Moving to Spain is an opportunity to settle in one of the most comfortable EU countries with a high standard of living, quality medicine and a relaxed pace of life. Permanent residence permit is usually available after 5 years of residence in the country with a residence permit. All this time you need to be its tax resident.

Moving to Spain for permanent residence is possible through the purchase of real estate (Golden Visa), by settling, family reunification, employment, student visa with subsequent transition to another status. Spain is one of the popular options for retirees and remote workers. The country will suit those who appreciate the warm sea, a measured life, affordable prices for food and have a desire to obtain EU citizenship in the future.

Why Spain attracts immigrants

Spain attracts immigrants with its high level of social security and quality of life. According to the World Quality of Life Ranking 2025, Spain ranks 17th out of 87 countries with an index of 184.4. Among the benefits that become available after immigrating to Spain are:

• the possibility of visa-free travel within the Schengen area;
• access to one of the best health care systems in the world, free of charge state services and pan-European health insurance;
• the opportunity to start and conduct business in a country with a strong economy, well-developed infrastructure and good transportation links to other regions;
• the right to participate in public life, to vote in municipal/regional elections (provided that the foreign citizen is registered in the municipality);
• employment in Spain and the European Union;
• access to free school education, academic qualifications with the possibility of participating in the state scholarship and grant program, participation in student mobility programs;
• residence in a country with a stable political situation and a high level of security;
• the right to move family members for permanent residence in Spain;
• support from public housing assistance systems on equal terms with citizens;
• access to the social security system from the state in the form of benefits and payments.

The advantage of permanent residence in Spain is the prospect of obtaining all the rights of citizens of the European Union, but for this it is necessary to live in the country for 10 years. An alternative to such a long stay is simplified immigration programs that exist in some states of the union. To learn more about quick and easy immigration to Spain on the rights of citizenship you can on a free consultation with the specialists of the company Relocation Compass.

Ways of obtaining permanent residence in Spain

You can obtain a permanent residence card in Spain on condition of five years of residence in the country on the basis of a temporary residence permit. The residence permit, in turn, can be obtained by foreign citizens who legally entered the Spanish territory on one of the grounds (work, study, business, investment, etc.).

Education and scientific activity

A separate category of foreigners who come to Spain for studies, scientific activities, internships or participation in volunteer programs, can also receive a temporary residence permit. The residence permit card in this case is issued for the duration of the course or work, can be extended for a year, provided that the grounds remain valid.

Family reunification

The right to obtain a temporary residence permit in Spain can be used by the nearest relatives of the holder of a residence permit, namely spouses, children (minors or under his/her guardianship) and parents aged 65 years and older, who come to support the foreign citizen. All the above categories have the right to use the option to reunite members of their family after receiving a residence permit card and work permit.

In the case of the need to transport relatives in the ascending line should initially obtain the status of long-term resident in the country, confirm their financial independence and ability to settle and support the family.

Employment

A residence permit for work or business in Spain is issued with a prior residence and work permit. From the applicant is required to confirm qualifications and provide an employment contract, if the plan is to work for hire.

A residence permit can be obtained after studying at a university to find a job or start a business; for entrepreneurship or freelancing; when receiving an offer for a highly qualified position; on a business trip from a foreign company; for seasonal work (up to 9-12 months); as well as employment in a sports club, media or show business.

Regardless of the grounds, a temporary residence permit may have a validity period not exceeding 5 years, while permits issued for a shorter period may be extended upon application.

The process of applying for a residence permit in Spain

1. Obtaining a visa.
   To obtain a permit to enter Spain you need to prepare and submit to the consulate or embassy a package of documents that confirms your purpose of travel. You will have to prove that you have money to live in the country (118.4 EUR per day per person, but not less than 1065.60 EUR). It is also necessary to have health insurance and fill in the relevant application form.
2. Applying for a temporary residence permit.
   In order to apply for a temporary residence permit, it is necessary to visit the Immigration Office in the place of residence and fill in an application. The application should be accompanied by a personal file with documentary evidence of the grounds for residence in Spain and your compliance with legal requirements. The package of documents must include proof of financial independence, such as a certificate of income or a bank statement of the amount in your account.
3. Renewal of your residence permit.
   A temporary residence permit in Spain can be extended if the conditions of the original authorization (employment or income) are met. The application must be submitted 60 days before the end of the current residence permit.
4. Applying for a permanent residence card.
   To complete the application for a residence permit, apply to the Immigration Department of the place of residence, submit a personal file and pay an administrative fee. The time period for processing the request is 3 months.
5. Registration of the foreigner’s Spanish documents.
   After 1 month from the date of receiving an affirmative answer on the granting of residency status, you must apply for an identity card at the Immigration Office or police station. During the process, you will need to present your passport, the applicant’s photo for the permanent residence card, undergo fingerprinting, and fill out an application for internal documents.

Holders of resident status in Spain must renew their ID card of a foreigner every 5 years, and the maximum deadline for applying for renewal is 60 days before the end of the validity period of the previous one.

Requirements to the applicant for permanent residence and the conditions of relocation

The requirements for foreign nationals who wish to formalize permanent residence status in Spain are:

• emigration of the applicant from a country outside the EU, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland (the nationality of the applicant and his family members cannot also be in the EU, the EEA, or Switzerland);
• absence of a criminal record;
• legal stay in the State;
• absence of prohibition of entry into Spain or the territorial space of countries with which the Kingdom has relevant agreements.

In addition to the basic conditions, applicants for permanent residence may belong to one of the categories:

• have lived in Spain for 5 years without interruption (absence for 6-10 months during this period will not affect continuity);
• have stateless, refugee or subsidiary protection status;
• have made a significant contribution to the development of culture, science, economy or Spain’s international image, and have promoted the interests of the Kingdom abroad;
• are of Spanish origin, but have lost their citizenship in the past.

Also to obtain a card of long-term residence in Spain can:

• recipients of retirement or disability pension payments from the Spanish social security system;
• applicants who were born in Spain and at the time of reaching the age of majority have been legally and continuously residing in the country for 3 years or more;
• applicants who, upon reaching the age of majority, have been under the guardianship of a Spanish public authority for 5 consecutive years.

Immigration to Spain implies the mandatory receipt of official status – temporary or permanent residence permit. But citizens of the European Union have the full right to move to the country and stay in it without the need to obtain such permits, just passing a quick and simple procedure of address registration.

Required documents

The basic dossier consists of:

• an application form filled out according to the official sample in duplicate;
• passport;
• a certificate of no criminal record;
• proof of reasons to stay in Spain for an unlimited period of time.

Important: When submitting documents issued by other countries, they must be translated into Spanish and legalized at a Spanish consular office in the applicant’s country of origin. In some cases, legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is allowed.

Cost of Spanish documents and relocation

Moving to a new country is an expensive process because, in addition to the cost of transporting belongings, renting or buying a home, living expenses and paying bills, the total list of expenses must include the cost of obtaining entry and residence permits. Prices for the processing of documents for legal residence in Spain:

Life in Spain

Life in Spain is characterized by a measured pace of life. The locals value socializing with friends and family, so the social aspect is very important. In small towns there is a siesta, which means an afternoon rest during the hottest hours or a long lunch break.

Spaniards pay a lot of attention to preserving their traditions and culture, so assimilation into society requires learning the customs and habits of the country’s population.

Grocery and housing prices

Spain has lower prices for food and housing compared to some countries of the European Union, the cost of one person for a month, excluding rent is about 715 EUR. The cost of renting a one-room apartment ranges from 718-951 EUR, the price depends on the location. For utilities, if you live in an apartment with a total area of 85m2 you need to pay almost 132 EUR. From January 1, 2025 the Spanish Government raised VAT rates on some groups of food products, will also increase electricity tariffs.

Work

To get a job in Spain, you need to have a permit, and knowledge of the state language can significantly help in employment. You can search for available positions on specialized sites (InfoJobs, Indeed España, LinkedIn), as well as apply directly to companies of interest. According to Numbeo, the average salary in the country after taxes is 1,740 EUR. In 2025, Spain is scheduled to increase pensions and minimum wages due to rising food and energy prices.

Business

To start a business in Spain, you must obtain a NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) tax number. Then you need to register a company and obtain licenses, if your activity implies their presence (cab, transportation, restaurants, cafes, medical and cosmetology services).

The advantages of Spain for doing business – a convenient geographical location and well-developed logistics infrastructure, which allows enterprises to expand the zone of influence not only on neighboring countries, but also regions.

The state actively introduces new and implements existing support programs for entrepreneurs, much attention is paid to startups and innovative projects launched by immigrants. One example is the ICO (Instituto de Crédito Oficial) program, which provides soft loans with rates from 2% to small and medium-sized businesses in Spain for development, innovation and expansion. There is also a Startup Visa program.

Study

Tertiary education in Spain is available to permanent residents on an equal basis with citizens, and enrollment requires a high school diploma and entrance exams. Spanish universities have programs in the state and English languages, most universities have many foreigners.

The cost of education in public universities starts from 1000 EUR for a year of study for a bachelor’s degree, in private universities and business schools – from 2 500 EUR. Citizens of the European Union can apply for preferential places and scholarships. The exact cost depends on the chosen specialty and the degree received. Students can participate in EU exchange and mobility programs.

Medicine

The health care system in Spain is financed by general taxes, but the majority of revenues are decentralized, so regional governments allocate funds for provision from their own budgets. Medical services are provided free of charge in public facilities.

If desired, citizens and residents can purchase health insurance from private companies, the policy will cover additional services chosen by the patient, such as cosmetology or dentistry.

Best cities to move to

If you decide to immigrate to Spain, it is important to choose a city where your life will be more comfortable and open new opportunities for self-fulfillment and career. The most popular among immigrants are Malaga, Seville and Valencia. These are cities with affordable housing and a leisurely pace of life that are ideal for families with children and older people.

Barcelona and Madrid will be the best choice for business and employment. Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Alicante are resort cities with warm climate and beautiful nature, where financially independent immigrants and freelancers will be most comfortable.

Reviews about moving to Spain for permanent residence

Feedback from immigrants who have moved to Spain contains a lot of information about the country’s advantages, such as a high standard of living, good ecology and the friendliness of Spaniards. At the same time, the country is characterized by several negative features, according to many, namely bureaucracy in administrative bodies, stores that do not work on Sundays and the language barrier.

Many people recall difficulties in assimilation in the initial stages due to the slowness and the habit of postponing everything for tomorrow among the locals. When documents or permits are needed, for example, for building a house, this significantly delays the process. In large cities, the processing of such documents can take 9 months or more.

In the process of obtaining a residence permit, immigrants recommend that great attention be paid to gathering evidence of your financial well-being, which in turn can be crucial when applying for a temporary residence permit. When deciding to go to Spain, it is best to start learning the language right away, as this will greatly simplify the process of integration into society and employment.

The best way to immigrate to Spain

You can legalize your stay in Spain by obtaining a residence permit, and later a permanent residence permit. But this process takes a long time, during which immigrants are limited in their rights in comparison with the citizens of the country. A simpler, faster and inexpensive way is repatriation – obtaining a passport of one of the European Union states on the basis of ethnic or territorial affiliation. EU citizenship status gives an immigrant a full range of rights and opportunities.

For successful acquisition of EU citizenship, it is best to get the help of migration specialists. Relocation Compass lawyers are familiar with all the nuances of the procedure, so they will be able to analyze your situation and choose the best way for immigration. Thanks to our cooperation, you will be able to obtain an EU passport in up to 14 months and go to live in Spain in the shortest possible time.