The residence permit in Spain allows a foreigner and his/her family to live legally in the country. It is a highly sought-after procedure and can be obtained in different ways, one of which is residence by investment. In this article I will tell you how to obtain residency in Spain and all the requirements you must meet to obtain it.
What are the requirements to obtain residency in Spain?
First of all, we must review the conditions that must be met in order to obtain a permanent residence permit in Spain:
You must be 18 years of age or older
The first requirement to start the procedure to reside legally in Spain is to be a non-EU citizen (not belonging to the European Union) and of legal age, aged 18 or over.
In addition, you must not have a criminal record or be illegally in Spanish territory, nor must you be banned from entering the country or be within the period of commitment of non-return.
You must have income
To apply for Spanish residency, you must demonstrate economic solvency. That is, you must have sufficient resources to cover your expenses during your stay in the country. If you reside with family members, these resources must also cover your stay in Spain.
This condition can be demonstrated by presenting a salary and work contract or by showing that you have at least 6,000 euros in a bank account of which you are the holder.
Have medical insurance coverage
When residing in Spain for more than 90 days (3 months), it is compulsory to have health insurance. This health insurance must be private and have similar coverage to that offered by the public health system in Spain. Generally speaking, it is important that your insurance has these characteristics:
- Full coverage: The contracted package should cover hospitalisations and medical transfers anywhere in Spain.
- No co-payment: The insurance should cover the cost of any visit, regardless of its cause.
- No waiting period: The contract must be permanent, with no waiting period in which costs are not covered.
*Tourist insurance is not valid for obtaining a residence permit in Spain.
Have proof of your accommodation, such as a rental contract.
Another essential requirement to become a resident in Spain is to prove that you have a place to stay during your stay in the country. In this case, you can provide as proof a rental contract or the title deed of a property in Spanish territory.
Explanation of how to apply for residency in Spain
Applying for residency in Spain involves certain bureaucratic procedures as well as time and financial costs that must be assumed in order to obtain it:
Bureaucratic procedures
To apply for residency in Spain, you must complete the official application form (EX11). You must present a copy of your passport, travel document or valid registration certificate and a criminal record certificate issued by the authorities of the country of origin or countries where you have resided in the last five years.
All these documents must be translated into Spanish and all foreign public documents must be previously legalised by the Spanish Consular Office.
Waiting times
At present, the waiting time for the application is about 3 months from the day after all the required documents have been submitted.
In addition, within 1 month of the notification of the granting of the authorisation for long-term residence in the country, the Alien Identity Card must be applied for in person.
Related costs
The final cost of the procedure varies from case to case and must be borne in order to obtain residence in Spain. These include the application fees, the minimum investment to guarantee economic resources during the stay in the country, the type of health insurance contract, etc.
Some of the benefits of Spanish residency
Obtaining a residence permit entails numerous advantages, among the most important of which are the following
- Right to work in Spain
- Free access to the 26 countries that make up the Schengen zone.
- Access to the benefit of the national currency (the Euro)
- Right to buy property in Spain
- Opportunity to form a company in a modern and competitive tax system
- Easy process of renewing your residence permit
What should I do if I have doubts about the process or procedures?
As we have seen, residence permits in Spain lead to very complex legal and administrative procedures for which it is recommended to seek professional advice and support from lawyers who are experts in the field.
Summary
In previous articles we have covered some topics related to the different ways of obtaining residency in this country: Golden Visa in Spain 2022: Everything you need to know to get it, How to set up a company in Spain as a foreigner or How to buy a property in Spain without having to travel from abroad. I encourage you to read them for more information on how to get papers in Spain.
If you are a foreigner and want to apply for residency in Spain, contact us for expert and completely personalised advice. We specialise in this type of procedure and we are committed to simplifying and facilitating these processes so that it is very easy for you to achieve your goals.
