Relotus Relocation, one of Spain’s largest immigration consultancies, has released updated guidance explaining how holders of study permits, family-reunification cards or other non-work statuses can convert to the standard employee permit (autorización de residencia y trabajo por cuenta ajena) under Royal Decree 1155/2024. Published on 7 October 2026, the article breaks down three pathways: (1) modification of a student residence card after one year of studies, (2) transition from family reunification after one year of residence, and (3) exceptional change based on social ties (arraigo social). The piece highlights documentation pitfalls—particularly the requirement to register the work contract electronically with Spain’s Public Employment Service (SEPE) before lodging the application online. The consultancy notes that the Madrid Extranjería office currently resolves ‘cuenta ajena’ modifications filed on or before 22 August 2026, giving companies a realistic eight-to-ten-week planning window. Applicants must show a job offer meeting at least the minimum inter-professional wage (€1,221 gross per month in 2026) and valid private health insurance unless they will be registered in the Social-Security system from day one. For businesses, the main takeaway is that switching an existing foreign national already in Spain can be faster than initiating a new work permit from abroad, provided the employment relationship is stable and the labour-market test (CAT report) is either waived or passed. Relotus warns that submitting an incomplete electronic file triggers the infamous ‘requirement letter’ (requerimiento), potentially adding months to the process. HR teams should therefore audit offer letters for salary compliance, ensure sworn translations of overseas police certificates, and—where possible—bundle dependent family applications to avoid staggered timelines. The firm expects further clarifications once the Ministry of Inclusion publishes its next quarterly processing-time statistics in November.
