Spain is a country that attracts with its rich culture, unique architecture, and the hospitality of its local residents. Spain is known for its diversity and opportunities for those seeking new horizons and better conditions for living and development. The country belongs to the EU and the Schengen area, so immigration to Spain opens up many opportunities for travel without unnecessary worries for holders of residency documents.
On this page, you will find useful information about document processing options, advice and recommendations on the immigration process, visa requirements, as well as the advantages and nuances associated with living in Spain.
Digital nomad visa in Spain
Visa and Residence Permit for Digital Nomads in Spain are designed for foreigners who are not citizens of EU countries and can work remotely. It is suitable for both employees of companies and freelancers. Additionally, spouses and children can apply together with them.
Main requirements for application:
- Minimum income for 2024 must be 2,646 euros per month (31,752 euros per year), for adding a second family member, the income needs to increase by 993 euros per month, for each additional family member, add +331 euros per month.
- The employer company (for employed workers) or the contracting company (for freelancers) must be located outside of Spain and must have existed for at least 1 year at the time of application, and the relationships must have lasted for at least 3 months at the time of application.
- Evidence of either 3 years of professional experience or a diploma in the relevant field is required.
- A certificate of no criminal record from both the country of citizenship and the country of residence is required.
- Mandatory health insurance for employed workers. Freelancers can substitute it with a written commitment to register with the Spanish social security.
A positive feature of the program is that the digital nomad visa is not mandatory. It is sufficient to enter Spain legally, and you can immediately apply for a temporary residence permit.
Digital nomads working under an employment contract can opt for the Beckham Law tax regime. This allows them to pay a fixed income tax rate of 24% for 6 years instead of the progressive tax rate of 19-47%.
The permit is issued for 3 years and can be extended for 2 years. The time spent residing under the permit counts towards the required 5 years for applying for permanent residency in Spain.
Processing time: 20 working days for approval + 1 month for the residence card production.
Legal support cost: upon request.
Work Visa to Spain
These documents are intended for foreigners who will be employed by a Spanish company. Citizens of EU, EEA, and Switzerland do not require a work visa.
To initiate the process, you need to have an employer in Spain. The employer is responsible for obtaining the initial residence and work permit for you as an employed worker from the Ministry of Labor and Immigration.
The next stage is submitting documents to obtain a work visa to Spain. Important note: visa applications must be submitted outside of Spain at the consulate located in your country of citizenship or residence.
List of main documents required for visa application:
- Application form and photograph;
- Passport – must be valid for at least 4 months (in the case of a temporary contract, the validity period must cover the entire duration of the contract) and have two blank pages;
- Initial residence and work permit as an employed worker;
- Copy of the employment contract stamped by the Foreigners Office;
- Certificate of no criminal record issued by the country or countries of residence for the last 5 years;
- Medical certificate confirming that the applicant does not suffer from diseases that could have serious consequences for public health.
The consulate may take up to 3 months to process the documents. After obtaining the visa, you must enter Spain and obtain a temporary residence permit valid for 1 year, which can be extended if necessary.
Processing time: approximately 8 months.
Legal support cost: upon request.
Visa for Self-Employed Individuals (Work Permit for Self-Employment in Spain)
A work permit for self-employed individuals is required when a person who is not a citizen of the European Union or the European Economic Area wants to start their own business in Spain or develop their activity as an independent professional.
The first step in the documentation process is to prepare a business plan, which must be approved by one of the business associations in Spain.
The next stage is to submit documents for a visa at the Spanish consulate located in your country of citizenship or residence.
List of main documents required for visa application:
- Application and photograph
- Passport
- Certificate of no criminal record issued by the country or countries of residence for the last 5 years
- Business plan, including proof of funds to start the business, as well as a resume demonstrating relevant experience
- Positive assessment of the business plan from one of the Spanish business associations
- Medical certificate confirming that the applicant does not suffer from diseases that could have serious consequences for public health.
The processing time for visa is 2-3 months.
After arriving in Spain with a visa for self-employment, the mandatory step is to register as self-employed (autónomo) with the Spanish government authorities, including registration with the tax office and social security service, and obtaining the residence permit in the form of a plastic card.
The initial residence permit is issued for 3 years.
Processing time: from 3 months.
Cost of legal support: upon request.
Startup Visa in Spain
The startup visa and residence permit are available for foreigners planning to conduct business in Spain. This business must bring certain innovation and novelty to the Spanish market and align with the interests of the state. The permit also allows working within Spain.
A startup can have 4-5 co-founders, and each of them can individually obtain a visa and residence permit for themselves and their families.
Key criteria for the future business:
- Creation of new job opportunities in the future
- Absence of competitors in Spain
- Creation of investment opportunities
- Use of modern technologies
You can submit documents directly from Spain; there is no need to obtain a visa beforehand. It is sufficient to be legally present in the country. Additionally, along with the main applicant, their spouse, children, and parents (if they are over 65 and dependent on the applicant) can also obtain the permit.
Requirements for obtaining residence permit through a startup:
- Submission of a business plan and obtaining a positive response from the ENISA organization (takes up to 3 months)
- Certificate of no criminal record issued by the country or countries of residence for the last 5 years
- Availability of comprehensive insurance coverage
- Document confirming the applicant’s sufficient funds in the account. In 2024:
- 31,752 euros for the main applicant
- 11,907 euros for the second family member
- 3,969 euros for each additional family member
Documents are submitted to UGE, and the processing time is up to 20 working days.
The initial permit is valid for 3 years, and it can be extended for 2 years. After 5 years of residency, you can apply for permanent residency in Spain, and after 10 years, for citizenship.
An additional advantage is the preferential tax regime – during the first 2 years of the company’s profitable activity, the corporate tax rate will be 15% instead of 25%.
Processing time: from 3 months.
Cost of legal support: upon request.
Non-Lucrative Visa in Spain
The non-lucrative visa is suitable for non-EU citizens who have sufficient funds to live in Spain without working, including:
- Retirees with adequate savings or passive income
- Individuals who want to spend their first year in Spain simply traveling the country and then start business activities from the second year onward. This visa can be transformed into a work permit.
With this residence permit, you cannot engage in economic activities in Spain but can invest, for example, in company stocks. Additionally, you can study and undergo internships.
The process begins with applying for a visa at the Spanish consulate.
Requirements for obtaining a non-lucrative visa:
- Show sufficient funds in a bank account or the ability to receive regular income. In 2024, to obtain a residence permit for one year, a foreigner needs to demonstrate at least 28,800 euros in their account, with an additional family member requiring 36,000 euros.
- Provide evidence of the source of funds. Any documents showing the origin of the money are acceptable.
- Obtain private medical insurance with full coverage in Spain without copayments.
- Provide a certificate of no criminal record from the country of citizenship.
- Provide a medical certificate confirming the absence of dangerous diseases.
- Confirm the place of residence in Spain (rental agreement, property ownership, etc.).
The residence permit is issued for one year with the possibility of renewal for two years each time. After 5 years of residency in Spain, you can apply for permanent residency.
Citizens of Latin American countries and the Philippines can apply for citizenship after 2 years of residency with this visa.
Upon arrival in Spain, it is necessary to register the place of residence and visit a police station within one month to provide fingerprints. After this, the residence permit will be ready.
Processing time: 2-3 months.
Cost of legal support: upon request.
Golden Visa in Spain
The Golden Visa is designed for non-EU citizens who intend to invest a minimum of 500,000 euros in Spain. This visa provides numerous advantages to its holders:
- Application can be made directly from Spain, eliminating the need to apply through a consulate.
- For renewal of the permit, it’s sufficient to visit Spain once a year (unlike other types of permits that require a minimum of 183 days of stay in the country per year).
- The initial permit is valid for 3 years and can be renewed for 5 years. After 5 years of holding the permit, you can apply for permanent residency in Spain.
- The permit allows both residency and work rights in Spain.
- You can also extend the permit to your spouse, children, and parents – all through a single investment!
Available types of investments include:
- Real estate – starting from 500,000 euros. If you have already purchased real estate after 2014, this can also qualify for participation in the program.
- Investment in shares of Spanish companies, participation in investment funds, deposits in Spanish banks – starting from 1,000,000 euros.
- Spanish government bonds – starting from 2,000,000 euros.
- Local business and socio-economic projects – the law does not specify an exact amount, but it should be a significant contribution to the development of the territory.
Main requirements for participation in the program:
- Making the investment before applying for the residency permit.
- Providing a certificate of no criminal record and a certificate of no serious diseases.
- Demonstrating sufficient savings or stable income to support oneself and family members (in 2024, from 28,800 euros per year for the main applicant + 7,200 euros per year for each additional applicant).
Processing time: approximately 5 months.
Cost of legal support: upon request.
Permanent residency in Spain
The right to permanent residency can be obtained after 5 years of continuous residence with a temporary residence permit (does not apply to students). Continuous residence is considered to be living in Spain for more than 6 months per year, with a total absence from Spain not exceeding 10 months over 5 years.
Cost of legal support: upon request.
Summary
We have overviewed the most popular options for immigration to Spain, but it is not limited to them. Foreigners can also use the following grounds for obtaining temporary residency in Spain:
- Student visa
- Visa for conducting scientific research
- Visa for internships
- Family reunification
- Visa for high-qualified workers and for employee transfers
- Visa for audiovisual industry workers
- Visa for family members of EU citizens
If you are interested in immigration to Spain, please contact us and we will be happy to assist!
