In early August, the Large Enterprises Unit (UGE), which reports to the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, approved a change in the procedures for processing residence permits for doctoral students.
This change means that, effective immediately, all doctoral students—simply by being enrolled in a doctoral program, regardless of whether or not they have a contract or agreement—will apply for a residence and work permit for researchers under Law 14/2023.
The guidelines also state that no further applications for study visas or residence permits for doctoral studies will be processed.
Applying for a Residence and Work Permit for Researchers Applications can only be submitted online, which requires you to have an electronic certificate; and to obtain an electronic certificate, you need a Foreign National Identification Number – NIE (*).
On the website of the Large Enterprises Unit (UGE), there is a document with detailed instructions on the application process for this type of visa:
https://www.inclusion.gob.es/web/unidadgrandesempresas
This procedure is completely unrelated to the Doctoral School at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, and, unfortunately, we do not have any further information on the matter.
(*) You can apply for a NIE through the consular office in your country of residence ( Example of the process at the Mexican consulate). Once you have obtained your NIE, you can also apply for a digital certificate through the Consulate ( example from the Mexican Consulate), citing the need to apply for a residence and work permit for researchers pursuing doctoral studies.