Remote work
Digital nomad permit
For people working remotely for a company or clients outside Spain. It rests on your income and the continuity of your working relationship, with no investment in the country.
Spain
Spanish residency has several doors. Only one is yours
Your source of income decides the route, whether that is remote work, a trade, a business, or income from property or a pension. We review your case and tell you which door is genuinely open.
The routes
The route follows your source of income
Applying on the wrong route costs time and non-refundable fees. That is why the review comes before any paperwork.
Income without employment
Non-lucrative residency
For income from property, investments or a pension. The core requirement is proving stable income that supports you and your family without working in Spain.
A trade or activity
Self-employment permit
For skilled trades and professions who want to practise in Spain. It needs a considered activity plan and proof you can run it.
A business or company
Entrepreneurs
For an existing business or a workable idea. This route is judged on the strength of the project itself, not only on your balance.
Family
Adding family members
A spouse and children can be added on most routes, provided you show higher income covering each person.
After arrival
Residence card and renewal
Obtaining the residence card after you arrive, renewal timings, and the conditions for keeping residency long term.
Why Spain
European residency opens several doors
But every one of those benefits is conditional on the permit type. The routes do not all grant the same rights.
Movement inside Schengen
Spanish residency allows movement across the Schengen area subject to the conditions of each permit type.
Healthcare and education
Access to healthcare and education differs by permit type and its conditions. It is not the same across all routes.
A possible path to citizenship
Long-term residency can open a route to citizenship once the legal conditions and required residence periods are met.
The steps
From review to residence card
Case review
We look at your income, your activity and your family situation and tell you which route your case is strongest on. If there is none, we say so.
Preparing the file
Documents, certified translations and the required attestations, ordered the way the authority reads them.
Filing and follow-up
Submission, tracking, and answering any request for further documents until a decision.
After approval
Arrival steps, obtaining the residence card, and local registration.
Documents
What you will most likely need
The final list depends on the route and your case, but these recur in every file.
- A passport valid for a sufficient period
- Documented proof of income for the route (bank statements, contracts, declarations)
- Health insurance accepted in Spain
- A legalised police clearance certificate
- An approved medical certificate
- Civil status documents and birth certificates for family members
- Certified translation and apostille for official documents
Common questions
The questions we get every time
Do I have to buy property to get residency?
No. The routes we work on rest on income and activity, not property investment. If someone told you buying is the only way, that is not accurate.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
The application itself does not require a language level on most first-residency routes. Language matters in daily life and at later stages such as a citizenship application.
Can I work in Spain on this permit?
It varies by route. Non-lucrative residency, for instance, does not permit work inside Spain, while the self-employment and digital nomad routes carry different conditions. We set this out in the review before you start.
Can I include my family?
Yes on most routes, provided you show higher income covering each additional person. The difference in the required amount is clear from the first review.
How long does it take?
It depends on the route, the state of the file, and the processing times published at the time. We give you the expected range for your case, and we do not promise dates.
Do you guarantee approval?
No, and nobody can. The decision rests with the Spanish authorities. What we do is make sure your file is submitted complete and correct, on the right route.
Start here
Spanish residency: find out whether you qualify before you start
Fill in the form so we can review your case and identify the right programme. Spanish residency opens movement inside the Schengen area, along with healthcare and education according to the permit type and its conditions, and a possible path to citizenship once the legal requirements are met. The SAF team reviews your income, your activity and your family situation, and explains the options honestly.
Question 1 of 4
Take the next step
Know your route before you begin
One review of your case saves you months on a route that was never right for you.