SPAIN: IMMIGRATION FOR FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS

SPAIN: ADVANTAGES

In view of your establishment in Spain under the “Non-Lucrative” visa and residency permit, you and your family members can enjoy a lot of benefits, such as:

1. 1. 1. Access to permanent residency status after living in Spain for only 5 years.
      2. Freedom of movement: With a Spanish residence permit, you will be able to enjoy the freedom of travelling to all the countries in the Schengen area. What’s more, as a Spanish resident, this gives you streamlined access to visa applications for other countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand or Britain.
      3. Health system: Spain has one of the finest health systems in the world, with top-quality hospitals and medical centres and highly trained professionals.
      4. Living costs and lifestyle: The cost of living in Spain is fairly low compared to other European countries, making it an exciting destination for those looking for an affordable lifestyle. Moreover, it is a country renowned for its healthy lifestyle, warm climate and world-famous culinary delights. It also boasts a thriving culture and a wide range of entertainment options.
      5. Rich and diverse Spanish culture: Each Spanish region has its own traditions and specialties, a unique cultural heritage, a wide range of museums, historic monuments and Michelin-starred restaurants.

SPAIN: REQUIREMENTS

The following are the main conditions outlined under the Non-Lucrative visa by Spanish immigration laws:

1. 1. 1. Justify sufficient financial means to cover all living expenses in Spain, without occupying professional activities in the country. The minimum required amount for the main applicant is equivalent to 400% of the annual Spain’s Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator (IPREM), which is roughly €28,000. To this amount must be added at least 100% of the IPREM for each family member equivalent to €7,000.
      2. Justification of regular and stable accommodation in Spain. You can either acquire or rent a property in Spain.
      3. Subscribe to a medical insurance that is valid for 12 months in Spain.
      4. Be in good health and justify it with a medical certificate confirming the absence of any contagious disease. The medical certificate will have to certify that you do not suffer from any illness likely to have serious repercussions on public health in accordance with the International Health Regulations of 2005.

SPAIN: DOCUMENTS

Below is a general list of documents to be prepared for an application for an immigration visa under the Non-Lucrative program in Spain. It is important to note that all documents issued in a foreign language will have to be officially translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. Some of the documents will also have to be legalised with the Apostille of The Hague. Kindly note, our team will be able to guide you during this step of the process by helping you compile the necessary documents according to your specific situation and legalise the documents according to the correct format.

1. 1. 1. International passport (copies of all pages of current and of previous passport with travel stamps and obtained visas).
      2. National passport or a national identification card.
      3. Birth certificate.
      4. Family booklet, marriage certificate or divorce certificate, according to your particular situation.
      5. Police certificate.
      6. Medical insurance valid in Spain that covers all health risks in the country for at least 12 months.
      7. Medical certificate attesting the good health of the applicant.
      8. Spanish NIE (Foreign Identity Number). The NIE is a unique personal number that the Spanish administration assigns to individuals who would like to establish themselves in Spain. It acts as an identification exclusively used for Spain and the NIE will remain the same on subsequent obtained residence permits in the country.
      9. Proof of financial means confirming the regular and guaranteed income.
      10. Bank certificate attesting the balance and bank statements covering the previous 6 months.
      11. Confirmation of accommodation in Spain, which can be justified by either a title deed in the case of a real estate acquisition or a rental agreement if you are a tenant of a property in Spain.
      12. Diploma(s) or obtained certificates.
      13. Tax assessment.

SPAIN: PROCESS

Below is a general description of a process that we tend to offer to our clients within the framework of an application for a visa in Spain, under the non-lucrative category. The process may be slightly different for you as it will depend on your personal situation or the new policy in place. Therefore, it is solely for your reference.  

1. 1. 1. The initial step of the process is to have a first meeting to provide you with useful information on the Spanish immigration program, its conditions and benefits. During this initial meeting, we will also evaluate your profile, offer you solutions according to your situation and your needs, and share valuable insights on other subjects. Whether it concerns education, the renewal of the residence permit or the exchange of the driving license, we would be glad to provide you with additional information and answer your questions.
      2. We will share with you a detailed checklist of documents that you will have to gather. Some of the documents will have to be legalised or notarised depending on the country that issued the document. Additionally, all documents that are issued in a foreign language will have to be translated into Spanish. During this step, we will guide you and review your documents to make sure the format of the documents is acceptable by the Spanish authorities. 
      3. We will assist you with the administrative procedures in Spain, which is the application and obtaining of a NIE (Foreigner Identity Number) and opening a bank account in Spain.
      4. If you decide to travel to Spain, we will be glad to welcome you during your stay and assist you with the procedure of renting or purchasing a property in Spain. If you are unable to travel to Spain, in this case we will be able to assist you with this process remotely by proxy.
      5. Once your documents are finalised and your file is complete, you will be able to submit an application for a long stay visa at the Spanish consular authorities in your country of residence or of citizenship. Our team will prepare you for the interview and will complete all of the the visa application forms.
      6. If your application is approved, a Spanish national visa will be issued. This visa will allow you to travel to Spain and proceed with the following procedures related to your residency. Our team will guide you in the application of a first residency permit at the immigration authorise in the city where you are settled. Your biometrics may be taken and the first residency card will be issued within up to 2 months.
      7. The first Spanish residence permit is valid for 1 year and the following two residence permits are valid for a period of 2 years each.
      8. After residing in Spain for 5 years, you can apply for a permanent status which is a 10-year residence permit.
      9. Finally, after living in Spain for 10 years, you can apply for Spanish citizenship by naturalisation. It should be noted that Spain does not recognise dual citizenship (but there is an exception for some nationals).

SPAIN: CITIZENSHIP

Spanish citizenship can be obtained through different ways, such as by birth, by descent from a Spanish citizen or by residence (which is called the process of naturalization). It is important to note that generally Spain does not permit dual citizenship. However, there are exceptions to this rule. The Spanish Government allows dual citizenship to nationals coming from countries with which Spain has special ties and that includes Latin-American countries (where Spanish or Portuguese is one of the country’s official languages), Andorra, Portugal, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Sephardic Jews.

1. Obtaining Spanish citizenship by descent, origin, and birth.

A child has the right to obtain the Spanish nationality in the following cases:

1. 1. If one of the two parents is a Spanish national.
   2. If both parents are foreigners, but at least one of them was born in Spain and the child also was born in Spain.
   3. If both parents are stateless or unknown.
   4. If the child is adopted by Spanish nationals before the attaining the age of 18.

2. Obtaining Spanish citizenship by providing justifications of the lineage of Sephardic Jews. 

Individuals descended from Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Spain during the 15th century can obtain Spanish citizenship.

3. Obtaining Spanish citizenship by a marriage with a Spanish national.

A foreigner that is married to a Spanish citizen can obtain the Spanish citizenship if:

1. 1. The couple has been married for at least 1 continuous year.
   2. The applicant is a widow and has not separated from the Spanish spouse at the time of the passing. The couple must have also been married for at least 1 year. 

4. Obtaining Spanish citizenship by naturalisation

Spanish citizenship can be obtained after a minimum 10 years in Spain. In order to be eligible for citizenship, you will have to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Spanish language and the culture of the country.

It is important to note that the 10-year residency for citizenship application by naturalisation can be lowered in the following exceptional cases:

1. 1. 5 years for refugees.
   2. 2 years for nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic Jewish origin.
   3. 1 year for individuals born in Spanish territory, people whose parents or grandparents were originally Spanish citizens, and widowed spouses of deceased of a Spanish citizen.

SPAIN: TESTIMONIAL I

A few of our clients kindly accepted to share their experience with regards to their immigration to Spain with the help of our collaborators:

“We are an American family who travels a lot. We decided to purchase a flat in Costa Brava for € 200,000. We always wanted to make a move and settle in Spain. Inimex helped us in the preparation of the visa application and also the residency application. They were very patient, provided us with assistance when we acquired a property and answered all our questions concerning the administrative steps. My family and I are really happy to live in Spain. We learned Spanish and we travel across Europe regularly. We really enjoy our new life in Spain and would like to thank Inimex for all their help. We had many worries, but their help relieved us and made the entire experience smooth and pleasant.”

SPAIN: TESTIMONIAL II

“My wife and I have two children and are from England. Considering our work allows us to work remotely, we could have a new start somewhere else. That’s why we took the chance to move to Spain. The cost of living is really affordable, and we enjoy the weather. At first, we were not sure that our children would be able to adapt to the new environment. We then did some research and found out that there are English schools in Spain. We were glad with these findings as they could learn Spanish while studying in English. We decided to rent an apartment in Spain for the first year and take this time to find a property to purchase. Although we could still use the help of Inimex for various questions we had, like the medical insurance, the school enrolment for the children, and the administrative steps. Their responsiveness, hard work and dedication were extremely appreciated and knew we could make the best decisions with their help. The Spanish people are really friendly, and their welcoming was very warm toward us. We are so very much pleased to be living in Spain.”

SPAIN: OUR SERVICES

1. 1. 1. Application for an immigration visa and a residence permit for financially independent applicants (Non-Lucrative) in Spain.
      2. Application for an immigration visa and a residence permit for investors (Golden visa) in Spain.
      3. Application for an immigration visa and a residence permit for Digital Nomads in Spain.
      4. Application for renewal of the residence permit and or change of status.
      5. Application for a permanent residency in Spain.
      6. Submission of the citizenship application in Spain.
      7. Official translation of documents into Spanish, legalisation of documents and interpreter services.  
      8. Opening a bank account for residents and non-resident in Spain. We work with various financial institutions such as Banco Santander, BBVA, Banco Sabadell, and CaixaBank. 
      9. Application for a N.I.E in Spain (Foreign Identity Number).
      10. Assistance in renting or acquiring a property in Spain. After evaluating your needs, we will help you move forward with your real estate transaction and review your documents.