Long Stay Visa Spain (National Visa)

The Spanish long-stay visa may be a requirement for individuals who wish to travel to Spain for 90 days or longer or who wish to eventually settle down permanently.

Generally, you should expect that this is a requirement unless you are an EU or EEA national such as from Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

Keep in mind that your nationality will be the deciding factor, not your place of residence.

Even if you have permission to travel to Spain without a tourist visa for a short visit, you will likely need to obtain a Spanish visa to stay longer.

Page Contents

• Who Needs a Long-Stay Visa When Travelling to Spain?
• Long-Stay Visa Types
• Family Reunification Visa
• Student Visa
• Work Visas
• Digital Nomad Visa
• Non-Lucrative Residence Visa
• Golden Visa (for Investors)
• What Documents Are Needed When Applying for a Spanish Long-Stay Visa?
• How to Apply for a Spain Long-Stay Visa
• The Visa Interview
• Spanish Long-Stay Visa Fees
• What Are the Processing Times for a Spanish Long-Stay Visa?
• Arriving in Spain
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

When considering a long-stay visa, you will have several options to choose from. Generally, the best idea is to consider why you are planning to visit Spain and to select the visa that most closely aligns with this. Reasons may include family or leisure, but also employment, investments, or education.

At a glance, the available visas include:

• Family Reunification visa
• Student visa
• Work visas (including employee or self-employed pathways)
• Digital Nomad visa
• Non-Lucrative Residence visa
• Golden visa (for investors)

Each visa may have different conditions and requirements so make sure you understand what will be needed before applying. You should note that you will always need to have an adequate private health insurance policy that covers you for at least €30,000.

Additionally, you will be asked to provide a certificate of health, stating that you have no significant health condition that may impact the public interest of Spanish citizens and that you have a clean criminal record.

If you are unsure or would like help with the application process, you can call us today at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 and one of our specialised immigration lawyers will be happy to assist you.

The Family visa or Family Reunion visa is a wonderful option for those who wish to reunite with family members who are already legal residents in Spain. Generally, the conditions include that you must have evidence of your real and ongoing relationship.

For spouses or civil partners, this may be a marriage contract and other relevant details.

If you are a parent wishing to reunite with your adult child, you will usually need to show that you meet a general age requirement of at least 65 years. You will also need to demonstrate a need for care or support that you cannot receive otherwise.

In certain humanitarian cases, the age requirement may be waived but this is decided on a case-by-case basis.

Younger children applying to reunite with a parent will need to be classed as dependent, which means that they must either be under 18 years of age or have a disability that means they require support even later in life.

Children must be supported by their legal guardian when applying.

Spain offers plenty of great opportunities for education and further development. If you have been accepted by one of the Spanish universities or are set to undergo training or an unpaid internship in the country, you may qualify for a Spanish student visa.

This visa may also act as a stand-in for certain volunteering or Au Pair activities as Spain does not have dedicated visas for those, but it is best to consult with an immigration expert if this is what you are looking for.

Generally, applicants will need to confirm their student status by showing confirmation of official enrolment or similar into an educational programme or course. You will also need to show your accommodation plans and prove that you have the means to financially support yourself.

If you want to live in Spain for employment reasons, you will need to make a distinction between your type of employment. You might be classed as a traditional employee on a fixed contract or you might be independent as a freelancer or contractor. As Spain does not have a dedicated entrepreneur visa, this direction would also require a freelance visa.

Employee Visa

If you are a hired employee with a fixed contract, you will need to apply for an employee visa. To qualify, you must show an official letter of invitation with a reasonable job offer from a Spanish company.

It is important that your employer follows procedures to hire you, meaning that you are not taking away a reasonable opportunity for employment from a local worker.

Your job must also be deemed reasonable in its workload and remuneration, and you will need to show that you have the skills or qualifications to be hired in this role.

Self-Employed Visa

If you are an independent worker you may be eligible for the Spanish self-employment visa. This may apply to freelancers or contractors who do not have a fixed employment contract but also covers entrepreneurs who are coming to Spain to start a business.

In general, you will be asked to show a reasonable business plan that shows how you will be able to support yourself or that you are able to invest in your business. You must also obtain a positive review from the ENISA.

Depending on your area of work, qualification or other proof of experience may be required to show that you are indeed capable of carrying out this work.

Outside of the traditional work visas, Spain offers a special visa for digital nomads, meaning those who wish to live in Spain while working for an overseas employer in a remote capacity.

When applying, you will need to show that you are indeed in a serious business relationship with at least one company. If you work for only one employer, they must have been seriously trading for a minimum of one year when you are applying.

Alternatively, if you are working with multiple clients you will need to show that you have had a serious business relationship with at least one of them that has lasted three months or more.

If you want to live in Spain without needing to work, the non-lucrative pathway may be the easiest to obtain. You will need to show financial capability, meaning that you must be able to support yourself without seeking employment or any other paid activities.

Spain does not have a dedicated retirement visa so the non-lucrative visa category is a popular alternative.

This visa category may also be issued for dependants of a Spanish resident who do not qualify for the Family visa. If this is the case, you will need to show that the person has the financial means to do so.

Investors may become eligible for a long-term visa by investing significantly in the Spanish economy. Depending on the nature of your investments, you may need to budget accordingly.

At a glance, significant investments include:

• Investing €1 million into Spanish public debt securities
• Investing €2 million into Spanish venture capital funds, shares, or stocks. Bank deposits with Spanish financial institutions can also qualify
• Investing €500,000 into unencumbered real-estate
• Creating jobs and a positive local socio-economic boost through a new business or project

It is important to be well-informed when deciding to commit such a significant amount of money to any purpose so you should contact an immigration lawyer before proceeding on this route.

Do also note that while most golden visa pathways are issued for one year at a time, a real-estate-based investment visa is only valid for 6 months, after which it may be eligible for renewal.

Depending on your reasons for travelling to Spain you will be asked to provide different documents or evidence. You will need to confirm your personal details and eligibility to travel under the visa that you have decided to apply for.

While not exclusive, these are the documents you should generally expect to bring to your visa interview:

• Your current passport (make sure this is valid for at least 6 more months from the day you plan to travel)
• The fully filled out and signed visa application form
• A visa-compliant photo that’s been taken in the last six months
• Details of your health insurance policy
• A medical certificate showing that you have no major health condition that may pose a risk
• A criminal record certificate
• Bank statements or other proof of financial means
• Evidence of who will be supporting you (if applicable)
• Evidence of your relationship to the person you are uniting with (if applicable)
• Details of your study or work plans
• Qualifications showing that you are suited to carry out work you have been hired to do (if applying for a work visa)
• Investment details (if applying for the Golden visa)

If there are any other documents that can support your application or explain individual circumstances you should bring those too. An immigration lawyer can help you decide what might be necessary in advance so you can feel prepared.

Applying for the Spanish long-stay national visa is different to the short-stay alternatives as it may not be done online. Instead, you will need to locate your nearest Spanish embassy, consulate, or visa application office and schedule an in-person interview to file your application.

When you are ready, make sure that you have thoroughly read through the specific requirements of the visa you are applying to. Prepare your application by filling out the application form and gathering all of your documents so that you are ready for your interview and remember to confirm your attendance before the deadline to prevent your appointment from getting cancelled.

On the day of your interview, you should make sure that you are not forgetting anything. You will be asked to submit your application documents and your biometric details and to pay the visa application fee.

You should expect to be asked why you are travelling and about any work, educational, or living arrangements that are in place. Depending on the visa pathway you are applying to, you may also have to answer questions about your future plans and whether you intend to become a permanent resident in Spain through this visa.

The fees for a Spanish long-stay visa may vary depending on the category you are applying for as well as your background.

Usually, you should expect to pay the following for most national visa types:

• US Nationals: €123
• Canadian Nationals: €507
• Any other nationalities: €75

Student visas and certain work visas may have different fees.

Don’t forget that there may be additional costs such as consular fee, tuition fees or other permits. These will depend on the country from which you are applying, what exactly you are planning to do in Spain and your circumstances.

Spanish long-stay visas usually take about 15 days to be processed, but depending on your circumstances, the location you are applying through, or the seasonal workload, you should be prepared to wait longer. It is always recommended to apply for your visa well before you need it, to prevent issues later. You may do so up to six months in advance.

While there is no guaranteed way to expedite the processing period, you should be thorough when filing your application and make sure to submit correct and complete information and documents. An immigration lawyer can help you with this to make sure that there will be no delays.

If you were asked to bring additional documents during your visa interview you should do so quickly as this can lead to significant delays or even a refusal of your visa petition.

When you are arriving in Spain you should keep in mind that a visa is no immediate guarantee that you will be permitted to enter the country. This will be decided by the immigration officer at your port of entry. You should be prepared to fully cooperate to show details such as your passport, visa, and other relevant documents.

If you are travelling to Spain with the intention to stay longer than six months, you must also apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (also called TIE for Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero). You must do so within the first month of your being in the country. If you have lived in Spain for five years, you may become eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit.

Depending on your visa route you may need other permissions too. Note that a work visa is not an automatic work permit, so check what may be required.