Eligibility and route selection
Helps you find the Spanish residence route you qualify for.
Find the residence route you can actually use: the route map, each route's eligibility and limits, and how nationality and household shape the choice. Filing mechanics belong to applications.
- topics
- 11
- articles
- 64
- of reading
- 5.2 hours
Begin with
Route map and first choices
You leave with a short list of Spanish routes that fit your passport and situation, and know which ones to read next.
The map of Spanish residence routes and where to start · Do you need a visa for Spain? What your passport changes · Retiree, remote worker, employee or student, which route is yours?
More in eligibility and route selection
10 more topics in this section, about 5.2 hours of reading in all.
Short stays and Schengen limits
You can count your days correctly, know what a short stay allows, and avoid the myths that lead to overstay.
How the Schengen 90 in 180 days rule works in Spain · What you can and cannot do on a tourist stay in Spain · Can you extend a short stay or reset the clock by leaving?
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
You know which free-movement category you fall under, what you must be able to show, and where the rules are lighter or stricter than for visa routes.
What EU citizens must do to live in Spain legally · Working, self-employed or studying in Spain as an EU citizen · Retired or not working, funds and health cover for EU citizens
Non-lucrative residence
You can tell whether you qualify, how the money is counted, what you may not do, and whether this is the right route.
Do you qualify for the non-lucrative residence visa (residencia no lucrativa)? · How Spain counts your money for the non-lucrative visa · Applying for non-lucrative residence as a couple or family
Digital nomad residence
You can tell whether you meet the route's tests, how your work setup counts, and how to choose where to file.
Spain's digital nomad residence route, who qualifies and what it allows · Do you meet the nomad route's qualification and experience test? · How much of your work can be for Spanish clients?
Employer-sponsored work permits
You understand which permit an employer is likely to file, what they must prove and whether your occupation or salary helps.
How an employer sponsors a Spanish work permit · What your employer has to prove for a Spanish work permit · Spain's labour-market test and shortage occupations
Self-employment and entrepreneur routes
You can tell which self-employed route fits your business, what reviewers want to see and how plausible approval is.
Autónomo, entrepreneur or digital nomad, which self-employed route is yours? · Moving to Spain to work for yourself, the self-employment permit · Proving investment and qualifications for Spain's self-employment permit
Student residence route
You know whether your programme qualifies, what the authorisation lets you do and what happens after you finish.
Who qualifies for Spanish student residence (estancia por estudios)? · Which programmes qualify for student residence in Spain · Working while you study in Spain and the 30-hour limit
Working holiday and language assistant routes
You know whether you are eligible for a youth or programme route and how it compares with a student or work route.
Working holiday visa for Spain, which nationalities and ages qualify · What a Spanish working holiday visa lets you do · Becoming a language assistant (auxiliar de conversación) in Spain
Asylum and temporary protection
You understand who can apply for protection, what rights you have, how long temporary protection lasts and what may follow.
How asylum works in Spain and who can apply · Your rights while an asylum claim is pending in Spain · Temporary protection in Spain, who qualifies and how long it lasts
The end of the golden visa
You know exactly what happened to the golden visa, what it means for you and which routes still fit an investor.
Spain's golden visa has ended, what changed · Applied or invested before the repeal, how the transition rules work · Does buying property in Spain get you residency?
Other sections in Immigration and residency
Applications and evidence
Helps you assemble and file a complete residence application.
Status, cards, and renewals
Helps you get the residence card and keep status valid after approval.
Partners, dependents, and family routes
Helps you secure status for partners, children and relatives.
Permanent residence and citizenship
Helps you progress to long-term residence and Spanish citizenship.
Mistakes, gaps, and dead ends
Helps you avoid or recover from immigration status failures.
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.