Moving to Spain
6 routes for people from the US, Canada and the UK, each checked against official sources. Find the one that fits, then check it with the source before you apply.
Keep your job, work remotely
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Visado / autorizacion de residencia para teletrabajo de caracter internacional (Ley 14/2013, arts. 74 bis-74 quinquies)
Graduates or professionals with 3+ years' experience working remotely for a company outside Spain that has existed 1+ year, earning about EUR 2,850/month gross or more.
- What you need
- Monthly gross income of 200% of the minimum interprofessional wage (SMI). Proven with 3 months of payslips/invoices and matching bank statements; savings can cover a shortfall for the whole permit period. (EUR 2,849 a month)
- Family: +75% of SMI for the first family member, +25% of SMI for each further member. (EUR 1,068.38 a month)
- Degree or postgraduate from a recognised university, vocational school or business school, or at least 3 years' experience in similar roles. Regulated professions need recognition of the title or a notarised declaration not to practise in Spain.
- Employees: at least 3 months' prior relationship with the foreign employer, employer letter authorising remote work from Spain. Freelancers: 3+ months with foreign clients; may work for Spanish clients up to 20% of activity. The foreign company must have 1+ year of real, continuous activity.
- Social security: register in Spain (employee: foreign company registers; freelancer: RETA) or present a certificate of coverage under a social security agreement (the US, Canada, UK and Australia have agreements with Spain).
- Public or private health insurance equivalent to the Spanish national health system (no travel policies, no reimbursement-only policies), unless covered via Spanish social security.
- Criminal record certificate from countries of residence in the last 2 years, plus a sworn declaration covering the last 5 years.
- Not for
- Employees of Spanish companies
- Freelancers with more than 20% of work for Spanish clients
- Workers with under 3 months in their current role or employer company under 1 year old
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. From abroad: visa at the Spanish consulate for your US state (via BLS in the US). In Spain: apply to the UGE online while in legal stay (e.g. visa-free 90 days for US, Canadian, UK, Australian citizens) for a residence authorisation directly.
- How long it takes
- In-country authorisation: 20 days maximum by law, positive silence if no reply (Ley 14/2013 art. 76). Consular visa: per consulate.
- First permit
- Visa: up to 1 year. In-country residence authorisation: up to 3 years (art. 74 quinquies).
- Renewal
- Renewable for 2-year periods while conditions are met.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 10 years.
- Family
- Spouse/partner and children can apply at the same time; they may work. Extra income per dependant: see requirements.
Retire or live on savings
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Visado y autorizacion de residencia temporal no lucrativa
Retirees and people living on savings or passive income who will not work at all, including remote work.
- What you need
- Funds or regular income for the residence period of 400% of IPREM per month for the main applicant (EUR 28,800/year). Bank statements must be originals. (EUR 2,400 a month)
- Each family member: an additional 100% of IPREM. (EUR 600 a month)
- Private health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain for 1 year: no deductible, no copayment, no waiting period, no coverage limit, full medical/hospital coverage. Travel insurance not accepted.
- FBI certificate (US) issued within 6 months with federal apostille and certified Spanish translation, plus records from countries of residence in the last 5 years.
- Medical certificate issued within 90 days. LA consulate also states applicants cannot have loans or mortgages in the US.
- Not for
- Anyone who wants to work or telework, even for foreign clients (use the teleworker route)
- People unable to spend 183+ days a year in Spain (needed to renew)
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. Consulate with jurisdiction over your US state (e.g. Los Angeles covers Southern California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah), in person via BLS. Apply for the TIE card within 1 month of arrival.
- How long it takes
- 3 months legal maximum from the day after submission (LA consulate); can be extended if more documents are requested.
- First permit
- Visa 90 days; residence authorisation 1 year.
- Renewal
- Renewal for 2 years (RD 1155/2024 art. 64.7), requiring 183+ days of real residence in Spain per calendar year, funds and insurance. Then long-term residence.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 10 years.
- Family
- Spouse/partner and dependants can be included with 100% of IPREM (EUR 7,200/year) each.
Freelance or your own business
Spain self-employed (cuenta propia) visa
Autorizacion de residencia temporal y trabajo por cuenta propia
People opening a business or freelance practice serving the Spanish market, with a viable plan and investment.
- What you need
- Meet the legal requirements Spanish nationals must meet to open and run the activity; licences and professional registration where needed.
- Professional qualification or sufficient experience where the activity requires it.
- Proof that the planned investment is sufficient and of its impact on job creation (self-employment counts). No fixed amount; a business plan is assessed, usually with a favourable report from an accredited body.
- Means of support; amount not stated in the regulation articles reviewed.
- No criminal record in Spain or countries of residence.
- Not for
- Remote work for foreign clients only (teleworker route is simpler)
- People without a concrete Spanish business plan
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. Authorisation requested through the consulate for your place of residence; processed by the provincial immigration office.
- How long it takes
- Not officially stated for the initial authorisation in the sources reviewed.
- First permit
- 1 year, limited to one autonomous region and one sector (RD 1155/2024 art. 83).
- Renewal
- Renewal for 4 years with freedom to work as employee or self-employed anywhere in Spain (art. 87), if activity continues and tax/social security obligations are met.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 10 years.
- Family
- Family reunification is available after the sponsor meets residence conditions; details not verified for this route.
A job offer
Spain highly qualified professional permit / EU Blue Card
Autorizacion de residencia para profesionales altamente cualificados (PAC) / Tarjeta azul-UE (Ley 14/2013, art. 71)
Graduates or senior professionals hired by a Spanish employer at about EUR 41,400 a year or more.
- What you need
- Gross annual salary of at least the general threshold (1.4x INE average gross annual salary), for both the national PAC and the Blue Card. (EUR 41,356.36 a year)
- Blue Card only: reduced threshold for shortage occupations and recent graduates. (EUR 33,085.09 a year)
- Blue Card: higher education of at least 3 years (EQF level 6) or, for some ICT roles, equivalent experience (5 years in general). PAC: higher education or 3+ years' experience (not re-checked).
- Employment contract or binding offer from the Spanish employer; the employer or the worker can file.
- Not for
- Self-employed or remote workers for foreign companies
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Filed online with the UGE by the employer or the worker; worker then gets the visa at the consulate or, if already in legal stay, the permit in Spain.
- How long it takes
- 20 days maximum by law, positive silence (Ley 14/2013 art. 76).
- First permit
- Up to 3 years (not re-checked for 2026).
- Renewal
- Renewable for 2-year periods (Ley 14/2013 art. 76.3).
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 10 years.
- Family
- Spouse/partner and children can apply at the same time and may work.
Family roots
Spanish citizenship after 1 year's residence for grandchildren of Spaniards
Nacionalidad por residencia de un año (Código Civil art. 22.2.f)
People born outside Spain to a parent or grandparent who was originally Spanish, willing to live in Spain legally for one year first.
- What you need
- Born outside Spain to a father, mother, grandfather or grandmother who was originally Spanish (the ancestor need not have kept Spanish nationality).
- One year of legal, continuous residence in Spain immediately before applying, on any residence permit (e.g. non-lucrative or digital nomad visa).
- Nationals of non-Spanish-speaking countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia) normally need DELE A2 and the CCSE civics test from Instituto Cervantes; not confirmed specifically for this route.
- Birth certificates linking applicant to the Spanish ancestor; ancestor's Spanish birth record; criminal records; residence card.
- Not for
- People unwilling to renounce US citizenship formally before Spanish authorities (Spain requires a renunciation declaration from non-Ibero-American nationals; the US does not treat it as loss)
- Where you apply
- From inside the country. Online with the Ministry of Justice after a year of legal residence in Spain.
- How long it takes
- Not officially stated.
- First permit
- Not a permit; first requires a separate Spanish residence permit.
- Renewal
- Not applicable.
- Longer term
- Citizenship after about 1 years.
- Family
- Each person qualifies on their own descent.
Study
Spain student visa
Autorizacion de estancia de larga duracion por estudios
People admitted to a Spanish university or approved course who want to study and work part-time.
- What you need
- Admission to an authorised education institution for a full-time course.
- Means of support for the study period; amount (historically 100% of IPREM per month) not verified in this pass.
- Health insurance.
- Criminal record certificate for adults (5 years, for crimes under Spanish law).
- Not for
- People who need full-time work income
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Visa at the consulate, or authorisation in Spain if already in legal stay (RD 1155/2024 art. 54).
- How long it takes
- Not verified.
- First permit
- Length of the course, up to 1 year; for higher education, the official length of the degree (art. 55).
- Renewal
- Extendable while studies continue.
- Family
- Spouse/partner and children of higher-education students can get stays for the same period (art. 56).