To live, work or study in Spain for more than 90 days, everyone needs a national visa or a residence permit. This page explains the main routes, the documents the Spanish consulates ask for, the first steps after you arrive, and what is different for Ibero-American nationals: Spanish nationality after two years of legal residence, driving-licence exchange and degree recognition. We prepare your paperwork and go with you to appointments in almost all of Spain; legal advice is given by our partner immigration lawyers.

Latest news

  • Supreme Court annuls parts of the rules for family of Spanish citizens

    The consolidated text records that a Supreme Court ruling of 8 July 2026 annulled part of article 94.1 f) and the automatic refusal for criminal records without an individual assessment in the permit for family members of Spanish citizens. It affects Latin American applicants using that route. Official source

  • Royal Decree 316/2026 changes arraigo; regularisation closed 30 June

    Royal Decree 316/2026 entered into force on 16 April 2026: arraigo applicants can no longer hold or be applying for another stay or residence permit, and the extraordinary regularisation it created only admitted applications until 30 June 2026. It affects people from Latin America already in Spain without a permit. Official source

  • EES fully operational: manual passport stamping has ended

    From 10 April 2026 the EU Entry/Exit System is fully operational at all external border crossing points of the countries using it, and manual stamping of passports is abolished. If you stay longer than allowed, the system identifies it and records it. Official source

  • Minimum money to show at the border: 122.10 euros per day from 2026

    The Spanish Consulate General in Santo Domingo states that from 1 January 2026 the minimum to prove is 122.10 euros per person per day, with a minimum of 1,098.90 euros. Other consular pages still show the 2025 figure, so the sources do not fully agree. Official source

  • Memoria Democrática: appointment requests closed 22 Oct 2025

    According to the Spanish Consulate General in Bogotá, the deadline to request an appointment for nationality under the Democratic Memory Law closed on 22 October 2025, and no new requests have been admitted since 23 October 2025. People who asked in time and can prove it are still being called. Official source

Your country at a glance

    Can you come without a visa?

    Fifteen of the nineteen countries on this page are visa-exempt for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Nationals of Bolivia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador need a Schengen visa before travelling. In both cases entries and exits are now recorded digitally in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). ETIAS, the future online travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers, is not in operation yet.

    • Visa-exempt for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period (Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806): Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Official source
    • Schengen visa required even for short stays (Annex I of the same Regulation): Bolivia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. The application is filed between 6 months and 15 days before the trip; the visa fee is 90 euros from the age of 12; the legal decision period is 15 calendar days, which can be extended to 45. Official source
    • Travelling without a visa does not guarantee entry. At the border you can be asked for a return ticket, proof of accommodation or an invitation letter, and proof of money for the stay. The passport must be valid for 3 months after the planned departure and issued within the last 10 years. Official source
    • Money for the stay: the Spanish Consulate General in Santo Domingo states that from 1 January 2026 the minimum is 122.10 euros per person per day, with a minimum of 1,098.90 euros whatever the length of the trip. Other consular pages still show the 2025 figure, so check before you travel. Official source
    • The 90 days are counted as one single period for all the European countries that use the EES, not country by country. The EES registers both travellers who need a short-stay visa and those who do not. Official source
    • The EES has been fully operational at all external border crossing points since 10 April 2026 and manual passport stamping has ended. If you stay longer than allowed, the system identifies it and records it. Official source
    • ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are collected yet. When it starts, nationals of the fifteen visa-exempt countries listed above will need it for short stays; the fee is EUR 20 and it is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires. Official source
    • To stay more than 90 days for work, study or residence you need a national visa. You also need a national visa to work in Spain for less than 90 days. Official source

    Ways to live in Spain

    Study visa (long-term stay for studies)

    For people who will study, take part in a student mobility programme, volunteer or do a training activity in Spain for more than 90 days.

    Requirements

    • Acceptance by an authorised school or university in Spain.
    • Proof of financial means for the whole stay and the return trip.
    • Health insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, valid for the whole stay.
    • Medical certificate. For stays of more than 180 days, also a criminal record certificate from the countries where you lived in the last 5 years, apostilled or legalised.
    • The visa must be applied for at least two months before the course starts, unless the enrolment dates make that impossible.
    • Adults who are legally in Spain can also apply from Spain for higher-education studies, at least two months before the course starts. The Consulate in Bogotá gives this example: during a 90-day tourist stay, the application must be filed within the first 30 days.
    • Higher-education students may work up to 30 hours per week if the work is compatible with their studies.
    • Stays for studies of up to 90 days need no study visa, but Bolivian, Cuban, Dominican and Ecuadorian nationals need a Schengen visa.

    Income required: 100% of the IPREM per month for the student, plus 75% of the IPREM for the first family member and 50% for each additional one. The amount is reduced if accommodation is already paid for the whole stay.

    Where you apply: At the Spanish consulate (or its visa centre) for the place where you live, or at the Foreigners' Office of the province where you will study if you apply from Spain.

    Official source

    Residence and work visa as an employee

    For people aged 16 or over who have a work contract with an employer in Spain. It also covers seasonal work.

    Requirements

    • First, the employer obtains the initial residence and employee work authorisation in Spain.
    • You then apply for the visa at the consulate within one month of the day the employer is notified.
    • Criminal record certificate from the countries where you lived in the last 5 years, apostilled or legalised, and a medical certificate.
    • After arrival you must be registered with Social Security before you start working.
    • If the authorisation lasts more than six months, the visa is valid for 365 days.

    Where you apply: Work authorisation: in Spain, requested by the employer. Visa: Spanish consulate (or its visa centre) for the place where you live. The legal decision period for the visa is 1 month.

    Official source

    Highly qualified professional

    For professionals hired by a company in Spain for a highly qualified job, company managers, and graduates or postgraduates of well-regarded universities and business schools.

    Requirements

    • The company or the professional applies for the residence permit to the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE).
    • There are two types: the EU Blue Card and the national permit for highly qualified professionals.
    • The permit lasts three years, or the length of the contract plus three months if the contract is shorter.
    • Criminal record certificate from the countries where you lived in the last 2 years, plus a signed declaration covering the last five years.
    • With the permit granted, you apply for the visa at the consulate. The legal decision period for the visa is 10 days.

    Where you apply: Residence permit: UGE (Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration). Visa: Spanish consulate or its visa centre.

    Official source

    Residence and self-employed work visa

    For people over 18 who want to open a business or work for themselves in Spain.

    Requirements

    • A plan for the business or activity, with the planned investment, the expected return and, where applicable, the jobs it will create.
    • The licences or permits the activity needs, or proof that you have applied for them.
    • The professional qualification or training the activity legally requires.
    • Proof of enough financial means for the planned investment, or a commitment of support from a financial institution.
    • The visa application includes the application for the residence and work permit. The Consulate in Bogotá states that Ibero-American nationals are exempt from the fee for the self-employed work permit.
    • After arrival you must register with Social Security within 3 months and before you start working.

    Where you apply: At the Spanish consulate (or its visa centre) for the place where you live.

    Official source

    International telework visa ("digital nomad")

    For people who work remotely for companies or clients outside Spain and want to live in Spain while doing so.

    Requirements

    • Employees may only work for companies outside Spain. Self-employed professionals may work for Spanish companies only up to 20% of their total activity.
    • A degree from a well-regarded university, vocational training centre or business school, or at least 3 years of professional experience.
    • The foreign company must have existed for at least one year, and your working relationship with it must be at least 3 months old.
    • Criminal record certificate from the countries where you lived in the last 2 years, plus a signed declaration covering the last five years.
    • Social Security: registration in Spain or, where a bilateral Social Security agreement allows it, a certificate of coverage from your home country. Only some countries issue that certificate for teleworkers.
    • The visa lasts up to 1 year. People who are legally in Spain can apply directly for the residence permit, which can last up to 3 years.

    Income required: 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) per month for the teleworker, plus 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each additional one.

    Where you apply: At the Spanish consulate for the place where you live, or directly in Spain before the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE) if you are legally in Spain. The legal decision period for the visa is 10 days.

    Official source

    Non-lucrative residence visa

    For people who want to live in Spain without working, living on savings, a pension or other regular income.

    Requirements

    • You may not work at all, in person or remotely, in Spain or for another country. The Consulate in Bogotá asks every adult for a sworn statement before a notary to that effect.
    • Proof of sufficient financial means of your own. The Consulate in Bogotá does not accept funds from third parties and asks for twelve months of bank statements.
    • Health insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, covering everything the Spanish public system covers, with no co-payments, waiting periods or limits. Travel insurance is not accepted.
    • Criminal record certificate from the countries where you lived in the last 5 years, apostilled or legalised.
    • Medical certificate.
    • The first residence permit lasts one year. The visa is valid for 365 days.

    Income required: 400% of the IPREM for the main applicant plus 100% of the IPREM for each family member. The Consulate General in Buenos Aires states this as at least 2,400 euros per month (28,800 euros for twelve months) plus 600 euros per month for each dependent family member.

    Where you apply: At the Spanish consulate (or its visa centre) for the place where you live. The residence permit is processed together with the visa.

    Official source

    Family member of a Spanish citizen or of an EU citizen

    For the spouse or partner, children and dependent parents of a Spanish citizen, or of a citizen of another EU or EEA country or Switzerland, who lives in or is moving to Spain.

    Requirements

    • Family of a Spanish citizen: since 20 May 2025 there is a specific residence permit. It covers, among others, the spouse or partner, children under 26, dependent parents, and the parent of a Spanish minor.
    • That permit allows you to live and work in Spain, as an employee or self-employed, and lasts up to five years.
    • From abroad it is requested with a residence visa at the consulate. Exceptionally, when both of you are already in Spain, it can be requested at the Foreigners' Office.
    • Family of a citizen of another EU or EEA country or Switzerland: you apply in Spain for the residence card of a family member of a Union citizen within three months of entering.
    • Bolivian, Cuban, Dominican and Ecuadorian family members need an entry visa first; it is free of charge and processed with priority. The other nationalities on this page enter without a visa.
    • The Supreme Court annulled parts of these rules on 8 July 2026, so the list of family members and the grounds for refusal should be checked with a lawyer.

    Where you apply: Family of a Spanish citizen: Spanish consulate for the place where you live, or the Foreigners' Office in Spain. Family of an EU citizen: in Spain, at the Foreigners' Office or the Police station of the province where you will live.

    Official source

    Family reunification

    For the spouse or partner, children under 18 and, in some cases, parents over 65 of a non-EU national who already lives legally in Spain.

    Requirements

    • The family member in Spain (the sponsor) applies first for the family reunification permit in the province where they live.
    • As a general rule, the sponsor must have lived in Spain for at least one year and have applied to stay for at least another year.
    • The sponsor must prove stable and sufficient income and adequate housing.
    • With the permit granted, the family member applies for the visa at the consulate within two months of the notification.
    • The visa is valid for 365 days and the TIE must be applied for within one month of arrival.

    Income required: 150% of the IPREM for a family unit of two people (the sponsor and one family member), plus 50% of the IPREM for each additional member (Royal Decree 1155/2024, art. 67).

    Where you apply: Permit: in Spain, by the sponsor. Visa: Spanish consulate (or its visa centre) for the place where the family member lives.

    Official source

    Arraigo (residence for people who are already in Spain without a permit)

    For people who are already in Spain and have ties here. It is an exceptional permit, decided case by case, and not a way to plan a move: a lawyer must assess each case.

    Requirements

    • There are five types: social, socio-labour (sociolaboral), socio-training (socioformativo), second chance (segunda oportunidad) and family (familiar).
    • General rule: at least two years of continuous stay in Spain before applying. Time spent as an asylum seeker does not count. Family arraigo needs no minimum stay.
    • No criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you lived in the five years before entering Spain.
    • You cannot be an asylum seeker when applying and, since 16 April 2026, you cannot hold or be applying for another stay or residence permit.
    • Socio-labour: one or more work contracts adding up to at least 20 hours a week, paid at least the minimum wage. Social: family ties with foreign residents and means of at least 100% of the IPREM, or a favourable social integration report.
    • Socio-training: being enrolled in, or committing to, certain training; it allows work of up to 30 hours a week. Second chance: having held a residence permit in the previous two years that was not renewed.
    • Family arraigo is for the parent or guardian of a minor who is a citizen of another EU or EEA country or Switzerland, and lasts five years. The other types last one year.
    • The extraordinary regularisation approved by Royal Decree 316/2026 only admitted applications until 30 June 2026.

    Where you apply: In Spain, in person at the Foreigners' Office of the province where you live. No visa is needed.

    Official source

    The investor ("golden") visa no longer exists. Organic Law 1/2025 removed articles 63 to 67 of Law 14/2013 with effect from 3 April 2025. Buying a home in Spain no longer gives a right to residence. Investor visas and permits that were already valid keep their validity and can be renewed under the previous rules. Official source

    After you arrive

    1. TIE (foreigner identity card)

      If your visa or permit is for more than six months, you must apply in person for the TIE at the Police station. Official source

      Deadline: Within one month of entering Spain (for employees and the self-employed, within one month of registering with Social Security).

    2. Padrón (town hall registration)

      Everyone who lives in Spain must register in the padrón of the town where they usually live. You will be asked for the padrón certificate in many other procedures. Non-EU nationals without a long-term residence permit must renew the registration every two years. Official source

      Deadline: As soon as you have a home address.

    3. Health cover

      With a non-lucrative visa you need private health insurance with no co-payments or limits, and the policy must cover the first twelve months from your planned travel date. Insurance proposals and documents from brokers are not accepted, only the insurer's certificate. Official source

      Deadline: From day one; keep the policy active without gaps.

    4. Social Security number (if you work)

      The Social Security Treasury (TGSS) gives each person a Social Security number. You apply with form TA.1 or online. Employees must be registered before they start working; self-employed workers within 3 months and before starting. Official source

      Deadline: Before your first day of work.

    5. Bank account

      A Spanish account makes it easier to pay rent, utilities and insurance. Banks may charge up to 3 euros per month for a basic payment account. Official source

      Deadline: In the first weeks.

    6. Driving licence

      Your licence is valid in Spain for six months from the date you become resident. Spain has licence-exchange agreements with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay: as a general rule, car and motorcycle licences are exchanged without tests, and lorry and bus licences need extra tests. Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela are not on the list. A licence obtained in your country when you were already a legal resident in Spain cannot be exchanged. Official source

      Deadline: Six months from becoming resident.

    7. Recognition of your university degree

      To work in a regulated profession you need the homologación of your degree. For other degrees you can ask for a declaration of equivalence to the Spanish Bachelor's or Master's level. Both are requested online from the ministry responsible for universities. The legal maximum to decide is six months; if there is no answer, the application can be treated as rejected. Official source

      Deadline: Start as early as you can, even before moving.

    8. Tax residence

      You become tax resident in Spain if you spend more than 183 days here in a calendar year, or if the main centre of your economic interests is in Spain. Plan your arrival date with a tax adviser. Official source

      Deadline: Counted per calendar year (1 January to 31 December).

    9. Spanish nationality

      Nationals by origin of Ibero-American countries can apply for Spanish nationality after two years of residence, instead of ten. The residence must be legal, continuous and immediately before the application, and you must show good civic conduct and sufficient integration. You do not have to give up your nationality of origin. Official source

      Deadline: After two years of legal and continuous residence.

    Documents to prepare

    • Valid passport with at least 1 year of validity and two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted. The Consulate in Bogotá also asks for a photocopy of every page. Official source
    • Criminal record certificate from the country or countries where you lived in the last 5 years. For the telework and highly qualified visas it is the last 2 years, plus a signed declaration covering five years. Official source
    • Apostille: all the countries on this page except Cuba are party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so their public documents are apostilled in the country that issued them. Official source
    • Cuba has not joined the Apostille Convention: every Cuban document must be legalised by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) and then by the Spanish Consulate General in Havana. Official source
    • Each consulate says exactly which criminal record certificate it accepts and how old it can be. Example: for Colombia, the certificate issued "for migration purposes" by the National Police, with the apostille. See the country notes below. Official source
    • Medical certificate stating that you do not have any disease that could have serious public-health consequences under the International Health Regulations (2005). Official source
    • Health insurance certificate issued by the insurer itself, authorised to operate in Spain. Travel insurance, bank insurance, proposals and policies with co-payments are not accepted. Official source
    • Proof of financial means. For the non-lucrative visa the Consulate in Bogotá asks for bank statements for the last twelve months, payslips or pension receipts, tax returns for the last two years and documents showing where the money comes from. Official source
    • Family documents: apostilled birth and marriage certificates. For a minor travelling with only one parent, an apostilled notarial document with the other parent's consent. Official source
    • Documents that are not in Spanish (for example, Brazilian documents in Portuguese) need a translation. A translation by a sworn translator-interpreter appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs no further legalisation. Official source

    Taxes

    • You are tax resident in Spain if you stay more than 183 days in the calendar year, or if the main base of your economic activities or interests is in Spain. Short absences count as days in Spain unless you prove tax residence in another country. Official source
    • Workers who move to Spain can choose a special tax regime (often called the "Beckham law") for the year they arrive and the next five years, if they were not resident in Spain in the previous five years and meet the other conditions. Under it, income up to 600,000 euros is taxed at 24% and the rest at 47%. Official source
    • The option is made with form 149, within six months from the start date of the activity shown in your Spanish Social Security registration. Official source
    • The Spanish Tax Agency lists double-taxation treaties with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru are not on that list. How each type of income is taxed depends on the treaty; a tax adviser should review your case. Official source
    • Spain has bilateral Social Security agreements with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama are not on the Social Security list of bilateral agreements. Official source
    • If you telework from Spain for a company in your country, a Social Security agreement may let you stay insured at home with a certificate of applicable legislation instead of registering in Spain. Only some countries issue that certificate for teleworkers. Official source

    Notes for Argentina

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Visa applications are filed at the BLS visa application centre in Buenos Aires.
    • The Consulate General in Buenos Aires asks for the Argentine criminal record certificate issued within the last three months and apostilled (digital apostille of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Colegios de Escribanos).
    • For the non-lucrative visa it asks for at least 2,400 euros per month (28,800 euros in total) plus 600 euros per month for each dependent.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement, a Social Security agreement and a double-taxation treaty with Argentina.

    Notes for Bolivia

    • Bolivian nationals need a Schengen visa even for short stays.
    • The Consulate General in Santa Cruz de la Sierra asks for a criminal record certificate issued by the Judiciary for the whole country, no more than three months old, with the apostille of the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement and a double-taxation treaty with Bolivia.
    • Bolivia is not on the Spanish Social Security list of bilateral agreements.

    Notes for Brazil

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Brazil counts as an Ibero-American country for Spanish nationality: two years of residence, and no need to give up Brazilian nationality.
    • Documents in Portuguese must come with a translation into Spanish.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement, a Social Security agreement and a double-taxation treaty with Brazil.

    Notes for Chile

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement, a Social Security agreement and a double-taxation treaty with Chile.
    • Chilean public documents are apostilled in Chile.

    Notes for Colombia

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Visa applications are filed by appointment at the BLS visa centre in Bogotá.
    • The Consulate General in Bogotá states that Colombian citizens are exempt from the national visa fee for the non-lucrative, employee, telework and highly qualified visas.
    • Criminal record: the certificate issued "for migration purposes" by the Colombian National Police, apostilled.
    • Telework visa: the Colombian Social Security certificate that replaces registration in Spain is form ES-CO.3, signed by the competent authority and apostilled.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement, a Social Security agreement and a double-taxation treaty with Colombia.

    Notes for Costa Rica

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement (in force since 2020) and a double-taxation treaty with Costa Rica.
    • Costa Rica is not on the Spanish Social Security list of bilateral agreements.

    Notes for Cuba

    • Cuban nationals need a Schengen visa even for short stays. The Consulate General in Havana warns that it can take months to get an appointment for a short-stay visa.
    • Cuba is not party to the Apostille Convention: documents are legalised by the MINREX and then by the Spanish Consulate General in Havana.
    • For the non-lucrative visa, the criminal record and medical certificates must be legalised by the MINREX.
    • There is no driving-licence exchange agreement between Spain and Cuba.
    • Spain has a double-taxation treaty with Cuba. Cuba is not on the Spanish Social Security list of bilateral agreements.

    Notes for Dominican Republic

    • Dominican nationals need a Schengen visa even for short stays. Applications are filed by appointment at the BLS centre in Santo Domingo.
    • The Consulate General in Santo Domingo does not accept Schengen applications filed less than 15 days before the trip.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement, a Social Security agreement and a double-taxation treaty with the Dominican Republic.

    Notes for Ecuador

    • Ecuadorian nationals need a Schengen visa even for short stays. Appointments are booked through the BLS centre.
    • The Consulate General in Quito asks for the criminal record certificate and the medical certificate to be apostilled.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement, a Social Security agreement and a double-taxation treaty with Ecuador.

    Notes for Guatemala

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement with Guatemala.
    • Guatemala is not on the Spanish lists of double-taxation treaties or of bilateral Social Security agreements.

    Notes for Honduras

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement with Honduras, in force since 26 November 2024.
    • Honduras is not on the Spanish lists of double-taxation treaties or of bilateral Social Security agreements.

    Notes for Mexico

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Visa applications for Mexico City are filed through the BLS visa centre.
    • Criminal record: the federal certificate (Constancia de Antecedentes Penales Federales), printed in colour and apostilled.
    • There is no driving-licence exchange agreement between Spain and Mexico.
    • Spain has a Social Security agreement and a double-taxation treaty with Mexico.

    Notes for Nicaragua

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement with Nicaragua.
    • Nicaragua is not on the Spanish lists of double-taxation treaties or of bilateral Social Security agreements.

    Notes for Panama

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement and a double-taxation treaty with Panama.
    • Panama is not on the Spanish Social Security list of bilateral agreements.

    Notes for Peru

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • For the non-lucrative visa, the Consulate General in Lima asks you to start by email to its visa section.
    • Criminal record certificate no more than 3 months old; Peruvian documents are apostilled at the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The medical certificate must be legalised by the Colegio de Médicos and apostilled.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement and a Social Security agreement with Peru.
    • Peru is not on the Spanish Tax Agency's list of double-taxation treaties.

    Notes for Paraguay

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement, a Social Security agreement and a double-taxation treaty with Paraguay.

    Notes for El Salvador

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement and a double-taxation treaty with El Salvador.
    • El Salvador is not on the Spanish Social Security list of bilateral agreements.

    Notes for Uruguay

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Spain has a driving-licence exchange agreement, a Social Security agreement and a double-taxation treaty with Uruguay.

    Notes for Venezuela

    • No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
    • Non-lucrative visa applications are filed at the Consulate General in Caracas itself.
    • Criminal record certificate issued by the Venezuelan Ministry of Interior and Justice, no more than 90 days old, legalised and apostilled. A "carta de buena conducta" is not accepted.
    • There is no driving-licence exchange agreement between Spain and Venezuela.
    • Spain has a Social Security agreement and a double-taxation treaty with Venezuela.

    Common mistakes

    • Arriving as a tourist and starting to work. A short stay, with or without a visa, does not allow work.
    • Counting on arraigo as a plan. It needs two years in Spain without a permit, it is decided case by case, the rules changed in April 2026 and the extraordinary regularisation of 2026 closed on 30 June 2026.
    • Bringing documents without the apostille, or Cuban documents without the MINREX and consular legalisation.
    • Presenting a criminal record certificate that is too old or of the wrong type for your consulate.
    • Buying travel insurance, or a policy with co-payments, for a visa that needs full health insurance.
    • Working, even remotely, while holding a non-lucrative permit.
    • Missing the one-month deadline to apply for the TIE after arriving.
    • Letting a permit expire: the two years for nationality must be legal and continuous residence.

    Frequently asked questions

    Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?

    For stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela do not. Nationals of Bolivia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador need a Schengen visa. To stay longer than 90 days, or to work, everyone needs a national visa.

    Can I enter as a tourist and sort out my papers in Spain?

    Only in a few cases. Adults who are legally in Spain can apply from here for a stay for higher-education studies, at least two months before the course starts, and for the telework residence permit. Family members of Spanish or EU citizens also have routes in Spain. A tourist stay does not allow work, and most other routes start at the consulate in your country.

    How soon can I apply for Spanish nationality?

    Nationals by origin of Ibero-American countries can apply after two years of legal, continuous residence immediately before the application, instead of the general ten years. You do not have to give up your nationality of origin. A lawyer should confirm whether your type of permit counts as residence.

    Can I still apply for nationality under the Democratic Memory Law ("grandchildren's law")?

    No. According to the Spanish Consulate General in Bogotá, the deadline closed on 22 October 2025 and no new appointment requests have been admitted since 23 October 2025. People who requested an appointment in time, and can prove it, are still being called to hand in their documents.

    Can I exchange my driving licence?

    Yes, if it is from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru or Uruguay. As a general rule, car and motorcycle licences are exchanged without tests. Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela have no agreement: the licence is valid for six months after you become resident, and after that you need a Spanish one.

    Is my university degree valid in Spain?

    Not automatically. For a regulated profession you need the homologación of your degree; for other degrees you can ask for a declaration of equivalence to the Bachelor's or Master's level. Both are requested online under Royal Decree 889/2022, with a legal maximum of six months to decide.

    What is arraigo, and is there a regularisation open now?

    Arraigo is an exceptional residence permit for people who have already spent, as a general rule, two years in Spain and have ties here (work, family, training or social integration). It is decided case by case. The extraordinary regularisation of Royal Decree 316/2026 only admitted applications until 30 June 2026. A lawyer must assess whether arraigo fits your case.

    What do you do and what does the lawyer do?

    We prepare and organise your documents, book appointments and go with you to them in almost all of Spain. Legal advice on which route fits you, and any legal representation, comes from our partner immigration lawyers.

    Official sources used on this page

    General information taken from the official sources linked on this page. It is not legal advice and rules change: our partner immigration lawyers confirm your specific case.

    Want a plan for your case?

    We prepare your paperwork and come with you to your appointments; a partner immigration lawyer reviews your options.

    Start my free plan →   See visa services →   See the 20 cities →

    One enquiry connects you with a dedicated specialist for the whole move — visas, housing, and the local know-how that turns a relocation into a home.

    1

    We read your enquiry

    A specialist matched to your situation reviews the details within one business day.

    2

    A short call

    We talk through your timeline, family situation and priorities.

    3

    Your relocation plan

    A written plan covering paperwork, housing search and a realistic timeline — no obligation.

    Reply within 1 business dayLanguages: ES · EN · FR · DE · NL · RU · ARBased in Alicante, Spain
    Relocation Centers is a trade name of Velorix SL, a private company. This is not an official website and is not affiliated with any government body or public organisation.