A residence permit in Spain

What a Spanish residence permit gives

A Spanish residence permit is not just an opportunity to move to Spain. Depending on the ground on which it is obtained, residence opens access to a whole range of opportunities:

• lawful residence in Spain
• free travel to the countries of the Schengen Area within the established rules
• the possibility of arranging residence for family members
• the right to work or run a business — where the chosen type of residence permit provides for it
• access to education
• the possibility of using banking and other financial services
• the possibility of renting or buying property
• the long-term prospect of obtaining permanent status once the conditions set by law are met

The specific rights and requirements depend on the ground on which the residence permit is obtained.

How to obtain a residence permit in Spain

There is no single type of residence permit that suits every applicant.

The ground must be chosen with regard to the applicant’s source of income, professional activity, marital status, financial situation and plans for living in Spain.

The available options include:

Not sure which ground suits you?

At the consultation we analyse your situation and identify the possible options for legalisation in Spain.

The Digital Nomad residence permit in Spain

Residence for those who work remotely

Digital Nomad is one of the most sought-after options for obtaining a Spanish residence permit among remote professionals.

The programme is aimed at foreigners who can carry out their professional activity remotely and work mainly with companies or clients located outside Spain.

This option may suit:

• IT specialists
• marketers
• designers
• developers
• consultants
• managers
• digital-sector professionals
• freelancers
• owners and employees of foreign companies
• other professionals whose work does not require constant presence in an office

Main advantages of Digital Nomad

Requirements for Digital Nomad in Spain

To obtain the residence permit you must prove that you meet the programme’s requirements.

Depending on the applicant’s situation, the following are analysed:

• the existence of remote professional activity
• the relationship with a foreign company or clients abroad
• professional qualifications or proven experience
• the level and stability of income
• bank documents
• the absence of criminal convictions that would prevent the status being granted
• health insurance
• the documents of family members, if they are included in the application

The exact list of documents is determined individually.

We analyse the applicant’s situation in advance to determine whether the programme’s requirements are met before the procedure begins.

A Spanish residence permit through business activity

Spain also offers opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs who plan to develop their own project in the country.

With this option, what matters is not only the fact of setting up a business, but also the quality of the project, its economic model and its compliance with the requirements of the chosen immigration procedure.

Depending on the specific ground, the following may be analysed:

• the project concept
• the business model
• the applicant’s professional experience
• qualifications
• the planned investment
• financial standing
• the project’s potential economic significance
• the necessary licences and permits

Support for the business project

Alliance Consulting, together with partners, supports the preparation of the immigration part of the project and the necessary documents.

We help shape the procedure so that the business concept and the document package meet the requirements of the chosen ground for obtaining residence.

A Spanish residence permit without the right to work

For applicants who have their own means and do not plan to work in Spain, the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa — a residence permit without the right to carry out employment or professional activity — may be considered.

This option is often considered by:

• financially independent individuals
• families planning to relocate
• owners of capital and assets
• applicants with sufficient savings or other provable means

To obtain this residence permit you must prove sufficient financial means to support the applicant and their family members.

Health insurance and compliance with the other conditions provided for by immigration law are also required.

Which documents are needed for a Spanish residence permit

The list depends on the chosen ground and the applicant’s personal situation.

The package may include:

• a valid international passport
• a criminal record certificate
• proof of financial standing
• bank statements
• an employment contract or contracts with clients
• documents confirming professional experience or qualifications
• health insurance
• marriage certificate
• children’s birth certificates
• documents confirming business activity
• additional documents for the specific ground

Foreign documents, in the cases provided for, require an apostille or another form of legalisation and translation into Spanish.

We compile an individual list of documents after analysing the client’s situation.

How a Spanish residence permit is obtained

1. 01

   Initial consultation

   We study your situation: citizenship, country of residence, family composition, profession, source and level of income, any business, and the goals of the move.

2. 02

   Choice of ground

   We identify the most suitable option for obtaining a residence permit and assess the potential risks before the application process begins.

3. 03

   Preparation of documents

   We compile a personal list of documents and support their preparation, legalisation and translation where necessary.

4. 04

   Assembling the application

   We check the document package and prepare it for submission in line with the chosen ground.

5. 05

   Submitting the application

   We support the submission procedure through the mechanism provided for the specific category.

6. 06

   Receiving the decision

   We monitor the examination process and, where necessary, support communication on the case.

7. 07

   Obtaining the resident card

   After a positive decision we support the further steps needed to obtain the resident’s documents.

A Spanish residence permit for the whole family

In many cases the move can be planned not only for the main applicant.

The relevant family members can be included in the procedure where the requirements of the specific programme are met.

This makes it possible to build a single immigration strategy for the family, rather than arranging each person’s status separately without an overall structure.

In the initial analysis we take the family composition into account straight away and check the requirements for each applicant.

From a Spanish residence permit to permanent residence

A residence permit can be the first stage of long-term legalisation in Spain.

Subject to the requirements of the law, after the established period of lawful and continuous residence the right to apply for long-term residence may arise.

For many categories the benchmark is 5 years of lawful residence; however, when calculating the period, the type of permit, periods of absence from the country and other circumstances must be taken into account.

If your goal is not simply to obtain an initial residence permit but to move on to permanent status later, the strategy must be considered when choosing the first ground.

Why clients choose Alliance Consulting

Not just paperwork — an immigration strategy

Obtaining a residence permit begins not with filling in an application, but with the right choice of ground.

Our job is to analyse the client’s situation in advance and build a clear sequence of steps.

How long it takes to obtain a Spanish residence permit

The processing time depends on the ground, the place of submission, the completeness of the documents and the work of the competent state authorities.

That is why it is more accurate to estimate timelines after the specific programme has been identified and the applicant’s documents analysed.

At the consultation a specialist will be able to outline the approximate procedure for your particular situation.

Cost of obtaining a Spanish residence permit

The cost of support depends on:

• the chosen ground
• the number of applicants
• the volume of document preparation
• the need for translations and legalisation
• the complexity of the specific situation
• additional legal procedures

After the initial assessment we set out the structure of the procedure and calculate the cost of support.

Frequent questions about a Spanish residence permit