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📄 VISAS FOR SPAIN

Visas to live in Spain

Choose your situation and we'll tell you what you need

This section catalogues the visas available to move to Spain legally from abroad. Fifteen categories are contemplated in Spain's immigration framework — from the work visa with a firm offer through to lesser-known routes like au pair, job search and the EU Blue Card. Each fact sheet summarises the minimum income required, permit duration, consular documentation, and typical resolution times.

The data comes from Royal Decree 1155/2024 (the immigration regulations), Law 14/2013, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official pages, and published consular criteria. When a figure depends on Spain's minimum wage (SMI) or IPREM, we recalculate it against the latest official publication.

Already in Spain and need to regularise your status? This is not the right section — head to arraigo.

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Au Pair programme

Cultural and language exchange program for young people aged 17 to 30, generally up to five hours of duties a day...

💰 Not applicable (the host family covers accommodation and allowance) 📅 Maximum 12 months ⏱️ 1–3 months
✗ No work allowed ✗ No family

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Job search visa

Residence authorisation to stay in Spain for up to 24 months to look for work or start a business, after finishing...

💰 100% of IPREM (~€600/month in 2026), or 50% if you prove pre-paid accommodation 📅 24 months (non-renewable) ⏱️ 20 days and, once they pass, it is deemed GRANTED by administrative silence (17th Additional Provision of Law 14/2013)
✗ No work allowed ✓ Family can join

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Employee work permit and residence authorization

Temporary residence and work authorization for employed workers. The Spanish employer initiates the process — not the worker.

📅 1 year (renewable) ⏱️ 1–3 months 💰 As per applicable collective bargaining agreement
✓ Work allowed ✓ Family can join

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Self-employed work permit

Residence and work authorization for individuals wishing to establish themselves as self-employed in Spain. Requires...

💰 Sufficient investment based on the nature of the activity 📅 One year, limited to one regional area and one sector of activity (art. 83). Renewable ⏱️ Three months from the competent body receiving the consular communication; once that period passes with no reply, the application is deemed refused (art. 85.4)
✓ Work allowed ✓ Family can join

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Returned emigrant (Spanish citizen returning)

Programme for Spanish citizens returning to Spain after having emigrated outside the EU/EEA. Includes: CER returned...

💰 Not applicable (programme for Spanish citizens) 📅 Benefit for up to 18 months ⏱️ 1–2 months (CER) + 15 days (SEPE benefit)
✓ Work allowed ✓ Family can join

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Entrepreneur visa

Three-year residence authorization for a business activity that is innovative and/or of special economic interest...

💰 The law sets no IPREM percentage. Art. 62.3.f of Law 14/2013 requires sufficient financial means for yourself and your family members during your period of residence in Spain — the reference amounts are published by the UGE-CE. 📅 3 years (art. 69 of Law 14/2013), then renewable in two-year periods. Careful — the one-year figure belongs to the VISA, which is valid for one year or for the duration of the residence authorization where that is shorter (art. 75.4). The authorization runs for three. ⏱️ twenty days from electronic filing (art. 76.1), counted as working days under art. 30 of Law 39/2015 — processed by the UGE-CE and granted by the Directorate-General for Migration
✓ Work allowed ✓ Family can join

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Student visa

Study stay authorization in Spain. Allows working up to 30 hours per week alongside your studies.

💰 100% of the IPREM per month, EXCEPT where you show accommodation is paid for in advance for the whole stay (art. 35). The funds must also cover the return trip, and grants, aid, a contract or a firm job offer count where the permit allows work. For family members — 75% of the IPREM for the first and 50% for each of the others 📅 The same as the studies, capped at one year — but for higher education the permit runs for the official duration of the studies, with no one-year cap (art. 55). It is not 'one year, renewable' ⏱️ 1–2 months
✓ Work allowed ✓ Family can join

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Family member of EU citizen

Residence card for family members of European Union citizens (non-Spanish) residing in Spain. EU Community Regime —...

💰 Not required from the family member (the EU citizen's income is sufficient) 📅 5 years (residence card) ⏱️ 1–3 months
✓ Work allowed ✗ No family

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Family member of Spanish citizen

New category introduced by Royal Decree 1155/2024 (RELOEX), in force since May 2025. Residence card for family...

💰 No minimum income required from the family member (the Spanish citizen demonstrates sufficient means) 📅 5 years ⏱️ 1–3 months
✓ Work allowed ✗ No family

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Golden Visa (investor visa) — ELIMINATED

The Golden Visa was abolished on 3 April 2025 by Ley Orgánica 1/2025. No new applications are accepted. Whatever was...

💰 N/A — programme abolished 📅 N/A — programme abolished ⏱️ N/A — programme abolished
✗ No work allowed ✗ No family

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Non-lucrative residence for retirees

Residence permit for retirees and pensioners who wish to live in Spain without working. There is no specific...

💰 €2,400/month (400% IPREM 2026) + €600/month per dependent family member. Under art. 61.3, family member means the spouse or registered or stable partner; minor children who are unmarried OR have not formed their own family unit; and adult children with a disability requiring support OR who are not objectively able to provide for their own needs because of their state of health 📅 1 year (renewable for 2-year periods) ⏱️ Two consecutive one-month legal deadlines — the immigration office decides on the authorization within 1 month of receiving the consulate's communication, with silence meaning refusal (art. 63.4 RD 1155/2024), and the consulate then issues the visa within 1 month of that favorable decision (art. 39.5). In practice, 1-3 months in total.
✗ No work allowed ✓ Family can join

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Non-lucrative residence visa

Residence authorisation to live in Spain without working, by proving enough passive income or savings. The classic...

💰 400% of IPREM = €2,400/month (≈€28,800/year) + 100% of IPREM (€600/month) per dependent family member (art. 62.1) 📅 1 year (art. 61.4) → renewals of 2 years (art. 64.7) ⏱️ 1 month to decide the permit — and silence means REFUSAL (art. 63.4)
✗ No work allowed ✓ Family can join

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Digital nomad visa

Residence for international teleworking, for people working remotely — employed or self-employed — for companies...

💰 200% of the annualized SMI = €2,849/month (2026). It updates every year with the SMI — check the current amount on the UGE teleworker sheet when you apply. Family: +75% SMI (2nd member ≈€1,068/month) + 25% per additional (≈€356/month; amount per the current UGE sheet). 📅 Visa up to 1 year (art. 74 quater.1); authorisation up to 3 years as a MAXIMUM (art. 74 quinquies.2), less if the work period is shorter ⏱️ 20–45 working days
✓ Work allowed ✓ Family can join

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Family reunification

Authorisation for a legal resident in Spain to bring their family: spouse or partner, minor or dependent children...

💰 150% of the IPREM (€900/month) for you and one relative, +50% (€300/month) for each additional relative. Two things almost nobody knows and that can decide your case: if you are reuniting MINORS, the amount can be reduced to 110% of the guaranteed income of the Minimum Living Income (+10% per additional minor), applying the best interests of the child; and it is not only your income that counts: your spouse or partner and first-degree relatives in the direct line who live in Spain with you add up too (art. 67.1 RD 1155/2024). 📅 Valid until the same date as the sponsor's permit (minimum 1 year) ⏱️ 2 months (legal deadline, art. 68.6; silence means refusal)
✓ Work allowed ✓ Family can join

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EU Blue Card

Residence and work permit for highly qualified professionals from outside the EU. Requires an employment contract of...

💰 Salary threshold: 1.4× the INE gross average annual earnings = €39,269.92/year at the entry into force of Order PJC/44/2026 (January 2026). It updates automatically with each new INE Salary Structure Survey — check the current value on the UGE-CE portal. The 0.8 reducing coefficient (≈€31,416) does not apply to every case — art. 2 of the Order limits it to two specific situations. One, occupations in groups 1 and 2 of the 2011 National Classification of Occupations that are also on the shortage occupations list. Two, people who obtained the art. 71.2.a qualification at most THREE YEARS before filing the application. 📅 3 years, or the contract duration plus three months if the contract runs for less than three years, never exceeding three (art. 71.3). Renewal is applied for during the SIXTY DAYS before the permit expires and runs for TWO YEARS if the conditions are maintained; after five years you may qualify for long-term residence. ⏱️ 20 days, with POSITIVE silence if no decision is issued (art. 76.1) 💰 €39,269.92/year gross — 1.4× the INE average annual earnings under Order PJC/44/2026. Art. 71bis.1.c of Law 14/2013 only sets the band (between 1.0 and 1.6 times the average gross annual salary); the actual figure comes from that Order and updates with each Salary Structure Survey
✓ Work allowed ✓ Family can join

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ℹ️ The information on this website is general guidance. It is not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a lawyer specializing in immigration or the relevant official office. Emigra España never advises acting outside the law.