Temporary Residence Permit Spain
Foreign nationals including US citizens, who are planning to spend more than 90 days in Spain must apply for a visa and Temporary Residence Permit to cover whatever personal or professional activities they intend to carry out during their stay.
Total Law are professional and affordable immigration lawyers who can help you with all your permit requirements for your stay in Spain, as well as offer a range of other services to support your immigration requirements. Call us today on +1 844 312 4979, or contact us online, to hear how we can help you.
What is a Spanish Temporary Residency?
Anyone who is a non-European Union or non-European Economic Area national who wants to spend more than 90 days in Spain in a 180-day period will have to apply for a visa to enter Spain and then apply for and hold a Temporary Residence Permit for the duration of their stay.
The type of residence permit that is granted is dependent on the visa the applicant is approved for to enter Spain, and the permissions outlined in that permit will be the activities permitted for the duration of their stay.
Temporary residence permits cover a range of activities, including permanent or nomadic working, starting a business, moving to stay with family, retiring and studying, and usually cover stays for up to one year.
A temporary permit is also renewable, provided an individual continues to meet the conditions of the permit, and can be renewed up to a maximum of five continuous years, after which, they could apply for a Permanent Residence Permit.
Page Contents
- What is a Spanish Temporary Residency?
- Types of Temporary Residence Permit in Spain for Non-EU Citizens
- Eligibility Requirements for Spain Temporary Residence Permit
- Required Documents for Spain Temporary Residence Permit
- How to Apply for a Temporary Residence Permit in Spain?
- Processing Time and Cost for Spain Temporary Residence Permit
- Alternative Temporary Residency Options in Spain
- Family Reunification Under Temporary Residence Permit
- Temporary Residency to Permanent Residency in Spain
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Types of Temporary Residence Permit in Spain for Non-EU Citizens
There are a range of Spanish permits available for foreign citizens that provide permission for different activities while in Spain, (such as paid employment permit, research visa, golden visa) and each permit has different application requirements.
The types of activities include:
- Starting a new business
- Investing in Spanish real estate
- Working for a Spanish employer
- Scientific researching
- Studying in a long-term program
- Joining immediate family who live in Spain
- Working remotely and nomadically
- Retiring in Spain
Eligibility Requirements for Spain Temporary Residence Permit
Generally, when applying for any temporary residence permit in Spain, an applicant must provide evidence that they have a valid passport, private medical insurance, enough money to support themselves during their stay without any state support, and a clean criminal record.
In addition to any general immigration eligibility requirements, each visa will have further requirements that are specific to that immigration pathway.
For example, for an Investor Visa, the individual must have €500,000 to invest in real estate in Spain, whereas for a Student Visa, they will need to have confirmation of acceptance onto a long-term course in a Spanish institution.
Once a visa has been granted to enter Spain, the applicant must apply for a temporary residence permit to stay long term in Spain.
Required Documents for Spain Temporary Residence Permit
When applying for a permit, all the documents that need to be submitted to support an application must be in Spanish. Any that are in English must be translated by a translator that is certified by the Spanish immigration office or consular office in the U.S., and submitted alongside the original English document.
The visa route chosen will dictate what documents are required to support a permit application. It is essential that these are all included in an application as any missing information increases the chance of a rejected application. There are standard documents that are requested by all permits, these include things such as:
- A completed visa application form
- A valid passport that will not expire soon
- Three photos that meet passport guidelines
- Evidence that you can financially support yourself while in Spain, whether you have bank statements or a work contract to show you will have enough money
- Evidence of where you will be staying in Spain, including any rental agreements or accommodation agreements
- A certificate proving that you have a clean criminal record
- Proof of private health insurance from a Spanish provider
On top of the standard requirements, further documentation will have to be provided to support the specific visa route the applicant is applying for; this may include documents including:
- Documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) proving relationship to the immediate family member for family reunification
- A confirmation document from a Spanish educational institution outlining a course and duration of study
- Evidence of a job offer from a Spanish employer including confirmation of income
How to Apply for a Temporary Residence Permit in Spain?
Once an individual has successfully received their Spanish visa while still in the U.S., they must visit a local Spanish embassy and submit a Residence permit application and all required supporting documentation.
Upon receipt of the residence permit, the applicant will have one month to arrive in Spain, where they must submit their biometric information (photograph and fingerprints) to a police precinct or immigration office in order to receive their foreign identity card. This card will act as proof that the holder is legally within the country.
This foreign identity card notes all the personal information of the holder and is essential as proof of identity when carrying out activities such as opening a bank account.
Processing Time and Cost for Spain Temporary Residence Permit
The application fee for a temporary residence permit in Spain is €15.76; bear in mind that there may be additional costs if any documents must be translated and that this fee does not include the cost of submitting a visa application.
Typically, it can take up to three months to receive a decision on a permit application. However, in the case of the residence permit with an Entrepreneur visa, which is a fast-tracked visa route, a decision will be made within 20 days.
Alternative Temporary Residency Options in Spain
For people traveling from the U.S. to Spain for a stay of less than three months, it is not necessary to apply for a temporary residence permit at all. In this case, only a short-stay or Schengen visa is necessary.
For people staying for over three months, there are only three different options that allow residency in Spain; these include the temporary residence permit, the permanent residence permit, and Spanish citizenship.
Family Reunification Under Temporary Residence Permit
After a non-EU citizen has been in Spain with a temporary residency for a minimum of one year, they or their immediate relatives can begin the family reunification process, which may allow family members to move to Spain to be reunited with the temporary residency holder.
When considering this route, documentation will need to be provided in the application process that proves there is sufficient housing and sufficient financial means to support the family moving to Spain.
Temporary Residency to Permanent Residency in Spain
It is possible to apply for permanent residency in Spain after someone has been a resident in Spain for a minimum of five consecutive years, provided they have not been out of the country for more than ten months in total during those five years. Permanent residency will allow someone to work and live in Spain indefinitely and will allow immediate family members to join them here.
When applying for permanent residence permits, only some visas are applicable eligible, and it is important that the five years accrued in Spain are with a Work visa, EU Blue Card, Entrepreneur Visa, Non-lucrative Visa, Student Visa switched to Work Visa, Family Reunification Visa, or Golden or Investor Visa.
How Can Total Law Help?
Planning a move to another continent, including applying for visas, permits, employment, and other considerations, can be a big undertaking. Often, the information available online does not clearly explain what applications need to be completed and in what order, leaving people confused and overwhelmed.
Completing all immigration applications can be expensive and incorrect applications can result in rejected applications, delays and lost time. Consulting with an immigration expert at Total Law can streamline and simplify the application process, maximize the chances of receiving a successful decision and, ultimately, reduce the stress associated with moving to a new country.
Call Total Law today on +1 844 312 4979, or contact us online, to find out how our range of services can support your immigration applications.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
When applying for temporary residency, you will have to prove to the immigration office that you can pay for yourself for the duration of your stay in Spain.
The amount you need in your bank account will depend on what visa you are applying for, such as €10,000 for a Student residence permit and €28,800 per year for a Non-Lucrative residence visa.
You can only stay in Spain for up to 90 days within each 180-day period without residence permits if you are a non-EU citizen. To stay beyond 90 days will require a residence visa.
