What Residency Visas Are Available for Foreigners Wanting to Live in Spain?
If you’re planning to buy a property in Spain, a residency visa isn’t always required. For those only intending to stay up to three months at a time within any six-month period, it’s possible to own property in Spain as
If you’re planning to buy a property in Spain, a residency visa isn’t always required. For those only intending to stay up to three months at a time within any six-month period, it’s possible to own property in Spain as a non-resident.
However, if your goal is to spend the entire winter in Spain or live here year-round, you’ll need a visa.
Holding a residency visa also provides extra benefits, like access to public healthcare (though private insurance is usually necessary) and easier processes for tasks like setting up utility contracts, plus savings on things like bank fees.
After five years, you may apply for long-term residency, which allows unrestricted work. After ten years, citizenship becomes an option, which would allow unlimited travel throughout the Schengen Zone of the EU.
Spain offers a range of visas tailored to different types of people and their needs and goals.
Non-Lucrative Visa
This visa suits retirees or individuals wanting to live in Spain without local employment. It’s ideal for those relying on savings, pensions, or other passive income.
Non-Lucrative Visa:
– No Employment Needed: In fact, this visa doesn’t allow work in Spain, but holders can live off their savings, pension, rental or investment income.
– Renewable for Long-Term Living: Initially valid for one year, it’s renewable every two years for up to five years, after which you can apply for permanent residency. After ten years you can apply for citizenship.
– Schengen Zone Access: allows free travel within the Schengen Zone of the EU.
Requirements:
– Sufficient Financial Means: Applicants must show proof of €2,400 per month, plus an additional €600/month for each dependent. Acceptable proof of sufficient income can include bank statements for the last 6-12 months, investment documents, pension statements or other proof of regular income or sufficient savings.
– Accommodation Proof: Evidence of residence, such as registration with the town hall (empadronamiento in Spanish), is required within 30 days of arrival.
– Health Insurance: Insurance covering Spanish healthcare costs is required. This must be comprehensive, covering all eventualities. Although many countries have treaties with Spain that will allow you to receive a public health card, for the purposes of the visa, you must get private health coverage as well.
– No Criminal Record: Applicants need a clean record from recent countries of residence. National police records have to be provided.
Digital Nomad Visa
This visa is for remote workers looking to live in Spain while working for foreign clients or employers.
Benefits:
– Extended Stay: Allows an initial stay of 12 months, renewable for up to five years. After five years, long-term residency is possible, and after ten years, EU citizenship may be eligible.
– Remote Work with Fixed Tax Rate: Remote workers get a reduced 24% tax rate on income up to €600,000 per year.
– Family Inclusion: Family members can join, with income requirements adjusted accordingly.
– Schengen Access: Free travel within the Schengen Zone as a Spanish resident.
Requirements:
– Valid Passport: Must have at least three months’ validity beyond your initial one-year intended period of stay.
– Proof of Remote Employment: You must show proof of at least three months’ employment with a foreign company or clients, with the employer or company operating for at least a year. If you run a sole proprietor business, you must have been active for over a year.
– Minimum Income: Proof of monthly income of €2,400, with additional requirements for dependents.
For the first dependent family member (usually spouse or partner) an additional 75% of the Spanish minimum wage is required. This amounts to approximately €1,800 per month extra.
For each additional family member (often children) an extra 25% of the Spanish minimum wage is needed. This is about €600 per month per additional dependent.
For a family of four (applicant + spouse + 2 children) that would mean: €2,400 + €1,800 + €600 + €600 = €5,400 per month in demonstrable income.
– Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage valid in Spain is required. Typically the authorities will ask for the highest level of coverage by a provider, in the range of €300-€500, depending on provider.
– No Criminal Record: Recent criminal record check from the national police in countries of residence.
– Qualifications: Proof of relevant work experience, a university degree, or professional certification.
– Minimum Stay: If you want to renew the visa after your first year, you must have stayed in Spain for at least six months within a 12-month period.
– Application form: A completed national visa application form, including two recent passport-sized photos.
– Proof of housing: Evidence of where you’ll be staying in Spain may be required though typically, you have thirty days upon arrival to provide this by registering with your local town hall (ayuntamiento), known as empadronamiento.
Temporary Resident Visa
Ideal for those staying more than three months but less than a year, this visa is suited to medium-term property buyers or vacationers. This is typical for pensioners who return every year for the winter but spend more than six months back at home. As a result, they do not qualify for a non-lucrative residency visa. It is typically quicker and simpler to apply for this visa. It is also popular for those who just want to dip a toe in the waters before making a long term commitment.
Benefits:
– Renewable for Continued Stays: While initially for a set period, it’s renewable, allowing extended stays if desired. Basically, you can move up to the non-lucrative visa if desired. It’s also become more popular with Spanish pensioners with Spanish vacation homes since Brexit.
Requirements:
– Accommodation Proof: Provide documents like deeds or rental agreements.
– Financial Independence: Show proof of funds for your stay.
– Purpose of Stay: State your purpose, such as property management or extended vacation.
– Health Insurance: Valid coverage in Spain is required.
Golden Visa Program:
While the Golden Visa has been popular among non-EU investors and those looking to settle down in Spain, it looks set to be phased out at the end of 2024. This is part of a general trend towards its elimination in the EU. But, until then, these are its benefits and requirements.
Benefits:
– By the act of investing, a person and their family can get automatic one-year residency. This reduces the amount of bureaucracy and hassle.
– Family Residency: The visa extends to the investor’s spouse and children under 18 as well as dependent adults, including special needs children.
– Renewable up to Citizenship: After five years of residency, long-term residency is possible, which provides a five year span before having to apply again. After ten years, residents can apply for Spanish (and EU) citizenship.
– Schengen Travel: As with other residency visas, Golden Visa holders can move freely across the Schengen Zone, making it ideal for frequent travelers.
Requirements:
– Investment in Spain: By far the most popular method of qualifying is property investment. In this case you must invest a minimum of €500,000 in property, either in one or several properties, without financing from Spanish banks. However, you can also qualify with €1 million investment in Spanish companies, capital funds, business projects, or financial institutions. Finally, an investment of €2 million in Spanish government debt securities.
– Financial Means: Applicants must prove they have funds to support themselves and any family.
– No Criminal Record: A record check from the past five years is required, from your home country and other recent residences. You also must not have entered or stayed illegally in Spanish territory or have been refused entry into any Schengen country.
– Valid passport with more than one year of validity remaining. The applicant must be over 18. Also, for family members, proof of relationship is required.
– Health Insurance: Comprehensive insurance covering medical expenses in Spain is mandatory.
*For all of the above visa applications, it is important to keep in mind that all of the required documentation must be translated by a certified translator.
Is a Lawyer Necessary for Visa Applications?
While not required, navigating the visa process alone can be time-consuming and complex. Mistakes may lead to delays or a restart. A lawyer can streamline the process, and real estate agents familiar with expats can often recommend one.
There are tax implications as well that you need to keep in mind. Spanish residents living more than six months a year in Spain are expected to pay Spanish taxes. Many countries have treaties with Spain for tax, healthcare, and pensions, so consulting with a lawyer or accountant (gestor) is advisable.
You’ll still need to handle some document organization, like bank statements, proof of income, property deeds, etc. Checking with your local Spanish consulate is essential, though it may require patience, as timelines can extend beyond stated processing times. Sometimes different consulates will ask for different documents than it states on the website. There can be bureaucratic hiccups aplenty – none of them insurmountable, most of them frustrating.
Despite the challenges, obtaining residency in Spain is worth the effort. The lifestyle, scenery, and culture make the administrative hurdles worthwhile.
For up-to-date information, refer to Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
