Working in Spain from Brazil: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Moving from Brazil to Spain for work: What you need to know first

If you live in Brazil and want to work legally in Spain as a welder, driver, caregiver, farm worker, or hospitality team member, you need to understand how Spanish immigration works. Spain has strict labor market protections. Before a Spanish company can hire someone from outside the European Union, they must prove that no qualified candidate in Spain or Europe is available to take the job. This is called testing the local job market.

Because of this rule, getting a full-year work visa for general manual or trade jobs can take time unless the specific trade is listed on Spain's official shortage list, known as the Catálogo de Ocupaciones de Difícil Cobertura. However, Spain actively hires international workers for seasonal campaigns, specialized trades, and specific regional shortages. Brazilian citizens also benefit from special rules later on: after two years of continuous legal residence in Spain, Brazilians can apply for Spanish citizenship, which is much faster than the standard ten-year requirement for most non-EU nationals.

If you find that Spain's job market test makes direct entry difficult for your specific trade, neighboring Portugal is a common alternative. Portugal offers dedicated job-seeker visas for Brazilian citizens with lower entry barriers. But if you want to focus on Spain, the legal pathway is clear if you follow the correct steps with a sponsoring employer.

The official visa route for Brazilian workers

To work legally in Spain, you cannot simply arrive as a tourist and look for a job. You must obtain a work authorization and a visa before you leave Brazil. The legal process is divided into two clear phases, starting in Spain and finishing in Brazil.

• Initial Work Permit (Autorización Inicial de Residencia y Trabajo): The employer in Spain must start the process. They submit an application to the regional immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería) in Spain. The employer must present your signed job contract and prove that the position qualifies under Spanish law. You cannot start this step yourself.
• National Work Visa (Visado de Trabajo por Cuenta Ajena): Once the Spanish authorities approve the employer's application, they issue an official approval document. Only after this approval is granted can you apply for your national work visa in Brazil.
• Seasonal Work Permit (Autorización de Trabajo de Duración Determinada): If you are moving for seasonal work, such as fruit harvesting or summer tourism, the employer applies for a temporary seasonal permit. This permit links you to a specific employer for a set duration, and you must return to Brazil when the contract ends.

Where to submit your visa application in Brazil

You must submit your visa paperwork in person in Brazil. You cannot apply inside Spain. The Spanish government processes work visas through its network of official diplomatic posts across Brazil.

You will lodge your application at the Spanish consulate that serves your state of residence. Spain maintains consular offices in major Brazilian cities, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Salvador, and Porto Alegre. If you do not live near these main hubs, you must travel to the nearest Spain embassy or visa centre serving Brazil that covers your jurisdiction. You must schedule an appointment online before going to the consulate, and you will give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) during this appointment.

Required documents, apostilles, and translations

Gathering the correct paperwork is the most crucial part of your visa application. Spanish consulates strictly check every document, and missing legalizations will cause delays.

• Valid Passport: Your Brazilian passport must be valid for at least four months beyond your planned arrival date in Spain and have at least two blank pages.
• Approved Work Authorization: A copy of the favorable resolution issued by the Oficina de Extranjería to your employer in Spain.
• Signed Employment Contract: A copy of your job contract stamped by the Spanish labor authority.
• Police Clearance Certificate (Atestado de Antecedentes Criminais): Issued by the Brazilian Federal Police (Polícia Federal). It must prove you have no criminal record in the last five years.
• Medical Certificate (Certificado Médico): A statement signed by a registered doctor confirming you do not suffer from diseases that could endanger public health under International Health Regulations.
• The Hague Apostille (Apostila de Haia): Brazilian public documents, including your police clearance and medical certificate, must be apostilled at a registered notary office (Cartório) in Brazil. Without the apostille stamp, Spanish authorities will not accept them.
• Official Sworn Translation (Tradução Juramentada): All documents issued in Portuguese must be translated into Spanish by a recognized sworn translator (tradutor juramentado).

Costs and processing times in Brazil

Moving abroad involves upfront fees. While your employer pays for the work permit authorization in Spain, you carry the costs for personal document preparation and travel on the Brazil side.

• Consular Visa Fee: Spain sets the official national visa application fee. It is approximately €80 (approximately R$ 430 to R$ 500), payable in Brazilian Real directly at the consulate during your appointment.
• Apostille Fees in Brazil: Cartórios charge per document for an apostille. Expect to pay approximately R$ 50 to R$ 140 (€8 to €23) per document.
• Sworn Translation Fees: Official Spanish translations in Brazil cost approximately R$ 100 to R$ 250 (€16 to €40) per page, depending on the document length and region.
• Medical Examination: Private doctor consultations for the official health statement range from approximately R$ 150 to R$ 400 (€25 to €65).
• Flight Ticket: A one-way flight from Brazil to Spain generally costs between R$ 3,200 and R$ 6,500 (€520 to €1,050), depending on the season and departure city.
• Processing Time: Once your employer receives the initial permit approval in Spain, the visa application process at the Spanish consulate in Brazil typically takes approximately 1 to 3 months.

Under Spanish law and European labor standards, no employer or recruitment agency may legally charge you a fee in exchange for a job offer or work permit. The employer is legally required to carry the administrative recruitment costs in Spain. Be careful with brokers who demand cash for a guaranteed job offer or visa approval. These fees are illegal and are almost always a scam aimed at Brazilian job seekers.

Trades in Spain hiring foreign workers

While general hiring is regulated, specific industries in Spain regularly rely on international trade workers to fill operational gaps:

• Agriculture and Harvesting: Agricultural firms in regions like Andalusia, Murcia, and Catalonia frequently recruit seasonal workers for large-scale fruit and vegetable harvests.
• Hospitality and Tourism: Hotels, resorts, and commercial kitchens along the Mediterranean coast hire kitchen assistants, line cooks, and maintenance workers for peak tourist seasons.
• Elderly Care and Support: Specialized care facilities and home support agencies hire personal caregivers to assist aging populations in major urban centers.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can fly to Spain as a tourist, find a job, and easily switch to a legal work visa while staying in the country.
• Fact: Spain does not allow tourists to convert to a regular employee work visa from within the country. You must return to Brazil and lodge your visa application at the consulate after your employer obtains authorization.
• Myth: Because Spanish is similar to Portuguese, you do not need to speak Spanish to work in skilled trades.
• Fact: Employers in Spain expect basic to intermediate spoken Spanish to ensure workplace safety, understand instructions, and communicate with co-workers.
• Myth: Brazilian workers must pay thousands of Euros to the Spanish government to release their work permit.
• Fact: The primary work authorization tax is paid by the employer in Spain. You only pay standard document preparation costs and the official consulate visa processing fee.
• Myth: An informal agreement or email from a business owner in Spain is enough to apply for a work visa.
• Fact: You must have a formal, registered contract approved by the Spanish government labor office before you can lodge a visa application.

Before you sign

Protect yourself before accepting any job offer or traveling to Spain by completing this checklist:

• Verify official authorization: Ensure the employer has received the approved Autorización Inicial de Residencia y Trabajo from the Spanish immigration office.
• Check minimum wage standards: Verify that your contract salary meets or exceeds the Spanish national minimum wage (Sueldo Mínimo Interprofesional) for your trade.
• Review accommodation agreements: If you are taking a seasonal job in agriculture or hospitality, ensure the contract explicitly states who pays for housing and transportation.
• Keep original documents safe: Never hand over your original passport, birth certificate, or qualifications to an agent or employer.
• Complete legalizations early: Double-check that your Federal Police certificate and medical forms have the Hague Apostille and official Spanish translations before booking your consulate appointment.

Build your Workuro profile for Spanish employers

If you want Spanish employers to find you legally, keep your details organized and clear. On your profile, highlight your specific trade skills, list any certificates or technical training you hold in Brazil, and state your current level of spoken Spanish. Clearly state your willingness to relocate once a formal contract and permit are in place.

Workuro helps connect skilled trade workers directly with verified European companies seeking international talent. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.