Spain has formally tabled a proposal to the United Kingdom that would allow highly-skilled professionals to carry out remunerated activities in the other country for up to 90 days without first obtaining a sponsored work permit. The initiative, unveiled by Secretary of State for Trade Amparo López Senovilla at a Spanish-British business forum in London on 11 December and confirmed by Spanish media on 13 December, is designed to soften the post-Brexit mobility regime that has frustrated service providers on both sides of the Channel.
Under the plan, consultants, technicians, senior managers and other narrowly-defined specialists could deliver projects, install equipment or provide after-sales support for three months per 180-day period, so long as they remain on home-country payrolls and carry valid A1 social-security certificates. Spain is offering full reciprocity: British nationals would enjoy streamlined entry to Spain, while Spanish nationals would receive the same privilege in the UK.
For corporate mobility teams the waiver could slash lead-times and costs. A standard UK Skilled Worker visa typically requires sponsorship registration, a Certificate of Sponsorship and Immigration Health Surcharge fees, adding weeks and thousands of pounds to project budgets. In Spain, companies currently file a "Highly-Qualified Professional" dossier or EU Intracompany Transfer petition that can take 20-45 days.
![Spain Seeks 90-Day Reciprocal Work-Visa Waiver With the UK]()
Whether you’re planning around today’s rules or preparing for the forthcoming waiver, VisaHQ can simplify the administration. Via its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) the company offers real-time visa guidance, document validation and application submission services for both Spanish and British travellers. As soon as the 90-day reciprocal route goes live, VisaHQ will update its platform so users can check eligibility, generate compliant invitation letters and schedule consular appointments—freeing HR teams to focus on project delivery rather than paperwork.
If adopted, the scheme would slot into the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which already exempts certain short-term business travellers but not paid service delivery. It would also dovetail with Madrid’s wider talent-attraction strategy, including its Digital Nomad Visa and revamped Startup Law.
Negotiations are expected to continue into early 2026. Immigration lawyers caution that the waiver will still require robust compliance—travellers would need to carry invitation letters, prove onward travel and respect social-security coordination rules. Nevertheless, multinational employers in consulting, engineering and tech see the move as a potential template for similar bilateral deals across Europe.
Under the plan, consultants, technicians, senior managers and other narrowly-defined specialists could deliver projects, install equipment or provide after-sales support for three months per 180-day period, so long as they remain on home-country payrolls and carry valid A1 social-security certificates. Spain is offering full reciprocity: British nationals would enjoy streamlined entry to Spain, while Spanish nationals would receive the same privilege in the UK.
For corporate mobility teams the waiver could slash lead-times and costs. A standard UK Skilled Worker visa typically requires sponsorship registration, a Certificate of Sponsorship and Immigration Health Surcharge fees, adding weeks and thousands of pounds to project budgets. In Spain, companies currently file a "Highly-Qualified Professional" dossier or EU Intracompany Transfer petition that can take 20-45 days.
Whether you’re planning around today’s rules or preparing for the forthcoming waiver, VisaHQ can simplify the administration. Via its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) the company offers real-time visa guidance, document validation and application submission services for both Spanish and British travellers. As soon as the 90-day reciprocal route goes live, VisaHQ will update its platform so users can check eligibility, generate compliant invitation letters and schedule consular appointments—freeing HR teams to focus on project delivery rather than paperwork.
If adopted, the scheme would slot into the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which already exempts certain short-term business travellers but not paid service delivery. It would also dovetail with Madrid’s wider talent-attraction strategy, including its Digital Nomad Visa and revamped Startup Law.
Negotiations are expected to continue into early 2026. Immigration lawyers caution that the waiver will still require robust compliance—travellers would need to carry invitation letters, prove onward travel and respect social-security coordination rules. Nevertheless, multinational employers in consulting, engineering and tech see the move as a potential template for similar bilateral deals across Europe.
