Visa and residency options in Spain
Do I need a visa to buy property in Spain?
You do not need a visa or to be a resident in Spain to purchase a property there. Nor do residents of the UK, US and other “third countries” need a visa for holidays and short trips to Spain, such as property viewing trips. It’s only if you wish to live in Spain long-term that you’ll need to consider a visa.
As a third-country national (non-EU citizen) you can stay in Spain without a visa for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. After that you will need a valid visa.
Bear in mind, however, that this 90-day period begins as soon as you enter a “Schengen Area” country. The Schengen Area is made up of 26 mainly EU countries. So, you cannot spend 90 days in Italy then travel over to Spain for another 90 within the same 180 days without applying for a visa.
If staying in Spain under the 90-day rule, effectively as a tourist, this does not grant you the right to work in Spain for those 90 days.
Vice versa, purchasing a property in Spain does not grant you automatic right to residency. Having somewhere to live in Spain is a requirement should you wish to apply for a visa to live in Spain.
Visa options for non-EU citizens
If you’re from outside the EU, like the US or UK, you’re considered a third-party national and are therefore limited by the 90-day rule. If you wish to stay in Spain for longer than 90 days in 180, you will need to apply for a visa.
There is a range of visas that you can apply for:
Non-lucrative visa (NLV)
This is the most popular choice for retirees. For the non-lucrative visa you will need a “passive” income of around €27,000 (and rising each year with Spain’s minimum wage) plus €7,000 for each additional family member. You may not work in Spain or, indeed, outside. As well as that you will need health insurance and a letter of good character from the police.
Once your NLV has been approved, you will get it stamped on your passport. Then you will have one month to enter Spain and receive your physical residence card.
The initial visa lasts for one year but can then be renewed every two years until you reach the five-year threshold for permanent residency.
Golden visa
The golden visa is a scheme that allows non-Spaniards to gain residency by investing a significant amount in Spain.
They include:
- A property worth at least €500,000 (bought without a mortgage)
- Invest in Spanish public debt for at least €2 million
- Buy shares in a company or make a deposit in a Spanish bank of at least €1 million
- Invest in a new business in Spain that will offer employment, contribute to innovation, or have a positive socio-economic impact in the local region
Spain is phasing out the property investment route for the golden visa. For now, however, this grants residency to non-EU citizens who invest €500,000 or more in Spanish real estate.
This investment can be in one or multiple properties, and the primary requirement is that the investment amount is debt-free.
Digital nomad visa
The digital nomad visa (Teletrabajadores de Carácter Internacional) allows non-EU citizens to gain residency in Spain while working for companies outside Spain. It is proving increasingly popular and is a three-year permit (that can be renewed). As for the other visas, you will need to show the same level of medical, police and health insurance requirements.
The digital nomad visa allows you to live and work remotely in Spain, as well as allowing you to benefit from a special tax regime in which you’ll pay a flat 24% on your income.
Applying for visas
To apply for these visas you will need to gather all the necessary documentation and make an appointment, usually at your local Spanish embassy. If you are based in the UK, then your nearest consulate in London or Edinburgh.
- Proof of residence, such as a copy of your title deeds or rental agreement.
- Your NIE, which is not (as some assume) proof of residency. However, you do need it to claim residency.
- Your passport.
- A certificate from a bank to show you have sufficient funds to support yourself in Spain for one year.
- Medical insurance, and for the first year you may have to go private.
- The correct form.
Residency options for EU citizens
For European Union citizens, which includes the Irish or anyone with an Irish passport, the process of becoming a resident in Spain is relatively straightforward and can be split up into five simple steps:
- Register at the town hall. Once you’ve found a home in Spain, register with the local town hall (Ayuntamiento) for an empadronamiento or “padrón”. This is a certificate that confirms you live in the local area.
- Apply for the EU Certificate of Registration (Certificado de Registro): If you plan to stay in Spain for more than three months, you must register with the local Spanish authorities (Oficina de Extranjeros or local police station) and obtain an EU Certificate of Registration.
- Provide necessary documentation: When applying for the EU Certificate, you’ll need to provide your passport, proof of address and evidence of financial means to support yourself (such as pension statements or proof of employment) and healthcare coverage.
- Get a Foreigner’s Identity Number (NIE): Upon registering, you will receive a Foreigner’s Identity Number (NIE). This is a unique identification number that you’ll need for various transactions in Spain, such as opening a bank account or buying property.
Benefits of obtaining residency in Spain
Obtaining residency in Spain offers several benefits. If you are a resident and you don’t work, after a year you can apply to join the public health insurance scheme in Spain, known as the Convenio Especial.
Through this scheme, you pay a monthly fee, which grants access to healthcare. You can join if you have been registered as a resident for at least one year, and you’ll need to apply through your regional authority’s website.
Residency also allows you to move your possessions to Spain without paying duty on it. The removal company can deal with all the customs declarations on your behalf. If you have successfully applied for residency, you will need to show proof to enable you to be exempt from paying import duty and VAT.
Residency also allows you to travel freely within the Schengen area.
Once you’ve been a resident of Spain for five years, you can apply to become a permanent resident, which will give you access to the same healthcare as a Spanish citizen.
After 10 years of legal residency, you can apply for Spanish citizenship if desired.
How to obtain permanent residency in Spain
After five consecutive years of living in Spain, you will be able to apply for permanent residency.
This is known as ‘the long-term residence card’ but was previously known as the permanent residency. This card allows you to live and work in Spain indefinitely under the same conditions as Spanish natives.
Once you obtain the card, your legal right to reside in Spain will never expire. However, you will need to periodically renew the card itself.
The requirements for the long-term residence card are as follows:
- You have no criminal records
- You must have legally resided in Spain continuously for five years
- You must be a citizen from outside the EU
- You cannot be in an irregular situation at the time of application
- It’s also possible to obtain the long-term residence if you have been the holder of an EU Blue Card for five consecutive years.
The turn-around time to get the long-term residence card is usually three months.
If you wish to get Spanish citizenship, the general rule is that any foreigner who has lived in Spain on a valid residence permit uninterruptedly for 10 years will get Spanish citizenship by residence.