Are you planning on moving to Spain and staying for the long run? If you are staying for more than 90 days because of work, family, studies, or even retirement, you will need a long-stay visa.
In this article, you will find out everything you need to know about this type of visa, including the different long-stay visa types availale so that you can choose the best one according to your case, and the general procedure to apply for one.
Let’s get started.
A long-stay visa for Spain is an authorisation that enables citizens who are not from the European Union or the European Economic Area to stay in Spain for more than 90 days to study, work, or engage in other activities.
It must not be confused with the Schengen visa, which permits a maximum stay of 90 days in Spanish territory for a period of 180 days.
An important fact is that once in Spain and for stays exceeding six months, the foreigner must get a TIE (Foreign Identity Card), a document that evidences legal residence.
This means that for a long-stay visa, generally you will need the Foreign Identity Card (TIE) associated with your Foreign Identity Number (NIE).
Why might you need a long-stay visa?
There are multiple reasons to apply for a long-stay visa, including work, family reunification, studies, and retirement.
Nevertheless, bear in mind that long-stay visas are designed for foreigners wishing to stay in Spain for more than 90 days (but less than 5 years, as that would require permanent residency).
Among the most common reasons why people apply for a long-stay visa are:
- Studies and training:
This is the most common reason. Whether you are enrolling in a university programme, attending an intensive language course, completing a vocational training qualification, undertaking unpaid work placements, or participating in specialised medical training such as the MIR, if your programme lasts more than 90 days, you will need this visa. The same applies to secondary school exchange students.
- Work:
If you have been offered a seasonal job or a short-term employment contract of more than 6 months in Spain, you will need a national visa to work legally. In this case, it is your employer in Spain who first obtains the work authorisation on your behalf, and you then apply for the visa at the Spanish Consulate in your country using that document.
- Volunteering:
If you are taking part in a recognised volunteering programme in Spain that runs for more than 90 days, you will also need this visa to stay legally during that period.
- Student mobility:
Educational programmes such as Erasmus or others offer exchanges that last more than 90 days officially. You will also need a long-stay visa in this case.
Therefore, a long-stay visa is meant for foreigners to get Spanish nationality or permanent residency. If you wish to reside in Spain permanently or for a very long period of time, then you may need this type of visa to get your foreign identification card (TIE).
- Non-lucrative residence:
Financially independent individuals, such as retirees and passive income holders, who wish to reside in Spain without working.
Main options to stay long-term in Spain
Depending on your plans in Spain situation, the visa you should apply for will be different. Here we leave you some options so that you can find the right fit:
Non-lucrative visa
The non-lucrative visa allows foreigners to live in Spain without carrying out any work or professional activity, provided they have guaranteed and sufficient means of subsistence. It does not authorise the holder to work.
It is the most common choice for retirees, people with passive income, or anyone with sufficient savings or assets to support themselves in Spain without employment.
The minimum monthly income required is 400% of the IPREM, which is 2.400€ per month for the main applicant, and an additional 100% of the IPREM per month for each relative (600€).
The initial residence authorisation has a duration of one year, starting from the date of entry into Spain. Within one month of arrival, the holder must personally apply for the TIE at the relevant Police Station.
Self-employed work visa
The general work permit, or “permiso de trabajo por cuenta ajena”, is a long-stay visa designed for those who have received a job offer from a Spanish employer.
The process is initiated by the employer in Spain, not by the applicant, and the job offer must be within the shortage occupation list (which means that not all jobs ara valid).
Highly qualified worker visa
The highly qualified visa is designed for professionals with higher education qualifications who have received a job offer from a Spanish company at a salary significantly above the national average.
This long-stay visa, which allows you to work in Spain. is applied by the employer through the Unidad de Grandes Empresas (UGE) of the Ministry of Inclusion before the worker’s visa application at the Consulate.
Digital nomad visa
The DNV or digital nomad visa is for foreigners who wish to carry out work or professional activity remotely for companies based outside Spain, using exclusively digital, telematic, or telecommunications means. Employed workers may only work for companies based outside Spain. Self-employed workers may also work for Spanish companies, provided this does not exceed 20% of their total activity.
To obtain this visa, the applicant must hold a degree or postgraduate qualification from a recognised university, vocational training centre, or business school, or prove a minimum of three years of professional experience.
This visa matches the duration of the contract. The residence is granted for a maximum of three years, unless the employment contract is of shorter duration.
Student visa
For programmes of more than 90 days: university degrees, master’s degrees, language courses, vocational training, unpaid internships, student mobility programmes (such as Erasmus), and volunteering. The student visa is the most commonly issued national long-stay visa.
The application must be submitted at least two months before the start of the studies. If the programme exceeds 180 days, the holder must apply for a TIE within one month of arrival in Spain.
Entrepreneur visa
Entrepreneurial activity is understood as an activity that is innovative in nature and of particular economic interest to Spain.
Before applying for the entrepreneur visa, the applicant must obtain a prior favourable report from the relevant Spanish Economic and Commercial Office (Oficina Económica y Comercial), which assesses whether the project meets the criteria of innovation and economic interest.
The visa grants a one-year permit to reside and work in Spain. Once in Spain, the holder can apply for a three-year residence authorisation through the UGE.
Spain long-stay visa requirements
The exact requirements and documents will entirely change depending on the exact long-stay visa you are applying for.
Nevertheless, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the general documents required for all types of visas are:
- A national visa application form, duly completed and signed.
- A recent passport-size photograph.
- A valid passport with at least one year remaining before expiration and two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.
- Medical certificate attesting that the applicant does not suffer from any diseases that could pose a risk to public health.
- Health insurance with coverage in Spain (that has no copayments).
- Sufficient financial means (equivalent to 100% of the monthly IPREM, which is approximately 600€ per month)
- A criminal record certificate is only required if the length of stay exceeds 180 days and the applicant is over 16 years of age. Therefore, it is not required for visas of up to 180 days.
In addition to these, specific documents are required depending on the purpose of the visit: a letter of admission from the educational institution for study purposes, an initial authorisation signed by the employer for work purposes, etc.
Step-by-step to apply for a long-stay visa in Spain
There is a general procedure for all types of visas. Next, you can find the step-by-step process to follow for a successful application, and how to proceed once you complete this step:
Steps before your application
- Check all the different visas available and choose the one that adecuates more to your specific situation.
- Make sure you understand which documents are mandatory for the chosen visa. For this step ahead is very recommended to get in touch with an expert so that it is easier for you to have everything in order. Keep in mind that, depending on the country you apply from, the requested documentation may vary, so prove it rigorously.
- Prepare your file with all required documents, and make sure it is revised by an expert before submitting it.
Application procedure
1.Book an appointment and submit your application in person.
All national visa applications must be submitted in person at the Spanish Consulate or Embassy in your country of legal residence. Most consulates require a prior appointment, which in high-demand countries can take several weeks to obtain.
Bear in mind that if you apply for any residency under the entrepreneur’s law, like the digital nomad visa, you can apply directly from Spain as a tourist and skip this step.
2. Wait for the resolution.
The maximum legal deadline to get the resolution is 3 months from the day following the correct submission of the application at the competent Consular Office. Nevertheless, in practice, this can be much longer.
Therefore, if the consulate needs additional documents or clarifications, they may request them in writing or call you in for an interview.
Moreover, requirements must be addressed within a maximum of ten days, or fifteen days if a personal appearance is required. If not attended to within that period, the applicant will be considered to have withdrawn.
3. Collect the visa in person
The visa must be collected in person by the applicant or by their legal representative if the applicant is a minor.
It is crucial to recall that it cannot be collected at a different Consular Office from the one that processed the application.
4. Travel to Spain
With your visa, you will have 30 days to travel to Spain and enter the country to complete furthers steps.
Holding a valid visa does not guarantee automatic entry. The holder must demonstrate at the border that they still meet the requirements that led to its issuance.
If entering from another Schengen State without crossing an external border, the holder must attend a Police Station or Immigration Office within 3 working days to register their entry.
Additionally, no TIE is required for stays up to 180 days. If the authorised stay does not exceed 180 days, the visa is valid for the entire stay, and it is not necessary to obtain a Foreign Identity Card (TIE).
5. Apply to your TIE (if applicable)
If your authorised stay lasts more than 180 days, you should apply for your TIE within one month of arrival.
Depending on the reason behind your visa solicitation, the procedure may vary. For the exact procedure for your visa, get in touch with an immigration expert who can guide you through the process.
FAQs about long-stay visas in Spain
Do you still have doubts about long-stay visas in Spain? In this section, you will find the answers to the most commonly asked questions we get from our clients:
How long does a long-stay visa take to process?
It depends. Different long-stay visas take different processing times.
Generally, it takes between 1 and 3 months to get your visa, although in exceptional, complicated cases it can take more.
Here you have a table regarding the legal time each visa mentioned in this article takes to get once submitted correctly:
| Visa Type | Consulate Resolution |
|---|---|
| Digital Nomad Visa | 10 days |
| Student Visa | 1 month |
| Non-Lucrative Visa | 3 months |
| Highly Qualified Worker Visa | 10 days |
| Entrepreneur Visa | 10 days |
| Working Visa (employed) | 3 month |
| Working Visa (self-employed) | 3 month |
Bear in mind, this timetable references the legal period of decision resolution that the consulate has once all the information is correctly submitted.
Logically, to get your visa, it takes more time as you have to contact a consulate or embassy and get a citation (some of the consulates are very crowded, such as those in Morocco, India, or Latin American countries), and it can take weeks before you have an appointment.
Also, depending on whether you have submitted all your information correctly or if it has deficiencies, you have to correct them. This eventually makes the process longer.
Adding this up, your process can last months, so if you are planning on getting a visa, make sure you apply for it with sufficient time.
Can I get a visa to stay in Spain for 6 months?
Yes, you can get a visa to stay in Spain for 6 months, but the exact one will differ depending on your plans in the country.
If you plan to stay in Spain for up to 90 days within an 180-day period, you will generally need a Schengen visa (if your nationality requires one).
This visa is intended for short stays, such as tourism, business trips, or family visits, and does not grant residence rights.
But if you wish to stay in Spain for more than 90 days, such as six months or longer, you must apply for the appropriate long-stay visa and obtain a residence authorisation.
The type of visa you need will depend on the purpose of your stay, such as studying, working, joining family members, or living in Spain without carrying out a professional activity.
Can I apply from within Spain as a tourist?
In most cases, no. Applications for long-stay visas must generally be submitted at the Spanish consulate or embassy in your country of residence before travelling to Spain.
However, there are a few exceptions. For example, certain foreign nationals may apply for a student residence permit while legally staying in Spain during their 90-day tourist period, provided they meet the legal requirements.
Additionally, some residence permits can be obtained from within Spain without a prior visa, such as those granted by the UGE like the digital nomad visa or the highly qualified visa.
What happens if my visa is denied?
If your Spanish visa application is refused, the consulate will notify you in writing, explaining the reasons for the decision.
In most cases, you have two legal options:
- You may file an appeal for reconsideration (recurso de reposición) with the same Spanish Consular Office within one month from the day after you receive the refusal.
- Alternatively, you may lodge a judicial appeal before the High Court of Justice of Madrid (Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Madrid) within two months from the day after the refusal is notified, or after the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal if you choose to file one first.
If your application was refused because of missing or incorrect documentation, it may also be possible to submit a new visa application, provided you address the issues that led to the refusal.
The most appropriate option will depend on the reasons stated in the refusal letter.
How can I guarantee a successful visa application?
As we have mentioned in this article, the best option to ensure a successful application is to rely on an expert immigration lawyer.
Not only will one guide you to find out the right long-stay visa, but also help you prepare the perfect file at the right time.
At Immigration Lawyers Spain, we can help you out. Get in touch with us by booking an appointment through the following box, and get started today:
