Spanish visa types and requirements: a complete guide for 2026

Which Spanish visa you need depends on your nationality, how long you plan to stay and what you intend to do here. Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland can live in Spain without a visa, while most other nationalities need one for stays of more than 90 days in any 180-day period. This guide summarises each main route and points to the detailed guides where they exist.

British citizens have needed a visa for longer stays since Brexit, and the overview of visas for British citizens focuses on the routes most relevant to them.

Which Spanish visa do you need?

The table below summarises the main routes for non-EU citizens, and each one is explained further down the page.

Validity and conditions depend on where you apply and on your nationality. Legal basis: Ley 14/2013, as amended by Ley 28/2022, and Real Decreto 1155/2024. Always confirm current requirements with the consulate handling your application.

Schengen visa: short stays in Spain

The Schengen visa covers visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the 29 Schengen countries, for tourism, short business trips or brief courses. UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens, among others, do not need one for such visits but cannot work or settle during them. Applicants who do need one provide a completed form, a passport valid for three months beyond departure, an itinerary with round-trip flights, proof of funds and travel health insurance of at least €30,000.

Border checks have also changed. The EU's Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, registering the biometric details of non-EU short-stay visitors in place of passport stamps, and the ETIAS authorisation planned for visa-exempt visitors is not yet in operation, with no start date confirmed.

Stays of more than 90 days require a national visa, and which one applies depends on your purpose. 

Non-Lucrative Visa requirements for retirees 

Retirees, and anyone living on passive income or savings without working in Spain, apply for the Non-Lucrative Visa. The Spanish embassy's official checklist asks for income or savings equivalent to 400% of the IPREM, currently €28,800 a year for the main applicant plus €7,200 for each family member, as income requirements for the Non-Lucrative Visa explains. It also asks for health insurance covering the same risks as the public system, criminal record certificates for the last five years from every country of residence, and a medical certificate. The visa does not allow any work.

Digital Nomad Visa requirements and validity 

Remote workers employed by a company outside Spain, and freelancers whose clients are mostly outside the country, can use the Digital Nomad Visa, in place since 2023. It is valid for one year when applied for at a consulate, or up to three years when applied for from within Spain, and renewable in two-year periods up to five years in total, after which permanent residency becomes possible. Applications from within Spain are legally resolved within 20 working days, though in practice they often take three to eight weeks, and the step-by-step process is covered in working remotely from Spain. Holders who become tax residents can also opt for the reduced flat tax rate for new residents of 24% on Spanish-source income up to €600,000.

According to the consular checklist for the visa, you need:

• A company outside Spain: employees can work only for companies outside Spain, while the self-employed may also serve Spanish clients up to 20% of their activity. The relationship must have lasted at least three months, with a company active for at least a year
• A degree, a professional qualification or at least three years of relevant experience
• Income of at least 200% of the minimum wage a month, which Spanish consulates put at €2,442 in 2026 (€1,221 over 14 payments), plus 75% (about €916) for the first family member and 25% (about €305) for each additional one
• Criminal record certificates for the last two years from every country of residence plus a signed declaration covering five, proof of an NIE (requested beforehand if you do not have one), and private health insurance unless a social security agreement already covers you

Thresholds change every year, so confirm the current figures with the consulate before applying.

Work visa for employees

Employees need a job offer first. The employer applies for the work authorisation, generally where the role is on Spain's shortage occupation list or no suitable candidate is available locally, and you then apply for the visa at the consulate in your country of residence with a signed contract, a medical certificate and a criminal record certificate. The EU Blue Card, highly qualified professional permits, intra-company transfers, researcher visas and seasonal work have their own rules, which are set out in work visa types, requirements and processes.

Self-employed and entrepreneur visas

Freelancers and business owners serving the Spanish market apply for the Self-Employed Visa, which needs a viable business plan and proof of the funds to start the business, and registering as self-employed in Spain covers the steps once it is approved. Founders of innovative projects may qualify for the Entrepreneur Visa instead, which needs a favourable report from ENISA, Spain's national innovation agency, and has no minimum investment. It is valid for one year from a consulate or up to three years from within Spain, renewable in two-year periods, and a spouse and minor children can join the applicant.

Student visa for studying in Spain 

Non-EU citizens who study in Spain for more than 90 days need a student visa, which can be extended within Spain and allows part-time work under certain conditions. Applicants provide an admission letter, proof of sufficient funds, a medical certificate, a criminal record certificate and full-coverage private health insurance.

Family reunification visa

Foreign residents who have lived legally in Spain for at least a year, and have applied for authorisation to stay at least one more, can bring close relatives to join them, according to the Ministry of Inclusion's guidance. The sponsor files the application in Spain and, once it is granted, the relatives apply for their visa at the consulate in their country. Eligible relatives are a spouse or partner over 18, children under 18 or adults who cannot provide for themselves because of a disability or health condition, and dependent parents over 65. The sponsor must show stable income of at least 150% of the IPREM a month for a family of two, plus 50% for each additional member, along with adequate housing and health insurance. Spouses or partners and working-age children can work without a separate permit.

Working holiday visa

Young people from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea can live and work in Spain for up to 12 months under bilateral youth mobility agreements, subject to annual quotas and an age limit of 30 (35 for Canadians). Applicants need proof of funds, health insurance and a return ticket or the means to buy one, cannot bring dependants, and cannot renew the visa. The UK does not currently have an agreement with Spain, and the eligible countries depend on the agreements in force, so check with the consulate.

Is the Golden Visa still available?

No. Spain abolished the Golden Visa, which granted residency to non-EU nationals investing €500,000 or more in property, in April 2025. Buying a home in Spain as a foreigner remains open to non-residents of any nationality, but property ownership no longer carries residency rights.

Arraigo: residence for people already living in Spain 

People already living in Spain without a valid permit may be able to regularise their situation through arraigo. Since Real Decreto 1155/2024 came into force on 20 May 2025 there are five types (social, sociolaboral, socioformativo, familiar and second chance), and the stay required for the first three fell from three years to two. Each has its own conditions, so legal advice is sensible, and obtaining residency in Spain explains how permits lead to long-term status.

Moving to Spain as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen 

Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland have freedom of movement and do not need a visa, but stays of more than three months involve two possible procedures.

Registration certificate (green certificate) 

EU citizens staying more than three months need a registration certificate, commonly known as the green certificate, as proof of their right to reside, and what the green certificate is and how to get one explains the process. You need a valid passport or ID, evidence of employment or sufficient funds, and public or private health insurance.

Family member residence card

Family members of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need this card for stays of more than three months. They provide a valid passport, proof of the family relationship and of sufficient funds, and the registration certificate of the EU citizen they are joining.

How to apply for a Spanish visa

Long-stay applications are normally filed at the Spanish consulate covering your place of residence, while the Digital Nomad and Entrepreneur routes can also be filed from within Spain. Documents issued abroad usually need an apostille and a sworn translation, and are accepted for a limited period after issue. Processing ranges from a few weeks to several months, so start well ahead of your move.

Some visas require an NIE before you apply, and the Digital Nomad Visa asks for proof that you already hold one. Once you are in Spain, permits lasting more than six months also require a TIE residence card, which you must request in person within a month of arriving or of the permit taking effect. The moving to Spain checklist sets out the remaining steps in order.