Frequently asked questions

The choice depends on your activity and long-term goals:

• Student Visa — for studying at universities or language schools for more than 90 days. • Digital Nomad Visa — for remote workers and freelancers earning no more than 20% from Spanish clients. Minimum income: €2,849/month (March 2026). • Startup Visa (Ley Startups) — for founders of innovative companies. Requires ENISA approval and €31,752 in funds. • Non-Lucrative Visa — for retirees and rentiers with passive income from €2,400/month and no right to work. • Work Residence Permit — with an employment contract from a Spanish employer.

Note: since April 2025, the Spanish Investor (Golden) Visa has been discontinued. The Non-Lucrative Visa is the recommended alternative for high-net-worth individuals.

A Schengen Type C visa allows you to stay in the Schengen zone for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. To obtain one:

• Apply through the consulate of your first or main entry country. • Processing time: 4–6 weeks on average. • Medical insurance with coverage of at least €30,000 is mandatory. • Financial proof: approximately €75/day (≈€6,750 for 90 days). • Spain typically issues visas only for the duration of the trip.

If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you need a long-stay Type D visa or a full residence permit.

Regardless of the permit type, most applications require:

• Passport — valid for more than 1 year. • Criminal record certificate — valid for 180 days from issue, with apostille. • Document translation — only by a sworn translator (Traductor Jurado) accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other translations are not accepted. • Private health insurance from a Spanish company — without a deductible, with direct coverage, for the full duration of stay. • Proof of income or financial means — depending on permit type. • Housing documents — rental contract or property ownership certificate.

Yes. Most residence permit types lead to citizenship:

• Permanent Residence — after 5 years of continuous legal residence. • Citizenship — after 10 years as a general rule. • Accelerated paths: 2 years for citizens of Latin America, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Sephardic Jews. 1 year upon marriage to a Spanish citizen or birth in Spain. • What doesn't count: student visa time and non-resident visa time. • Requirements: pass DELE A2 (Spanish language) and CCSE (constitution), no criminal record, no debts to the state. • Spain requires renouncing previous citizenship (except for citizens of certain Latin American countries under bilateral treaties). • Processing time: 1–3 years.

Yes. Since April 2025, the Spanish Investor Visa (Golden Visa, 'Visa de Inversor') has been officially abolished. Previously issued visas remain valid until their expiry, but no new applications are accepted.

Alternatives for financially independent individuals: • Non-Lucrative Visa — for passive income of €2,400/month or more (rent, dividends, pension). • Startup Visa — if you are founding an innovative business in Spain.

We will help you find the most suitable path for your profile.

Timelines depend on the permit type:

• Digital Nomad Visa — 20 working days when filed online in Spain; 30–45 days via consulate. • Non-Lucrative Visa — 1–3 months at the consulate. • Startup Visa — 4–5 months including ENISA evaluation. • Work Residence Permit — 4–6 months. • Family Reunification — 3–6 months. • Permanent Residence — 3–6 months.

After entry into Spain, you must obtain your residence card (TIE) within 60 days.

As of March 2026, the minimum monthly income is 200% of the SMI:

• Single applicant: €2,849/month • Family of two: €3,918/month • Family of three: €4,274/month • Each additional member: +€357

Income is confirmed by an employment contract, bank statements or tax returns for the last 3–6 months.

Yes, but with a limit: no more than 20% of your total income should come from Spanish sources. This is a key condition — violating it invalidates the visa.

If your work is primarily focused on the Spanish market, consider registering as autónomo (self-employed) or setting up an SL (LLC) with a corresponding business residence permit.

Upon entering on the Digital Nomad Visa, you can use the special IRNR regime (Beckham regime):

• Flat 24% rate on income from Spanish sources. • Foreign income is not taxed under this regime. • The regime is valid for 5 years.

The alternative is standard IRPF (15–47% progressive scale) as a tax resident. The choice depends on your income structure — we can help calculate the optimal option.

The duration depends on the filing method:

• Via consulate (Visa D) — 1 year. TIE must be obtained within 60 days of entry. • Via UGE online in Spain — 3 years directly. • Renewal — for 2 years.

Total: maximum continuous period on DNV is 5 years, after which you can apply for permanent residence.

Yes, up to 30 hours per week with an official employment contract. Additionally:

• Work must be compatible with studies. • Since May 2025, student visas can only be filed from the applicant's country of citizenship or official residence — applying from a third country is not permitted. • Student time does not count toward residence permit seniority or the 10-year period for citizenship.

No. The Non-Lucrative Visa prohibits any work activity — whether in Spain or remotely. If you work remotely, the Digital Nomad Visa is the right choice.

Non-Lucrative is intended for: • Retirees with a pension of €2,400/month or more. • Rentiers earning from property or dividends. • Financially independent individuals living off savings.

Minimum income: €28,800/year (€2,400/month) for the main applicant.

ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovación) is a Spanish government body that evaluates the innovation and viability of startups. A positive ENISA opinion is a mandatory requirement for the Startup Visa.

What ENISA evaluates: • Innovativeness and market uniqueness. • Scalability of the business model. • Team professionalism. • Realism of financial projections.

Timeline: 3–4 months. The project must be no more than 5 years old (7 years for biotech and industrial companies).

A resident sponsor (who has lived legally in Spain for at least 1 year) can apply for reunification for:

• Spouse (officially registered marriage). • Children under 18 (biological or adopted). • Dependent parents — only in exceptional circumstances and with proven financial dependency.

Financial requirement for the sponsor: at least €600 per additional family member beyond the first. The application is filed at UGE or at the Spanish consulate in the family member's country of residence.

Yes, as a general rule the employer must complete a labour market test (prueba de mercado) — publishing the vacancy on SEPE and proving no suitable EU/EEA candidates are available.

Exception: occupations on the 'Catálogo de ocupaciones de difícil cobertura' (shortage occupations — updated quarterly). For these, no labour market test is required, significantly speeding up the process.

Minimum salary: SMI 2026 — €1,184/month. For certain occupations, the market rate is required.

You should apply for renewal 60 days before your permit expires.

After filing, you receive a resguardo (receipt) — it confirms your legal status throughout the processing period, so you can continue working without interruption.

If you miss the deadline: • Administrative fine. • Prolonged violation may result in cancellation of resident status and mandatory departure. • The continuity of your residency period is interrupted — important for permanent residence and citizenship.

For permanent residence (EU long-term resident status), you need 5 years of continuous legal residence in Spain.

Allowed absences: • No more than 10 months in total over 5 years. • No more than 6 consecutive months.

What doesn't count toward the 5 years: student visa time.

Benefits of permanent residence: • Card valid for 5 years, renewable without limit. • No restrictions on work and residence in Spain. • Right to simplified residence in other EU countries (Directive 2003/109/EC).

Both exams are mandatory for citizenship. Administered by Instituto Cervantes.

DELE A2 — Spanish language exam (A2, elementary level): • Includes listening comprehension, reading and written tasks. • Valid indefinitely.

CCSE — test on the Spanish Constitution and socio-cultural reality: • 25 multiple-choice questions, 15 correct answers required. • Valid for 5 years.

We provide preparation materials and recommend online practice tools on our /exam page.

In most cases — yes. Spain requires renouncing your previous citizenship within 3 years of obtaining a Spanish passport.

Exceptions (dual citizenship allowed by treaty): Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Uruguay.

Citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine must renounce their previous citizenship.

NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) — a unique identification number for foreigners in Spain. Without it you cannot:

• Open a bank account at a Spanish bank. • Rent or buy property. • Buy a car and register it. • Pay taxes and deal with the tax authority (AEAT). • Sign any official contract.

There are two types: a green sheet (for EU citizens) and a white certificate (for non-EU citizens), which converts to a TIE upon obtaining residency.

Partially:

• Online banks (Revolut, Wise, N26) open accounts with only a passport — no NIE needed. • Traditional banks (Sabadell, BBVA, CaixaBank, Santander) require a NIE. • Renting housing: most landlords require a NIE for the contract and direct debit (domiciliación bancaria) from a Spanish account. Without a NIE, finding housing is significantly more difficult. • Buying property: a NIE is mandatory for signing the notarial deed of sale.

Empadronamiento (municipal registration) — this is registering your actual place of residence at city hall. Without it you cannot access:

• Registration with a doctor in public healthcare (CAP/health center, SIP card). • Enrollment of children in public schools. • Social benefits and allowances. • Filing and renewal of most residence permit types. • Certain banking services.

Required documents: passport + rental contract or property certificate. If the landlord refuses to allow registration — alternative routes exist through an informe social.

A criminal record certificate is valid for 180 days from the date of issue. Plan to obtain it close to your document filing date.

For Spain, the certificate must be: 1. Obtained from the Interior Ministry of your country of citizenship (Russia — МВД, form 003). 2. Apostilled (Russia — via the Ministry of Justice or a notary, 1–10 days). 3. Translated by a sworn translator (Traductor Jurado).

Important: Russia signed the Hague Convention, so a Russian apostille is recognized in Spain without additional legalization.

Traductor Jurado — an official sworn translator accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Only their translations are accepted by Spanish official bodies.

What makes them different: • Translation is certified with the sworn translator's personal seal and signature. • They bear legal responsibility for translation accuracy. • They have a registration number in the Spanish MFA registry.

Ordinary translation agencies, notary bureaus and notary-certified translations are not accepted. A notary in Spain can only certify the translator's signature, not the translation itself.

The strategy depends on your status:

• Before NIE: Revolut, Wise or N26 — open online with just a passport in 10 minutes. Accepted for transfers but not Spanish direct debits. • After NIE: traditional banks — Sabadell, CaixaBank, BBVA, Santander. You need NIE, passport, padrón and an initial deposit (€0–€200 depending on the bank). • For renting housing you need a Spanish account (IBAN ES) — most landlords will refuse without one. • For the tax authority (AEAT): a Spanish IBAN is mandatory for tax refunds and direct debit payments.

Cuenta No Residente (non-resident account) has significant limitations: • No overdraft or credit products. • Restricted transfers and operations. • Higher service fees. • The bank must report the account to the tax authorities of your country of residency.

Resident account (after obtaining TIE or empadronamiento): • Full range of banking services. • Access to mortgages, installment plans, credit cards. • Standard fees.

We help open a resident account from the first visit, avoiding common rejections.

Yes, new residents are entitled to a VAT (IVA) exemption when importing a personal vehicle. Conditions:

• Residency confirmed (TIE or first residence permit). • Car older than 6 months and with mileage over 6,000 km. • Import within the first 12 months after obtaining residency. • One vehicle per household.

After import, you must pass ITV (vehicle inspection) and register the car at DGT to obtain Spanish plates.

Depends on the country of issue:

• EU countries — no exchange needed, licences are valid. • Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, the UK, Latin American and several other countries with an agreement — licences are exchanged without exams (canje), if obtained before you became a resident. • Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan — no exchange agreement: you must pass the DGT theory and practical tests.

Important: a foreign licence is valid for only 6 months after you obtain residency.

To access public healthcare (Seguridad Social) you need:

1. Empadronamiento (municipal registration) at your actual place of residence. 2. Legal resident status (VNJ / TIE). 3. Payment of social contributions (when employed) or registration as autónomo.

Afterward: • Visit the CAP (Centro de Atención Primaria) at your place of registration. • You receive a SIP card (Catalan equivalent of a public health card) or equivalent card in your region.

Note: for obtaining a residence permit, private health insurance is required. Public healthcare is only accessible after status is confirmed.

Yes. Despite restrictions (single-entry priority), consulates of Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Hungary continue issuing tourist and business visas. The key is proper financial guarantees and a convincing travel purpose.

In 2026 most visas are issued strictly for travel dates (single-entry). Spain usually issues date-specific visas. Italy and France may still grant 6-month multi-entry for strong cases with good visa history. Chances of multi-entry improve with each successful visa.

Due to exchange rate changes, consulates have unofficially raised the bar. 250,000 rubles is 'borderline'. We recommend showing 400,000+ rubles for a 2-week trip, plus 3 months of account activity — regular deposits matter more than a single large transfer.

If you submitted biometrics (fingerprints) for a previous Schengen visa within the last 5 years, personal presence is not required — we submit documents for you. If not, one visit to the VFS centre is needed for fingerprint scanning.

Yes. Russian citizens can apply for a Spanish Schengen visa in Armenia without residency — just an Armenian social card (issued in 1 day). BLS appointment slots open once a month and fill in hours — we monitor them in real time.

It's not the end. We analyse the refusal code in the stamp, fix weak points, and submit a new strong case — often through a different country. We also prepare appeals to the consulate or administrative court if needed.

EES (Entry/Exit System) scans the face and fingerprints of all third-country nationals at EU border crossings. Apply only with a biometric passport (10-year) — mandatory for correct identification. Older passports can cause issues at automated border gates.

Rule 90/180: you may stay in Schengen for a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day window. Each day, count backwards 180 days and sum your days in Schengen. Exceeding this leads to fines, deportation and entry bans. We calculate your remaining days for free.

Medical insurance is mandatory. Requirements: • Minimum coverage: €30,000 • Valid across all Schengen countries • Covers emergency medical care and repatriation • Valid for the full duration of your trip

Only use insurers accepted by consulates — some online policies are rejected. We help you choose the right one.

Standard document package: • Passport — valid for at least 3 months after the trip ends • Application form (we fill it for you) • Photo 3.5×4.5 cm on white background • Hotel/accommodation booking (refundable) • Return air tickets (refundable) • Medical insurance from €30,000 • Bank statement for 3 months • Employment certificate with salary or proof of self-employment

Additionally for self-employed: income declaration, business account statements.

Official processing time: up to 15 calendar days. In practice in 2026: • Spain (via BLS) — 4–7 working days in Russia, 7–14 from Armenia • Italy and France — 7–14 working days • Greece and Hungary — 5–10 working days

Apply 3–4 weeks before your trip. Express processing (3 days) is only available with documented urgent circumstances.

Since January 2024, Bulgaria is a full member of the Schengen zone. What changed: • Old Bulgarian national D-visas no longer grant free movement within the EU • A Schengen C-visa is required to enter Bulgaria and travel within Schengen • A Bulgarian Schengen visa now opens all 29 Schengen countries • Bulgarian consulate is one of the relatively accessible options for Russian citizens