Many clients ask if it is possible to enter into Spain as a tourist and obtain residence or an authorization which will allow them to stay.
To reply to these enquiries, we can confirm that in certain cases, it is possible that even entering as a tourist or with a short-term Schengen visa, to process a residence permit and therefore stay in Spain.
Here, we highlight some possibilities for staying in Spain legally after entering into Spain as a tourist.
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In this post we cover the following: (click any section to see its content)
Enter into spain as a tourist and obtain residence.
- EU COMMUNITY CARD »
- RESIDENCE FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS »
- INTERNSHIP RESIDENCE AUTHORIZATION »
- STUDY STAY AUTHORIZATION »
- GOLDEN VISA OR INVESTOR RESIDENCE »
- FAMILY TIES RESIDENCE »
- DIGITAL-NOMAD FOR REMOTE WORK IN SPAIN »
- ALL TYPES OF RESIDENCY AVAILABLE IN SPAIN »
- SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A SOLICITOR »
EU COMMUNITY CARD:
Probably the easiest way to obtain residence in Spain is a Residence Card for Family Members of EU Citizens.
If you come as a tourist, have EU or Spanish family members in Spain, and want to stay for more than 90 days, you can apply for a EU family member card and obtain residence.
This application can be made by meeting a series of requirements and having certain ties with EU or Spanish citizens.
RESIDENCE FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS:
Another possibility for obtaining residence in Spain through a tourist visa, is to apply for a Residence Authorization as a Highly Qualified Professional.
Unlike other residence and work authorizations, you can apply for this authorization within a 90 days of legal stay or the validity of a short-term visa.
This authorization has advantages such as not having to overcome the National Employment Situation, being able to process it from Spain, and obtaining a card valid for up to 3 years. This pathway is designed for individuals with significant experience and/or education.
INTERNSHIP RESIDENCE AUTHORIZATION:
As of 2018, the Entrepreneurs Law was modified to include new authorizations. One such authorization is the Internship Residence Authorization.
If vocational training or higher education has been completed within the past two years, its holder can come to Spain as a tourist, and secure an internship contract or agreement, to apply for this authorization in Spain where it is possible to work or complete an internship.
This permits an applicant to enter as a tourist and apply for a residence or authorization to stay legally without returning to the applicants country of origin to process a visa.
STUDY STAY AUTHORIZATION:
If you entered Spain as a tourist and want to stay for studies, you can process a Study Stay Authorization.
Since the possibility to process this authorization from within Spain opened, many have opted for this route.
The applicant must enroll in an authorized educational institution and apply within the stipulated timeframe to be eligible for this type of authorization.
GOLDEN VISA OR INVESTOR RESIDENCE:
If you purchase a property in Spain during your tourist stay, you can apply for an Investor Residence Authorization if the property’s value is equal to or exceeds €500.000.
This authorization, regulated by the Entrepreneurs Law, allows you to submit your application while you are within your tourist visa in Spain.
FAMILY TIES RESIDENCE:
An option for obtaining a residence and work permit in Spain is to apply for a Residence Authorization for Exceptional Circumstances, Family Ties.
It is possible to apply for this permit if:
- You are the parent or guardian of a Spanish minor, provided you live with or are responsible for the child.
- You support a Spanish citizen with a disability, live with them, and help them exercise their legal capacity.
- You are the spouse, registered partner, or dependent relative of a Spanish citizen.
- You are the child of someone who was originally Spanish.
This permit allows you to stay in Spain legally and work for others or for yourself. This permit is generally valid for five years, except if you are the child of originally Spanish parents, in which case it is valid for one year.
DIGITAL-NOMAD FOR REMOTE WORK IN SPAIN:
Since January 2023, it has been possible to apply for a permit to work remotely in Spain.
This authorization, regulated by the Entrepreneurs Law, is for employees or self-employed individuals who can perform their work remotely from Spain. It grants a three-year permit for legal residence in Spain.
Important: With all these authorizations, it is not necessary to return to your country of origin to process a visa. Once you obtain the appropriate residence permit, you can stay in Spain legally without issues.
These options allow you to enter as a tourist and apply for residence in Spain. Each authorization can be renewed, and depending on your situation in Spain, you may eventually apply for Spanish nationality.
ALL TYPES OF RESIDENCY AVAILABLE IN SPAIN:
- Golden-Visa Spain (residence in Spain by investment)
- Non-Lucrative visa Spain (Spanish visa non lucrative)
- Self-Employed visa Spain (self employed expats in Spain)
- Digital-Nomad visa Spain (remote worker in Spain)
Please see-here our video-blog with options and legal-advice to obtain residency in Spain.
Remember that immigration procedures and immigration regulations change regularly, so it’s crucial to stay updated with the latest information from reliable sources. If you have specific questions or concerns about your situation, it’s advisable to consult with immigration authorities or legal professionals specializing in immigration matters, to do this, please click-here »
DO YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE TO APPLY FOR RESIDENCE OR CITIZENSHIP IN SPAIN?
We are a Spanish Solicitor and assist our clients with all types Spanish legal processes.
Permanent residency is obtained after 5 years of Spanish Residency through Self-Employed Residency, Digital-Nomad, Non-Lucrative Residency or Golden-Visa. This followed by 5 years as a permanent resident in Spain and means you can then obtain Spanish Citizenship with a Spanish Passport.
