How Long Can I Stay in Spain Without a Visa?

If you’re planning a trip to Spain for tourism, business, or studies, you must apply for a visa. There are several types of visas that can be obtained, depending on the purpose of your visit and your nationality.

Alternatively, you may decide to obtain residency in Spain based on employment. This option has many pre-requirements that you must meet in order to get approved.

Schengen Area

When a foreigner from another EU country travels to Spain with a visa that was issued in one of the Schengen countries, she can stay in Spain for up to 90 days without applying for a residence permit. However, if she stays for longer than three months, or if she wants to move to Spain permanently, she must apply for a residence permit.

This rule applies irrespective of the country where she was born or where her family is living in. She can stay in any of the Schengen countries for a maximum of three months, but she cannot re-enter these countries within that period.

If you want to study in Spain, you need to apply for a student visa at least two months before the start of your studies. This process is easy and allows you to stay in the country for the entire duration of your studies.

Aside from this, if you are married or in a civil partnership, you can also obtain a residence permit (visado de residencia temporal) for a period of five years. This is one of the preferred options among foreigners who wish to live and work in Spain, as it is quick and simple to get.

To apply for this visa, you need to provide the following documents:

Completed form EX02. A passport or travel document recognised by Spain with a minimum validity of one year and at least two blank pages. If you are not a Spanish national, you should also provide your residence permit and photocopy.

The application should be made in person at an immigration office or police station.

For example, if you want to apply for an HQP visa, you will need to submit the following paperwork:

You will need to present your contract for the position you are applying for in Spain and other supporting documentation such as your latest tax declarations or a bank certificate. You will also need to produce your EEA national passport or identity card and proof that you have sufficient funds for the duration of your stay in Spain.

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals

If you are a citizen of an EU country or a European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss national, you do not need to obtain a visa in order to enter Spain. However, you will need to obtain an EU Registration Certificate if you are going to stay more than 90 days in Spain for any reason. This certificate must be obtained from the authorities of your home country in order to prove that you are a valid resident of an EU or EEA or Swiss national.

If your country is not part of the Schengen zone, you will still need to carry your passport when traveling to Spain. The passport you bring into the country needs to be valid for at least six months beyond the time of your planned departure from Spain and must contain a sufficient amount of information about your travels to Spain.

There are several types of short-term visas available for non-EU/EEA citizens to visit Spain. These visas allow you to stay up to 90 days and can be used for tourism or business purposes. Some nations also require an airport transit visa, allowing you to arrive in Spain via another Schengen area country.

Long-term national visas for non-EU/EEA citizens are available in the form of a residence and work permit or a student visa. These permits are usually issued for a period of one or two years and can be renewed indefinitely provided that you meet the requirements.

These permits can be issued from your country of origin or from Spain. When you apply, you will be asked to provide a variety of documents and you may need to pay certain fees as well.

Your family members must also apply for a visa in their own countries to be eligible for entry into Spain. These include relatives of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and family members of people who hold a residence or work permit.

The family member must present their passports and proof of their relationship to the EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, which includes evidence of their birth, marriage or certificate of legal partnership. The family member can also provide a list of other relatives, such as grandparents or grandchildren.

Family members

If you’re a North American, your stay in Spain can only be for up to 90 days without needing a visa. It’s important to check with the consulate of your country of origin before arriving, as they can make sure you’re eligible for this.

If your stay will be longer than 90 days, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit. There are several types, all with their own requirements and each having specific circumstances that must be met.

To get a residence card, non-EU nationals should present their passport or travel document, which must have at least two blank pages, and proof of residency (empadronamiento) in Spain. This can be a police report or a bank certificate, depending on the family’s situation.

In addition to this, they should present a copy of the favourable answer to their initial request for residency (resolucion de autorizacion de residencia temporal por reagrupacion familiar) or their residence permit in the country they’re from, plus copies of documents* proving family ties.

As well as these documents, they should also provide a clean criminal record. They should also have an address in Spain, either a home or a rental property.

Once you’ve met all of the requirements, you should apply for a residence card at a local office in your new area of residence. This can be done in person or through the internet.

The application process is straightforward and can be completed quickly. It is also very affordable, costing just over $600.

You’ll need to apply within one month of arrival in Spain, and you should bring a recent passport photo with a white background, along with a copy of your immigration documentation. The Spanish Consulate in the country you’re coming from will provide you with an application form, which you should fill out carefully.

After obtaining your residence card, you’ll need to register with the authorities and pay tax for your worldwide income. The tax rates in Spain depend on your country of citizenship and your status as a resident.

You can stay in Spain for as long as you want, but you need to meet a few basic requirements and keep your finances in order. This means you should take out private health insurance or pay into Spanish social security. You should also have a valid passport or travel document that is recognised by the authorities in Spain and has at least three months validity.

Work

If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country, or Switzerland and you want to stay in Spain for less than 90 days, you do not need a visa. However, if you want to stay more than that, you will need to register with the Spanish authorities and obtain a national identity number. You can do this within three months of your arrival.

You can also apply for a residence permit if you want to stay in Spain for more than three months and want to work or study. There are different types of residence permits and each one has its own requirements, so the best option depends on your situation.

A residence permit for a period of two years is available for citizens of non-EU countries who have been contracted for a job that requires a high level of skills and/or academic qualifications. These include high-level managerial posts and jobs that require specialist technical knowledge.

For this type of visa, you will need a letter from your employer explaining your employment and your contract. In addition, you will need to pay an administrative fee and show proof of your income, education or other work, a clean criminal record, and health insurance.

Another type of visa is an HQP (highly qualified professional) visa, which is available to non-EEA nationals who are contracted for a job that requires a specialised or academic qualification. This is a great option for non-EU citizens who need to work in Spain, especially if their qualifications are not available in their home country.

You can also apply for equivalence certificates and professional accreditations from Spanish universities. You will need to provide proof that you meet all of these criteria and you may be required to take a test.

As with any work visa, you will need to have a valid passport or other travel document. You will also need to have an updated CV and cover letter, as well as the correct language translation of your application.

If you are a non-EEA national, you can find a job in Spain by searching online or using an international job portal like EURES. There are many vacancies in sectors such as services, IT, engineering, finance and healthcare. Vacancies vary widely by region, so it is recommended to search in your area.