We Handle Your Spanish Residence Permit, Start to Finish
A practical map of every residence route available to US and UK citizens relocating to Spain — from remote-work visas to permanent residency and citizenship.
We assess your situation, identify the correct visa category, prepare and review every document, and coordinate directly with licensed gestores and immigration lawyers on your file — from initial eligibility check through card collection.
Overview
Spain offers distinct residence pathways depending on why you're moving and what you'll be doing once you arrive. Remote employees and freelancers working for companies outside Spain typically look at the Digital Nomad Visa. Retirees and financially independent movers who won't work in Spain use the Non-Lucrative Visa. Founders building a company from scratch apply through the Startup Visa, while those relocating an existing business or opening a Spanish branch use the Entrepreneur Visa route. Students enrolling in a Spanish university or language program need a Student Visa, and family members of an existing resident apply under Family Reunification.
Since Brexit, UK citizens are treated as non-EU nationals for all Spanish immigration purposes — the same visa categories apply to US and UK applicants, though the underlying documentation, tax treaties, and healthcare arrangements differ. Both nationalities need a long-stay national visa (not a Schengen tourist visa) before relocating, and both face annual renewal cycles, minimum-stay rules, and eventual paths to permanent residency after five years and citizenship after ten.
The pages below cover each route in detail: eligibility, required documentation, application steps, government fees, and processing timelines. Every page is written as general information, not legal advice — immigration rules change and individual circumstances vary, so we recommend a consultation before you file anything.
Residence & Visa Routes
Digital Nomad Visa
For remote employees and freelancers working for non-Spanish companies. Live in Spain while earning income abroad, with a reduced-tax option available.
Non-Lucrative Visa
For retirees and financially independent applicants who won't work in Spain. Requires proof of sufficient passive income or savings.
Startup Visa
For founders launching an innovative, scalable business in Spain, subject to ENISA certification under the Startups Law.
Student Visa
For applicants enrolled in a Spanish university, language school, or vocational program lasting more than 90 days.
Entrepreneur Visa
For business owners converting an Investor's Edition (IE) or relocating an established company's operations to Spain.
Family Reunification
For spouses, partners, children, and dependent relatives of a resident already living legally in Spain.
Permit Renewal & Extension
Deadlines, required evidence, and common pitfalls when extending a residence card before it expires.
Permanent Residency
How five years of continuous legal residence converts into long-term residency with no renewal requirement.
Spanish Citizenship
Naturalization timelines, language and culture exams, and the dual-citizenship question for US and UK nationals.
Why Spain Relocation
We work exclusively with US and UK clients relocating to Spain, which means our team understands the specific friction points each nationality runs into — US worldwide taxation and FATCA reporting on one side, post-Brexit Schengen limits and pension transfers on the other. We prepare and review documentation, coordinate with licensed gestores and immigration lawyers, and track your application from initial eligibility assessment through to card collection. We are an independent consulting firm; we are not a government body, embassy, or consulate, and we do not issue visas or residence permits ourselves — those decisions rest solely with Spanish immigration authorities.
FAQ
Which Spain visa is right for me?
It depends on your income source and intent. If you'll keep working remotely for a non-Spanish employer or client base, the Digital Nomad Visa usually fits best. If you're retired or living off savings and investments with no plan to work, the Non-Lucrative Visa is the standard route. Founders building a new company look at the Startup Visa, while those relocating an existing business use the Entrepreneur Visa. A short consultation is normally enough to identify the correct category.
Do I need a visa before I arrive, or can I apply once I'm in Spain?
Most routes require a long-stay national visa issued by a Spanish consulate in your home country before you travel. A smaller number of permits — including some entrepreneur and family reunification cases — can be filed directly in Spain if you're already legally present. We confirm the correct route during the initial assessment.
USDoes a Spanish residence permit affect my US tax filing obligations?
No — becoming a Spanish tax resident does not remove your US filing obligations. The United States taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live, so you'll typically continue filing a US return and may need to report foreign accounts under FBAR and FATCA rules. See our Tax Residency in Spain page for how the US-Spain tax treaty and Foreign Tax Credit interact.
UKSince Brexit, can I still travel freely between Spain and the UK once I have a residence permit?
A valid Spanish residence permit lets you live in Spain and travel within the Schengen area without being bound by the 90/180-day tourist limit while your permit is valid — but the 90/180 rule still applies to any other Schengen country you visit unless you have separate authorization there. Before your permit is approved, any time you spend in Spain as a UK visitor counts against the standard 90-day Schengen allowance.
How long does it take to get a residence permit approved?
Timelines vary by category and consulate workload. Digital Nomad and Startup visas are often processed within a few weeks under expedited tracks, while Non-Lucrative and Family Reunification applications can take two to three months or longer. We provide category-specific timelines once we review your file.
Can my spouse and children be included on my application?
Most residence categories allow you to include a spouse or registered partner and dependent children in the same application or through a linked family reunification filing. Requirements and timing differ by visa type — see Family Reunification for details.
Not sure which visa fits your situation?
Book a free consultation and we'll map out the right route based on your income, timeline, and family situation.
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