Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
“Can one work in Spain after getting permanent residency after 5 years on an Non lucrative visa?”
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“Yes. You could also work after one year on Non lucrative visa, changing to cuenta propia or cuenta ajena.”
“What is cuenta propia or cuenta ajena?” -“Cuenta propia is when you present a project to work in Spain as an entrepreneur, and cuenta ajena is when you get an offer to work for someone else.”
“Official link, check requisitos: Modificación de la situación de residencia a la situación de residencia y trabajo por cuenta ajena inicial (HI 70)“
“Yes. You can!”
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See Vetted Lawyers →“Yep. I just got my new card. It says: RESIDENCIA LARGA DURACION AUTORIZA A TRABAJAR”
“Would this be the same after 1yr on DNV also?”
Conclusion
The community feedback indicates that it is indeed possible to work in Spain after obtaining permanent residency following five years on a Non Lucrative Visa (NLV).
Additionally, options to work even before achieving permanent residency exist, such as changing to ‘cuenta propia’ or ‘cuenta ajena’ after one year.
These terms refer to self-employment or working for an employer, respectively. It’s important for expats to check the specific requirements and process through official sources or consider consultation to ensure compliance with Spanish immigration laws.
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