lawfully: you apply online to the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos) for a residence authorisation of up to three years.
- Living abroad: you apply to the Spanish consulate for a teleworking visa of up to one year, then apply to the UGE for the residence authorisation in the 60 days before the visa expires if you want to stay.
The two routes side by side
| UGE, from Spain | Consulate, from abroad | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | People in Spain lawfully, including those who entered with the teleworking visa | People not resident in Spain |
| What you get | A residence authorisation, up to three years | A visa, up to one year (or shorter if the work is) |
| How you apply | Electronically, to the UGE | At the Spanish consulate for where you live |
| Decision time | 20 days from electronic filing; in law, no answer in that time counts as approval (see below) | A legal period of 10 working days for the visa decision; appointment waits, document requests or an interview can lengthen the practical timeline |
| After approval | Residence card (TIE) if the authorisation exceeds six months | Travel to Spain; apply for the residence authorisation before the visa ends to stay longer |
Both the 20-day decision period and the rule that no answer counts as approval come from the law itself. Filing with the UGE also extends your current stay or residence until the decision. That legal effect may need to be formally documented before you rely on it, for example to apply for your residence card or to travel, so ask your service how to evidence it.
When the UGE route makes sense
- You're already in Spain lawfully, for example on a visa-free stay, and want to apply without going back.
- You want the longer initial authorisation.
- Your documents are ready in Spain, translated and apostilled.
Your stay must be lawful when you apply. Filing extends that position until the decision.
When the consulate route makes sense
- You're settled abroad and want permission before you move.
- You'd rather resolve everything before giving up housing or a job at home.
- Your family will apply at the same consulate.
You apply at the consulate for where you live, normally in person or through its contracted visa centre. Consulates publish their own checklists and fees, which can differ from the UGE list. If you'll stay beyond the visa, you apply to the UGE for the residence authorisation within the 60 days before it expires.
What stays the same
The conditions don't change between routes: remote work for companies outside Spain, the relationship and company-age rules, qualifications or experience, income, a clean record and health cover. See DNV requirements.
Timing your health cover
Where you need a private policy, its dates should match the application you make, whichever route you use. See when your insurance should start and our DNV health insurance guide.
Common mistakes
- Applying through the UGE without a lawful stay. The route is for people in Spain lawfully.
- Letting the visa run out. The residence authorisation is applied for in the 60 days before the visa expires.
- Using the UGE list at a consulate. Each consulate's own checklist applies there.
My Spanish DNV
A comparison of the UGE and consulate routes, and a service on either.
- When each route fits
- Government fees included for the UGE route
- The submission handled for you
Opens provider website. No details shared.
Platinum Legal Spain
A step-by-step guide to both routes and their paperwork.
- The UGE route from inside Spain
- The consulate route from your home country
- What each route asks for
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We don't pass your details to either service. Choosing one opens its website in a new tab, where you start a separate enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter Spain as a tourist and apply through the UGE?
The UGE route is open to people in Spain lawfully. Whether your entry and stay count as lawful for your nationality is a question to put to your service before you travel.
Which route is faster?
Both routes have legal decision periods: 20 days through the UGE and 10 working days for a consulate visa. Neither is a guaranteed turnaround. Requests for further documents or an interview can interrupt the practical timeline, and consulate appointment waits vary, so check your consulate.
Can my family use a different route from me?
Family members can apply with you or later. Your service will advise on filing together for your situation. See DNV families.