To have permission for an extended stay in Spain, one of the most attractive places in Europe, foreigners need to obtain resident status. Registration and obtaining this status are serious and a resource-intensive procedure. What is the difference between residence and citizenship or visa? What information do residence permit applicants need to know? How to get Spanish citizenship? These are the subtleties and nuances of the legal relocation to the Southern state.
Content:
- What does “resident of Spain” mean?
- What is the difference between residence and citizenship or visa?
- How to acquire a residence in Spain?
- Who has the right to obtain a residency?
- How to become a Spanish citizen?
- Documents for acquiring a residency permit in Spain
- Benefits of legal status
- Renewal of a residency card
- Can I lose the residence permit?
- We will help you buy property in Spain
What does “resident of Spain” mean?
Foreign citizens need to acquire resident status or a Spanish residence permit to stay in the country longer than 90 days legally. Resident status refers to a legal status that grants foreigners official rights.
What is the difference between residence and citizenship or visa?
A residence permit is a temporary option to live in the country. It must be renewed. After staying in the country long-term, you should be able to apply for Spanish citizenship. A visa is a document that allows a foreigner to enter a state’s territory.
How to acquire a residence in Spain?
The Government pursues a policy aimed at attracting foreigners to the country. This is why there are different legalization methods, including investments in real estate.
Foreign citizens should get permission from the Office of Foreigners. To do so, you need a residency card and a foreigner’s identification number (NIE). You will need to prepare the required set of documents as well. It may take some time, but it is worth it.
Who has the right to obtain a residency?
- Foreign nationals who establish their businesses in the state.
- Highly skilled foreign professionals.
- Foreigners who wish to live in the state should have a steady source of income abroad and should not aim for jobs.
- An adult or a child enrolled in one of the educational institutions.
- Spouses or family members of local citizens or other EU countries.
- Descendants of Spanish citizens.
- Family members of a foreigner with permission to stay.
- Refugees.
- Foreign nationals who have lived in the country without any legal arrangements over several years.
- Investors.
How to become a Spanish citizen?
To become a citizen, you need to get a residence permit first. Five years later, you can request permanent residency status, equivalent to citizenship.
Documents for acquiring a residency permit in Spain
Documents required for this special status are the following:
- a current passport (or a certified copy of one), it should be valid within the last 10 years;
- an application containing all the required information (the original and three copies);
- 3 photos;
- a certificate stating that you have no criminal record;
- bank statement;
- documents about real estate in Spain (for investors). These papers should contain information on the right of ownership and taxes of the Land Registry in accordance with the purchased property;
- medical insurance from an authorized Spanish institution;
- offer of a contract of employment (for contracted specialists);
- business plan (for starting one's own business);
- program (for students);
- a clean bill of health (a medical certificate that confirms you do not have any disease or infection that poses risks to the public health);
- notarized and translated copies of all documents.
The process of obtaining this status takes several months.
Benefits of legal status
There are plenty of benefits after receiving a residency permit. The permission allows you to:
- stay permanently in the state without the need to cross its borders every 90 days;
- open bank accounts;
- use credit services;
- travel freely within the Schengen zone of countries;
- request Spanish citizenship;
- obtain permission to stay and work for other family members;
- enjoy high-quality health care.
Renewal of a residency card
The residency card does not have an extended validity period. It is issued for one year. After that, it can be renewed twice for two years.
Then, after five years, an immigrant can request a permanent permit to live in the state.
Can I lose the residence permit?
You can lose it if you cannot provide proof of your investments. For example, if you put your property on sale or liquidate your investment.
Investor residence in Spain
Can you get Spanish citizenship by buying a property?
You won’t automatically obtain citizenship after buying an apartment in Spain. The Investor visa is a document granted to non-EU citizens who have made considerable investments in the state, such as purchasing real estate, investing in a company, or creating job opportunities and open offers. However, the Spanish Law on Entrepreneurs on September 27, 2013, provides the Investor visa with several advantages:
- granting work permission;
- registration of a residency permit for the whole family;
You can include the following family members as well:
- Your significant other;
- Your children (unmarried and minor - under 18) or any dependent adult children;
- Elderly dependent parents.
- no need for initial investment;
- free travel in Schengen countries;
- no need to personally request a visa.
You can apply for an investor visa in Spain using the following investments:
- investing in the country's public debt;
- investing in bank deposits or stock in Spanish companies;
- purchasing real estate with a starting price of €500,000. It can be a single unit or multiple units with a total cost of €500,000. In addition, you cannot use a mortgage to pay off a transaction in this case;
- doing business projects.
We will help you buy property in Spain
In the Spain-Real.Estate directory, you can find the best offers among houses in Spain. Our specialists will select the most suitable housing, organize full support at all stages of a real estate purchase and sale transaction, advise on all issues of interest, and assist in obtaining a residency permit and citizenship in the country. Trust the professionals!
