Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE) published Order PJC/44/2026 on January 30, 2026, establishing for the first time the reference salary threshold required for residence permits granted to highly qualified professionals holding an EU Blue Card.

The measure aims to attract international talent to Spain, aligning with European policies designed to promote a more efficient and competitive framework for skilled labor migration. The regulation also seeks to establish a clear salary benchmark in order to standardize the requirements for accessing this residence authorization, providing greater legal certainty and transparency for employers, workers, and public authorities involved in the process.

Under the new regulation, and based on the latest Annual Wage Structure Survey published by Spain’s National Statistics Institute, the average gross annual salary has been set at EUR 28,049.94. Applying the established coefficient of 1.4 results in a minimum annual salary requirement of EUR 39,269.92 for 2026. This will be the minimum gross annual salary required for highly qualified professionals applying for an EU Blue Card residence permit.

In addition, the regulation includes an 80% reduced threshold in certain cases, including:

• Occupational Groups 1 and 2 of the National Classification of Occupations (CNO): professionals working in shortage occupations.
• Recently qualified workers: professionals who obtained their university degree within the last three years.

The order will enter into force the day following its publication in the BOE, further strengthening Spain’s regulatory framework for attracting highly qualified professionals in an increasingly competitive global labor market.

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