You heard it! Spain approved in November of 2021, a new express permit that will allow professionals and technicians inside the audiovisual industry to enter and work in the country with an easy-to-get new visa.
The legislation could not have come at a better time. As streaming services are reaching new popularity heights each year, and Spain is a top destination for filmmaking, on top of that people, are resuming leisure activities following the pandemic.
In an attempt for the Spanish government to provide solutions for this, new rules that facilitate entry and work in Spain have been imposed. Find out how we helped 3 famous DJs get in record time, the new Permit for Professionals in the Audiovisual Sector.
Who is this type of Visa for?
3 different routes to gain the authorization of entry and work, were designed for foreign artists, technicians and professionals who are going to carry out activities within the audiovisual sector, performances or recordings of any kind that will be later shared across media.
We’ll cover more on the different routes below.
Benefits of the New Audiovisual Visa and Permit
- No need to prove that the National Employment Situation (Situación Nacional de Empleo) allows the transfer of the professional.
- It is no longer required to have a previous work relationship with the contracting company.
- Fast answer. If your stay is up to 90 days, your NIE will be given the same day. If your stay extends to more than 90 days, your visa request will get an answer in 10 working days maximum. And in cases where you request the Residence Permit, the answer time is 20 working days maximum.
- Possibility of changing from a 90-day Authorization to a Residence Permit without having to leave Spain.
- You will be allowed to bring your family with you.
Requirements for Each Legal Route
As mentioned earlier, 3 pathways exist for audiovisual professionals who wish to leverage this new legislation.
- Stays for under 90 days
- You will only be required to present a Schengen visa in case you come from a non-EU country that holds this obligation.
- Request the Foreigner Identification Number (NIE).
- Registration with Social Security (needed only in certain cases. To find out if this condition applies to you, contact us).
- Stays for over 90 days and up to 180 days
- You must apply for the Audiovisual Visa Stay.
- Necessary documentation for the Audiovisual Visa:
- You will need to provide the regular visa documentation. Contact us to find out what paperwork is required for your case.
- A document that proves your commercial relationship with the company that wishes your transfer to Spain.
- A document proving that you’re part of an audiovisual project.
- Public or private medical insurance if you won’t be covered by the National Health System or by a Social Security agreement.
- Stays for over 180 days
- If you plan to carry out the activity for over 180 days, you must request the Residence Permit.
- The company who wishes your transfer may submit the request through the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration website.
- Necessary documentation for the Residence Permit:
- Completed application form and payment fees.
- You will need to provide the regular visa documentation. Contact us to find out what paperwork is required for your case.
- Document that proves your commercial relationship with the company that wishes your transfer to Spain.
- Document proving that you’re part of an audiovisual project.
- Public or private medical insurance if you won’t be covered by the National Health System or by a Social Security agreement.
How We Helped Former Clients Obtain The New Audiovisual Authorization
At Carbray we try to keep our knowledge at the forefront of the latest updates in immigration legislation. And our lawyer Sezen Türkkanlar is surely committed to this.
A couple of months ago, she helped 3 clients become the first foreigners to claim the latest Audiovisual Industry Authorization in Ibiza.
The life of a DJ can turn very busy, it can involve a lot of travelling, show performances and bookings. At least this is what Sezen’s clients, 3 famous DJs, explained to her during their legal consultations. Our DJs were very clear that they had only 1 goal in mind, to obtain the necessary immigration documents that would allow them to perform in Ibiza.
But their time expectations for the authorizations weren’t very high. As frequent travellers, they predicted that the permits wouldn’t be granted as fast as they wished. But boy, were they wrong.
Sezen understood the case and knew that new legislation aimed at professionals in the audiovisual industry, would confer them with a quick and easy authorization for work. So she advised them, prepared the paperwork and guided them towards the correct immigration appointment.
The new legislation was actually so new at the time, that when our DJs attended their immigration appointment, not even the officer who assisted them was aware of the new protocol. The State officer was impressed with Sezen’s immigration knowledge, as this was his first time granting the NIE following the new regulation.
Our DJs were overjoyed, as they didn’t expect to get the NIE and the authorizations for work in only 1 day. And as for Sezen, she was thrilled with being able to help them enjoy new job opportunities abroad.
Just like Sezen, our immigration lawyers in Spain possess the local knowledge that will guide you towards an easy path to living and working in Spain. Get in touch today for a consultation.