What Happens If You Lose or Quit Your Job While on a Highly Skilled Visa in Spain?

First Things First: What Is the Highly Qualified Professional Visa?

This visa/residence permit is designed for non-EU citizens who come to Spain to work in positions that require high-level education or experience. Even though the law doesn't provide a clear definition of who qualifies as a highly skilled professional; the position, salary, responsibilities as well as the candidate's professional and educational background are highly relevant.

It’s part of the Entrepreneur’s Law (Ley 14/2013), which offers faster processing, better mobility within the EU, and direct family reunification.

What Happens If You Lose Your Job?

If your contract is terminated, the good news is that you don’t lose your residency immediately.

According to Spanish immigration regulations, you must notify the relevant Immigration Authority within 30 days of the job loss. After this communication, there are two possibilities: (i) If you are entitled to unemployment benefits (known as paro) your residence permit will be considered legal as long as your entitlement to unemployment benefits continue. In fact, if your current residence permit expires before your unemployment benefits end, you can even renew the residence permit until that date. (ii) If you are not entitled to unemployment benefits, you then enter a non-regulated grey grace area that's usually considered to last a month, during which you must apply for a new initial residence permit if your conditions allow. If not, strictly legally speaking, you would be expected to leave Spain. However, in practice, even if the residence permit will lose its essence due to the end of the employment relationship, you will still be holding a valid residence card. As we mentioned, this is quite a gray area. Even if this gray area allows you to maintain in Spain, you would not be eligible for renewal.

What If You Resign Voluntarily?

Resigning from your job doesn’t automatically invalidate your permit, but it puts you in the same position as being laid off.

The only difference is that there is no chance of being entitled to unemployment benefits in this case, which means that you go straight to the gray area of communicating the change, being within the non-regulated grace period in order to submit a new application and then being the holder of a residence permit card that has lost its essence and would not be eligible for renewal, unless your situation changes and allows you to apply for another type of residence permit.

Note: If you plan to start your own company or switch to a different type of residence (like an entrepreneur visa), you must initiate that process before your highly skilled status expires.

What Can You Do Next?

Here are your main options if you lose or leave your job:

1. Find a New Job Quickly:
   Ideally, with a similar salary and in the same high-skilled category.

2. Switch to Another Permit Type, if your conditions allow it.

3. Leave Spain and Reapply Later:
   In some cases, it may be more strategic to return home and re-enter Spain with a new application.

Final Advice from an Immigration Lawyer

Don’t wait until the last minute. These situations can get complex fast.

If you’re unsure about your rights or future options, it’s best to speak to a specialized immigration lawyer. A strategic plan can help you stay in Spain legally and make the most of your professional journey here.

Need help navigating your options after job loss?
Feel free to contact me for a private consultation. Together, we can map out the best path forward.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and procedures may vary depending on individual circumstances. For personalized guidance, it is strongly recommended to consult with a qualified immigration lawyer regarding your specific case.

Get in touch

Tell us about your situation. We will get back to you within 24 hours.

Email

sezenturkkanlar@icab.cat