Spain : An Immigration Guide

Spain is a beautiful country with a large number of traditions and cultures and with more than 8000 km of beaches, the country is one fascinating destination for both tourists around the globe and also for the ones wishing to move to another state to start a new life. If you want to move to Spain, here’s a few tips on how to immigrate to Spain. 

In order to immigrate to Spain, you will have to decide on which visa is more suitable for you. You should take note that there are two categories, Those living in the EU don’t require a visa to migrate to Spain. If you are a citizen from a European Union country or from the European Economic Area (EEA) or from Switzerland, you just need to get your Identification Number in Spain (NIE) and your EU registry certificate. But a visa or a residence permit won’t be required in order to stay legally in the country for the long run.

If you are not from the countries mentioned, then, as a Non-European Union citizen you will need to get your visa in order to work and live legally in the country. There are three types of Visa that you can obtain to access residency in Spain and they all depend on the amount of time you plan on staying.

Short Term Visa

The short-term visa or Schengen visa allows non-EU citizens to stay in the country for 90 days. It is also known as the tourist visa. You should remember that the vast majority of permits can’t be obtained under a tourist visa. Therefore; as a general rule, one cannot come to Spain with a short-term visa and get a residence permit later. You  will have to apply from your country of origin. 

Temporary Residency

If you are planning to live in Spain for a long period of time, the temporary visa is what you should go for. The temporary residency encompasses all the different types of residence permits you have available. They will grant you the possibility to legally live and work in the country for approximately 1 – 2 years. . Once that period is finished and if you still meet the initial requirements, you are allowed to renew your temporary residence permit for an additional year or two depending on your duration of stay. 

Permanent Residency

After 5 years of living uninterruptedly in Spain with your permit or visa, you won’t have to renew it anymore since you will be then allowed to apply for a residency permit. The permit allows you to live and work in Spain for as long as you want to.

The requirements are accessible. Just with your passport, current permit and the proper form filled you will be eligible to get your residency permit.