Question
“I hold a Guatemalan passport, which allows me to enter Spain without a visa. If I work in Spain for two years, I’ll become eligible to obtain Spanish citizenship. What’s the best way to find a job there? Do I need to apply for a visa first, or how does the process usually work? For context, I’m a Software Engineer, which is a highly demanded field. What would you recommend I do?”
Answers
These are the answers from Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“If you “reside in Spain legally and continuously for two years”…” – “Yeah, i know that for sure. But what is the best way to get a job to get the visa This was my question”
“Perhaps, but the setting up of the question is wrong. Even if you came here and worked for 20 years, if you didn’t reside here legally and continuously, you wouldn’t qualify to apply for Spanish citizenship.
You may be able to find a gig as a HQP (Highly qualified professional), but I’d recommend looking at offers BEFORE you come you Spain. Similarly, you can focus on getting remote work from an employer outside Spain and working towards the so-called digital nomad visa. Whichever the case, I’d recommend applying for the corresponding residence permit in Spain, rather than for a visa through a Spanish consulate.
There are other, less straightforward routes if you can’t make these two options work. To explore all of them, you should speak with a lawyer.”
Read Spainguru’s article: Spain Digital Nomad Visa vs Highly Qualified Worker Visa: Which Is Better for You?
“Good advice. You cannot work in Spain without a residency/visa expressly giving you permission to work.” -“You can: you might either have a stay permit or you might do it illegally. Neither of which options gives right to citizenship. Thus my point.”
“Software engineer jobs are not in demand in Spain and they must hire a European before a foreigner so your chances of employment are frankly very very low. Get a remote job as noted in other comments.”
“But I thought software engineer jobs considered as high qualified jobs, so they don’t have to prioritize a European before foreigners”
“I don’t know if that’s true, but even if they don’t have to prioritize EU citizens over a foreigner, it’s much much easier for an employer to hire someone who already has the legal right to work in the country. No mucking about with visas, etc. So you’ll likely still be at a disadvantage.”
“blue card EU is for non EUs to your point BUT any firm will want to avoid any paperwork and hassles. Same as any county that has a multitude of locals that are qualified. I actually work in cyber security. Some of the best ethical hackers are Spanish but most wouldn’t ever consider a corporate Spanish job due to the pay for example but a few do and given how lackluster the Spanish labor market is that’s enough people already.”
“Not debating. A HQP residence does not require showing there are no other applicants or potential applicants.” – “Right but again – there are costs involved that firms want to avoid. Firms are fing cheaper than ever and people that want to live in Spain need to understand the labor market is beyond crippled and the pay is beyond laughable.”
“so you actually suggest to not work in Spain especially for a foreigner in tech field”. – “remote job as I originally stated. Get a job that pays out of the States or Germany or hell even Australia. You don’t want a job based out of Spain due to pay.”
“The thing is, that’s an entirely different proposition than the one you originally posed. An employer is NOT required to show that there is no alternative in order to sponsor an applicant for a HQP residence permit.”
“Being able to enter without a visa – ie., as a tourist – is not the same as being legally authorized to reside and work in the country. To get that authorization, you’ll need to look into the different types of visa and/or residency permits, and figure out which one(s) would be best for you.
Assuming you’re a native Spanish speaker, you’ll have an advantage compared to some other foreigners – but it’s still hard for a non-EU citizen to get a job offer. Don’t expect it to be easy.”
“Getting or having a remote job that qualifies you for a digital nomad visa is generally a better route. My friend was a software engineer and came here that way. He wanted to get a job working spanish hours (versus Americas time zones) and found that the best salaries were about 1/3 of what his job from the US paid. He didn’t like starting work right as his kids were coming home at 300/400. Anyway, he felt a little stuck, but kept with the US job because the pay was so disparate. No idea if your situation would be the same if you tried to find something working directly in Spain.”
“It won’t be easy for you, software engineers are basically 10 a penny, unemployment in Spain is massive and by law they are supposed to hire a Spaniard before a foreigner!”
“No, you cannot arrive without a visa. Step one: get a visa or hired by a company in Spain. You need two tears of residency.”
“Find a remote job that will allow you to work from Spain and then, after three months of employment, travel to Spain and apply for a digital nomad visa. Issue is these are usually super competitive jobs, so it may not be that simple unless you have niche expertise.
You can also look for jobs in Spain on LinkedIn or Infojobs, trying to filter for companies that sponsor highly qualified professional visas, but Spanish salaries in general are a lot lower than in North America or Northern Europe and most companies will be hesitant to even interview you if you don’t have working rights yet and are not even located in Spain.
A third option is to go under a student visa and then modify to a job seeker visa once you finish your studies. Downside is that time in Spain under a student visa doesn’t count towards the residency requirement for citizenship, and you would also have to be able to show proof of economic means to support yourself while in school.”
“Applying for the visa itself is already tedious. To come here and expect that you can easily get a visa is very ambitious. The best way is to already have a residence visa prior to coming here.”
Conclusion
The thread’s consensus is that entering as a tourist and hoping to find sponsorship later is risky. Members stress that legal, continuous residence is essential for future citizenship, and that you must secure the right permit first. In practice, employers prefer candidates who already hold work authorization, which makes offers harder for non-EU applicants.
Community suggestions focus on three paths: secure a remote role and apply for a digital nomad residence, target companies that sponsor Highly Qualified Professional permits, or study in Spain and later modify status—bearing in mind which stays count toward residency for nationality and the lower average salaries in Spain. Clarifying the permit before arrival reduces uncertainty and improves hiring prospects.
If your goal is to work in Spain as a software engineer, line up a qualifying remote contract or a HQP-friendly employer before moving, and apply for the corresponding residence from the start. Always check with immigration experts the viability of your move to Spain.
This article is based on personal opinions from the Spainguru community and is not legal advice.
FAQs: Work in Spain as a Software Engineer
Do I need a visa to work legally in Spain if I hold a Guatemalan passport and can enter visa-free?
Yes. Entering Spain visa-free as a tourist does not grant the legal right to work or reside. To work legally, you must apply for the correct work visa or residence permit before starting employment. Simply living and working without authorization may disqualify you from citizenship based on legal residency requirements.
What is the best way to find a job as a software engineer in Spain?
The most reliable approach is to secure a job offer before moving. Target Spanish companies willing to sponsor the Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) residence permit, or find remote work that qualifies for the digital nomad visa. Job platforms like LinkedIn and Infojobs can help identify sponsors, but competition and employer reluctance are high if you lack work authorization.
Are software engineering jobs in high demand in Spain for foreigners?
Despite being classified as highly qualified, software engineer jobs in Spain are not very easy to obtain for foreigners due to legal priorities favoring EU citizens and local market conditions. Employers generally prefer candidates who already have legal work rights. Salaries tend to be significantly lower than US or Northern Europe levels, so many expats prefer remote work for better pay.
Can I apply for Spanish citizenship after working two years under a digital nomad or HQP visa?
To apply for citizenship after two years, you must have resided legally and continuously in Spain during that period and be a holder of a hispano american passport or other countries like the Philippines, by origin. Time spent under a student visa typically does not count toward this requirement. Therefore, maintaining lawful residence status and work authorization is essential for citizenship eligibility.
What alternative routes exist if finding a job before arrival is difficult?
Options include:
- Starting with a student visa followed by a job seeker visa after graduation (but note residency counting limitations for citizenship).
- Working remotely for a foreign employer and applying for the digital nomad visa.
- Consulting an immigration lawyer to explore less common permits or tailored solutions.
Advance preparation with professional advice improves success and compliance.
