The summer season represents a key opportunity to proactively plan your company’s international mobility strategies. The slower business pace of the summer holidays can become the ideal time to carry out corporate migration processes without affecting the overall performance of the business.
Orience, a firm specialized in international mobility, helps you prepare a smooth, legally sound transition aligned with your organization’s strategic goals.
Why plan a corporate migration before summer?
In the months leading up to summer, many companies experience reduced activity or temporary shutdowns of non-essential operations. This slowdown becomes a window of opportunity to carry out international talent relocation, open new offices, or establish foreign subsidiaries without significantly disrupting operations.
Some of the key benefits of planning your corporate migration during this time include:
- Greater availability of internal resources to coordinate documentation, compliance, and logistical support.
- Reduced administrative delays by staying ahead of public agency closures and holiday schedules.
- Better adaptation for relocated talent who can use the summer period to acclimate before the new operational cycle begins.
Key stages for a successful corporate migration
A well-executed corporate migration involves more than changing countries. It requires strategic planning, legal knowledge, and cross-functional coordination. These are the essential stages:
1. Assessing needs and identifying transferee profiles
It’s critical to define which teams or employees will be relocated, whether they hold key positions (C-level, middle management, technical specialists), what the purpose of their mobility is, and for how long. Here, Orience provides tools for strategic international HR planning.
2. Personalized immigration and legal advice
Each country has its own rules on work visas, intra-company transfers, or investor residency. In Spain, options like the EU ICT Visa or the Startup Law for highly qualified professionals are essential. Orience identifies the best route for your company and employees.
3. Visa and permit processing
This stage involves gathering and submitting documents such as employment contracts, proof of financial means, criminal background checks, health insurance, experience certificates, and more. Orience handles every detail to minimize errors and delays.
4. Logistics and soft landing
Relocation goes beyond immigration formalities. It also involves finding housing, schools for children, health insurance, and providing cultural support to relocated talent. Orience offers an all-in-one relocation and concierge service to ensure your employees can begin their personal and professional lives stress-free.
5. Post-arrival monitoring and compliance
Once the individual or team is settled, it’s essential to ensure legal compliance for permit renewals, immigration notifications, tax obligations for posted workers, and more. Orience provides ongoing monitoring and post-relocation legal support.
Critical aspects to consider before summer
- Institutional calendar: Many government offices reduce staff or close during August.
- Consular deadlines: Visa appointments can take longer if not booked in advance.
- Insurance and registration: Some services take longer to process during the holiday season.
- Logistics costs: Flight, rental, and moving service prices tend to rise in peak season.
Why trust Orience for your corporate migration?
Orience is a global mobility expert with over a decade of experience in relocating teams from global companies, tech startups, investment funds, and entrepreneurs. Our approach is:
- Multi-country: We offer legal and logistical solutions in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Malta, and the UAE, among others.
- Full service: From visas and tax to education, real estate, and banking.
- Business-tailored: Not all companies need the same. We create custom mobility itineraries.
- Speed and compliance: Our legal, immigration, and tax team ensures maximum efficiency and legal security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What visa is recommended to transfer staff to Spain from a foreign subsidiary?
The Intra-company Transfer Visa (ICT) is ideal for relocating employees who are already working for the company. There are also Highly Qualified Professional visas under the Entrepreneur Law.
Can a director be relocated before the new branch is formally established?
Yes, with proper preparation. Orience can help manage an initial visa and later formalize residency once the branch is established.
How long does the full relocation process take if I start in May or June?
It depends on the country of origin, but we recommend starting the process at least 6–8 weeks in advance to ensure approval before July/August.
What happens if employees arrive but don’t yet have a NIE?
They can enter Spain with their work visa and apply for the NIE within the first 30 days. Orience coordinates this process in parallel with soft landing services.
Does Orience also handle tax planning for posted workers?
Yes, our tax team can assess eligibility for the inbound tax regime, double taxation exemptions, and tax obligations for both the employee and the company.