If you’re planning to buy a property in Spain and are a non-EU citizen who wants to stay there for more than 90 days at a time, understanding the Spanish visa system is crucial.
Spain offers various types of visas, including the newly introduced digital nomad visa, each with its own specific entry requirements and application procedures. In this comprehensive Spain visa guide, we explore the different types of long-stay Spanish visas, their eligibility criteria, and how to obtain one.
Prefer to hear it straight from a pro? Click play on the video below to watch immigration lawyer Melanie Radford from MyLawyerInSpain, walk you through Spain’s main visa options, application timelines, costs, and the 2025 rule changes—all in under ten minutes. It’s the perfect companion to this guide if you like learning by listening:
Obtaining a Spanish visa allows you to enter and remain in Spain for a specific timeframe.
The type of visa you apply for determines which activities you can engage in once in Spain. There are two main Spanish visa types:
Spain Schengen visa. This is a short-term visa that allows the applicant to enter Spain and remain for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.
Long-stay visas (also known as the Spanish Long Term Visa or the Spain National Visa [D Visa]). If you want to stay in Spain for more than three months, you’ll need to apply for a long-stay visa.
There are several types of long-term visas, and applying for the correct one is vital.
In this article, you can learn more about the different types of long-stay visas available to people who want to live in Spain and use this information to help you decide on the best visa for your circumstances.
For most long-term Spanish visas, you must work through the following essential steps:
You must submit all of the documents in A4 format. If your documents are not in Spanish, they must be submitted alongside a certified translation.
As well as the documents outlined above, some visa types require you to submit other documentation. This information is detailed in the visa fact files below.
If you’re permitted to stay in Spain for a maximum of 180 days, you won’t need to do anything else after you arrive.
However, if your visa allows you to stay in Spain for more than six months, you’ll need to submit an application for a Foreigner Identity Card within one month of arriving. You can apply for this at the Foreigners Office closest to the area you have settled by following these steps:
If you’re staying for more than six months and intend to work in Spain, you’ll need to register with the Social Security scheme before you apply for a Foreigner Identity Card.
Once you’ve lived in Spain for five years, you can apply for permanent residence.
Want a deep-dive on Spain's non-lucrative visa? Watch immigration lawyer Melanie Radford break down the exact income thresholds, paperwork, costs, and the new 183-day renewal rule in her focused walkthrough below. Ideal if retirement or a work-free lifestyle in Spain is your goal.
What is it?
The Spain Non-Lucrative Residence Permit allows non-EU citizens to live in Spain for an extended period as long as they do not intend to carry out any paid work or undertake professional activities for financial gain. As long as you meet the income/savings conditions, it’s one of the easiest ways to get permanent residency in Spain.
Who is it for?
Retirees, people with an independent source of income and anyone else who can financially support themselves (and any dependents they want to bring with them) without needing to find work in Spain.
If you want to apply for a non-lucrative Spain visa, you must do so at least five weeks before you arrive in Spain.
How long is it valid for?
Entry visa: the sticker issued by the consulate lets you enter Spain and is valid for 90 days.
First residence card (TIE): once in Spain you apply for your Foreigner Identity Card. Most offices issue a 1-year card, but some are already granting a 4-year card under the 2025 reform—check locally.
Renewal: when the first card expires you renew for 2 more years (or for the remaining years needed to complete five). You must show you’ve spent at least 183 days in Spain in each of the previous two tax years and still meet the financial criteria.
After five years: you can apply for long-term (permanent) residence.
How to get one
In addition to the essential steps, you will need to:
Melanie Radford, immigration lawyer at MyLawyerinSpain says:
• Budget £568 consulate fee + ≈£300 documentation per applicant.
• After one year you can switch (“modificar”) to a work-or self-employment residence in roughly 3 months, instead of starting a fresh application.
• From 20 May 2025 you must prove 183 days’ actual presence to renew
After applying, it can take up to three months for your non-lucrative residence visa application to be processed, although it usually takes two to five weeks.
If your Spain visa application is successful, you must collect your visa within one month.
Once you have your non-lucrative visa, you can travel to the other 25 countries in the Schengen Area.
What is it?
The Spain Digital Nomad visa is a long-term visa for people who want to live and work remotely in Spain. You can apply if you are self-employed with a global client base, you receive income from different sources outside Spain, or your employer allows you to work remotely in Spain.
To apply, you must have been a remote worker for at least one year and not have lived in Spain during the last five years.
You can bring dependents under the digital nomad scheme, including your spouse or partner and any children under the age of 18.
If you have children under 18, they must be financially dependent on you. If you want to bring your parents, you must prove they are in your care.
If you have children under 18, they must be financially dependent on you. If you want to bring your parents, you must prove they are in your care.
If you want to bring your family member(s), the first family member must provide additional financial means of at least 75% of the Spanish minimum wage. Any further applicants must provide additional financial means of at least 25% of the Spanish minimum wage. You can show a work contract, bank statement or a recent payslip to provide evidence.
You will also need to show documents to prove the family relationship with the worker, such as a birth or marriage certificate or certificate of registration if you’re not married. All of these documents must be legalised and rationalised in Spanish.
Who is it for?
This long-stay visa is ideal for remote workers and digital nomads. Citizens from non-EU/EEA countries can apply, including UK, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand citizens and Green Card (EU Registry Certificate) holders.
How long is it valid for?
Digital Nomad visas are valid for one year from the date you enter Spain, if you apply from abroad, three years if you apply whilst inside Spain. After that, you can extend your Spain Digital Nomad visa for up to five years. This involves applying for a three-year residence permit and renewing it for another two years.
How to get one
If you’re employed, you’ll need to show evidence that you have worked for the company for at least three months and that your employer is happy for you to work remotely.
If you’re self-employed, you must show evidence that your company has been operating for at least one year. If you’re a freelancer, you must provide services to at least one company outside Spain.
The minimum income requirement to be eligible for the Digital Nomad visa is 200 % of the 2025 SMI – so that's €2,368 / month if you quote the official 14-payment SMI, or €2,763 / month on a 12-payment basis (most consulates accept either).
You can work for Spanish companies or clients, but they must account for a maximum of 20% of your overall income.
Unlike the non-lucrative visa, people with the Digital Nomad visa are actively encouraged to work. Best of all, visa holders can opt into Spain’s special expat regime (the ‘Beckham Law’) and pay a flat rate of 24 % on Spanish-source income up to €600,000 for the first five tax years.
The Digital Nomad visa also allows you to legally override the 90/180-day rule that limits your stay in Spain and the Schengen Area.
It also provides tax breaks to foreign employers with an office in Spain.
In addition to the essential steps, you must provide evidence of your income, university degree, professional qualifications and work experience for the last three years.
The Digital Nomad visa takes between 15–45 days (2025 average). You can track the progress of your application online.
After your application has been approved, you can travel to Spain and apply for your NIE and NIF (Tax Identification Number). Find out more about these in our videos below:
Check out Everything you need to know about Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa for more information.
What is it?
This type of long-term visa allows entrepreneurs who want to start a business (or expand an existing business in Spain) to live and work in Spain.
Who is it for?
Entrepreneurs already working in certain professions or with startup ideas in line with the interests of the Spanish economy are most likely to be granted this visa. No upfront investment is required.
You can apply for the Spain Entrepreneur Visa up to three months before you want to arrive in Spain, and you must apply at least one month before your planned arrival date.
How long is it valid for?
This type of long-stay resident permit allows you to stay in Spain for three years. If you want to stay longer, you must renew your residence card.
If your application is successful, you can bring your spouse or partner, children under 18, adult children who are financially dependent on you and have not created their own family unit, and any other relatives under your care.
How to get one
You must follow the essential steps and outline your business idea in your application.
Your business plan must be based on an original business concept and assure that your firm will generate revenue and create employment opportunities in Spain.
You will also need to confirm with the Commercial Office that your business concept has been approved and has been deemed economically important to Spain. Once you have this approval, you can submit it to the Immigration Office.
You’ll usually receive a decision within ten days, but it can take longer if a further interview or additional supporting documents are required.
Melanie's Expert tip
“Already on a non-lucrative residence card? After one year you can switch (‘modificar’) to self-employment. The same business-plan test applies, but approvals come back in roughly three months, not six-plus.
What is it?
There are a few long-stay visas suitable for people wanting to undertake paid work in Spain.
These include:
Before applying for a work visa, you must have a firm job offer.
It is important to apply at least three months before you want to arrive in Spain, as Spanish work visas can take up to two months to process. Melanie says: “A common route is private-school English teachers; in that case the school secures pre-approval from the Foreigners’ Office before you lodge your visa.”
Who is it for?
People who want to live and work in Spain.
How long is it valid for
It depends. If your visa is granted, check whether it specifies six-month validity (exempt from work permits) or three-month validity with the obligation of getting a residence permit.
If you’re exempt from work permits, you can start work immediately. If you need a residence permit, you’ll have one month to register at the appropriate Social Security scheme in Spain. If you’re employed, your employer will do this on your behalf, but if you’re self-employed, you must do this yourself.
How to get one
You will need to follow the essential steps outlined above.
Once your Spain work visa has been granted, you’ll need to apply for a one-year residence permit, which can be extended before the current permit expires.
After you’ve lived in Spain for one year, you can bring your dependents to live with you by applying for the Spain Family Visa.
What is it?
Also known as the Family Reunification Visa for Spain, this option is designed for foreigners who are already legally resident in Spain and wish to make arrangements for their family or dependents to join them. It is not required for EU/EEA or Swiss nationals and is only issued to non-EU nationals.
Who is it for?
People who have lived in Spain for at least one year and have completed the process of obtaining approval for their second year as a legal resident in Spain.
If you have an EU Blue Card or a long-term residence/work permit from another EU country, you can apply for the Spain Family visa without providing previous legal residence in Spain.
Here is an overview of eligible family members:
How long is it valid for?
If the applicant has a valid temporary residence permit in Spain, their family members can stay for the duration of this residence period. If the applicant has a long-term residence permit, the family members can stay for the duration of their Foreigner’s Identification Card.
How to get one
Applications are usually processed within two months, although this can take longer if additional interviews or documents are required.
If approved, visas must be collected in Spain. The applicant’s family members can enter Spain within the validity period of the visa (not exceeding three months) and apply for a TIE.
Family members can work in Spain if they obtain a work permit. Spouses and children over 16 can work without a work permit. Family members are also allowed to study in Spain.
**(Update 2025: Spain’s Golden Visa has been discontinued, so we’ve removed that option from the list.)
Ready to start your application? Visit Spain’s official consular portal. Just select your nearest embassy or consulate page there for the forms, fees and appointment system.
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Add your voice22 Aug. 2025