🇪🇸Visa options for Spain
Spain offers 37 visa types across 7 categories — from skilled-worker and study visas to family, investment, digital-nomad, and permanent-residency pathways. 16 lead to PR; 18 don't require a job offer. Here's every Spain visa tracked by VisaMatch.
37visa types
7categories
16PR pathways
18no job needed
Check which Spain visas you qualify for →
Visa categories in Spain
All Spain visa types
Work (11)
Au Pair Visa
Spain does not have a dedicated standalone au pair visa.
Introduced January 2023 under the Startup Act.
Employee Work and Residence Permit
Standard work and residence authorization for non-EU nationals offered a job in Spain.
Entrepreneur Visa (Startup/Innovation Business Visa)
Allows non-EU nationals to launch and operate an innovative startup or business project of economic interest to Spain.
EU Blue Card
EU-wide residence and work permit for non-EU highly qualified workers.
Highly Qualified Professional Permit (PAC)
Spanish national-law permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals, processed through UGECE (Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit).
Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT) Permit
Allows non-EU employees of multinational companies to transfer to a Spanish branch, subsidiary, or entity within the same corporate group.
Job Seeker Visa (Residence Permit for Job Search)
Allows non-EU nationals to reside legally in Spain for up to 12 months while actively searching for a job or preparing to launch a business.
Researcher Visa / Residence Permit for Research
Authorizes non-EU nationals to conduct scientific research, R&D, or teach at Spanish universities and research institutions.
Seasonal Work and Residence Permit
Temporary work authorization for non-EU nationals employed in seasonal activities such as agriculture, tourism, and hospitality.
Self-Employed (Autónomo) Work and Residence Permit
Authorizes non-EU nationals to reside in Spain and work as self-employed professionals (autónomos) or independent contractors.
Visitor & Transit (9)
Airport Transit Visa (ATV) Transit
For nationals of certain high-risk countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and others specified…
Schengen Business Visa Short-Stay
For short-term business activities in Spain: attending conferences, meetings, trade fairs, negotiations, or business events.
Schengen Cultural, Sports & Film Crew Visa Short-Stay
For individuals travelling to Spain to participate in cultural events, sports competitions, film production, or similar activities lasting under 3 months.
Schengen Medical Treatment Visa Short-Stay
For third-country nationals seeking authorised medical treatment in Spain.
Schengen Official Visit Visa Short-Stay
For government officials, diplomatic staff, and members of official delegations travelling to Spain on official government business.
Schengen Short-Stay Study / Training Visa Short-Stay
For short-term courses, training placements, volunteer activities, or internships in Spain lasting less than 90 days.
Schengen Tourist Visa Short-Stay
For leisure travel, holidays, and sightseeing in Spain and the Schengen Area.
Schengen Transit Visa Transit
For travellers who need to transit through Spain (entering Schengen territory) en route to a third country.
Schengen Visitor Visa (Family/Friends) Short-Stay
For visiting family members or friends residing in Spain or the Schengen Area.
Special Status (5)
Residence and Work Authorization – Sociolaboral Roots Exceptional Circumstances
Introduced by RD 1155/2024 (effective May 2025).
Residence and Work Permit – Labor Roots (Arraigo Laboral) Exceptional Circumstances
Allows non-EU nationals who have been irregularly working in Spain to regularize their status based on proven employment (labor rootedness).
Residence Authorization for Training (Educational Roots) Exceptional Circumstances
For non-EU nationals between ages 18 and 23 who arrived in Spain as minors (before age 15), lived in a reception center, and have undergone integration programs.
Residence Permit – Family Roots (Arraigo Familiar) Exceptional Circumstances
For non-EU nationals who are parents of a Spanish minor or of a minor who has been legally residing in Spain.
Residence Permit – Social Roots (Arraigo Social) Exceptional Circumstances
Allows non-EU nationals who have been living in Spain for at least 3 years to regularize their status based on social integration.
Humanitarian & Protection (4)
Asylum / Refugee Status Humanitarian
Protection for non-EU nationals who meet the 1951 Geneva Convention criteria and face persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a particu…
Residence Permit on Humanitarian Grounds Humanitarian
Residence authorization granted on humanitarian grounds for individuals who do not qualify for international protection but face exceptional humanitarian circumstances.
Stateless Person Status and Identity Document Humanitarian
Recognition of stateless person status under the 1954 UN Convention for individuals not considered nationals by any state.
Subsidiary Protection Humanitarian
For non-EU nationals who do not qualify for refugee status but face risk of serious harm (death penalty, torture, inhuman treatment, or serious threat to life from armed conflict)…
Study & Training (4)
Authorization for Volunteering Services Study
For non-EU nationals undertaking voluntary service of general interest in Spain for more than 90 days.
Internship Visa (Authorization for Professional Internships) Study
For non-EU nationals undertaking professional or academic internships (prácticas) in Spain for more than 90 days.
Student Visa (Long-Stay) Study
Long-stay Type D national visa for non-EU nationals wishing to study in Spain for more than 90 days.
Student Visa – Language Course Study
Long-stay student visa for non-EU nationals enrolled in a Spanish language course of more than 90 days at an Instituto Cervantes-accredited school or recognized language instituti…
Residence Permit (3)
Golden Visa / Investor Visa (ABOLISHED) Residence
Spain's investor/Golden Visa program — which previously granted residency via real estate investment (EUR 500,000+), government bonds (EUR 2M+), business investment (EUR 1M+), or…
Long-Term Residence Permit (EU Long-Term Resident) Residence
Available to non-EU nationals who have legally and continuously resided in Spain for 5 years.
Non-Lucrative Residence Visa (Retirement / Passive Income) Residence
For non-EU nationals who have sufficient passive income (savings, pension, investments) to live in Spain without working.
Frequently Asked Questions about moving to Spain
How many visa types does Spain offer?
Spain offers 37 visa types across 7 categories — covering work, study, family, investment, and permanent-residency pathways.
Can I move to Spain without a job offer?
Yes — 18 of Spain's 37 visa types don't require a pre-arranged job offer. These include points-based skilled visas, investor and entrepreneur visas, digital-nomad and remote-worker visas, study visas, and family-sponsored pathways.
Does Spain offer a pathway to permanent residency?
Yes. 16 of Spain's visa types lead — directly or indirectly — to permanent residency. PR typically requires meeting time-in-country, income, language, and eligibility thresholds specific to each visa.
Which Spain visa is right for me?
It depends on your goal. Employment-based visas suit skilled workers with qualifications and experience; family visas fit those with a spouse or close relative in Spain; investor and golden visas target entrepreneurs with capital; study visas cover education; digital-nomad and retirement visas suit remote workers and retirees. VisaMatch checks your profile against every Spain visa in seconds.
How do I check my eligibility for Spain?
Use VisaMatch's free eligibility checker. Enter your nationality, age, occupation, income, and education, then select Spain. You'll see every Spain visa you qualify for, with links to the official government source for each.
Spain in depth
Air qualityGoodAQI 20
ClimateMediterranean, varies by regionHot, dry summers and mild winters, with cooler conditions in the north.
Infrastructure8.0/10Excellent high-speed rail and a strong healthcare system.
Cost of living58Index, NYC = 100
SafetySafeLow violent crime, generally very safe.
Internet100 MbpsGood
Political stabilityStableStable EU member, with occasional regional tensions (Catalonia).
Inflation2.9%Purchasing power index 70
Immigrant friendliness3.8/5The Digital Nomad Visa and Non-Lucrative Visa make Spain very accessible for remote workers and retirees.
Income tax47%Top state-scale marginal rate on general taxable income above EUR 300,000; autonomous communities add their own progressive rates on top, so combined effective top rates can reach roughly 54% in some regions (e.g. Comunidad Valenciana).
Median salaryEUR 23,000/yr
Healthcare accessUniversal (Sistema Nacional de Salud)Conditional — employees enrolled in the Spanish social security system through an employer get full public healthcare access; other temporary residents (e.g., non-lucrative visa holders) generally need private insurance, though after 12 months of legal residence they may opt into the public system via the Convenio Especial for a monthly fee.
Best-performing job sectors
Tourism — +6% YoY, the dominant sector
Tech — +6% YoY, Barcelona/Madrid hubs
Renewable energy — +5% YoY
Curated research pass, sourced per field (tax, salary, healthcare and legal figures cite an official or named source) — not live data. Refreshed periodically, not real-time.
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