Administrative services

Schengen visa

This visa allows you to stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days (over any period of days) and can be granted for the following reasons: tourist or business travel, family visits or medical treatment; training, unpaid work experience or voluntary activities lasting less than three months; other non-profit-making activities. It also authorises territorial and airport transit.

A Schengen visa entitles the holder to travel to and within any Schengen state, but does not imply an automatic right to enter the Schengen area. The border authorities may refuse entry to a person holding a Schengen visa if he or she is unable to produce documents justifying the purpose and conditions of his or her stay, or if he or she does not meet the other entry conditions.

Transit visa

Nationals of the following countries require a visa to remain in the international transit zone of an airport located in the territory of a Schengen State while waiting for a connecting flight to a country outside the Schengen area:

– Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka.

In addition, nationals of the following countries require a visa to stay in the international transit zone of an airport in Spain while waiting for a connecting flight to a country outside the Schengen area:

– Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, India, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tajikistan,Togo, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Yemen. Holders of passports issued by the Palestinian Authority must also have this type of visa.

Nationals of the States listed in the two points above are exempt from the airport transit visa requirement if they hold a Schengen visa, a visa or a residence permit guaranteeing a right of return, issued by a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, by Switzerland, or by one of the following countries: Andorra, Canada, the United States, Japan, the Republic of San Marino, or by one of the overseas countries and territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands: Andorra, Canada, the United States, Japan, the Republic of San Marino, or one of the overseas countries and territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Holders of diplomatic passports, family members of a citizen of the European Union or the European Economic Area, and crew members of ICAO member states are also exempt from the transit visa requirement.

The airport transit visa allows you to remain in the international transit zone of a Schengen area airport, but does not authorise entry into the territory of a Schengen State. A Schengen visa is required for connecting flights involving a change of terminal and crossing a border.

Visa for family members of EU nationals

When a family member of a national of the European Union (EU), a State party to the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or the United Kingdom, which is a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement, accompanies the latter to Spain or travels to Spain to join him or her, he or she may apply for a preferential visa free of charge.

A member of the family of a European Union national means :

– His or her spouse, provided that there has been no recognition or declaration of nullity of the matrimonial bond or divorce.

– The de facto partner with whom he has entered into a union equivalent to marriage, registered in a public register created for this purpose in a Member State of the European Union (EU), in a State party to the European Economic Area (EEA) or in Switzerland, provided that the said registration has not been cancelled.

– His/her direct descendants aged under 21, or aged 21 or over and dependent on him/her, or incapable; those of his/her spouse or registered partner meeting the same criteria, provided that there has been no recognition or declaration of nullity of the matrimonial bond, divorce or annulment of the registered union.

– his/her direct ascendants, and his/her spouse’s or registered partner’s direct ascendants who are dependent on him/her, provided that there has been no recognition or declaration of nullity of the matrimonial bond, divorce or annulment of the registered union

– Any other family member who, in the country of origin, is dependent on the Community national or lives with him/her.

– Exceptionally, any other member of the family for whom the EU national must provide essential personal care for reasons of serious health or disability.

– The partner with whom the EU national has a stable relationship, provided that he or she has been living with the EU national for at least one year and can prove this. If the partner and the EU national have children in common, proof of stable cohabitation will suffice.

Student visa

Visa applications should be submitted well in advance of the start of study programmes, as the process is lengthy and depends on consultations with other authorities.

You are responsible for submitting all the documents required with your visa application.

The student visa is issued for a stay of more than 90 days as part of a course of study, an internship or a voluntary service. It is also issued to au pairs and foreign language assistants.

A student visa is not required if the stay for study purposes does not exceed 90 days. Depending on the applicant’s nationality, a Schengen short-stay visa may be required. (see the “Schengen visas” section).

Certain members of the applicant’s family can obtain a visa to accompany them:

– his or her spouse or de facto partner registered in a public register

– her minor or incapacitated children

Scientific visa

This visa allows the following people to travel to Spain to carry out training, research, development and innovation activities within public or private organisations:

– Research staff covered by Article 13 and the first additional provision of Law 14/2011 of 1 June 2011 on science, technology and innovation.

– Scientific and technical staff carrying out scientific research, development and technological innovation work in companies or R&D&I centres

established in Spain.

– Researchers hosted under an agreement by public or private research establishments.

– Professors employed by universities, higher education and research bodies or centres, or business schools established in Spain.

Visas can also be issued to the following family members:

– spouse or de facto partner ;

– minors and children of full age who are financially dependent on the researcher and who have not set up their own family unit;

– ascendants dependent on the researcher.

Internship visa

This visa is intended for foreign nationals who have obtained a higher education degree in the last two years or who are studying for a higher education degree in Spain or abroad, and who are taking part in an internship programme in Spain (on the basis of the signing of an internship agreement during the studies, or an internship contract on completion of the studies) in order to improve their knowledge, practical training and experience in a professional environment.

If these conditions are not met, it is possible to apply for a study visa for another type of work placement in Spain (see “Study visas”).

Visa for family reunification (general scheme)

This visa is intended for family members of foreign nationals already legally resident in Spain who wish to exercise their right to family reunification.

Family members eligible for family reunification visas

– The sponsor’s spouse, if they are not legally or de facto separated, or the person who has an affective relationship with the sponsor that is similar to a marital relationship (this relationship must be registered in a public register and the registration must not have been cancelled), or the unregistered partner, provided that the continuity of a relationship of living together prior to the establishment of the sponsor’s residence in Spain can be demonstrated. Only one spouse or partner may benefit from reunification.

– The sponsor’s children, the children of the spouse or partner – including adopted children (provided that the adoption is valid in Spain) – and children for whom the sponsor is the legal representative, if they are under 18 years of age or have a disability and are objectively unable to provide for themselves due to their state of health.

– The applicant’s parents (father and mother) and those of his or her spouse or partner, provided that they are dependent on the applicant, are over 65 years of age and there are reasons justifying the need to authorise their stay in Spain. In exceptional cases and for humanitarian reasons, the reunification of relatives under the age of 65 may be authorised.

Employee visa

This visa is for people aged 16 or over wishing to work in Spain (with an employment contract). It also covers seasonal work.

Visa for self-employed or independent professional activity

This visa is for people aged 16 or over wishing to work as self-employed or freelance professionals in Spain.

Before this visa can be issued, an initial residence permit for self-employed activity must first be obtained. There are therefore two stages to the procedure.

Visas for highly qualified workers and inter-group transfers

Visa for highly qualified workers: this visa allows the holder to work in Spain as a highly qualified worker, as a senior manager in a company that meets the conditions laid down in the regulations in force, or as the holder of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a prestigious university or business school.

Visa for inter-company transfers: this visa allows the holder to work in Spain as a senior manager, expert or trainee, for the purposes of carrying out a contract or as part of an employment relationship, when the transfer takes place within the same company or group of companies.

Visas can also be issued to the following family members:

– spouse or de facto partner ;

– minors and children of full age who are financially dependent on the employee and who have not formed their own family unit;

– dependent relatives in the ascending line.

Investor Visa

Residence visas issued to foreigners making a significant investment in one of the following areas:

– Initial investment of at least €2 million in Spanish public debt securities; or €1 million invested in shares or holdings in Spanish companies with a real business activity, or invested in investment or venture capital funds set up in Spain, or in bank deposits in Spanish financial institutions.

– Acquisition of property for a minimum amount of 500,000 euros, free of any encumbrances (if the investment is made by a couple married under the community of property regime, one of the spouses can obtain a visa as an investor and the other a visa as a family member).

– A business project in Spain considered to be of general interest on the basis of job creation, the socio-economic impact on the geographical area in which the project is developed or the project’s significant contribution to scientific or technological innovation. In such cases, a visa may be issued to a representative appointed by the investor to manage the project.

– Investment made through a legal entity, provided that the registered office of the company is not located in a tax haven and that the investor holds, directly or indirectly, the majority of the votes and the power to appoint or dismiss the majority of the members of its administrative body.

Visas can also be issued to the following family members:

– The spouse or de facto partner.

– Minor children and children of full age who are financially dependent on the applicant and who have not formed their own family unit.

– Dependent relatives in the ascending line.

Visa for entrepreneurs

This visa is intended for foreign nationals wishing to travel to Spain to complete the formalities required to set up an innovative business activity of particular economic interest to Spain.

Visas can also be issued to the following family members:

– spouse or de facto partner ;

– minor children and children of full age who are financially dependent on the entrepreneur and who have not set up their own family unit;

– ascendants dependent on the entrepreneur.

Residence visa without gainful employment

This visa is intended for people who wish to settle in Spain without engaging in gainful employment (salaried or self-employed) and who have guaranteed and sufficient means of subsistence. This visa does not authorise you to work.

This visa can also be issued to the following family members:

– spouse or de facto partner ;

– dependent children and relatives in the ascending line.

Visa to recover long-term resident or long-term EU resident status

Long-term resident status may be recovered by any foreign national who has obtained a long-term residence permit in Spain and who: has been absent from the territory of the European Union for 12 consecutive months, or has obtained an EU long-term residence permit in another Member State of the European Union, or wishes to return to Spain at the end of the non-return period that he or she undertook to respect when accepting voluntary return to his or her country of origin.

Long-term EU resident status may be recovered by any foreign national who has had long-term EU resident status in Spain and who: has been absent from the territory of the European Union for 12 consecutive months, or has obtained a long-term EU residence permit in another EU Member State, or has lived in a country other than Spain for more than 6 years.

In order to obtain a visa to recover long-term resident or EU long-term resident status, you must first apply to recover your residence permit. The procedure therefore consists of two phases.

Teleworking visa (digital nomad)

The definition of this type of worker, as well as the specific conditions they must meet in order to obtain a visa and residence permit, is envisaged in the new articles that have been generated following the amendment of the law on entrepreneurs to support entrepreneurs and their internationalisation – digital nomads :

Third-country nationals who come to Spain to work remotely or to carry out a professional activity for companies located outside the national territory, through the exclusive use of computer, telematic and telecommunications means and systems.

*Citizens of the European Union or persons to whom European Union legislation applies are not eligible to apply].

– In the case of a professional activity, the holder of the international telework authorisation may only work for companies located outside national territory.

– In the case of professional activity, the holder of the international telework authorisation may work for a company located in Spain, provided that the percentage of the aforementioned work does not exceed 20% of the total professional activity.

Qualified professionals may apply for a telework visa or authorisation if they hold a diploma or degree from a recognised university, vocational training college or business school, or if they have at least three years’ professional experience.

The following members of the teleworker’s family are also eligible for visas:

1) the spouse or unmarried partner

2) Children and adult children who are financially dependent on the teleworker and who have not created their own family unit.

3) Ascendants for whom the teleworker is responsible.

FOREIGNERS WHO ARE REGULARLY IN SPAIN CAN APPLY FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT TO WORK REMOTELY FOR A COMPANY LOCATED ABROAD (maximum of 3 years), WITHOUT NEEDING A PRIOR VISA.

Artist/reporter visa

This visa (EET) is a Schengen visa which allows its holder to carry out an activity with the exception of work authorisation.

Who should apply for this visa?

– Artists performing at a concert in Spain

– Staff working at a concert in Spain

– Journalists travelling to Spain to cover a summit meeting