Living in a globalised world means that geographical borders increasingly limit the activity of people and companies. Professionals from all sectors are finding better opportunities in another country, and one such sector is engineering. According to the Spanish Engineering Observatory (OIE), Spain will need to incorporate 200,000 more engineers over the next ten years to tackle the projects that the country requires. For this reason, and with the aim of continuing to invest in the best talent, Tech Teamz has developed the Highly Skilled Worker (HSW) Program, designed for engineers from all over the world who dream of developing their careers in Spain.

What is the Tech Teamz Highly Skilled Worker Programme?

At Tech Teamz, we specialize in creating world-class engineering teams for our clients within weeks. Our highly customized teams work as an extension of our clients’ R&D department, and we take care of recruitment, HR, global payroll, and legal compliance so our clients can focus on their core business.

The Highly Skilled Worker Program is a special permit given by the Spanish government to companies with strategic value, which allows them to access talent and resources that are difficult to find locally, so they can continue growing in economically relevant industries, such as electronic engineering. With this permit, Tech Teamz can hire and relocate engineers with highly valuable skills from all over the world to work in Spain. The process typically takes between 1.5 to 2.5 months, with a success rate of 96%.

This is an excellent opportunity for companies that want to build their engineering teams in Spain. They can benefit from the high-quality engineering available in Spain, while also having their team located in the same time zone. This makes travel and communication much easier, allowing the engineers to travel to the headquarters of the client whenever it is needed. In addition, engineers who are interested in moving to Europe, particularly Spain, have a chance to work with us and experience the country’s unique culture and lifestyle.

What is the recruitment and relocation process like?

First, we find the right engineer for the project, agree on a salary and arrange interviews with the engineer and the client. We go through all the typical recruitment and HR processes. Once both parties have agreed on all the details, and thanks to our partners from Jobbatical specialized in international and immigration law, we can hire the engineers from day one in their home country while we process all the VISA documentation and can relocate them permanently to Spain.

Once we have all the necessary legal documentation, Tech Teamz completes any other paperwork required by the Spanish government and local town hall for the engineer. We also assist with the initial relocation to Spain, and we can help with obtaining work permits for their family members as well.
To facilitate the adaptation to a new country, we also give them tips on life in Spain, like information about typical dishes and cuisine, cultural traditions, celebrations, festives, and more. Our goal is to make the transition to Spain as smooth as possible, so our engineers can focus on their work and enjoy their new surroundings.

Recently, we talked to Karanbir Sigh, Embedded Software Engineer who came to work in Spain from India thanks to our Program, and with Mara Fernández, Account Manager at Tech Teamz, who told us more about the Highly Skilled Worker Program:

-What are the main requirements for obtaining the Highly Skilled Worker Program visa?

(M): To obtain the Highly Skilled Worker Program visa in Spain, applicants must have a valid employment contract or job offer in a highly skilled profession. They should possess the necessary qualifications and experience (a detailed curriculum vitae is required as well as university degrees accrediting the specialty), meet the minimum salary requirements, , provide a clean criminal record, and commit to residing in Spain while complying with local immigration laws.

-What kind of support did you receive from the company during the relocation process and during the first months in Spain?

(M): We helped HSW engineers throughout the whole process, considering that they may not speak the same language. Before arriving, we provide short stay options so that once the person is in Spain and has all the documents in order, they can start visiting the long stay accommodation. We accompany them to the bank, for the opening of his bank account, we have provided them with all the appointments with the immigration office to obtain the residency documents once in Spain. We have even helped to contract the internet service in their home and we give constant support because we understand that it is a cultural change and that at the beginning they need information/help.

-How was the adaptation to the Spanish culture and language? Did you receive any kind of training or advice in this regard?

(K): Although there is no doubt that Spanish culture has factors like kindness, politeness and humbleness , it becomes easy to adopt this culture as all a person like me needs is kindness and support in initial times . Trainings on language at personal level helps gaining basic knowledge but I feel one gets to learn and know more when he/she gets practical experience by interactions with local people.

-How was the experience of working in Spain compared to your work experience in India? Are there any significant differences in the way you work?

(K): Frankly speaking, in my daily activities of profession, stress and work pressure are important parameters that need to be balanced . For me this remained same while I was working in India and now in Spain but due to more healthier work environment here I feel motivated always to keep up the pace and increase my efficiency day by day.

-Would you recommend emigrating to another country and a change of life? Why?

(K): In my opinion, YES, one should give a thought to this if the career opportunity is really good because I feel learning should be consistent in life and that gives shape to the curve of success for every individual like me.

-What advice would you give to an engineer who is considering relocating to Spain with his or her family for work reasons?

(K): My suggestion would be to take a chance on this as by moving to Spain with family you will experience a better and healthier lifestyle as I believe we all strive to achieve this day in and day out .

In conclusion, moving to Spain with a company as a highly qualified engineer can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It offers the opportunity to work in an innovative industry, advance one’s career, and enjoy a high standard of living in a beautiful and culturally rich country. It is a decision that any engineer should seriously consider if they are looking for a new challenge and a fresh perspective on their profession.