Spain Visas
Explore Spain visa options and requirements with official source citations.
Latest updates
Ley de Extranjería reform in force
May 20, 2025
Royal Decree 316/2026 amended arraigo rules
April 16, 2026
Issuing Authority
Application portal
Mercurio (in-Spain) and BLS/VFS or direct consulates abroad
Health insurance
Private cover with no co-payments and full coverage during stay (NLV / Digital Nomad) or social security (employer-sponsored).
Currency
EUR (€)
Immigration to Spain — at a glance
Spain runs a layered immigration system shared by three institutions. Spanish consulates abroad issue national (D) and Schengen visas, with most consular work routed through BLS or VFS application centres. Inside Spain, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM, under the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration) handles policy and most permit applications through the Mercurio digital portal. The National Police issue the foreigner identity card (TIE), the physical residence card every applicant collects after arrival, and run the empadronamiento support that connects residence to local services.
The country has been rewriting its migration rules at a steady cadence. The Ley de Extranjería reform that came into force on 20 May 2025 simplified the entry routes, redefined arraigo (rooting) categories, and unified work-residence permits. The Digital Nomad visa, introduced under the Startup Law in early 2023, remains a popular non-lucrative-equivalent route for remote workers. Non-Lucrative residence (NLV) is still the main passive-income route, while the Highly Qualified Worker permit and the EU Blue Card cover salaried roles above defined thresholds.
Spain's quirks are administrative rather than legal. Most non-Schengen applicants apply at a consulate in their country of legal residence — not their country of citizenship — and then complete the empadronamiento at the local town hall, get a tax ID (NIE) printed on the TIE card, register with social security, and book a fingerprinting appointment within 30 days of arrival. The guides in this hub focus on the document order that keeps the post-arrival sequence on track.
After arrival, the post-residence sequence is what trips up most applicants. You have 30 days to register with the local police for fingerprinting, collect the TIE card, and complete the empadronamiento at the town hall. The TIE replaces the visa as your residence document, and the NIE printed on it is required for opening a bank account, signing a long-term rental contract, registering for Social Security, and enrolling children in school. Renewals follow a 1+2+2 cadence (1-year initial, then two 2-year renewals) before the 5-year mark, where you become eligible for permanent residence and EU long-term-resident status.
Explore visa types
Find my visaSchengen Visa (Tourism)
The Spain Schengen tourist visa allows short stays in Spain and the Schengen area for tourism and similar, non-work reasons.
Schengen Visa (Business)
The Schengen Visa (Business) lets you travel to Spain for short-term commercial activities, but not for local employment.
National Work Visa
The Spain work visa allows you to obtain authorization for temporary residence and employment in Spain.
National Student Visa
Spain grants a student stay authorization (estancia por estudios) for non‑EU/EEA nationals planning to study for over 90 days.
Digital Nomad Visa: 2026 Requirements
Spain digital nomad visa requirements for 2026: €2,442 monthly income, eligible remote work, documents, MI-T form, fees, and how to apply.
Entrepreneur Visa
This visa authorizes you to enter and live in Spain to launch an innovative business that serves Spain’s economic interests.
Which Spanish route fits your situation?
Pick the situation that best matches you to see the most common starting point in Spain
I work remotely for a non-Spanish employer or freelance for foreign clients
The Digital Nomad visa is your route. Confirm your salary is at least 200% of the SMI and that you have at least 3 months of contract history with each non-Spanish client.
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FAQ
Spain immigration FAQ
The questions readers ask most about applying to live, work, study, and visit Spain
No. The NLV explicitly forbids any economic activity. Remote work for foreign employers is a grey area officially, and many residents have used it informally — but Spain's preferred route for remote workers is now the Digital Nomad visa, which permits up to 20% of income from Spanish clients.
Yes. Time on the Digital Nomad visa counts toward the 5-year residence requirement for permanent residence. After 5 continuous years (renewals every 2 years), you can apply for permanent residence; you may also apply for citizenship after 10 years (or 2 years for Ibero-American nationals).
Empadronamiento is registration at your local town hall (Ayuntamiento) confirming your address. It is the single most important administrative step after arrival because it gates healthcare, school enrolment, NIE issuance on your TIE, and many bureaucratic procedures. Some town halls require a rental contract; others accept a hotel reservation or a written invitation from a Spanish resident.
The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your fiscal identification number, issued the first time you have a tax-relevant interaction with Spain. The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is the physical residence card non-EU residents must collect after arriving on a residence visa; it carries the NIE on it and serves as your photo ID for residency purposes.
After holding a Spanish residence permit for 1 year (and securing renewal for a second year), you can sponsor your spouse, children under 18, and dependants over 65. Income must be at least 150% of IPREM for the principal plus 50% per family member, and adequate housing must be demonstrated through a habitability report.
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