Moving to Spain can be an exciting opportunity, but it is important to know the Spanish visa options available to you to make such a move. Depending on your nationality, length of your stay, and goals while in the country there are several different There are a few different visa types to consider.

Spanish Visa Requirements for Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland

Those who are citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland do not need a visa to travel, study, work or establish their residency in Spain. As a citizen of the European Union, you will still need to register once you are in Spain. Family members accompanying EU citizens, also can benefit from the right to free movement. In most cases, if you are the spouse or child of a EU citizen, all you will need to do once you get to Spain is apply for a residence permit. If you do need a stay visa because of your nationality, you must obtain a visa for family members of a citizen of the Union.

In our case, My son and I are dual citizens of the United States and Spain. I was born in Spain and immigrated with my family to the United States when I was 5 years old, and later became an American citizen as an adult. Because of that, my son and I both benefit from having citizenship in both countries, Spain and the US.

My husband is an American citizen. Because he is my spouse, he is able to move to Spain with me without having to go through the spanish visa process. Once we are in Spain, he will have to register with immigration and apply for a residency permit. That will allow him to gain residency through our marriage.

Spanish Visa Requirements for Non-EU Citizens

If you are traveling alone or the entire family are non-EU citizens, you will need to apply for a Spanish visa before moving to Spain. Below, I go over the most common Spanish visa options so you can make the best decision possible for you and your family.

Types of Spanish Visas

Tourist (Schengen) Visa

Depending on your country of origin, you may be required to get a Schengen visa to travel to and stay in Spain for up to 90 days out of any 180 day period. After your 90 days, you must spend 90 days outside of the Schengen Area before you can return. If you are not familiar with the Schengen Area, it is a zone similar to the European Union but not exact. The zone is made up of 27 European countries that have abolished their internal borders, for the free and unrestricted movement of people. For more information on the Schengen Zone, go here.

The tourist visa is not required for American citizens, but always verify the requirements with your local Spanish consulate to make sure that is the most current information in the event things change. This is one of the most common ways to live in Spain part time, you can spend three months in Spain, three months back in the United States and then return to Spain for another 3 months and so forth.

Non-lucrative Visa (Retirement Visa)

The Non-lucrative (NLV) Visa is a long stay spanish visa and what a lot of retirees use to move to Spain, though it is becoming more and more frequent for those under retirement age. It allows you to gain temporary residency in Spain. You then would renew the visa every 1-2 years and are able to apply for permanent or long term residency after 5 years. Its important to note that you cannot spend more than 10 months outside of Spain in your first 5 years with this option.

NLV Requirements include: private health insurance, Proof of financial means demonstrating that you can support yourself and any family members during your time in Spain, a criminal background check for the last 5 years and a medical certificate demonstrating you are in good health and will not become a burden to the Spanish health system. There are many private health insurance options available. You can find a few in our post about moving to Spain.

This visa option does not allow you to work in Spain, so if you are not of retirement age or plan to work, whether it be remotely or for a Spanish company, this is not the right option for you.

Golden (Investor) Visa

Spain’s Golden Visa grants you long term residency of a minimum of 5 years if you are making an investment in the Spanish economy. The investment can be in a business project, spanish company stocks, public securities or in a home with a purchase price of at least $500,000. You would apply for the Golden Visa and then family members would apply as family of the Investor. You will be able to work under the Golden Visa and you don’t have set limits to be in or out of the country with this option. So if you plan to buy a home or start a business in Spain and have the funds, this is a good path to residency for you.

Digital Nomad Visa

The Digital Nomad Visa is a long awaited option for many. People have been watching this one closely and it was finalized in the beginning of 2023. Remote workers can finally make living in Spain a reality. This one will allow foreigners to work remotely in Spain with some tax breaks.

To qualify, you must be a citizen of a non-European country, have been at your remote job for at least 3 months, have authorization to do the job remotely. You will also need to secure a private health insurance policy and are subject to a criminal background check for the last 5 years. You must demonstrate an annual income of at least $32,000. This spanish visa option will allow you to live in Spain for up to 5 years and you also can travel within the Schengen area without additional visas.

Work Visas and Permits

If you are planning to work in Spain, you will need to apply for one of the Work Visa options.

Employment visa

This visa is typically valid for up to one year, and you will need to provide evidence of a valid job offer as a transfer or employee of a Spanish company and sufficient financial resources to cover your stay in Spain. That being said, finding a job in Spain is challenging. The spanish government requires that companies first source employees from within the European Union and prove that they did not find a qualified candidate before they can hire a non-EU citizen for a position. There is a list of highly qualified trades. For information about the Highly Skilled Professional Work Permit, go here.

There are also several other types of spanish work visas such as Long-Term Work Visas, Seasonal Work Visas, Au Pair Visas, the EU Blue Card, a Self-employment (Autonomo) Visa, and an Entrepreneur Visa.

Student Visas

Finally, if you are planning to study in Spain, you will need to apply for a student visa. This visa is valid for up to one year, and you will need to provide evidence of acceptance into a valid study program and sufficient financial resources to cover your stay in Spain. It can be renewed for another year if you continue your studies in Spain.

Where to find information about Spanish Visas

For more information on available Spanish Visas and each of their requirements, vist the Consular Services available at the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación. There you will find all of the available visa options, the requirements for each and the application process.

Steps to getting your Spanish Visa

1. Check the latest requirements for your visa type with the Spanish Consulate in your home country.
2. Gather all required documents and submit them to the Spanish Consulate.
3. Once your visa is approved by them, you will receive your visa allowing you entry into Spain.
4. After arriving in Spain, you will need to register with immigration and apply for a residency permit.

No matter which visa you need, it is important to understand the requirements and apply for the right visa before you travel to Spain. Doing so will ensure that you have a smooth and successful experience when moving to Spain.