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Spain

Spain · Europe (EU) · updated 24.07.2026

A large economy with developed tech hubs (Madrid, Barcelona), good healthcare and low violence. Held back by citizenship after 10 years requiring you to give up the previous one — dual citizenship is allowed only with a limited set of countries — compulsory Spanish, difficult parent reunification and high rent in the major cities.

Some descriptions for this country are still Russian only: 88% translated. Numbers, prices and timelines are complete.

Entry

Entry rules depend on citizenship. Choose a passport to see the requirement for that one.

Work and visas

Salary in IT
$ 48 934 – $ 102 420
Median
$ 70 556
Visa speed
Twenty days under Law 14/2013 — and silence from the Large Companies Unit means CONSENT. In the general regime it is three months for employed and self-employed work, two months for family reunification and for a study decision taken inside the country, one month for a consular decision on the non-lucrative permit, three months for arraigo — and there silence means REFUSAL. Twenty days with POSITIVE silence exist in the general regime too, in exactly one place: the permit to look for work after studies.
Degree required
no
Language at work
None of these grounds carries a language requirement: not one of the authority's 73 information sheets names an exam or a level. Spanish is asked for only at naturalisation — DELE A2 and the CCSE test.
Changing employer
In the general regime it is the employer who applies for the employed-work authorisation, and the contract must guarantee continuous employment for the whole term of the permit, so changing employer means a fresh application. Permits granted on exceptional grounds work differently: they carry with them the right to work employed or self-employed with no limit as to area or occupation.

Visa types: Highly qualified professional (Law 14/2013, through the Large Companies Unit) · EU Blue Card · Research (EU and national variants) · Intra-corporate transfer (ICT) · International teleworker · Entrepreneur (ENISA report) · Audiovisual sector · Employed work (general regime) · Self-employment (general regime) · Seasonal work and collective recruitment in the country of origin (GECCO) · Family reunification · Study stay · Job search after studies · Non-lucrative residence permit · Arraigo on exceptional grounds (five kinds) · Long-term residence — national and EU

Employers: Amadeus, Telefónica, BBVA, Glovo, Cabify, SEAT / Cupra

Spain runs TWO parallel permit systems, and confusing them is expensive. The general regime lives under the regulation approved by Royal Decree 1155/2024 (in force since 20 May 2025, amended by Royal Decree 316/2026 of 14 April 2026); applications go to the provincial Immigration Office, are normally decided within three months, and the authority's silence means REFUSAL. International mobility lives under Law 14/2013 on support for entrepreneurs; applications go electronically to the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit, are decided within TWENTY days, and silence means CONSENT. Law 14/2013 covers entrepreneurs, highly qualified professionals and the Blue Card, researchers, intra-corporate transfers, audiovisual sector workers and international teleworkers; everything else is the general regime. The authority describes the general regime across 73 "information sheets", each built the same way: type of authorisation, legal basis, requirements, documents, procedure. Fees are paid on three different "form 790" codes. Code 052 is paid by the foreigner, code 062 by the employer, code 038 by applicants under Law 14/2013. The amounts for codes 052 and 062 are in the annex to Order PJC/617/2025, in force since 16 June 2025; it repealed Order PRE/1803/2011, under which fees had been calculated for fourteen years. The amount for code 038 is NOT in that annex, and the authority prints it nowhere, so the fee is left empty here for the Law 14/2013 permits. The fee accrues on the day of application and must be paid within ten working days. One exemption stands apart: no fee at all is charged for a FIRST self-employment authorisation to nationals of Ibero-America, the Philippines, Andorra and Equatorial Guinea, to Sephardim, to children and grandchildren of Spaniards by birth, and to people born in Spain. Money requirements are almost never stated in euros: the sheets count them as percentages of the IPREM, a state income indicator whose value is fixed by the budget law, not by the immigration authority. That value appears on none of the 73 pages. An employer's solvency is measured differently — against the minimum interprofessional wage, set for 2026 by Royal Decree 126/2026 of 18 February. Permits on exceptional grounds (all five kinds of arraigo, humanitarian grounds, cooperation with the authorities, public interest) run for ONE year under article 132 of the regulation — except family arraigo, which is given FIVE years. A five-year term also applies to four further permits, and in every case it stands in the articles of the regulation itself rather than on the information sheets: victims of gender violence (article 136), victims of sexual violence (article 140), those who cooperated against organised networks (articles 143 and 144), and victims of trafficking (article 152). A subtlety hides there too: the five years belong to the DEFINITIVE authorisation, and before it there may be a provisional one, valid until the definitive application is decided, whose foreigner card is renewed annually. All of them carry with them the right to work employed or self-employed with no limit as to area or occupation; the single exception is socio-educational arraigo, under which work is capped at thirty hours a week. A study stay allows work too. Obtained for HIGHER education, it authorises employed and self-employed work automatically, with no separate procedure — provided the work is compatible with the studies and does not exceed thirty hours a week; the work authorisation is limited to one autonomous community, though work is also allowed in bordering localities of another. Curricular traineeships that form part of the programme need no separate authorisation at all. Two things no longer exist in Spain. Residence by investment — the "golden visa" — has been gone since 3 April 2025: Organic Law 1/2025 left articles 63 to 67 of Law 14/2013 WITHOUT CONTENT. And the extraordinary regularisation announced for people in the country without a permit closed on 30 June 2026. All foreign documents are accepted only legalised or apostilled and with a sworn translation into Spanish. None of these grounds requires a language exam — Spanish is asked for only at naturalisation.

Long-term visas and residence permits

Long-stay authorisation for training activities

Study
term 12 morenewablefamily allowedfee $ 12,4processing 60 days
Fee: under heading 1.1.1 of the tariff in force, which covers studies, pupil exchange, volunteering and training activities alike and takes in the applicant together with the family; renewal costs 17.49. The visa fee is paid separately at the consulate
official source · read 2025-09-01

Long-stay authorisation for a pupil exchange programme

Study
term 12 morenewableapplicant onlyfee $ 12,4processing 30 days
Fee: under heading 1.1.1 of the tariff in force, which is the same for studies, pupil exchange, volunteering and training activities; when applying from abroad the consulate also charges a visa fee
official source · read 2025-11-01

Long-stay authorisation for a voluntary service programme

Other
term 12 morenewableapplicant onlyfee $ 12,4processing 30 days
Fee: under heading 1.1.1 of the tariff in force, which is the same for studies, pupil exchange, volunteering and training activities; renewal costs 17.49
official source · read 2025-05-01

Intra-EU mobility of students

Study
family allowedfee $ 12,4processing 30 days
Fee: under heading 1.1.1 of the tariff in force, in the third case, where a full application is filed; a mobility notification under the EU scheme carries no fee
official source · read 2025-05-01

Family reunification: mobility of family members of EU long-term residents

Family
renewablefamily allowedfee $ 24,9
Fee: under heading 2.6 of the tariff in force — the sheet names exactly that one, the same as for long-term residence
official source · read 2025-05-01

Independent residence permit for reunified family members

Family
term 60 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 18,7
Fee: under heading 2.2.5, "residence and work independent of the sponsor"; for parents the fee differs and depends on which permit they apply for
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit with exemption from the work authorisation

Work
term 12 morenewablefee $ 12,4processing 15 days
Fee: under heading 2.1.4, "initial temporary residence permit with an exception to the work authorisation", paid by the foreigner; renewal costs 16.40 under heading 2.2.4
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit for a foreigner who returned home voluntarily

Other
renewablecounts toward permanent residenceprocessing 45 days
Fee: the fee depends on which permit is being applied for — the sheet refers to that permit's own information sheet and names no heading of its own
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit for family members of Spanish nationals

Family
term 60 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 0,00
Fee: the sheet states outright that the procedure is free of charge: "este procedimiento tendrá carácter gratuito". The foreigner's card is paid for separately — 12 euros under heading 4.1 of the tariff
official source · read 2026-04-01

Independent residence permit for former family members of Spanish nationals

Family
renewablecounts toward permanent residencefee $ 0,00
Fee: the sheet states outright that the procedure is free of charge: "este procedimiento tendrá carácter gratuito"
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit for traineeships

Study
renewablefamily allowedfee $ 12,4processing 30 days
Fee: under heading 2.1.7, "residence permit for a traineeship"; renewal costs 16.40 under heading 2.2.7
official source · read 2025-09-01

Andorran nationals and their family members

Other
term 60 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedprocessing 90 days
Fee: the sheet names no fee: Andorrans are treated like EU citizens, and for them the residence card and the registration certificate cost 12 euros under heading 4.6 of the tariff
For citizens of certain countries only.
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence and work permit for seasonal activities

Work
term 48 morenewableapplicant onlyfee $ 12,4processing 90 days
Fee: the worker pays under heading 2.1.3 of the tariff; on top of that the employer pays 10.94 under heading 3.4.1 of code 062 where the work authorisation is issued for six months or more. These are two different fees and must not be added together
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence and work permit for stable migration (collective hiring at origin)

Work
term 12 morenewablefee $ 12,4
Fee: the worker pays under heading 2.1.3 of the tariff; the employer pays separately under heading 3.4.1 of code 062 where the work authorisation runs for six months or more. The visa fee is charged on top of that
official source · read 2025-05-01

Seasonal residence and work permit under circular migration (collective hiring)

Work
term 48 morenewableapplicant onlyfee $ 12,4
Fee: the worker pays under heading 2.1.3 of the tariff, and the employer under heading 3.4.1 of code 062 where the work authorisation runs for six months or more
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit on exceptional grounds: second-chance arraigo

Other
term 12 morenewablefee $ 43,6processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 2.3.1 of the tariff, which covers all five kinds of arraigo alike: second chance, socio-labour, social, socio-educational and family
official source · read 2026-04-01

Residence permit on exceptional grounds: socio-labour arraigo

Other
term 12 morenewablefee $ 43,6processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 2.3.1 of the tariff, which is the same for every kind of arraigo
official source · read 2026-04-01

Residence permit on exceptional grounds: socio-educational arraigo

Other
term 12 morenewablefee $ 43,6processing 90 days
Fee: on the same terms as the ground above.
official source · read 2026-04-01

Residence permit on exceptional grounds: humanitarian reasons

Other
term 12 morenewablefee $ 43,6processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 2.3.2.a) of the tariff, which is the same for humanitarian grounds, cooperation with the authorities, national security and public interest; for victims of crime the fee differs — 10.94 under heading 2.3.2.b)
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit for collaboration with the authorities

Other
term 12 morenewablefee $ 43,6processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 2.3.2.a) of the tariff
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit for public interest or collaboration with the labour authorities

Other
term 12 morenewablefee $ 43,6processing 90 days
Fee: on the same terms as the ground above.
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence and work permit for female victims of gender-based violence

Other
term 60 morenewablefamily allowedfee $ 12,4processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 2.3.2.b) of the tariff — the reduced one, shared by victims of gender and sexual violence, victims of trafficking, and those who cooperated against organised networks
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence and work permit for victims of sexual violence

Other
term 60 morenewablefamily allowedfee $ 12,4processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 2.3.2.b) of the tariff — the reduced one, for victims
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence and work permit for collaboration with administrative authorities against organised networks

Other
term 60 morenewablefee $ 12,4processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 2.3.2.b) of the tariff
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence and work permit for collaboration with police, prosecution or judicial authorities against organised networks

Other
term 60 morenewablefee $ 12,4processing 90 days
Fee: on the same terms as the ground above.
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence and work permit for victims of human trafficking

Other
term 60 morenewablefee $ 12,4processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 2.3.2.b) of the tariff — the reduced one, for victims
official source · read 2025-05-01

Self-employment work permit for cross-border workers

Work
term 12 morenewabledoes not count toward permanent residenceapplicant onlyfee $ 232processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 3.1.2 of code 062 — self-employment authorisation for cross-border workers, where the term is six months or more; the worker pays it. On top of that, 10.94 under heading 2.1.3 of code 052, and renewal costs 81.54
official source · read 2025-05-01

Employed work permit for cross-border workers

Work
term 12 morenewabledoes not count toward permanent residenceapplicant onlyfee $ 232processing 90 days
Fee: the employer pays under heading 3.1.1.a) of code 062 where the salary is below twice the minimum wage; at twice the minimum wage or above it is 407.71. The worker pays 10.94 separately under heading 2.1.3 of code 052
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit for a foreign minor born in Spain

Family
term 60 morenewablecounts toward permanent residenceapplicant onlyfee $ 12,4processing 30 days
Fee: under heading 2.1.5 of the tariff — initial residence permit of an accompanied foreign minor
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit for a minor child of a legal resident, born outside Spain

Family
term 60 morenewablecounts toward permanent residenceapplicant onlyfee $ 12,4processing 30 days
Fee: on the same terms as the ground above.
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit for unaccompanied foreign minors

Other
term 24 morenewablecounts toward permanent residenceapplicant onlyfee $ 12,4processing 30 days
Fee: under heading 2.1 of the tariff — initial temporary residence permit; for minors under the guardianship of a public body the foreigner's card carries NO fee at all (heading 4.7 is zero)
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit for former wards of the state reaching adulthood

Other
term 24 morenewablecounts toward permanent residenceapplicant onlyfee $ 12,4processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 2.3.2.c) of the tariff — the reduced one, for former wards who have come of age without a residence permit
official source · read 2025-05-01

National long-term residence permit

Other
renewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 24,9
Fee: under heading 2.6 of the tariff, which is the same for national long-term residence and for EU long-term residence; the foreigner's card costs a further 21.87 under heading 4.5
official source · read 2025-05-01

EU long-term residence permit

Other
renewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 24,9
Fee: under heading 2.6 of the tariff; the foreigner's card costs a further 21.87 under heading 4.5
official source · read 2025-05-01

Long-term residence in Spain for EU long-term residents from another Member State

Other
renewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 24,9processing 60 days
Fee: under heading 2.6 of the tariff
official source · read 2025-05-01

Long-term residence for family members of an EU long-term resident from another Member State

Family
renewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 24,9processing 60 days
Fee: on the same terms as the ground above.
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence card for family members of an EU citizen

Family
term 60 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 13,7processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 4.6 of the tariff: the law requires the fee to equal what Spaniards pay for their identity document
official source · read 2025-05-01

Permanent residence card for family members of an EU citizen

Family
term 120 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 13,7processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 4.6 of the tariff, the same as an ordinary residence card of a family member of an EU citizen
official source · read 2025-05-01

Registration certificate for EU citizens

Other
counts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 13,7
Fee: under heading 4.6 of the tariff: the fee equals what Spaniards pay for their identity document
official source · read 2025-05-01

Work permit for foreign prisoners on open regime or parole

Work
term 6 morenewabledoes not count toward permanent residenceapplicant onlyprocessing 90 days
Fee: the sheet names no fee: the file is opened by the prison administration itself, not by the applicant
official source · read 2025-05-01

Collective processing of intra-corporate transfer authorisations

Work
term 36 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedprocessing 20 days
Fee: form 790 code 038 — a code separate from the general regime, for the international mobility permits of Law 14/2013; its amount appears neither in the annex to the tariff in force for codes 052 and 062 nor anywhere on the authority's pages
official source · read 2025-04-09

Visa for international teleworking

Remote work
term 12 morenewablefamily allowedprocessing 10 days
Fee: the visa is issued by the consulate and its fee has nothing to do with the permit tariff; the text of the law itself names no amount
official source · read 2025-04-09

Extension of the research permit to look for work or start a business

Job seeking
term 12 monot renewablefamily allowedprocessing 20 days
Fee: form 790 code 038 — a code separate from the general regime, for the international mobility permits of Law 14/2013; its amount appears neither in the annex to the tariff in force for codes 052 and 062 nor anywhere on the authority's pages
official source · read 2025-04-09

Residence authorisation for audiovisual sector professionals

Talent
term 24 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedprocessing 20 days
Fee: on the same terms as the ground above.
official source · read 2021-11-12

Stay visa and stay authorisation for audiovisual sector professionals

Talent
term 6 monot renewablefamily allowedprocessing 10 days
Fee: the stay visa fee is charged by the consulate and the stay authorisation fee by the Large Companies Unit; the agreement names neither amount
official source · read 2021-11-12

Temporary displacement of minors for schooling under a humanitarian programme

Study
renewablefee $ 8,32processing 30 days
Fee: under heading 5.13 of the tariff — "certificates or reports issued at the request of the interested party": what is paid for is not the permit but the Government Delegate's prior report itself
official source · read 2025-08-01

Mobility of EU researchers holding a permit from another Member State

Work
renewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedprocessing 20 days
Fee: as with the other Law 14/2013 permits, form 790 code 038; the page names no amount
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence authorisation for entrepreneurs

Startup
term 36 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedprocessing 20 days
Fee: form 790 code 038 — a code separate from the general regime, for the international mobility permits of Law 14/2013; its amount appears neither in the annex to the tariff in force for codes 052 and 062 nor anywhere on the authority's pages
official source · read 2025-04-09

Initial residence and work authorisation for highly qualified professionals

Work
term 36 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedincome from $ 47 064 a yearprocessing 20 days
Fee: the sheet names a THIRD code — form 790 code 038, heading 7.1, "applications for international mobility permits (Law 14/2013) — initial residence permit". That code's amount appears neither in the tariff for codes 052 and 062 nor on the page itself
official source · read 2025-05-01

EU Blue Card

Work
term 36 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedincome from $ 47 064 a yearprocessing 20 days
Fee: as with the other Law 14/2013 permits, form 790 code 038, heading 7.1; the authority does not publish the amount for that code
official source · read 2026-06-01

Residence and work authorisation for research

Work
term 36 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedprocessing 20 days
Fee: form 790 code 038, heading 7.1, "applications for international mobility permits (Law 14/2013) — initial residence permit"; on the form one must tick point 7 and choose between an initial and a renewed permit. The page names no amount
official source · read 2026-08-01

Intra-corporate transfer residence authorisation (ICT)

Work
term 36 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedprocessing 20 days
Fee: form 790 code 038 — a code separate from the general regime, for the international mobility permits of Law 14/2013; its amount appears neither in the annex to the tariff in force for codes 052 and 062 nor anywhere on the authority's pages
official source · read 2025-04-09

Residence authorisation for international teleworkers

Remote work
term 36 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedprocessing 20 days
Fee: on the same terms as the ground above.
official source · read 2025-04-09

Initial non-lucrative temporary residence authorisation

Other
term 12 morenewablefamily allowedfee $ 12,4processing 30 days
Fee: under heading 2.1.1 of the tariff, "initial non-lucrative temporary residence permit", paid by the foreigner; renewal costs 16.40 under heading 2.2.1
official source · read 2025-05-01

Initial temporary residence and employed work authorisation

Work
renewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 12,4processing 90 days
Fee: the worker pays under heading 2.1.3 of the tariff; the employer pays separately under heading 3.2.1 of code 062 where the work authorisation runs for six months or more — 203.84 where the salary is below twice the minimum wage and 407.71 at twice the minimum wage or above. These are different fees and must not be added together
official source · read 2025-05-01

Initial temporary residence and self-employed work authorisation

Work
term 12 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 12,4processing 90 days
Fee: the applicant pays under heading 2.1.3 of the tariff, and on top of that 203.84 under heading 3.3.1 of code 062 where the work authorisation runs for six months or more. Nationals of Ibero-America, the Philippines, Andorra and Equatorial Guinea, Sephardim, children and grandchildren of Spaniards by birth, and people born in Spain are charged nothing at all for a FIRST self-employment authorisation
official source · read 2025-05-01

Long-stay authorisation for higher or post-compulsory secondary studies

Study
renewablefamily allowedfee $ 12,4processing 60 days
Fee: under heading 1.1.1 of the tariff, which is the same for studies, pupil exchange, volunteering and training activities and covers the student together with the family; renewal costs 17.49 under heading 1.1.2
official source · read 2025-11-01

Residence permit to look for work or start a business after studies

Job seeking
term 24 monot renewablefamily allowedfee $ 12,4processing 20 days
Fee: the sheet names heading 2.1.1, "initial non-lucrative temporary residence permit" — the same as for the ordinary non-lucrative permit; the tariff itself also gives this permit a heading of its own, 2.1.6, for the same amount
official source · read 2025-05-01

Temporary residence permit through family reunification

Family
renewablecounts toward permanent residencefamily allowedfee $ 12,4processing 60 days
Fee: under heading 2.1.2 of the tariff, "initial temporary residence permit through family reunification"; renewal costs 16.40 under heading 2.2.2
official source · read 2025-05-01

Residence permit on exceptional grounds: social arraigo

Other
term 12 morenewablecounts toward permanent residencefee $ 43,6processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 2.3.1 of the tariff, which is the same for all five kinds of arraigo: second chance, socio-labour, social, socio-educational and family
official source · read 2026-04-01

Residence permit on exceptional grounds: family arraigo

Family
term 60 morenewablefee $ 43,6processing 90 days
Fee: under heading 2.3.1 of the tariff, which is the same for every kind of arraigo
official source · read 2026-04-01

Programme terms change, and the final decision rests with the consulate or the country migration service. The data is collected from official sources on the date shown and is not legal advice.

Residence and citizenship

Permanent residence after
5 years
Citizenship after
10 years
Language
Spanish DELE A2 + the CCSE test
Dual citizenship
not allowed

Absence limits: Continuous residence is required; long absences break the count (as a rule no more than ~6 months at a time)

10 years of continuous legal residence for most; 2 years for citizens of Ibero-America, the Philippines, Portugal, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea; 1 year in case of marriage to a Spanish citizen. The DELE A2 exam (Spanish) and the CCSE test on knowledge of the country are required.

Documents

Document certification
apostille

The country is party to the 1961 Hague Convention: a degree or certificate is authenticated with a single apostille in the country that issued it.

Family

Partner

Timeline
For HQP and Blue Card holders — at the same time as the main applicant; under the general regime reunification usually comes after a year of the sponsor's lawful residence
Right to work
yes

The spouse of a highly qualified worker gets a permit with the right to work

Children

Can be brought
yes

Under 18; children aged 18–26 qualify if they are studying and have a low income (RD 1155/2024). Minor children are reunified together with the parent.

Parents

Route
Family reunification (régimen general): the sponsor must hold long-term residence (residencia de larga duración, ~5 years), and the parent must be over 65 with proven dependency
Timeline
Several months after the right arises (that is, after 5 years of the sponsor's residence)
Income threshold
≈150% of IPREM for a couple + supplements; thresholds for parents are about 25% higher. IPREM 2025 ≈ €600 a month
Difficulty
difficult

Documented financial dependency is required (money transfers, covering ≥51% of maintenance over the past year). Parents over 80 are recognised as dependent automatically (a November 2025 instruction). The mechanism is set out in RD 1155/2024, in force from 20.05.2025.

Partner's parents

Difficulty
difficult

Matters: In a number of countries only a biological child can sponsor a parent, in which case the spouse files the application.

Pets

Limit
5
Quarantine
no
Antibody titre test
needed
Preparation
~4 months
Cost per animal
$ 341 – $ 910

EU rules: an ISO chip, a rabies vaccination, no quarantine. Coming from the EU or listed countries no titre test is needed; from unlisted countries (including directly from Russia) a rabies antibody test and a ~3-month wait are required. Certain breeds (PPP: pit bull, rottweiler, dogo argentino and others) are not banned but require an owner's licence and insurance.

Safety

Situation
calm

A stable democracy, a member of the EU and NATO. The Catalan separatist crisis of 2017 had subsided markedly by the 2020s.

Crime: Violence is low, and the most visible problem in Barcelona and Madrid is pickpocketing rather than serious crime.

Natural hazards

Earthquakesmedium

The south-east (Murcia, Granada, Andalusia) is seismically active. The 2011 Lorca earthquake (M5.1) caused deaths. Madrid and the north are low risk.

Wildfireshigh

Wildfires every summer, especially in Galicia, Castile, Andalusia and on the Mediterranean coast. Made worse by heat and drought.

Floodshigh

Flash floods (the DANA phenomenon) on the Mediterranean coast. The Valencia flood of October 2024 killed more than 230 people, one of the largest natural disasters in Spanish history.

Hurricaneslow

No hurricanes. Occasionally the remnants of Atlantic storms.

Droughtshigh

Regular droughts, especially in the south and in Catalonia. Water restrictions were imposed in Catalonia in 2024.

Extreme heathigh

Strong heatwaves in summer. The centre and south (Madrid, Seville, Córdoba) regularly exceed +40°C.

Volcanoesmedium

None on the mainland. The Canary Islands are an active zone: the eruption of Cumbre Vieja on La Palma in 2021 destroyed thousands of buildings.

Tsunamislow

The historic tsunami of 1755 (Cádiz) after the Lisbon earthquake. The probability is low for the south-western Atlantic coast.

The main threats are climate-related: wildfires, flash floods (DANA), heatwaves and droughts. Seismic activity is moderate in the south-east.

Climate

5J
8F
10M
13A
18M
23J
28J
27A
21S
16O
10N
7D
Type
Mediterranean continental (Madrid)

The figures are for Madrid: a continental version of the Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers (often +35…+40°C) and cool winters. The coast (Valencia, Malaga, Barcelona) is noticeably milder and damper.

Quality of life

Life expectancy
83.9 years
Migration
inflow

Healthcare: A universal public system (SNS), consistently of high quality and well placed in world rankings; the downside is queues for planned care. Private insurance is affordable.

Air: Air quality is generally good; in central Madrid and Barcelona traffic pollution is moderate.

Flows: A strong migration inflow: a net balance of +626,000 in 2024 (INE), the third highest of the decade. The main countries are Colombia, Morocco and Venezuela.

Cities

Madrid

tech hub
3 280 000 residents
$ 1 309
1 bedroom, per month

The capital and the country's largest economic and tech centre, with the most vacancies and international companies.

2 bedrooms $ 1 9353 bedrooms $ 2 504utilities $ 171ticket $ 1,75monthly pass $ 42,5
To buy, per m²: centre $ 9 054 · suburbs $ 4 487

Severe summer heat (+40°C), distance from the sea, moderate air pollution. Seismic risk is low.

+The most tech vacancies
+An international environment
+Developed transport and infrastructure
+Low violence
−High rent
−Hot summers, no sea
−Pickpocketing in the centre

Barcelona

tech hub
1 620 000 residents
$ 1 366
1 bedroom, per month

The second economic centre and a major technology hub (Mobile World Congress, startups), by the sea.

2 bedrooms $ 1 991 · estimate3 bedrooms $ 2 617utilities $ 171ticket $ 3,07monthly pass $ 26,7
To buy, per m²: centre $ 7 636 · suburbs $ 5 246

One of the worst cities in Europe for pickpocketing. Droughts and water restrictions in Catalonia. Moderate flood risk on the coast.

+The sea and the climate
+A strong tech sector and startups
+An international environment
+A Catalan and English-speaking environment
−Very high rent
−Pickpocketing
−The language question (Catalan)
−Water scarcity

Valencia

tech hub
825 000 residents
$ 910
1 bedroom, per month

The country's third city, popular with expats, a growing tech sector, cheaper than Madrid and Barcelona.

2 bedrooms $ 1 3093 bedrooms $ 1 650utilities $ 148ticket $ 2,29monthly pass $ 38,9
To buy, per m²: centre $ 5 630 · suburbs $ 3 501

Flash floods (DANA) — the October 2024 disaster killed more than 230 people in the suburbs. Summer heat.

+Cheaper than the capitals
+The sea and a mild climate
+A comfortable size of city
+A growing tech community
−Flash flood risk
−Fewer jobs than in Madrid or Barcelona
−Summer heat

Seville

685 000 residents
$ 853
1 bedroom, per month

The capital of Andalusia, inexpensive, rich in culture and history, but the tech market is limited.

2 bedrooms $ 1 1383 bedrooms $ 1 479utilities $ 148ticket $ 1,63monthly pass $ 37,2
To buy, per m²: centre $ 4 598 · suburbs $ 2 116

Extreme summer heat (regularly +40…+45°C, one of the hottest large cities in Europe). The Guadalquivir can overflow.

+Cheap rent
+Rich culture
+Plenty of sunshine
−Punishing heat in summer
−Few IT jobs
−Far from the sea

Zaragoza

675 000 residents
$ 740
1 bedroom, per month

The country's fifth city, between Madrid and Barcelona, inexpensive, an industrial and logistics centre.

2 bedrooms $ 9673 bedrooms $ 1 252utilities $ 137ticket $ 1,73monthly pass $ 36,8
To buy, per m²: centre $ 3 402 · suburbs $ 1 989

Continental extremes: hot summers and cold winters, with the strong Cierzo wind. The Ebro can overflow.

+A low cost of living
+Between Madrid and Barcelona (high-speed rail)
+Relaxed pace
−Few IT jobs
−A sharply continental climate
−Strong wind

Grocery basket

Bread, 500 g
$ 1,51
Milk, 1 l
$ 1,22
Eggs, 12
$ 3,60
Chicken breast, 1 kg
$ 8,80
Cheese, 1 kg
$ 15,6
Rice, 1 kg
$ 1,59
Potatoes, 1 kg
$ 1,93
Apples, 1 kg
$ 2,68
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 l
$ 2,40
Total
$ 39,3

The same set for every country, so the comparison is fair.

Cost of living across the country

Rent, 1 bedroom
$ 980 a month
Rent, 3 bedrooms
$ 1 688 a month
Utility bills
$ 145 a month
Home internet
$ 32,2 a month
Monthly transport pass
$ 34,7 a month
Single transport ticket
$ 1,91
Petrol, litre
$ 1,74
Cold medicine
$ 9,57 for a week

Country averages. City prices, where collected, are shown above and are more precise.

Indicators

Life expectancy
83,9 years2024
Homicides
0,7 per 100k2024
Theft
450,9 per 100k2024
Burglary
293,3 per 100k2024
Robbery
129,5 per 100k2024
Vehicle and vehicle-part theft
48,3 per 100k2024
Road deaths
3,5 per 100k2021
Unemployment
10,4 %2025
Unemployment, ages 15–24
24,8 %2025
Inequality (Gini)
33,42023
Health spending per person
$ 3 107 a year
Air pollution, PM2.5
10,1 µg/m³2023
Access to clean water
99,9 %2024
Internet, fixed line
270,7 Mbit/s2026
Internet, mobile
93,1 Mbit/s2026

Governance

Political stability
above average · 0
Control of corruption
above average · 0,7
Rule of law
above average · 0,9
Government effectiveness
high · 1,1

World Bank estimates on a −2.5 to +2.5 scale, higher is better.

Natural hazards

Earthquakes
2,9 out of 10
River floods
6,4 out of 10
Coastal floods
4,9 out of 10
Tropical cyclones
0 out of 10
Droughts
3,5 out of 10
Tsunamis
4,6 out of 10

Policy towards newcomers

Migrant integration, overall score
57 out of 100 · 2019
Family reunification
63 out of 100 · 2019
Permanent residence
75 out of 100 · 2019
Access to citizenship
30 out of 100 · 2019
Access to the labour market
67 out of 100 · 2019

Measures how favourable the law is towards newcomers, not one person's chances of getting a visa.

Each value carries the year it refers to. “Data lags behind” means this country's figure was collected noticeably earlier than the rest. Natural hazards use one 0–10 scale and are meant to be compared against each other.

Pros and cons

+Universal, good-quality healthcare (SNS)
+A low level of violent crime
+A warm climate and plenty of sun
+Pets get through under EU rules
+Developed IT hubs (Madrid, Barcelona)
−Citizenship after 10 years; dual citizenship is allowed only with a limited set of countries, and the previous one must be given up otherwise
−Spanish is compulsory (DELE A2 + CCSE)
−Parent reunification is difficult (5 years of residence plus strict dependency)
−Pickpocketing in Barcelona and Madrid
−Flash floods (DANA), heat and droughts
−IT salaries below Northern Europe, high rent in the major cities

Compare with other countries in the region

Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Netherlands · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovakia · Slovenia · Sweden

Other countries in the region: Europe (EU)

Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Netherlands · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovakia · Slovenia · Sweden

All countries by region

Official sources

Portal de Inmigración (Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones)
The official portal for foreigners: visas, residence, family reunification
↗
UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas)
Fast-track processing for highly qualified professionals (HQP) and the Blue Card; decision within 20 days. Address updated 04.08.2026: the former /web/migraciones/unidad-de-grandes-empresas returns 404, the section has moved to /web/unidadgrandesempresas (English version — /en/web/unidadgrandesempresas).
↗
Ministerio de Justicia — Nacionalidad por residencia
Naturalisation. DELE A2 plus the CCSE test are required
↗
Idealista
The number one property portal, with an English interface
↗
Fotocasa
The second largest rental portal
↗
Idealista — buying
↗
Coches.net
The main car listings site
↗
DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico)
Licence exchange, vehicle registration. Russian licences are not exchanged directly (there is no agreement) — the test must be retaken
↗
MAPA — bringing pets
The agriculture ministry, EU rules on the movement of animals
↗
Agencia Tributaria (AEAT)
Tax office: NIE/NIF, tax returns
↗
Ministerio de Sanidad
The national health system (SNS), registration through the Seguridad Social
↗

Reliability. Collected from open sources: official immigration service sites, statistical aggregators, industry surveys. Updated: 2026-07-24.

This is not advice. This material is for reference and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax thresholds and prices change. Before deciding anything, check the official sources and consult a licensed professional in the relevant country.