Navigating Residency in Spain: Which Permit is Right for You?

Spain is a top destination for those seeking a new home under the Mediterranean sun. Whether you’re looking to retire, work remotely, invest, or reunite with family, there are various residency options available to suit different needs and circumstances. However, with each type of permit comes specific requirements, legal nuances, and evolving regulations that applicants must navigate.

In this guide, we break down the most common types of Spanish residency permits—including the Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, and other options. From financial requirements to application procedures, we provide key insights to help you determine the best path to making Spain your new home.

Let’s explore your options!

FOR NON UE CITIZENS

Non-Lucrative Visa.

The Non-Lucrative Visa is a permit that allows foreigners to reside in Spain without having to work or carry out economic activities in the country. It is mainly aimed at people who have sufficient economic resources to support themselves without depending on employment in Spain.

Lately, Spanish consulates and embassies have been requiring foreign nationals not only to prove sufficient funds (€28,800 for the main applicant; €7,200 for associates) but also to prove the compatibility of residing in Spain without carrying out a lucrative activity. The Social Security of the country of origin can help to obtain the required documentation.

This type of residence is not intended for those who want to work remotely from Spain. They should follow the path of the Residence for international teleworker, popularly known as the Nomad Visa.

Before starting this procedure, we warn our clients that the application is made from the competent consulate/embassy in their country of origin, and that the passport remains in the custody of the consular office or embassy until the application is resolved.

Those who change their mind and want to work in Spain, they can do so after one year of Non-Lucrative residency in Spain.

Nomad Visa.

The Visa for International Teleworkers (also known as Digital Nomad Visa) is a permit that allows foreign professionals to reside in Spain while working remotely for companies or clients outside the country.

In addition to the typical documentation for any kind of residency, we highlight the social security certificate of those countries that have an agreement in this matter with Spain. This document will clarify in which country the teleworker will have to pay social security in. If the applicant’s country of origin does not have an agreement with Spain, he/she will be obliged to register with the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA) and pay the Spanish Social Security contributions.

The nomadic visa can be applied for from the competent consulate/embassy of the country of origin or from Spain, through the Large Companies Unit platform. In the first case, the visa will never be for more than one year (with the possibility of renewal, of course); in the second case, initial residence can be for up to three years.

Golden Visa.

The Investor Residency is coming to an end soon (3 April 2025). Those in possession of this visa should be aware that they will be able to renew their residency when the date on their TIE expires. The law that abolished this type of residency provides for its renewal under the repealed regulations.

FOR UE CITIZENS

European Union Citizen Registration Certificate (Green Card).

Our European clients come to our offices to find out about their legal situation in Spain. They have the advantage of being able to move throughout the Schengen borders without the need to obtain a visa. However, those who want to reside in Spain for more than three months are obliged to register at the police station, in the Foreigners Register. This application results in the famous green card.

Recently, the Spanish police have stepped up checks on the documentation submitted, especially financial documents. Falsified bank statements have been detected in order to avoid the requirement of sufficient funds. For this reason we ask our clients to have these documents stamped by the bank.

With regard to foreign insurance policies we stress the importance of the insurers in question providing coverage in Spain. Not all of them do.

EU citizen’s family card.

It is very easy for spouses and children to prove the family relationship. This is not the case for unregistered partners. For the application to be successful, it is important to know that the non-EU citizen must prove that he or she has been living with the EU citizen for at least one year. Various European countries issue a sort of certificate of cohabitation. If this is not the case for you, you must provide at least one of the following documents:

1. Certificate of census registration.
2. Rental contract or property deed.
3. Utility bills or bank statements from a joint account.

If the unregistered partner has children in common, the birth certificate of the descendants together with an affidavit stating that the relationship between them is still in force will be sufficient.

The duration of the initial residence of the European citizen and his/her family members is five years.