EU Blue Card or national highly qualified permit: differences

If you are a professional with a university degree or extensive experience and want to work in Spain as an employee, the law offers you two paths within the residence for highly qualified professionals. Both are set out in article 71 of Ley 14/2013 and are processed by the same administrative unit, but they are not identical: one ties you to Spain and the other opens the door to the rest of the European Union. In this guide we compare the EU Blue Card and the national highly qualified permit (PAC) so that you choose wisely.

Two forms for the same profile

Article 71 of Ley 14/2013 provides for two different forms for highly qualified professionals: the national permit, known as the PAC, and the EU Blue Card. In both cases these are people with a high qualification who take up a high-level job in a Spanish company.

The underlying difference is their territorial scope. The national permit is an authorisation designed for residing and working in Spain. The EU Blue Card, on the other hand, is a figure harmonised at European level which, besides entitling you to work in Spain, facilitates mobility within the Union. You can expand the general context in our page on the residence for highly qualified professionals.

The big difference: mobility within the EU

The EU Blue Card is governed by Directiva (UE) 2021/1883 and its distinctive advantage is mobility: after a period of residence in the first country, it allows you to move and carry out the activity in other European Union Member States through a simplified procedure. It is the natural option for someone contemplating a career with European mobility.

The national highly qualified permit does not offer that mobility: it entitles you to work in Spain, but does not grant the right to move to carry out the activity in other Union countries. If your professional and life project is centred on Spain, this limitation probably does not affect you.

Qualification requirements

For both forms you must prove a high professional level. Specifically, a university or postgraduate degree is required, or else professional experience of at least 3 years at a level comparable to that degree. In the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector the required experience rises to 5 years.

This requirement is what distinguishes this profile from an ordinary employee. If you do not meet the necessary qualification, the appropriate route would be residence and work as an employee, which follows different rules.

The EU Blue Card salary threshold

The EU Blue Card carries an associated salary threshold that the job must reach. According to Orden PJC/44/2026, a gross annual salary of at least 1,4 times the average gross annual earnings per worker in Spain is required.

There are cases in which that threshold is lowered. In occupations with labour shortages or for recent graduates, the minimum required salary can drop to 80 % of the general threshold. This flexibility makes access easier for young profiles or for sectors with hiring difficulties.

Processing, deadlines and family

Administratively, the two forms work practically the same, which is good news given how quick they are:

• Who processes it: both are handled by the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE).
• Who starts it: it is the employing company that sets the procedure in motion.
• Resolution time: around 20 working days, with positive administrative silence (if they do not resolve in time, it is deemed granted).
• Duration: initial authorisation of 3 years, renewable.
• Family: in both forms you can bring your family from the outset, without waiting for prior residence periods.

That positive silence is one of the great advantages over the general immigration regime, where the opposite is the norm.

So, which one suits me?

The decision depends above all on your mobility plans and the job's salary:

• Choose the EU Blue Card if you expect to move around the European Union in the medium term and your job reaches the required salary threshold (1,4 times the average earnings, or 80 % in shortage occupations or for recent graduates).
• Choose the national permit (PAC) if your project is centred on Spain and you prefer not to be subject to the EU Blue Card salary threshold, or if your pay does not reach that limit.

In practice, many companies opt for the national permit for its simplicity, reserving the EU Blue Card for those who truly value European mobility. Since the procedure is started by the company, it is worth discussing it with the human resources department to choose the form that best fits your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch from the national permit to the EU Blue Card?

They are two different forms of the same figure under article 71 of Ley 14/2013. If in the future you need European mobility, the logical step is to consider an EU Blue Card application provided you meet its requirements, in particular the salary threshold. It is worth checking with the company, which is the one that starts the procedure before the UGE-CE.

What salary is required for the EU Blue Card?

A gross annual salary of at least 1,4 times the average gross annual earnings per worker, according to Orden PJC/44/2026. In occupations with labour shortages or for recent graduates, that threshold can drop to 80 %.

Can I bring my family from the start?

Yes. With both the EU Blue Card and the national permit, the family can obtain residence from the outset, without needing to prove prior residence periods as happens with family reunification under the general regime.

Do I need to pass the labour market test?

No. Unlike general residence and work as an employee, the residence for highly qualified professionals does not require assessing the national employment situation, which greatly speeds up hiring.

How long does the resolution take?

Around 20 working days in both forms, with positive administrative silence: if the Administration does not resolve in time, the application is deemed granted.

Disclaimer: the requirements, salary thresholds and deadlines can change. Always confirm the information in the official sources (UGE-CE and current regulations) or with a professional before starting your procedure.