All Ley 14/2013 statuses
Researcher

Residency for research
activity in Spain

Carrying out research activity under an agreement with a Spanish organisation? The "investigador" status (art. 72, Ley 14/2013) has two modalities.

Two modalities — art. 72, Ley 14/2013

Art. 72.5–72.6

EU modality

  • For holders of a doctorate, or a qualification that gives access to doctoral studies.
  • Right to mobility across the whole of the EU.
  • Right to teach in addition to the research activity (art. 72.4).
Art. 72.2.b

National modality

  • All other cases not covered by the EU modality.
  • Link with the host organisation: employment contract or convenio de acogida (hosting agreement). An accepted letter of invitation is treated as a convenio only for the EU modality (art. 72.2.a).
✅
The permit is valid for 3 years, not 2. The current wording of art. 72.3, Ley 14/2013 (in force since 23 December 2022, after the Ley 28/2022 reform) explicitly sets a validity of three years (or the length of the agreement/contract, if shorter). Renewal is for a further 2 years, and long-term residence becomes available in year 5.

Convenio de acogida (hosting agreement)

This is the document that ties the researcher to the host organisation. For the EU modality, on top of the general requirements you must submit either a hosting agreement or an employment contract (art. 72.2.a, Ley 14/2013).

Minimum

What the agreement must contain

  • The title or purpose of the research activity, or the field of research.
  • The researcher's commitment to try to complete the research activity.
  • The organisation's commitment to host the researcher for that purpose.
  • The start and end dates of the research activity, or its estimated length.
  • Details of any planned mobility to other EU member states, if applicable.
Formalities

What to look at

  • Letter of invitation: a letter that the researcher has expressly accepted is treated as an agreement if it contains all of this minimum content (art. 72.2.a).
  • Form: art. 72 sets no standard template; the content is what matters. For the national modality (art. 72.2.b) the law does not state a minimum content, so we confirm what the UGE will require before you apply.
  • Permit validity: three years or, if the agreement (or contract) is shorter, the length of that document (art. 72.3). That is why the dates in the agreement matter.
  • Organisation: research organisations can apply to be registered with the UGE, for 5 years and renewable. A registered organisation does not have to show sufficient financial means or payment of the fee at the time of application (art. 72.8). Ask whether your organisation is registered.

Special cases

PhD students are treated as researchers, but may choose whichever regime suits their case best — including the general study-stay permit (estancia por estudios).

Once the research is finished, a move to a job-search status may be possible; timing and conditions depend on the UGE's current guidance and are confirmed for your case.

Family

Family members have the right to apply together with the researcher or afterwards — under the general rules of the "International mobility" section (art. 62.4): spouse/partner, minor children, dependent adult children without their own family, and dependent ascendants.

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