SPAIN – Delay in Processing of Applications Under Entrepreneurs’ Act
Currently, Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is experiencing delays in the processing of applications for visas under the Entrepreneur’s Act (14/2013) due to staff shortages. This is separate from the ongoing delays in processing of residence authorisations at the Large Companies Unit.
It is not known by how long visa applications will be delayed. Processing of residence authorisations at the Large Companies Unit is currently taking up to two months, rather than the usual 20 working days.
Visa applications processed under the Entrepreneurs’ Act, including those for highly-qualified employees and intra-company transferees, are decided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rather than by the consulate where the application is submitted.
Action Items
- Employers hiring foreign national workers under the Entrepreneurs’ Act should consult an immigration specialist for the latest processing times.