How to Move to Spain: Visas & Requirements - All you need to know

With over 6 Million people moving to Spain in the last decade, Spain’s Expat population is growing exponentially! In fact, as of 2024, it is estimated that over 5 Million Expats reside in Spain, according to the INE (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, aka the National Institute of Statistics), which is just over 1 in every 10 residents of Spain.

Spain is one of the top destinations for Expats across Europe and the world. Its laid back culture, fantastic yearly weather and strategic geographical location in Europe, are some of the reasons why people move here. And don’t forget about the food! Tapas, Paella, Tortilla, Jamón - You name it!

But similarly to many other countries, moving to Spain is not exactly a “walk in the park”. The numerous routes for Visas, paperwork that needs to be filled, and lack of clarity coming out of different sources; don’t help. But don’t you worry, because in this page, you will find a packed Step By Step Guide with everything you need to know about moving to Spain. Try our QuizzTry our Quizz at the end of this Page, to also discover what YOU need to do to move to this beautiful country.

The reason behind your decision to move will impact your Visa (and paperwork) requirements, so it’s important to have a clear narrative behind your decision to move. The main reasons will most likely be:

1. To work - you either have an employment offer from a company based in Spain or you are looking to work remotely from Spain.
2. To Study - You have enrolled in a University to study, or are planning to enroll in an Educational Institution to pursue a level of qualification and training in Spain.
3. To Retire - Another very common reason to move. Particularly popular around the costal areas of Spain such as Malaga, Alicante and the Balearic Islands. The route to retire in Spain depends on your Nationality,
4. To Reunite with Family - Having a Spouse or other family members in Spain who you wish to reunite with is also a valid reason to move, and there are immigration routes to do so, although it’s not the most common nor the easiest.

With the high influx of Expats moving to Spain and accelerated inflation in a post-pandemic world, the cost of living in Spain has gone up in the most recent years. Although still more affordable that other countries, such as England or the US, locals have found a noticeable change in everyday prices. So, before making this decision, it’s important you understand the cost of moving to this country. To learn if your budget is suitable to live in Spain, you can use this Cost of Living Calculator, as it will give you an estimated cost of living in the country, based on your lifestyle, needs and preferences.

It will probably not shock you to know that your Nationality will have a big impact over your ability to move to Spain.

• If you’re from a European Union Country, you will have it easier, as you’re free to enter Spain without any sort of Visa. There are then other requirements for settling in Spain such as getting a NIE, but let’s not get carried away - That’s a whole process in itself. We’ll get into it later (see below).
• If you’re not a EU Citizen, you will need a Valid Visa to move to Spain, and this will depend on your reason for moving. Here are the most common Visas:
  • Student Visa - For foreigners moving to Spain to study
  • Work Visa - For foreigners moving to Spain for a job with a Spanish Employer
  • Business Visa - For entrepreneurs doing business in Spain
  • Digital Nomad Visa- For remote workers wanting to live in Spain
  • Family Visa - For foreigners reuniting with family in Spain
  • Non Lucrative Visa - For foreigners who are NOT moving to work or study, and have sufficient income to support themselves and their families.

To know the best Visa option for you, we recommend you to speak to one of our Advisors. You can also check the Quizz below, to better understand what you need to do to move to Spain.

Once you know what’s Visa you want to apply for, you’ll need to gather all the documents required, make your application via the Spanish Embassy in your country, and wait until you receive a decision.

Once you have arrived in Spain with your valid Visa (if you need one), you will need to get all your residency documents in order. In general, these are the things Expats need to sort out when they arrive in Spain:

• Get your NIE Number. This is your foreigners ID, and it’s different if you’re from an EU Country vs if you’re not. Read our guide here to learn more about how to get your NIE.
• Do your “Empadronamiento”. This is a compulsory procedure in which you register in your locality as a resident living in your new permanent address in Spain. It’s very important to do this as you will need your certificate of “Empadronamiento” for other paperwork in Spain.
• Get access to Cl@ve to manage your taxes. Cl@ve is the government's online platform to manage taxes, which you will need to ensure you have access to. You can check out our guide on how to do this here.
• Apply for Beckham’s Law, a tax benefit for Expats, if you’re elegible. You can learn more about this tax benenefit and how to apply for it here.
• Register for Public Healthcare, if you have the right to it.

If you don’t know where to get started with sorting all these things out. You can sign up to Matutto for only €25 per month to get access to a Step-by-Step guide that takes you through everything you need to sort these things out.