The Government simplifies the entry and stay procedure for foreign professionals in the audiovisual sector

11/03/2021

Yesterday the Council of Ministers 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, to support entrepreneurs and their internationalization.

With this initiative, progress is being made in the development of the “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 for authorizations and visas in this sector derived from the economic interest of this sector.

Three routes of entry and permanence for foreign professionals who carry out an activity in the audiovisual sector

The instructions approved yesterday in the Council of Ministers articulate three routes of access and permanence in Spain depending on the period of permanence of the professional.

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

The second route is intended for those professionals in the audiovisual sector who are going to stay in Spain for 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 remain and exercise their activity in Spain during its validity. In addition, it is foreseen that those foreigners who initially had come to Spain for a period of 90 days of stay in any period of 180 days may, exceptionally, request a stay authorization for the audiovisual sector for a maximum period of 180 days

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

For these three routes of entry and permanence, the possibility is enabled for artists or professionals to remain in Spain with their direct relatives, a key element for many artists.

This new procedure also allows underage artists or professionals to arrive in Spain and carry out their activity in the audiovisual sector accompanied by their parents, in order to preserve the interest of the minor. 

Expansion of the concept of professional in the audiovisual sector

Another outstanding element of this new procedure is that it broadens the concept of professional in the audiovisual sector, including not only the artist of recognized prestige, but also all the 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 encompass a wide range of both traditional content,   the multimedia and interactive digital environment, software development, video games 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 the mass media.

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

 

#SHOOTINGINSPAIN #SAFESHOOTING

#SPAINAVHUB #SPAINAUDIOVISUALHUB

⁣#SFC20ANNIVERSARY #RUEDAENESPAÑA

The Government simplifies the entry and stay procedure for foreign professionals in the audiovisual sector
The Government simplifies the entry and stay procedure for foreign professionals in the audiovisual sector