Spanish residency in 2024
This article explains how to get Spanish residency, what the terms are, and how much it costs. All information is sourced from Spain’s Immigration Portal. Non-EU citizens need a Schengen visa to enter Spain. Read our article to find out how to obtain one and how much it costs.
General requirements for obtaining a Spanish residence permit
Basic requirements foreigners must meet:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- possess medical insurance;
- possess a clean criminal record;
- not be banned from entering Spain;
- be neither an EU citizen nor a relative of an EU citizen;
- not suffering from any serious disease with potential consequences for themselves and the wider public;
- must be staying legally in Spain;
- have paid all data processing fees.
In some cases, it is necessary to meet additional requirements. Let’s consider them while analysing each type of residency:
Investment-based residency in Spain
Spanish Golden Visas have been available to foreigners since 2013. They allow investors, entrepreneurs, skilled workers, and scientific researchers to receive residence permits in the country. Read the conditions for each category on Spain's Immigration Portal.
The Golden Visa programme offers the easiest and fastest route to Spanish residency for affluent foreigners.
540,000 €
Total area 171 m² 4 bedrooms
1,796,000 €
Total area 175 m² 4 bedrooms
320,000 €
Total area 58 m² 2 bedrooms
800,000 €
Total area 90 m² 3 bedrooms
480,000 €
Total area 102 m² 3 bedrooms
397,000 €
Total area 45 m² 1 bedroom
575,000 €
Total area 103 m² 2 bedrooms
595,000 €
Total area 87 m² 2 bedrooms
How to obtain a Spanish Golden Visa | |
Investment vehicle | Minimum investment |
Real estate | €500,000 |
Public bonds | €1M |
Stocks and bank deposits | €2M |
Business projects | No threshold, it depends on each particular project |
The most popular option to get Spanish Golden Visa is buying real estate in Spain, especially rental properties because they tend to be more affordable and can generate good yields.
The Spain Golden visa is valid for all the time that the property is owned. The residence permit card needs to be updated after one year, and then every two years.
This type of residence permit can also be obtained by the investor's family: a spouse, as well as children under the age of 21 and parents over the age of 65, if they are financially dependent on the investor.
Advantages of a Spanish Golden Visa:
- it takes 10 days to issue a Golden Visa, compared to 20 days for a residence permit;
- a work permit is included;
- residency is granted for two years and can be extended for the same period;
- residency is issued to the applicant and the applicant's closest relatives: spouse, children under 18, parents and children over 18 who are dependent on the applicant.
- visiting the country at least once a year is enough to extend residency in Spain.
Investments via a legal entity are allowed provided that the company is not registered on an offshore territory and its major share is owned by the investor.
Documents:
- investor and investor's relatives’ passports;
- police clearance certificate;
- proof of funds to sustain living without government support;
- documentary proof of investment (property register certificate and property sales agreement, public bond OR stock purchase certificate OR deposit opening confirmation issued by the Bank of Spain or a financial institution);
- a bank statement confirming the financial independence of the investor: from 2,400 euros for the main applicant and from 600 euros for each family member.
For all types of residence permit, foreign documents must be translated into Spanish or the official language of the country where the application is submitted.
Steps to obtain. Applicants must apply for a resident's visa at a Spanish consulate in their own country. When the visa is issued, it’s necessary to apply for a temporary residence permit at the Ministry of Employment’s Large Business and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE).
Applicants can submit the necessary documents for the permit on the Ministry of Labour, Migrations, & Social Security's website.
Residence permit with the right to work
Residency with the right to work is granted to employees and self-employed workers. Temporary residence permits are also available for internships, scientific research, and seasonal work.
Requirements for employees. Spanish and EU citizens, and foreigners whose spouses or parents are legal residents of Spain, who are applying for jobs receive priority employment. Non-EU citizens without close relatives in Spain have two options:
- apply for a job from a list of hard-to-fill positions, published quarterly by the Public Employment Service;
- apply for a position previously rejected by a Spanish or EU citizen.
It is prohibited to seek employment upon entering the country unless already in possession of a work permits in Spain.
Requirement for self-employed workers. To obtain residency, applicants must prove they are qualified by providing either a university diploma or course completion certificate, depending on their occupation. For example, it is impossible to be a medical practitioner without a medical degree.
For employees: | For the self-employed: |
passport + copy | passport + copy |
two EX-03 applications | two EX-07 applications |
proof of professional qualification | proof of professional qualification |
signed labour agreement | viable project (with estimated investment and expected profits) |
proof of the company's solvency | |
TIN + copy |
Steps to obtain. The residency application procedure is initiated by the employer, who contacts the local department of the Ministry of Labour and Migrations. Afterwards, the employer will receive the document and send it to the employee, who must then submit this document to a Spanish consulate in their home country. Self-employed workers must contact a consulate by themselves. The consulate will review the application and give a response within three months. Within a month after approval, the documents for the visa must be submitted by the applicant. Successful applicants must then enter Spain within three months after the visa has been issued, and residency must be applied for within 30 days of arrival.
Residence permit without the right to work
Receiving a temporary residence permit in Spain without the right to work enables holders to bring their relatives with them and visa-free travel in the EU. A residence permit with the right to work can be applied for a year later.
To be granted Spanish residency, applicants need to own or rent a residential property and hold at least four times the yearly minimum salary (IPREM) — plus the equivalent of a year’s minimum salary for each family member — in their bank account.
2024 IPREM — €600 per month. A family of three, for example, must prove the availability of €3,600 per month.
Foreigners can easily obtain a residence permit with no right to work: meeting all the requirements and having the documents and funds to live without government support is enough. This type of residency can be upgraded as a residence permit with the right to work in one year. Therefore, this type of residency is often used by foreigners who wish to settle down in Spain.
Documents:
- passport;
- police clearance certificate;
- proof of funds;
- medical insurance;
- one-year residential property rental agreement or proof of property ownership.
Steps to obtain. Foreigners must apply through a consulate and pay the required fees.
Within a month after the visa approval, it must be collected from the consulate or the visa will be void.
The Spanish residency card is applied for upon entering the country at the immigration office or police department in the province where the permit has been processed.
Residence by settlement
Residence by settlement can be applied for by illegal immigrants who have resided in Spain for at least two or three years.
Requirements to apply for a residence permit in two years. | In three years |
Proof of employment lasting at least six months | A signed labour agreement lasting for at least one year |
Absent from Spain for no longer than 90 days | Absent from Spain for no more than 120 days |
Documents:
- EX-10 application;
- passport + copy;
- police clearance certificate;
- documentary proof of residence in the country, e.g. registration or hospitalisation or any municipal, regional, or state document proving residency in Spain.
Employed illegal immigrants need to submit additional documentary proof of their employment, such as an administrative labour inspection order or court ruling recognising the existence of labour relations.Unemployed illegal immigrants must prepare a labour agreement, NIF, copy of a professional qualification, guarantee of the company's solvency, and social integration report issued by the City Hall.
Steps to obtain. Documents are submitted to the applicant’s nearest immigration office and successful applicants will receive residency with the right to work within three months.
The documents required for the issuance of a foreign identity card are later submitted to the same immigration office. Family reunification residence permit Spanish residents wishing to relocate their relatives to the country are known as “sponsors”. They can secure a residence permit with the right to work for their relatives. By law, residency can be obtained by legal spouses or partners, minor (under 18) and dependent children, and parents aged over the age of 65.
It is most difficult to obtain residency for the sponsor’s parents — they must prove that they depend on the sponsor on health and financial grounds. Parents who are in good health and provide for themselves will not be granted residency.
Requirements.
The sponsor must have both lived in Spain for a year and held a residency permit for a year before submitting the required documents for their relatives to be granted residency. It is also necessary to prove the availability of funds to sustain their family — 150% IPREM for two family members and 50% per subsequent family member.
If the sponsor wishes to secure a residence permit for a partner, they have to prove that their relationship started before the proposed relocation to Spain.
Documents:
- EX-02 application + copy;
- passport + copy;
- proof of funds to sustain living without government support: labour agreement for employees, accreditation of the activity developed for the self-employed, bank statement;
- copies of kinship documentary proof.
Steps to obtain. The sponsor personally submits an application to their nearest immigration office. The fee is to be paid within 10 days after submitting the documents.
The application takes up to 45 days for approval. After its approval, the relative has two months to contact the Spanish consulate in their home country and collect the visa. Upon receiving the visa, the applicant enters Spain and submits documents to receive a foreign identity card.
Student residence permit
To study in Spain for less than six months, foreigners need a student visa. For longer periods, a student residence permit is issued.
To obtain a residence permit, students must receive confirmation of enrollment from the educational institution.
There is a financial requirement for students. The availability of funds to sustain themselves: 100% IPREM + prepaid accommodation for the period of stay in Spain.
Documents:
- passport;
- visa application;
- proof of funds to sustain oneself;
- proof of enrolment in an educational institution.
Steps to obtain. Applicants must apply through a consulate and pay the visa fee. Successful applicants can collect the visa within two months after it’s issued.
If the study period in Spain exceeds six months, it’s necessary to apply for a foreign identity card at the Immigration Office.
How to extend a residence permit
To extend their residency, foreigners need to apply at their nearest immigration office less than 60 days before the expiration of their current residence permit. The decision to issue a residence permit is made within three months.
Residence type | Documents required |
Investor's residence permit | Passport ApplicationInsurance policyProof of funds to sustain livingPolice clearance certificateSchool report for dependent schoolchildrenDocumentary proof of investment |
Residence permit with right to work | Passport ApplicationInsurance policyProof of funds to sustain livingPolice clearance certificateSchool report for dependent schoolchildrenNew labour agreement if applicant’s place of employment has changedProof of the right to receive social benefit (if applicable) |
Residence permit with right for self-employment | Passport ApplicationInsurance policyProof of funds to sustain livingPolice clearance certificateSchool report for dependent schoolchildrenIncome tax return |
Family reunification | Passport ApplicationInsurance policyProof of funds to sustain livingPolice clearance certificateSchool report for dependent schoolchildrenLabour agreement or bank statementResidential property rental agreement or property register extract |
How to become a permanent resident or citizen
Permanent residence permits enable foreigners to live and work in the country on the same terms as Spanish citizens.
Permanent residency is granted after five years of residence in the country on the condition that the applicant has not left Spain for more than six months per trip or a total of ten months within five years.
Permanent residency is applied for at an immigration office and the fee must be paid within 10 days after the application.
It is possible to apply for citizenship after 10 years of residence in Spain.
Foreigners often make the mistake of trying to obtain a residence permit prior to their arrival in Spain. This is only possible if the applicant is obtaining a residence permit by settlement. In other cases, documents must first be submitted to a consulate in the applicant's home country.
The Tranio team will help you choose the right type of residence permit when buying property in Spain, as well as create an investment strategy based on your individual case
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