Document checklist
Syria → Spain: Residence and work visa: employee (visado de residencia y trabajo por cuenta ajena)
What you need before you submit, checked against official requirements, not guesswork.
Not yet checked. This page was drafted from the sources listed below but hasn't passed verification yet. Double-check anything critical directly with the official source before you rely on it.
Required documents
9 itemsIdentity
National visa application form
RequiredThe national visa application form, completed and signed. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian must also sign it.
Proof you live in the consular district
RequiredA document showing you legally live in the area covered by the consulate where you apply.
Recent passport-size photo
RequiredA recent colour photo, passport-size, with a light background, facing forward, without dark glasses or anything covering your face.
Valid passport
RequiredYour passport, with the biometric data page copied. It must have at least 4 months' validity (or cover your contract length, if shorter), 2 blank pages, and not be more than 10 years old.
Employment
Copy of the initial residence and work authorisation
RequiredA copy of the "Autorización de Residencia y Trabajo por Cuenta Ajena" that Spain's Foreign Nationals' Office granted your employer. You must apply for the visa within one month of your employer being told the authorisation was granted.
Work contract stamped by the Foreign Nationals' Office
RequiredA copy of your work contract, stamped by Spain's Foreign Nationals' Office (Oficina de Extranjería).
Other
Criminal record certificate
RequiredA certificate covering the last 5 years, from every country you've lived in during that time (if you're over 18). It must be legalised or apostilled and translated into Spanish, unless it comes from an EU country.
Medical certificate
RequiredA medical certificate, issued within the last 3 months, stating you don't have any disease that could seriously affect public health, under the International Health Regulations (2005). It must be legalised/apostilled and translated into Spanish if issued outside Spain.
Visa fee payment
RequiredThe visa fee, paid when you submit your application. The amount depends on your nationality.
Why applications on this route get refused
Visa application submitted too late
The visa application must be lodged within one month of the employer being notified that the residence-and-work authorisation was granted. Applying later can mean starting the process again.
How to avoid it: Diarise the one-month deadline as soon as your employer tells you the authorisation was granted, and book your consulate appointment immediately.
Foreign documents not legalised, apostilled, or translated
Criminal record and medical certificates issued outside Spain must be legalised or apostilled and translated into Spanish. Submitting them as plain copies can lead to rejection.
How to avoid it: Arrange the apostille (or consular legalisation) and a sworn Spanish translation for each foreign certificate before your appointment.
Passport doesn't meet validity or blank-page requirements
A passport that's more than 10 years old, has fewer than 2 blank pages, or doesn't have enough remaining validity, doesn't meet the requirement.
How to avoid it: Renew your passport before applying if it's close to 10 years old or doesn't have enough blank pages and validity left.
Sources
Check your documents against this list before you pay the Spain application fee.
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