Spanish residency, begins with a having a right to reside in Spain, either unconditionally, or by meeting requirements that apply according to your nationality and situation.

If you’re not a Spanish citizen and want to live in Spain, you have to obtain some form of Spanish residency.  The process that you have to follow to get Spanish residency depends on your nationality, whether you are from an EU country, and if not, what you plan to do whilst you are a Spanish resident.

Nationals of member states of the European Union and Switzerland, as well as other countries party to the agreement on the European Economic Area, have an unconditional right to reside in Spain.  Nationals of countries aside from these, are able to gain residency based on achieving other qualifying conditions and in most cases need to obtain a visa.

For someone planning to live long term in Spain, temporary Spanish residency is the first step towards getting permanent resident status, which can be applied for after 5 years. Thereafter if someone so wishes, they can apply for Spanish citizenship after completing 10 years of permanent residency in Spain.

Spanish Residency for Citizens of EU Countries

Whilst all nationals of other EU countries and their dependant family members are free to live and work in Spain, since 2007, there has been a requirement that all EU citizens coming to live in Spain for more than 3 months register as Spanish residents and get a Spanish Residency Certificate.  This has to be done in person at the Foreigners Office, ‘Oficina de Extranjeros’ in their province of residence, or at designated National Police stations.  On registering, a credit card sized green residency certificate is issued.  The full name for this is, certificado de registro de ciudadano de la unión, however it is commonly referred to as  certificado de residencia‘, or simply ‘residencia‘.  It has name, address, nationality, NIE number (Número de Identificación Extranjero) on it, and the date of registration as a Spanish resident.

EU nationals taking up residency in Spain, can apply for their Spanish residency certificate ‘certificado de residencia‘ any time after arriving in Spain, and should do so within 3 months of their arrival.  Your can read more about the process for applying for residency as an EU citizen in our article Spanish Residency Certificate for EU Citizens.

As the UK is no longer in the EU, British UK nationals now have to apply for Spanish residency as non-EU national citizens of third countries.

Spanish Residency for British UK nationals

UK nationals who were resident in Spain before Brexit, or who qualify for Spanish residency under the withdrawal agreement, get a withdrawal agreement TIE ‘tarjeta de identidad de extranjeros‘.  The TIE is the foreigners ID card for non-EU nationals and, those who already had a Spanish residency certificate before Brexit have a special card.  This ‘withdrawal agreement’ residency card confirms the holders protected rights as an EU citizen according to the terms of the withdrawal agreement.

For all other British UK nationals, the procedure for applying for Spanish residency is the same as that for any other non-EU national.  This includes the requirement to first obtain a long stay visa.

Read on to find out more about visa’s and the process and options available.

Spanish Residency for Non-EU Nationals Citizens of Third Countries

Citizens of third countries wishing to get Spanish residency, must first obtain an appropriate visa before applying for residency.

There are some exceptions to this, for example, if you are joining a family member who is already a Spanish resident and you are their dependent and a national a country who’s citizens do not have to obtain a Schengen (Tourist) Visa to enter Europe, e.g. USA.

Lists of countries who’s citizens do and don’t needs Schengen Tourists visas can be found here: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/who-needs-schengen-visa/

Visa’s must be applied for through the Spanish embassy in your country of nationality, before your travel to Spain.

Once you arrive in Spain with the relevant visa or meeting residency eligibility otherwise, you can begin your application for Spanish residency card, the TIE, ‘tarjeta de identidad de extranjero‘.

Visas and Spanish residency eligibility for Non-EU nationals

The following is a summary of the various types of Spanish residency visas that citizens of third country’s can apply for, and other eligibility not requiring a residency visa.

Family Members of Spanish Residents

The right to Spanish residency can be extended to a spouse or civil partner, and to direct descendants or dependants who are part of your household, and under 21 years of age.

If the Spanish resident family member is a national of an EU country, or UK national with protected rights under the withdrawal agreement, then the family member joining them can travel to Spain as a tourist, and must apply for residency within three months of arrival.

Where the Spanish resident family member is a national of a third country, the individual or family members joining them need to obtain a family reunification visa.

In both cases the sponsoring Spanish resident family member has to prove that they have sufficient financial means to support themselves and their family, and provide them with access to healthcare.

Non-lucrative residence visa

The non lucrative residence visa is for those who have means to support themselves without working whilst residing in Spain.  According to the the Spanish Embassy website, it’s ‘for non-working individuals (with an reliable, ongoing source of income and substantial savings) who wish to reside in Spain’.

Residents with this visa cannot engage in any economic activity in Spain, and to obtain the visa must have private medical insurance and prove that they have either sufficient capital to fund the duration of their residency, or adequate secure income, e.g. pension.

Digital Nomad Visa

The Digital Nomad Visa and ‘Teleworkers’ Residency is a new residency scheme for online and remote workers.  It’s aimed at nationals from outside of the EEA and offers reduced income tax to those that qualify.  Read more

Work Visas

There are numerous different types of Spanish Work Visas. In most cases the applicant is required to apply in person through the Spanish embassy or consulate in their home country.  Some countries have special schemes, for example for Canada, the Youth Mobility Program.

Entrepreneur visa

Those with a high-tech, high-growth business idea and the qualifications to pull it off can apply for an entrepreneur visa.  The business plan has to be approved by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the applicant must have the financial means to start the business.  If you are in Spain already (legally – including on a tourist visa) you can apply, or through the usual route of the Spanish embassy in your home country.

The entrepreneur visa is a temporary work residency, valid for two years and renewable.

Investment Visa

The Spanish Residence Permit Program, more commonly know as the Golden Visa, allows investors and their families who meet the requirements to secure Spanish residency by investing in Spain.

The minimum qualifying investment is €500.000 into real estate.  Larger investments such as bank deposits, purchase of shares in a Spanish company or Spanish Government bonds are also eligible.

‘Golden visa’ Spanish residency doesn’t impose a minimum period of residence, and also gives the holder visa free access to the 26 countries in the Schengen Zone.

Student visa

As the name suggest, this visa allow Spanish residency for those coming to study in Spain.  You can apply for the student visa for undergraduate courses, Masters, Ph.D. and other short term qualifying studies.

The student visa is valid for one year and renewable.  It also allows work for up to 20 hours per week on an internship, gives easy access to getting a work permit once your studies have finished.  Student visas also allow the students family members to get Spanish residency subject to the conditions of financial means being met.

Applying for the Spanish Residency Foreigners ID Card (TIE) for Non-EU Nationals

Once you have arrived in Spain with the relevant visa or otherwise meeting the eligibility for Spanish residency, you can begin the process to apply for  your Spanish residency ID card, ‘tarjeta de identidad de extranjero‘.

The application is made in person, at either the Provincial Foreigners Office or municipal National Police Station.  You hand in your completed application along with your ID, proof of payment of the applicable fee, and your photo.  Your fingerprints are taken and you are give a receipt for your application, and told when to com back to collect your card.  It usually takes between 4 and 6  weeks for the card ready.

Read more about getting a TIE.

Requirements once you have Spanish Residency

You are generally liable to pay taxes in the country in which you reside. You are resident n Spain for tax purposes if you spend 183 days or more in Spain.

Planning before taking up Spanish Residency

Aside from the formalities of the process itself, there are lots of things to consider when taking up Spanish residency.  If your from the UK or any other non-EU country, you’ll need to know which visa and type of residency you qualify for and or which will best suit your situation.  Then there are all the differences your new residency status will bring with it.

Need Help Planning and Getting Your Spanish Residency?

We are Spanish visa and residency specialists and help people make their dream of Spanish residency a reality.

Get In Touch