Moving to Spain
Spain draws relocators with its climate, lifestyle, and relatively affordable cost of living outside Madrid and Barcelona. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States all get the same 90-day visa-free Schengen access, though a long-term move requires a specific national visa and residence card.
At a glance
- Visa-free stay
- 90 days — within any 180-day period, for citizens of the listed OECD countries
- Main routes
- 5 — work, self-employed/digital nomad, student, non-lucrative, family
- Non-Lucrative Visa income threshold
- ~€28,000+/year — for a single applicant, no work allowed
- Path to permanent residence
- 5 years — of legal, continuous residence
- Path to citizenship
- 10 years — 2 years for nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, and a few others
- Residence-card process
- TIE — Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero — apply within 30 days of arrival
What you'll need
- Valid passport, typically with at least 6 months' validity beyond your stay Required
- Completed visa or residence-permit application form Required
- Recent passport-sized photos Required
- Proof of financial means — income, savings, or a job offer, depending on your route Required
- Health insurance meeting local requirements Required
- Proof of accommodation Required
- Criminal record certificate from your home country Required
- Medical certificate Required
- Route-specific documents — job offer, business plan, enrollment letter, or proof of passive income Required
How it works
Choose your visa type
Work, self-employed/digital nomad, student, non-lucrative (retirees and the financially independent), or family reunification.
Gather your documents
Passport, application form, photos, proof of financial means, full-coverage health insurance with repatriation, proof of accommodation, apostilled criminal record certificate, and medical certificate.
Apply at your local Spanish consulate
The consulate serving your jurisdiction — interviews and biometrics are often required, with fees paid at the appointment.
Wait for approval
Typically 4 to 12 weeks, depending on visa type and consulate workload.
Enter Spain and apply for your TIE
Within 30 days: register your address at the local town hall (empadronamiento) and apply for the TIE residence card at the local immigration office.
Ways to move to Spain
Work Visa. Requires a job offer; your employer requests work authorization from the Ministry of Labor before you apply for the visa.
Self-Employed / Freelancer Visa, including the Digital Nomad Visa. For entrepreneurs, freelancers, or remote workers under Spain's Startup Act — a good fit if you work for a non-Spanish company.
Student Visa. Requires proof of enrollment and roughly €600–700/month in funds; students can work up to 30 hours per week with authorization.
Non-Lucrative Visa. For retirees or anyone who wants to live in Spain without working, with proof of roughly €28,000+/year in income and no work permitted. See our dedicated Spain retirement guide for the full breakdown.
Family Reunification Visa. For close family members of legal residents or Spanish citizens.
Health insurance and housing
Health insurance for a long-term visa must be full-coverage with no co-pay and include repatriation, from a provider authorized in Spain. Once working, studying, or otherwise paying into the system, you gain access to public healthcare (Seguridad Social). For housing, you'll need a rental contract, hotel booking, or host invitation letter for your visa application — Idealista, Fotocasa, Spotahome, and Habitaclia are common listing sites.
Tax considerations
Once you become a tax resident of Spain (usually after living there more than half the year), you'll be taxed on your Spain income under Spain's own rules. Whether you also remain tax-liable back home depends entirely on your home country's rules — some countries tax residents only, while a few (including the United States) tax citizens on worldwide income no matter where they live. This varies enormously by nationality, so BIZ TRP recommends working with a cross-border tax advisor familiar with both Spain and your home country's rules before you relocate.
What it costs
BIZ TRP fees
- Route confirmation & relocation support
- Ask us for a quote — from €120/hour
Why work with BIZ TRP
Spain's non-lucrative income threshold and the TIE appointment backlog are the two places relocation plans most often stall — we track both before you commit to a timeline.
- Route confirmation. We confirm which of Spain's visa routes fits your work situation and income.
- Document preparation. We coordinate apostille, translation, and full-coverage health insurance requirements before you submit.
- TIE follow-through. We manage your empadronamiento and TIE appointment once you land in Spain.
Common questions
Which visa fits my situation?
A confirmed job offer points to the Work Visa, remote or freelance income to the Self-Employed/Digital Nomad route, and passive income without working to the Non-Lucrative Visa. BIZ TRP can confirm which applies before you commit.
Do I need Spanish to become a resident or citizen?
Spanish isn't required to apply for most visas, but DELE A2 or higher is typically required for permanent residency and citizenship, alongside the CCSE civics exam.
What happens when I arrive?
You have 30 days to register your address at the local town hall (empadronamiento) and apply for your TIE residence card at the local immigration office.
Ready to move to Spain?
BIZ TRP confirms the right route for your situation and manages your Spain relocation from application to your TIE card.
Talk to us about moving to Spain Email us