Compare all six major visa paths to Spain. Find the right option for remote workers, retirees, students, investors, and families. Get expert guidance on which visa suits your situation.
Quick overview of all major visa types to help you compare eligibility, work rights, and costs at a glance.
| Visa Type | Who It's For | Can You Work? | Min Income/Investment | Duration | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad (DNV) | Remote workers, freelancers | Yes (remote work only) | €2,849/month | 3 years | Medium |
| Non-Lucrative (NLV) | Retirees, passive income | No work allowed | ~€2,400/month passive | 1 year | Medium |
| Student Visa | Language, university, vocational | Yes (30 hrs/week max) | ~€600–800/month | Course duration | Easy |
| Work Visa | Hired by Spanish company | Yes (Spanish employer) | Salary-based | 1-2 years | Hard |
| Family Reunification | Family of residents | Depends | Sponsor-based | Matches sponsor | Medium |
Spain's newest visa option, perfect for remote workers earning a stable income abroad.
The Digital Nomad Visa has become one of Spain's most popular visa options. If you work remotely for a foreign company or clients, this is likely the best path for you. You maintain your existing income stream while gaining full residency rights in Spain.
With a minimum monthly income of €2,850, the DNV grants you a 3-year residency permit with full work rights for remote activities. Spain also applies the Beckham Law, allowing you to benefit from a flat 24% tax rate on Spanish-sourced income for your first few years. This makes the financial benefits particularly attractive for remote earners.
Who should choose this visa? Remote workers, freelancers, digital entrepreneurs, and anyone whose income comes from foreign clients or companies. If you earn €2,850+ monthly from outside Spain and work via computer, this is your fastest route to Spanish residency.
DNV Processing: My Spanish Visa handles Digital Nomad Visa applications starting at €1,899 for new applications (3 payments of €633 each), with renewals at €999. We use the accelerated UGE route for faster approvals.
Learn more about DNV requirements and eligibility or view full requirements checklist.
Designed for retirees and those with passive income who want to live in Spain without working.
The Non-Lucrative Visa is Spain's classic long-term residency option for people with passive income sources. Retirees, those receiving pensions, or individuals with investment income use this visa to establish Spanish residency without needing a job.
You'll need to demonstrate €2,400 in monthly passive income (pensions, investments, rental income, etc.). The NLV grants a 1-year renewable visa, and there's no work allowed on this visa type—the whole point is to live off your existing wealth, not to earn money in Spain.
Who should choose this visa? Retirees with stable pension income, people with investment earnings, those receiving royalties, or anyone with passive income of €2,400+ per month. Unlike DNV, there's no Beckham Law benefit, but NLV is simpler if you're not working anyway.
NLV Support: My Spanish Visa handles NLV applications with expert income verification and documentation. We help prove your passive income sources and manage the renewal process.
The most affordable way to move to Spain and establish residency while studying.
Spain's Student Visa is perfect for those wanting to learn Spanish, pursue university degrees, or complete vocational training. With a minimum monthly income requirement of just €600, it's one of the most accessible visa options. Many people use student visas as a stepping stone to longer-term residency.
You can work while studying — up to 30 hours per week. This work right is automatic with the visa; no separate permit is needed. It makes it financially feasible to offset a significant portion of your living costs alongside your studies. After completing your programme, you can transition to a work visa or other residence options.
Who should choose this visa? Language learners wanting to study Spanish in Spain, university students, vocational trainees, or anyone looking for an affordable entry into Spanish residency while gaining education or skills.
For those with job offers from Spanish companies.
A Work Visa is for people hired by Spanish employers. Unlike the Digital Nomad Visa, you cannot work remotely for foreign companies—you must have a Spanish employer sponsoring your visa.
The process is more complex because your employer must prove they couldn't find a suitable EU candidate for the role. This makes Work Visas harder to obtain, but if you have a job offer from a Spanish company, it's your only direct path to employment-based residency.
Who should choose this? People with confirmed job offers from Spanish companies. If you're seeking remote work, the Digital Nomad Visa is usually a better option.
Join a spouse, partner, or family member already living in Spain.
Family Reunification allows spouses, children, and other family members to join someone who already has Spanish residency or citizenship. Your "sponsor" (the family member already in Spain) must demonstrate sufficient income and housing to support you.
Work rights depend on your relationship and the sponsor's visa type. If your spouse has a DNV, you may also qualify for DNV. If they're a Spanish citizen or permanent resident, you gain full work rights.
Who should choose this? Spouses and families of people already living in Spain. If no family member is in Spain yet, you'll need to start with a different visa and then bring family over.
Use this simple decision tree to narrow down your best option.
Still unsure? Take our free visa eligibility check to get a personalized recommendation based on your situation, income, and goals.
These are Spain's most popular long-term visas. Here's how they compare.
Key difference: DNV is for active remote workers; NLV is for those living off passive income. If you work remotely, DNV is almost always better due to the Beckham Law tax benefit. See detailed DNV vs. NLV comparison.
Understanding Schengen area restrictions and why you need a visa.
The Schengen Area's 90/180 rule allows visitors to stay in the zone for 90 days within a rolling 180-day period without a visa. However, Spain is a Schengen country, and if you want to stay longer than 90 days, you need an appropriate residence visa.
You can spend 90 days in any Schengen country (including Spain) within 180 rolling days as a tourist. After 90 days, you must leave and cannot return to Schengen for another 90 days.
Example: If you enter Spain on January 1, you have until March 31 to stay (90 days). After leaving, you cannot return to any Schengen country for 90 days.
Why get a visa then? Because tourists overstaying the 90-day limit face fines, deportation, and future visa denials. A residence visa lets you legally stay and work in Spain indefinitely (subject to renewals).
Important: Overstaying the 90-day tourist limit in Schengen can result in €600+ fines, deportation, entry bans for 5+ years, and rejection of future visa applications. Always get a proper residence visa if you plan to stay beyond 90 days.
This is why even affordable visas like the Student Visa (€600/month requirement) are worth pursuing if you plan any extended stay in Spain.
Our visa experts can review your specific situation and recommend the best path forward. Get a personalized recommendation in one consultation.
Answers to the most common questions about moving to Spain.
The Student Visa is technically the most accessible (lowest income requirement at ~€600–800/month) but requires active enrolment in an accredited Spanish institution. For non-students, the Digital Nomad Visa and Non-Lucrative Visa are both rated medium difficulty and are the most practical routes for remote workers and retirees respectively.
You can visit Spain without a visa for 90 days (Schengen 90/180 rule). However, you cannot legally live or work in Spain beyond 90 days without a residence visa. Overstaying results in fines (€600+), deportation, and future visa denials. For any stay longer than 90 days, you need an appropriate visa.
Several visas allow work: Digital Nomad Visa (remote work for non-Spanish employers or clients), Work Visa (Spanish employer sponsorship), Student Visa (up to 30 hours/week alongside studies — automatic, no separate permit needed), and Family Reunification (depends on the sponsor's visa type). The DNV is most popular for remote workers; the Work Visa for those hired locally. The NLV does not allow any work in Spain.
The Student Visa requires the lowest funds (~€600–800/month), but you must be enrolled at an accredited institution. For non-students, the Non-Lucrative Visa (~€2,400/month) has a lower income threshold than the DNV (€2,849/month), but offers no work rights. My Spanish Visa’s all-in service fees: NLV €1,499, DNV €1,899, Student Visa €799 — all paid in staged milestones, translations included.
Yes, you can generally switch visa types if you qualify for another. For example, you might start on a Student Visa and then apply for a Work Visa or DNV once you're employed. However, switching is sometimes administratively complex. It's often easier to renew your current visa type or wait until renewal to change. Consult with an immigration expert for your specific situation.
No. EU/EEA citizens have freedom of movement and can live and work in Spain without a visa. You still need to register with Spanish authorities (padron, NIE number), but formal visa applications don't apply. UK citizens post-Brexit must follow the same rules as non-EU citizens and need a visa for stays over 90 days.
Processing times vary by visa and consulate. DNV via the UGE route (within Spain) takes approximately 20 working days. Standard consulate DNV takes 1–3 months. NLV typically takes 1–3 months. Student Visa takes 4–8 weeks depending on consulate. Work Visa takes 2–4 months. Delays can occur during peak periods or if documents are incomplete. My Spanish Visa uses the UGE route for DNV where possible.
Yes, in most cases. Spouses and children can typically apply for visas once you establish residency. Under Family Reunification, your spouse and dependent children can join you if you meet income and housing requirements. Some visa types (like DNV) explicitly allow family members. Regulations vary—check with Spanish immigration or consult an expert for your specific situation.
All paths to permanent residency require 5 years of continuous residence as a legal resident. DNV (3-year grants) is the fastest in that it extends further before renewal. NLV requires annual renewals but still leads to permanent residency after 5 years. Work and Family Reunification visas follow the same 5-year timeline. Once you have 5 years, you can apply for indefinite residency.
If you don’t yet meet income requirements, consider: (1) Increasing passive income or savings to reach the NLV threshold (~€2,400/month), (2) Securing a job offer from a Spanish employer (Work Visa route), (3) Enrolling in an accredited course to qualify for the Student Visa, or (4) Joining a family member already legally resident in Spain. You can also visit under the 90-day Schengen rule while working toward eligibility. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.
Yes. You can apply to modify your residence authorisation from within Spain before your current visa expires. Common switches include NLV to Digital Nomad Visa (if you start remote work), student visa to NLV or work permit, and so on. The key requirement is being in valid legal status when you apply.
For EU citizens, no visa is needed — simply register as a resident. For non-EU nationals, the 'easiest' depends on your situation. The Non-Lucrative Visa has clear financial requirements without employer sponsorship. The Digital Nomad Visa requires documented remote work. The student visa has lower financial thresholds but requires genuine course enrolment.
The Digital Nomad Visa allows remote work for foreign employers or clients. Standard work permits (autorización de trabajo) require a Spanish employer sponsor. Self-employed workers can register as autónomo under the DNV. The Non-Lucrative Visa explicitly prohibits any form of work.
Five years of continuous legal residence qualify you for permanent residency. This time accumulates regardless of the visa type — NLV, DNV, student visa, work permit — as long as each period is legal and continuous. After 10 years (or less for some nationalities), Spanish citizenship is possible.
Yes. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens have an automatic right to live and retire in Spain without a visa. You must register on the Central Foreigners Register (Registro Central de Extranjeros) within three months of arrival. No income requirements apply, though you will need health insurance or social security coverage.
UK State Pension payments continue to be paid overseas including in Spain, usually by direct bank transfer. You can claim your pension while living in Spain. The S1 form from the DWP may entitle you to Spanish public healthcare at the UK's cost. Triple lock pension increases may not apply — check with DWP for current rules on pension uprating for overseas residents.
If you access public healthcare (via social security, S1 form, or EU health card), you register with a local GP (médico de cabecera) at your nearest centro de salud. For private healthcare, contact your insurer's network of doctors. NLV holders rely entirely on private insurance so register directly with a private GP or specialist.
Dive deeper into specific visa types and requirements.
Let our visa experts guide you through the process. From eligibility assessment to application submission, we handle the complexity.
My Spanish Visa Pricing: Digital Nomad Visa from €1,899 (3 payments of €633) | Renewals €999 | NLV & Student Visa also available
