Long Stay Visa Spain (National Visa)
The Spain Long Term Visa allows Canadians and other non-EU individuals to live in Spain for five years or more.
Applying for visas can be a complex process, particularly if you are applying from Canada or abroad. We are here to help. For expert legal advice, contact Total law today on +1 844 290 6312, or you can get in touch with us online.
What is the Spain Long Term Visa?
The Long Term Visa for Spain, also known as the (Tarjeta de Larga Duración) allows Canadians and other non-EU citizens to reside in Spain for over 90 days by providing a legal residence permit that is valid for a period of up to five years, with the added possibility of indefinite renewal.
This long term residence permit offers numerous benefits to the visa holder, including:
- The right to work and study in Spain
- Ability to access public healthcare
- Ability to move freely across the European Union and wider Schengen Area
- Ability to bring your family members to Spain to join you.
There are many different types of Spain long stay visas available to non-EU nationals, some of which are outlined below:
- The Spanish work visa, allowing applicants to work in the Spanish market
- Family Reunification visa, enabling applicants from abroad to reunite with their family member who is currently living in Spain as a legal resident
- Spain Entrepreneur visa, allowing entrepreneurs to start a lucrative business in Spain
- The Golden visa, also known as the investor visa, available to those who wish to invest a minimum of €500,000 (approximately $755,000 CAD) into Spanish property, or €1 million in other investment categories (approximately $1.5 million CAD)
- The Non-Lucrative residence visa, commonly viewed as the retiree visa for Spain, which allows foreign nationals to live in Spain so long as they are not working in the Spanish market, and can prove they have sufficient financial means to support themselves through the likes of a pension, passive income from abroad, etc.
Am I Eligible for a Long Term Visa?
Eligibility for a long term residence permit in Spain varies greatly according to the visa type you wish to apply for. Your eligibility for a work visa will be very different to your eligibility for a golden visa, and so you must ensure you are clear on the best visa option that is applicable to your circumstances before you start any application process.
In general, all applicants for any long stay visa Spain will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Have already lived in Spain for a set period
- Meet minimum financial requirements to prove you can provide for yourself and any dependents whilst living in Spain
- Have stable income, either from abroad or through a work visa for Spain, or are financially provided for by a legal resident family member
- Have a clean criminal record, obtained within 3 months of applying
- Have a comprehensive private health insurance policy valid for the duration of your visa and covering up to €30,000 of medical expenses
- Can provide a medical certificate proving you do not have any illness that threatens public health.
Most foreign nationals who are married to a Spanish citizen, or have close family members living in Spain on a Spanish residence permit will be eligible to move to Spain and obtain a long-term residence permit through the family members visa routes.
If you wish to apply for a long term visa through investment or starting a business, your eligibility criteria will be significantly more complex as you must meet certain financial and business requirements too. Generally, most individuals applying for the investor visa hire a legal representative to support them through this long and complicated process. Total Law can help; you can get in touch with us online, or call +1 844 290 6312 to find out how we can support you with your investments and/or business.
What Documents Do I Need for Spain Long Stay Visas?
Some long stay visas require much more detailed required documents than others, and therefore the documents required can vary greatly depending on the visa type you wish to obtain.
In general, there are certain necessary documents that are standard for all applications, and they must all be translated into Spanish:
- A completed application form
- A recent passport photograph
- Valid passport and copy of visa applicant
- Current residence permit, visa or foreigner identity card (NIE), if applicable
- Criminal record certificate, obtained within 3 months of applying
- Proof of sufficient financial means, shown by submitting bank statements and/or pay slips
- Proof of comprehensive health insurance coverage
- Medical certificate proving you do not have an illness that is detrimental to public health
- Proof of accommodation in Spain, if applicable
- Business or investment plans, for applicants of the Golden visa or Entrepreneur visa
- Work permit or employment contract from Spanish companies, if applying for an employment visa
- Marriage, divorce or birth certificate, if applicable.
How Do I Apply for a Long Term Residence Permit?
Overview
Once you have chosen which Spanish visa type is the right one for you and, if applicable, your family members, you must gather all the required documents proving your eligibility that are outlined above and any additional documents specific to your chosen visa application.
A long stay visa must be applied for in person, either by the applicant themselves or by the parent if the applicant is a minor.
If you are applying from Canada, you will need to book an appointment at your nearest Spanish consulate or embassy. You will be required to submit your visa application, all the required documents, and provide biometric data (face image and fingerprints).
Please be aware that there are only five Spanish consulates in Canada, so you may need to travel a considerable distance to submit your visa application forms.
Once you have applied, the Spanish consulate will give you a proof of receipt. The expected processing time for the Spanish authorities to process Spain long stay visas is approximately 3 months from the date of application.
Spanish Embassies and Consulates in Spain
To apply for a long stay visa as a Canadian citizen, you must apply from Canada and book an appointment at one of the following locations:
Spain Embassy, Ottawa
74, Stanley Avenue
Ottawa, On
K1M 1P4
Spain Consulate General and Promotion Center, Montreal
1200 Avenue Mcgill College,
Suite 2025
Montreal, Qc
H3B 4G7
Spain Consulate General and Promotion Center, Toronto
2 Bloor Street East,
Suite 1201
Toronto On
M4W 1A8
Spain Consulate General, Vancouver
2185 Capilano Road
North Vancouver (B.C.)
British Columbia
V7P 3C1
Spain Consulate General, Winnipeg
788 Coventry Road
Winnipeg, Mb
R3R 1B7
How Much Does the Spain Long Stay Visa Cost?
In general, the visa fee for long stay visas costs approximately €75 (around $100-$150 CAD). This is the visa application processing fee, and when undertaking the visa application process, you must consider costs associated with the following:
- Administration fee
- Printing or translating documents
- Travelling to your visa appointment
- Travel or associated moving costs from Canada or other country of origin/residence
- Financial requirements that need to be proven to be deemed eligible for your relevant long stay visa
- Any rental or accommodation costs.
How Can Total Law Help?
Over 5 million foreign nationals currently reside in Spain on a long term residence permit. Spain is an excellent place for Canadians to live; with its warm climate, rich and relaxed culture, excellent healthcare and education system, and all the benefits that come with being an EU member state, it’s no wonder so many people decide to set up their lives there.
In general, most people are able to obtain a long stay visa and residence permit with little difficulty, as most visa applications are a fairly straightforward process. However, moving your family from Canada and settling into a new country, particularly if you’re not especially proficient in the Spanish language, can be an overwhelming process.
That’s why Total Law is here. We have a team of expert multilingual immigration lawyers who can support you not only with your visa application, but with the process of obtaining a residence permit, finding suitable long-term accommodation, and ensuring you meet all the legal requirements of long term residency in Spain. To speak with one of our advisors today, you can get in touch with us online or call us on +1 844 290 6312. We are here to help.
Advice Package
Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.
Application Package
Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Fast Track Package
Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.
Appeal Package
Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.
The Advice Package
During this untimed Advice Session with our professional immigration lawyers in London, you will receive our comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.
The Appeal Package
By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.
Related pages for your continued reading.
FAQs
Yes, it is possible to become eligible for permanent residency in Spain through a long term visa. However, in most cases you must live in Spain continuously for 5 years to be eligible, unless you are married to a Spanish citizen, in which case you can gain permanent residence and citizenship through marriage after only 1 year of living together with your spouse in Spain.
Routes to Spanish citizenship are varied, with the most common route being the citizenship by residency route. So yes, obtaining a long term residence permit in Spain will absolutely help on your journey towards gaining citizenship.
However, you will first need to wait 5 years of living in Spain before becoming eligible for permanent residency, and then another 5 years after that before being eligible to apply for citizenship. Therefore, this is very much a long-term plan for most.
