Spain is a fantastic place to live, both permanently and temporarily. Every year, thousands of immigrants from all over the world move to Spain. It’s the ideal spot to start a new life, with diverse terrain, friendly people, wonderful food, and pleasant weather all year. Spain’s citizens enjoy a standard of living that is comparable to that of other countries. Spain, on the other hand, has decent pay and higher unemployment than many other EU members. But, before that can happen, one must overcome the same barrier that appears to be causing so many doubts: the necessity of securing a residency visa.
Types of residence permits in Spain
Before diving into a comprehensive list, it’s important to understand that there are two ways to categorize all of the numerous Spanish residency permits.
Your country of origin (whether or not you are from the EU) and the period of time you are willing to spend there.
With those two considerations in mind, you can begin outlining the conditions that must be met.
Types of visas in Spain
Short-term Spain visas, often known as Schengen or C-type visas, allow tourists and business travellers to remain for up to 90 days. Some nationalities also need to obtain an airport transit visa in order to travel to Spain.
Long-term visa: This is the option you should pursue if you intend to stay in Spain for a long time. The term “temporary residency” refers to the various types of residence permits that you can obtain.They will allow you to live and work legally in the country for one or two years. You can extend your temporary residence visa for another year or two after that period has ended, provided you still meet the initial requirements.
You will not need to renew your permission or visa after five continuous years of residence in Spain. This is due to the fact that you will be able to apply for permanent residency, which is a permit that allows you to live and work in Spain indefinitely.
Let’s have a look at the many options for non-European citizens seeking legal residency in the country.
Student Staying Permit
A student or study visa is a long-term visa for at least 90 days, not a resident permit. To get it, you must demonstrate that you are enrolled at a Spanish university and that you are financially self-sufficient. You can apply for a normal residency permit after three years. The visa is valid for the duration of full-time studies and allows you to work if it does not interfere with your studies.
Non-Lucrative Visa and Residence Permit
The first residency permit is valid for one year if you meet the requirements. Non-Lucrative Residence can continue for up to five years because the first and second renewals are both for two years. By definition, this permission does not allow you to work for a living. A non-lucrative residence can be converted to an employment or self-employment residency after one year.
Work permit
There are many types of work visas you can apply for, depending on your situation and the employment offer you have. Each has its own set of needs, and each application is unique:
According to the law, people who are offered a job in a highly qualified capacity can apply for a highly qualified worker visa. Specifically, the employment must be managerial or similar in nature, and the remuneration must be greater than 40.000€ per year. You can begin the application process while in Spain in this situation.
Regular work permit, which you must apply for in your home country. Your Spanish employer will be the one to apply for a residence permit on your behalf.
The Spanish Residency: Everything You Need to Know
More on how to get the Spanish residency here
But how do you go about doing it? What is the exact procedure for obtaining a residency card and becoming a legal resident? We’ll go over all of the different options and the requirements for each.