Accredited companies that have filed or will file an initial Temporary Residence Permit, a change of employer or a change of condition application, should expect processing times of approximately 70 business days, instead of the usual 45 business days.

Furthermore, the immigration application appointment system implemented in May 2015 - which requires legal representatives or authorized attorneys of companies accredited by the immigration authority (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería) to attend an appointment - is also experiencing delays, with appointments available only three months after the request.

What This Means for Foreign Nationals

Companies and foreign nationals seeking approval of their immigration applications should factor in the delays. Fragomen has contacted the authorities to discuss the consequences of the delays, however there is currently no estimate for the resolution of these delays.

Employers should schedule immigration appointments far in advance of employees' start dates to account for the appointment system delays.

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