How to Get a Spanish Residence Visa: Your 3-Step Guide

Dreaming of moving to Spain? Whether you're looking to retire in a picturesque town, or work remotely from a vibrant city like Barcelona, navigating the Spanish visa process is the first step to making your dream of moving to Spain from the US a reality.

This guide will walk you through the essential steps of the Spanish visa application process. It might seem daunting, but don't worry—I’m here to guide you through it.

Step 1: Understand Your Spanish Visa Options

Step 2: Gather the Required Spanish Visa Paperwork

Step 3: Prepare to Submit Your Spanish Visa Application

Step 1: Understand Your Spanish Visa Options

To move to Spain from the United States, you must obtain a Spanish visa. Fortunately, there are a variety of visa types for Americans wishing to move to Spain. So how do you determine which one is right for your situation? Here are some questions to consider:

• Do you work for a non-Spanish company or clients?

• Do you plan to start a business in Spain?

• Do you have money to invest in Spain?

• Are you retired or not planning to work while in Spain?

• Are you planning to be a full-time student in Spain?

Your responses to the above questions will help you decide which visa may be most appropriate. There are visas for retirees, remote workers, students, and beyond.

Here is a brief overview of common Spanish visa types, who they’re suited for, and the basic visa requirements. I’ve listed the more common Spanish visa options first so you can quickly identify the ones most likely to apply to your situation

Visa Type	Who It's Suited For	Eligibility Criteria
Digital Nomad Visa (aka Telework Visa)	Remote workers and freelancers who wish to live in Spain while working for foreign clients or employers.	Must work for a company based outside of Spain or have foreign clients as a freelancer. Must provide proof of remote work, such as a contract with a company, or evidence of a freelance career, such as client contracts or business ownership. Must show sufficient financial means to support yourself while in Spain, with the minimum amount currently around €2,400 per month for a single applicant.
Non-Lucrative Visa (aka Non-Working Visa)	Retirees, expats, or individuals with independent financial means who wish to live in Spain without engaging in employment or business activities.	Must not engage in any professional or lucrative activities while in Spain. Must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support yourself without working. The minimum required is approximately €2,400 per month, with additional amounts needed for each dependent. Private health insurance coverage from a Spanish provider is mandatory.
Student Visa	Those who wish to study, conduct research, or complete internships at a recognized institution in Spain.	Must be accepted into a Spanish institution (university, language school, internship, or research center) for a program lasting more than 90 days. Must demonstrate sufficient financial means to support yourself during your stay. Need health insurance that covers your time in Spain.
[NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS OF APRIL 2025] Golden Visa (aka Investor Visa)	Individuals looking to invest in Spain and gain residency.	No longer available as of April 2025
Entrepreneur Visa	Those who want to start an innovative business in Spain. It is designed to encourage entrepreneurial investment and economic growth.	Business must be considered innovative and contribute to the Spanish economy. Must have a solid business plan, including financial forecasts Business idea must be approved by the Spanish Economic and Trade Office. Need to show financial means to support yourself and to launch your business.
Work Visa	Individuals who have secured employment with a Spanish employer and plan to live in Spain while working.	Must have a job offer from a Spanish employer. Your employer must prove that the position could not be filled by an EU/EEA citizen. Must have the necessary qualifications for the job.

The information above is based on the most recently available information as of September 2024.

Visa options and eligibility criteria can and do change. Always consult the Spanish Consulate website for the latest information.

And consider consulting a Spanish immigration attorney. They can help you determine the best visa for your situation, inform you of possible changes, and advise you throughout the visa application process.

Step 2 - Gather the Required Spanish Visa Paperwork

Once you have determined the type of Spanish visa you wish to apply for, you will need to gather the required visa paperwork. Here are some common documents you may need to prepare:

• Proof of income or financial means

• Proof of accommodation

• Proof of health insurance

• Proof of qualifications, such as diplomas, certificates, or professional licenses

• Medical certificate

• Criminal background check

• Passport

To determine the specific requirements for the visa you are applying for, visit the Spanish consulate website for your jurisdiction.

You can only submit your visa application to the Spanish consulate for your area of the United States.

Here are the links to the consular services pages for Spanish consulates in the US:

If You Live in:	Your Spanish Consulate is Located in:	Link to Visa Requirements &Instructions:
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont	Boston	Consular Services - Consulate of Spain in Boston
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin	Chicago	Consular Services - Consulate of Spain in Chicago
Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas	Houston	Consular Services - Consulate of Spain in Houston
Arizona, Colorado, Utah, or any of the following California counties: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura	Los Angeles	Consular Services - Consulate of Spain in Los Angeles
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina	Miami	Consular Services - Consulate of Spain in Miami
New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey	New York	Consular Services - Consulate of Spain in New York
Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, or any of the following California counties: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Buttle, Calaveras, Colusa, Contracosta, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humbboldt, Inyo, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehema, Trinity, Tulare, Toulumne, Yolo, Yuba	San Francisco	Consular Services - Consulate of Spain in San Francisco
Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia​, West Virginia, North Carolina	Washington DC	Consular Services - Consular Section of the Embassy of Spain in Washington DC

Step 3: Prepare to Submit Your Spanish Visa Application

After gathering the necessary documents, you will need to get some of those documents apostilled, and/or translated. This is where things can get a little confusing so let me break it down.

Apostille Requirements for Your Spanish Visa Application

An apostille is a special stamp or certificate that is added to documents that are sent abroad.

It verifies the document's authenticity and confirms the signature or seal is from an official authority in the issuing country.

Obtaining an apostille follows the Hague Convention, which simplifies the certification of documents between member countries. The US and Spain are part of this agreement.

With an apostille, the receiving country knows the document is legitimate without needing any additional certification. 

Apostilles are typically used for documents issued by public or government institutions when these documents need to be recognized in a foreign country.

Depending on the type of document, the apostille will be processed at the federal or state level.

State vs Federal Apostille

Apostille Type	What It Is	Examples of Visa Documents Requiring a Federal vs State Apostille
FEDERAL apostille	Issued by the US Department of State Required for documents originating from federal agencies	FBI Criminal Background Check
STATE apostille	Provided by the state's Secretary of State  Used for documents that originate from state or local authorities.	Birth and marriage certificates Diplomas, transcripts, and academic records  Notarized documents

You can submit your documents directly to the US Department of State for federal apostilles or your state’s Secretary of State for state apostilles. However, many people prefer to use a third-party apostille service to facilitate the process. 

Translation Requirements for Your Spanish Visa Application

In addition to having certain documents apostilled, some documents must be translated into Spanish. But be advised:

You cannot translate your visa documents using a tool like Google Translate or ask a friend or family member who knows Spanish.

You must use an authorized translator.

In most cases, you are required to use a sworn translator, authorized by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In other cases, you may be able to use what is known as a certified translator. It's important to check your Spanish consulate’s website to understand the specific requirements.

Sworn vs Certified Spanish Translators

Sworn Translators	Certified Translators
Officially authorized by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide legally valid translations Affix their signature and official stamp to confirm that the translation is accurate  Many Spanish consulates require the translation of visa application documents to be conducted by a sworn translator	Recognized as translation professionals but do not hold the same legal status in Spain Certified translations may be accepted in certain instances. A recent review of consulate websites indicates that some locations do accept certified translations for certain documents. Always check your local consulate website!

Submitting Your Spanish Visa Application

Once you’ve jumped through the last few hoops and reviewed your application for accuracy, you’re ready to submit your visa application!  Remember: 

Be sure to check your local Spanish consulate’s website for specific instructions on how to submit your application.

Instructions can and do vary from one consulate to another.

Once you’ve submitted your visa application, pat yourself on the back. You did it! It’s no small feat to pull everything together and you are well on your way to your new life in Spain!

Visa processing times depend on the consulate location and time of year. So expect to wait anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months. Your specific consulate may provide expected processing times on their website. Stay tuned for a future blog post on how to use that time effectively to prepare for your move!

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I hope this blog post gives you a better understanding of the Spanish visa application process. While the process may seem complex, many Americans successfully navigate these steps every year, and you can too!

If you have questions about any of the information I provided, please get in touch or drop a note in the comments section below. And if you are ready to move forward with your dream of moving to Spain and would like practical and insightful guidance, book a free intro call with me today.

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Elizabeth Pinkerton resides in Barcelona, Spain. She is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and called the San Francisco Bay Area home for most of her life before moving to Spain. She is CEO of VidaNova Barcelona which provides expat advice and guidance for Americans moving to Spain.