International Mobility
for Executives

Relocate your executives and international talent to Barcelona-Catalonia with free government support

Catalonia Trade & Investment is the Catalan Government's public agency helping international companies manage executive relocation, work permits, visas and immigration procedures. We provide free, confidential and personalized support to help your teams relocate and start operating in Barcelona-Catalonia quickly and smoothly.

Talk to an International Mobility Expert

Work permits & executive relocation in Barcelona-Catalonia

Expanding internationally often means relocating key employees, executives and their families. Understanding immigration requirements, visas and work permits can be complex, especially when time is critical for your investment project.

Our International Mobility Service helps companies navigate Spanish immigration procedures with confidence. Working alongside your dedicated project manager, you'll receive expert guidance throughout the relocation process so your executives and international employees can begin working in Barcelona-Catalonia as efficiently as possible.

Who this service is for

Our International Mobility Service is designed for international companies that need to relocate employees as part of an investment or expansion project in Barcelona-Catalonia.

We can help if you're planning to:

  • Relocate executives or senior management to Catalonia.
  • Transfer international specialists or technical staff.
  • Move employees and their families to Barcelona-Catalonia.
  • Establish a new subsidiary, headquarters, R&D center or manufacturing facility requiring international talent.
  • Recruit non-EU professionals who require work authorization.
  • Understand Spanish immigration procedures before launching your operations.

Testimonials

  • AstraZeneca

    Carla Ruiz

    HR Director of AstraZeneca Spain

    “Barcelona is one of Europe's most exciting talent hubs, home to world-class universities, renowned business schools, and cutting-edge research centers”

  • Xplore Studio IKEA

    Susanna Kamph

     Xplore Studio Barcelona Leader

    "Barcelona is globally relevant, but still gives a sense of being intimate enough for new players to come and be part of the conversation"

How we help

Our specialists provide practical guidance throughout the immigration and relocation process, helping your company save time and reduce administrative complexity.

We support international companies with:

  • Work permits and residence permits for executives and employees.
  • Visa options for investors, highly qualified professionals and international staff.
  • Immigration procedures for accompanying family members.
  • Coordination with the public authorities involved in immigration processes.
  • Guidance on documentation and application requirements.
  • Personalized advice tailored to your investment project.
  • Ongoing support until your employees are successfully established in Barcelona-Catalonia.

 

Your international mobility journey

  1. Understanding your mobility needs: Every investment project has different mobility requirements. We begin by understanding your company's structure, the profiles of the employees you'll relocate and your project timeline. Based on this assessment, your dedicated advisor identifies the most suitable immigration pathway for your executives, specialists and accompanying family members.
  2. Designing the best immigration strategy: Our team explains the available visa and work permit options and prepares a personalized roadmap for your company. We help you understand the documentation, procedures and timelines required so you can plan your relocation process with confidence and avoid unnecessary delays.
  3. Supporting the relocation process: Throughout the application process, we act as your institutional point of contact, helping coordinate with the public authorities involved and providing guidance whenever questions arise. Our objective is to simplify administrative procedures so your employees can relocate as efficiently as possible.
  4. Helping your teams settle in Barcelona-Catalonia: Our support continues after immigration procedures are underway. We remain available to help resolve practical issues related to your executives' relocation, ensuring your international talent can integrate quickly and focus on launching your business successfully.

 

Why choose Catalonia Trade & Investment?

As the Catalan Government's investment agency, we have helped hundreds of international companies establish and expand their operations in Barcelona-Catalonia through free, confidential and tailor-made support. Our International Mobility Service complements our investment services, making it easier to relocate the people who are essential to your project's success.

When you work with us, you'll benefit from:

  • Free and confidential support.
  • A dedicated advisor throughout the relocation process.
  • Direct guidance on visas, work permits and residence permits.
  • Coordination with the relevant public authorities.
  • Tailor-made solutions for your investment project.
  • A seamless transition for executives, employees and their families.

 

Success stories in Barcelona-Catalonia.

  • Logo-Nestle

    Nestlé creates over 100 jobs at its Global IT Hub in Barcelona

    Nestlé is one of the many international companies established in Catalonia that have benefited from the International Mobility service for Executives. Francisco Mejías, manager of Talent, Recruitment & Training at Nestlé Spain, explains how every year, a great number of people move from their home countries to join Nestlé in Spain, especially in their Global IT Hub in Barcelona.

    According to Nestlé's manager, "Through their customized International Mobility service for Executives, Catalonia Trade & Investment was extremely helpful by accompanying the company in all its international mobility and immigration procedures, being in constant contact with public bodies, and monitoring and pushing the resolution of their requests".

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  • US tech giant Google opened new headquarters in Barcelona, creating 40 jobs

    Catalonia Trade & Investment has provided International Mobility Service for Executives to many international companies established in Catalonia, including Google.

    Danilo Colnaghi, Director of Google Barcelona and head of Western EMEA VSO at Google, thinks Catalonia represents a significant part of their business. The talent available in the city made it a must for the company to set up new offices. Colnaghi stated, "The city's booming @22 district hosts numerous tech multinationals and is a platform of innovation where you have more and more international companies coming over to share expertise and know-how."

    Colnaghi adds that the active local associations and pro-business authorities help and support Barcelona's position as the center of tech in Europe.

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  • Ricoh's impact on Catalonia's IT ecosystem: A model for talent attraction

    Japanese company Ricoh has been a critical player in Catalonia’s IT ecosystem since 1986. Ricoh's headquarters, located near Barcelona, serves European countries, the Middle East, and Africa.

    Ramon Martin, CEO of RICOH Spain and Portugal, explains how Catalonia Trade & Investment played a pivotal role in helping Ricoh expand their business: "Catalonia Trade and Investment helped us organize our Shared Service Centre from the very beginning. We started with 100 people and today, we reached 800".

    For Martin, Barcelona has always provided the perfect context for attracting talent and businesses, becoming a European technological hub. The city has witnessed the establishment of numerous global companies and serves as an incubator for startups.

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