The Government simplifies the procedure for entry and stay of foreign professionals, within the framework of the “Spain Hub Audiovisual” plan

The Council of Ministers today approved the instructions that establish a new entry and stay procedure for professionals from third countries who carry out an activity in the audiovisual sector, under the umbrella of Law 14/2013, of 27 September, on support for entrepreneurs and their internationalization.

This initiative advances the development of the plan “Spain, Audiovisual Hub of Europe”, included in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which includes the need to adopt the necessary regulatory measures to simplify the administrative procedure of authorizations and visas in this sector derived from the economic interest of this sector.

The instructions approved today in the Council of Ministers articulate three ways of access and permanence in Spain depending on the period of stay of the professional.

A first route is established for professionals in the audiovisual sector who are going to stay in Spain for up to 90 days in any period of 180 days, who will be exempt from the obligation to obtain a work authorization and a visa if they come from those countries exempt from visa according to Community regulations.

The second procedure is intended for those professionals in the audiovisual sector who are going to stay in Spain more than 90 days, up to a maximum of 180 days. In these cases, foreigners will be able to obtain a visa that will be sufficient to stay and exercise their activity in Spain during its validity. In addition, it is foreseen that those foreigners who initially came to Spain for a period of 90 days of stay in any period of 180 days can, exceptionally, request a stay authorization for the audiovisual sector for a maximum period of 180 days.

Finally, a residence permit is developed configured as a single permit for those foreigners who are going to reside and work in the audiovisual sector for more than 180 days.

For these three ways of entry and permanence, the possibility is enabled for artists or professionals to stay in Spain with their direct relatives, a key element for many artists. This new procedure also allows artists or professionals under the age of 18 to come to Spain and carry out their activity in the audiovisual sector accompanied by their parents, in order to preserve the interest of the child.

Another outstanding element of this new procedure is that it extends the concept of professional in the audiovisual sector, including not only the artist of recognized prestige, but also all professionals who make it possible for the activity to develop such as choreographers, directors, producers, etc.

This new procedure will benefit companies in the audiovisual sector that include a wide range of traditional content (fiction, production of television content, etc. ), as well as the multimedia and interactive digital environment, such as software development, video games (such as eSports) and transmedia content or those that incorporate immersive experiences, as well as those that develop artistic activities carried out before the public and disseminated through mass media.

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This flexibility will not only encourage international productions to come to Spain, but will also make it easier for local productions (100% Spanish) to also make international co-productions with fewer administrative difficulties.