Spain Visa Types

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Residency Visas for Acquisition of Real Estate (RIV) (Spain Golden Visa):

You can apply for RIV visa if you purchase a property for 500.000 € or more.

Advantages:

  • The golden visa does not require you to be in Spain 183 days of one year, it only requires you to visit Spain once during each residency period.
  • You will have a work permit.

Disadvantages:

  • You cannot sell your house until you obtain the status of permanent resident.
  • The golden visa will not automatically get you on route for Spanish citizenship.
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Residence Visa for Capital Investors (RIC) (Spain Golden Visa):

A significant capital investment is understood as an initial investment at least 2 million Euros in Spanish government bonds issued or at least 1 million Euros in shares in Spanish companies or deposits into Spanish financial institutions (banks).

Advantages:

  • The golden visa does not require you to be in Spain 183 days of one year, it only requires you to visit Spain once during each residency period.
  • You will have a work permit.

Disadvantages:

  • You cannot sell your house until you obtain the status of permanent resident.
  • The golden visa will not automatically get you on route for Spanish citizenship.
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Residency Visas for Entrepreneurs and Business Activities (REM):

This section covers all investors presenting a business plan, considered and recognised as being of general interest, to be developed in Spain with the intention of entering and staying in Spain for a period of one year for the sole or primary purpose of carrying out the preparatory work to develop an entrepreneurial activity.

The applicant must present a favourable report from the Commercial Office in the area of geographical demarcation where the investor presents the visa request, to confirm that the business plan presented is considered as a general interest.

Advantages:

  • The golden visa does not require you to be in Spain 183 days of one year, it only requires you to visit Spain once during each residency period.
  • You will have a work permit.

Disadvantages:

  • The golden visa will not automatically get you on route for Spanish citizenship.
  • Difficult to get the approval from the Consulate.
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Residency Visa for Highly Skilled Professionals (TAC):

Application for this visa requires that the company carries out the processing of the Residence Permit, issued by the Large Enterprise and Strategic Economic Unit in Spain and granted by the General Directorate of Immigration, in advance. It must be in any of the following positions:

  • Management or highly qualified staff of large businesses or corporate groups, or SMEs in strategic sectors,
  • Management of highly qualified staff of business projects in the general interest
  • Graduates, postgraduates from universities and prestigious business schools.
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Students Visa:

The visa is granted to begin studying or to further education in an authorised institution in Spain, in a full-time programme, which leads to a degree or certificate; or participation in research or training activities; mobility programmes for secondary school or high school students; non-working practices in a public or private body or entity; and volunteer work within a programme that pursues objectives of general interest.

Advantage:

  • After 3 years you can get a residence permit.

Disadvantages:

  • It is not a Resident Permit.
  • It does not allow to work.
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Non-lucrative temporary residence visa:

The applicant must have sufficient financial resources for themselves and their family members during their period of residence in Spain, or, accredit a source of periodic income collection for themselves - and, if applicable, their family -, at the time of application for a visa or of the renewal of the authorisation. This means an average of 2,151.36 euros per month for the applicant and 537.84 euros per month for each member of the family.

Disadvantages:

  • It requires you to be in Spain 183 days of the year.
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Work employment visa:

Allows for a foreigner to enter Spain to live and carry out employed work, with previous Government Authorization.

Visa Application Costs

The average cost of these visa application procedures are approximately 2000-2500 Euros. It depends on the services provided in each case. There may be an extra fee for each dependent of the main applicant.

Become a Spanish Citizen

Is it possible to obtain Spanish citizenship after the residence by purchasing a property?

Obtaining Spanish citizenship through residency requires you to have been a legal resident in Spain for an uninterrupted period of 10 years immediately prior to the application. This means living in Spain 183 days per year each year.

In the following cases, the residency period for citizenship may be shortened:

  • 5 years: for people who have obtained refugee status.
  • 2 years: for current citizens of Latin-American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and persons of Sephardic origin.
  • 1 year for:
    - People born in Spain.
    - People who, at the moment of application, have been married to a Spaniard for a year and are not separated (de jure or de facto).
    - People married to Spaniards who have died, if they were not separated at the time of the Spaniard spouse's death.
    - Those born outside Spain to parents (also born outside Spain) and grandparents all of whom were originally Spanish citizens.
    - People who did not duly exercise their right to acquire Spanish citizenship by option.
    - People who have been under the charge of a guardian or judicially recognized foster care by a Spanish citizen or institution for two consecutive years at the moment of application.

 

Moreover, the individuals concerned must prove good citizenship and a sufficient degree of integration in Spanish society.

Within the 10-year period for Spanish citizenship the most important step is: becoming a permanent resident. You can become a Permanent Resident after 5 years. Once you are a permanent resident, you no longer have to justify the conditions of the visa category which you obtained residency. Being a permanent resident means you will not lose your residency even if you leave Spain.

However, if you leave Spain for a year, you are no longer on the route for Spanish citizenship. You will have to start counting your 10 years for citizenship from scratch.

Halil İbrahim Koca

Immigration Adviser


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