Application files by route

Your route

• Non-lucrative residence: you live in Spain on your own funds and do not work.
• Digital nomad visa: you work remotely for non-Spanish companies or clients.
• Work permit: an employer in Spain hires you from abroad.
• Student residence: you study full-time for more than 90 days.
• Entrepreneur and self-employed: you start a business or work for yourself.
• Working holiday, youth mobility and language assistant: a short programme visa.

The steps for each route

Non-lucrative residence

1. Order your criminal record and medical certificates; each is valid for 3 months from issue. Get them apostilled or legalised and translated into Spanish.
2. Take out private health insurance with no copayments, no deductibles and no waiting periods.
3. Gather proof of funds (€28,800 a year, plus €7,200 for each dependant), proof of accommodation and the signed declaration that you will not work.
4. Lodge the file at the Spanish consulate that covers where you live. You pay the €80 visa fee and the €73.78 residence fee (modelo 790 code 038).

Digital nomad visa

1. Gather contracts, invoices or payment records that show a work relationship with the foreign company or clients of at least 3 months. Work for Spanish clients stays at 20% or less of your total activity.
2. Gather proof of your degree, qualification or 3 years of professional experience.
3. Show monthly income of 200% of the monthly minimum salary (€2,849 in 2026).
4. File online with the Large Business Unit if you are lawfully in Spain, or at the consulate if you are abroad. The decision takes 20 working days from admission of the file.

Work permit

1. Your employer files the work and residence authorisation in Spain (form EX-03). The immigration office has 3 months to decide.
2. Within 1 month of the grant, you apply for the visa at the consulate with your personal papers.
3. Enter Spain within the visa's validity.

Student residence

1. Get your admission from an authorised centre.
2. Prepare proof of means, health insurance and your certificates.
3. Apply at the consulate that covers your country of residence, before you travel.
4. To extend, file inside Spain during the 60 days before your stay expires, or up to 90 days after.

Entrepreneur and self-employed

1. Write the business plan (entrepreneur route) or gather your qualifications and licences (self-employed route).
2. On the entrepreneur route, request the favourable report from the Large Business Unit and wait for it: it takes 20 working days, and you need it before you apply.
3. Apply at the consulate or, on the entrepreneur route when you are in Spain, with the unit.

Working holiday, youth mobility and language assistant

1. Working holiday and youth mobility: check that your country has an agreement with Spain, then apply at the consulate before you travel.
2. Language assistant: accept your placement, wait for the placement letter, then apply at the consulate with it.

After you arrive

On every route that gives you residence, apply for the TIE within one month of entering Spain. The card fee is €16.40, paid with modelo 790 code 012.

Documents for every route

• National visa application form: every route.
• Valid passport and a passport photo: every route.
• Visa fee (€80): every route.
• Criminal record certificate, valid for 3 months from issue: non-lucrative, digital nomad, work permit, entrepreneur and self-employed, working holiday, youth mobility, language assistant, and student when the stay is longer than 6 months.
• Medical certificate, valid for 3 months from issue: non-lucrative, work permit, entrepreneur and self-employed, working holiday, youth mobility, language assistant, and student when the stay is longer than 6 months.
• Health insurance valid in Spain: non-lucrative, digital nomad, student, working holiday, youth mobility and language assistant.
• Proof of funds or income: non-lucrative, digital nomad, student, entrepreneur and self-employed, working holiday and youth mobility; language assistant when the consulate asks.
• Proof of accommodation and the signed no-work declaration: non-lucrative.
• Proof of qualification or experience: digital nomad, entrepreneur and self-employed, and work permit when the job requires it.
• Proof of the work relationship with foreign clients (contracts, invoices): digital nomad.
• Signed employment contract or job offer, and the copy of the granted authorisation: work permit.
• Admission letter or enrolment certificate: student.
• Business plan and the favourable report on it: entrepreneur.
• Licences or proof they are being processed: self-employed.
• Return ticket or the means to buy one: working holiday and youth mobility.
• Placement letter and proof of your degree or enrolment: language assistant.