Permiso de residencia: how to obtain a residence permit in Spain in 2021

Contact us

Spain is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, with a warm climate and stunning scenery. And this is where some of the friendliest people live! It is believed that Spain ranks 3rd in the world in terms of quality (not level) of life - precisely thanks to the cheerful temperament of its inhabitants, whose happiness does not depend on the thickness of their pockets. It is not surprising that these factors, supported by fairly loyal immigration laws, are attracting more and more people to Spain seeking a comfortable life in a European state.

Features of the program for obtaining a Spanish residence permit through investment

Among the diversity of countries belonging to the European Union, the Kingdom of Spain has a more loyal attitude towards immigrants. In 2013, the authorities of this state adopted a law regulating the provision of Spanish residence permits to wealthy and enterprising foreigners in exchange for investment in the national economy.

Foreign investors and entrepreneurs receive a resident card without any additional requirements, that is, they do not need to learn Spanish or prove their level of education or professionalism. After a few years, investment immigrants have the opportunity to obtain permanent residence (permanent residence) in Spain and return their investments. 10 years of residence in the country, subject to certain conditions, gives the right to apply for citizenship.

A residence permit in Spain by investment allows you and your family members to live and engage in absolutely any activity in the country - study, work, run your own business or just relax. In addition, you can travel throughout the European Union without visas.

Methods for obtaining a residence permit (residence permit) in Spain for Russians

Most often, citizens of the Russian Federation acquire resident status through the purchase of real estate, investment projects, settlement or marriage. The choice of method depends on available capabilities and future plans. So, if the applicant has a stable income in his homeland, with the help of which he can live comfortably on Spanish territory, the easiest way would be to open a residence for the financially independent. In-demand professionals, scientists or entrepreneurs who have a ready-made business plan for implementation in the Kingdom can be legalized through employment, and the presence of resident family members makes immigration through reunification feasible.

Whatever the chosen path to the coveted residence, obtaining a residence permit in Spain is associated with the fulfillment of a number of certain conditions, including:

• legal presence,
• no problems with the law,
• source of livelihood
• availability of housing, own or rented,
• compliance with the EU visa regime,
• absence of diseases dangerous to others.

How does the process of obtaining a residence permit work?

How to become a resident of Spain for Russians ? The application procedure may vary depending on the type of permit and involves the following steps.

1. Submission of documents to the migration authorities of the Kingdom or to the Consulate in the country of residence.
2. Payment of state duty.
3. Consideration of the request. If after 3 months no response has been received, the application is considered rejected. If the outcome is positive, you must submit your fingerprints at the police station within a month to issue a plastic resident card.
4. When immigrating with the right to work, a mandatory step will be registration with social insurance authorities.

What opportunities does a residence permit in Spain open to an investor?

1. With a Spanish resident card you can travel freely, without a visa, to the countries of the Schengen area.
2. Spain will delight you with its mild climate and close location to the sea. In essence, you will live in a resort with a high European level of comfort and safety.
3. The investor has the right to do whatever he wants in the kingdom: run a business, get a job, study, or simply enjoy a well-deserved vacation.
4. An enterprising person will find in this country an open, attractive economy, well-developed infrastructure, a competent workforce and government support for business.
5. You will have access to a reliable and internationally respected banking system, cheap loans and record low mortgage interest rates.
6. The health of the investor and his family will be reliably protected by the Spanish healthcare system, which confidently occupies one of the leading places in Europe in terms of its level of development.
7. Your children will receive high-quality, modern, and most importantly, free school education. And higher education received at world-famous Spanish universities is highly valued throughout the world.
8. After 5 years, you will be able to apply for permanent residence, and 10 years of stay in the country under certain conditions gives you the right to naturalization and registration of a citizen’s passport.

Advantages of the Spanish investment program

• Immigration authorities impose reasonable minimum requirements on the main applicant's candidacy. A foreign investor does not need to pass tests on knowledge of the local language, history, culture and traditions, or otherwise confirm his education and professional qualifications.
• A residence permit under the program is issued for the entire family at once. You can include in your application: Wife, husband or partner;
• Minor children under 18 years of age;
• Unmarried adult children under the age of 26, subject to their financial dependence on the main applicant;
• Mentally or physically disabled children without age restrictions;
• Investor's parents.

If you would like to consider other programs for obtaining a residence permit by investment, you can do so here.

For how long are Spanish visas and residence permits issued for investors?

Two concepts that are similar in meaning are often confused - the “Golden Visa” and the investor’s residence permit.

The Spanish Golden Visa is issued to the investor for a period of 365 days or six months if the funds are decided to be invested in real estate, but the purchase has not yet been formalized. However, this is just a visa that is placed in your passport, and not a resident card. When they talk about the high speed of the procedure for obtaining immigration status as an investor, they mean the “Golden Visa”. Another convenience is the opportunity to obtain it without leaving your country - at one of the Spanish visa centers.

Within a year or six months, you and your loved ones will need to travel to Spain and get a residence permit. Spanish residence permits are issued to investors for 2 years with the possibility of extension for another 5 years.

Thus, if you are already in the Spanish kingdom, you can immediately apply for a resident card. If you invest from home, you can:

• Become a Golden Visa holder, and then go to the country and get a residence permit in Spain;
• Immediately go to Spain on a short-term visa in order to obtain an investor residence permit on the spot.

The procedure for obtaining a residence permit in Spain when purchasing real estate

• The application review period is 3 months. If after the specified period you have not received any notification, it is considered that your residence permit has been refused.
• If a positive decision is made, the applicant is obliged to appear in person at the consulate within a month from the date of receipt of the notification and receive a D visa. In case of failure to appear, the applicant is considered to have refused to obtain a visa, and the documents are transferred to the archive.

Requirements for candidacy of an investor

1. The applicant must be over 18 years of age.
2. Evidence that the investor has enough legal funds received outside the Spanish kingdom to make investments.
3. The main investor and his adult dependents must provide certificates of no criminal record for the last 5 years. Violations of immigration laws are also unacceptable.
4. The future investor and his family must be in good health and must have a health insurance policy from a private or public insurance company accredited to work in Spain.

Investment options for obtaining a residence permit in Spain

To obtain a temporary residence permit in Spain, you can invest in three ways.

Investments in financial assets

Real Estate Investments

To obtain a Golden Visa and/or a Spanish residence permit, the applicant must document the purchase of real estate in the country for an amount equal to or greater than €500,000. The investor's purchase must be free of any encumbrance or lien.

If funds are invested in an expensive property, the encumbrance should not extend to that part of the property that is worth the €500,000 required by law.

Business Investments

There are no clear requirements for the minimum amount of investment in a business, however, your commercial project must be in the interests of the Spanish state, that is, meet one or more of the following evaluation criteria:

• Create new jobs;
• Represent significant public and economic interest for the region where it will be carried out;
• Make significant contributions to scientific and technological innovation.

A positive opinion on your business project is issued by the Trade and Industrial Representation at the Spanish Embassy at the place where you applied for an investor visa.

Residence permit in Spain for investment

The Golden Visa is the easiest and fastest way for an investor to obtain a residence permit in Spain. Under this program, foreigners receive a Spanish residence permit under a simplified scheme in exchange for their contribution to the country’s economy.

The most popular option among investors is a residence permit when buying real estate in Spain. It is affordable and highly profitable if you buy real estate for rent. You can familiarize yourself with the rules of the program in our material “Golden Visa in Spain”.

Real estate in Spain 16,463 ads on Tranio

140,000 € Three-room apartment in a new residential complex near the beach, Torrevieja, Spain Total area 73 m² 2 bedrooms

781,000 € Comfortable apartment with parking in a residential complex with swimming pools, gardens and sports facilities, Benidorm, Spain Total area 240 m² 4 bedrooms

210,000 € Comfortable apartment with a terrace in a residential complex with swimming pools and a gym, Dehece de Campoamor, Spain Total area 95 m² 2 bedrooms

Obtaining permanent residence and Spanish citizenship

Permanent residence permit

A Spanish residence permit obtained for investment does not require your permanent presence in the country. However, if you applied for a resident card for permanent and legal residence in Spain, after 5 years you and your loved ones will have the opportunity to apply for permanent residence.

Those planning to become a permanent resident of the kingdom should not be absent from the country longer:

• 6 months in a row;
• 10 months in total for the 5 years preceding the filing of the application for permanent residence.

The remaining requirements of the immigration authorities are standard: the applicant has no violations of the law, good health, health insurance and a sufficient degree of integration into Spanish society.

Permanent residents of Spain have virtually the same rights and responsibilities as other Spaniards. You can enjoy government-provided social benefits and benefits without losing your first citizenship. But you cannot be elected to government bodies, you will not be drafted to serve in the army and you will not be hired to work in the police.

Spanish citizenship

If you have been permanently residing in Spain for the last 10 years and you are not afraid of some of the peculiarities of Spanish immigration law, you can apply for naturalization.

Prospective Spanish citizens of foreign origin must:

1. Have lived in the country as a permanent resident for the last 5 years before applying for citizenship;
2. Documentary proof of the legality of your residence in the kingdom;
3. Fluent in Spanish;
4. Understand the lifestyle, traditions and customs of your new homeland;
5. Have no debts to the tax service and other state regulatory authorities;
6. Have an impeccable reputation - have no criminal records or violations of immigration laws;
7. Renounce your first citizenship.

With rare exceptions - for example, when the applicant comes from a country that was a former Spanish colony - Spain does not recognize dual citizenship. If you would like to retain your first citizenship but are unsure whether this is an option, please contact one of our immigration specialists for detailed advice.

List of documents required for obtaining a residence permit for real estate buyers

When applying to the consulate, the applicant for a residence permit must have a full set of documents, both originals and photocopies. Among them:

• Application for a visa D. Draws up in 2 copies and signed by the applicant himself or a person acting as his official representative (for minors). A standard form is used.
• Application on form EX-01 for a residence permit. It is drawn up in 2 copies and signed by the applicant himself or a person acting as his official representative (for minors).
• Receipts. Confirm that the applicant has paid the established fees for issuing an entry visa and residence permit. In the latter case, the established receipt form is 790-052.
• One color photo. The photo size is 4.5 x 3.5 centimeters, always on a white background (as in a passport).
• International passport. The validity of the document at the time of application to the Spanish consulate must be at least 12 months.
• Certificate of no criminal record. The document is required only for persons under the age of majority, and is issued by the authorities of the country of registration or actual residence (5 previous years).
• Documents of financial solvency. Statements are used obtained from a Spanish bank, where the applicant has a cash account with the amount necessary for living during the entire period of the residence permit.

When calculating the amount required for living, you must proceed from a need equal to 400% IPREM (in 2021 it is 564.90 euros) * 12 months + 100% IPREM * 12 months for each subsequent family member. Thus, the account must have at least 70 thousand euros per person for annual security. For example, for a family of three people, the amount of savings in a bank account should be from 40,673 (27,115 + 6,779 + 6,779) euros and above.

• Documents confirming income. These include certificates received at the place of employment indicating the position and level of earnings (form 2-NDFL), constituent documents of companies in which the applicant is the owner of the business or part of it, documents confirming ownership of real estate, bank statements on the status of personal accounts and so on.

For documents confirming employment, it is also necessary to provide confirmation of the possibility of remote work, since the applicant will have to spend more than half of the time a year in Spain.

Financial documents play a very important role, as they are considered by the receiving party as a guarantee of eliminating the need to provide foreign citizens applying for a residence permit with jobs and social benefits. At the same time, foreign citizens are not prohibited from opening their own business in the country or being one of the co-founders of companies with subsequent receipt of dividends.

• A health insurance policy that provides, among other things, for the organization of repatriation of the deceased to his homeland in the event of his death. A medical certificate confirming the absence of serious diseases that pose a danger to life and health.
• Bill of sale for purchased real estate with completion by a notary and an extract from the national Property Register.
• Motivation letter. A document drawn up by the applicant in free form with a detailed disclosure of the reasons that prompted him to move to live in Spain.

Obtaining a residence permit in Spain with Imperial & Legal

For many years, qualified lawyers at Imperial & Legal have successfully resolved issues related to obtaining a residence permit and organizing relocation to the countries of the European Union and the UK.

Although Spain is rightfully considered one of the few European jurisdictions where the authorities treat foreign investors favorably and do not create additional administrative and bureaucratic barriers, the process of obtaining a residence permit for a person who is not familiar with the peculiarities of European legislation is unthinkable without competent legal support.

With the specialists of Imperial & Legal, you can obtain a Spanish residence permit in just 4 steps.

1

Contact Imperial & Legal

Duration: 1 day

A consultation with an Imperial & Legal specialist can be carried out either in our company’s office, or remotely by phone or via video call via WhatsApp/Zoom/Skype.

After signing a service agreement, the company’s lawyers will carefully study the client’s situation in order to eliminate the possibility of refusal at the preliminary stage of preparation and present your individual circumstances in the most favorable light.

2

Preparation of documents and submission of application

Duration: 2 – 4 weeks

After conducting a preliminary due diligence check, our lawyers will prepare all the documents that need to be attached to the application for an investor’s Golden Visa to Spain. All copies of documents must be notarized and legalized.

Our specialists will help you choose the best way to invest, if necessary, select a suitable property and open an investment account in a Spanish bank.

3

Applying for a Spanish Golden Visa and making investments

Duration: up to 4 weeks

After receiving an investor visa to Spain, you need to invest funds according to the chosen scheme. Imperial & Legal lawyers will then prepare and submit an application for a Spanish residence permit.

4

Moving to Spain

Duration: up to 4 weeks

After receiving approval from the immigration authorities, if necessary, our specialists will help organize the move of your family to a new place of residence, where you will need to submit biometrics and receive a resident card.

Residence permit in Spain

What is important to know about a residence permit in Spain

Requirements for a residence permit in Spain in 2021

Becoming a citizen of Spain is the cherished goal of many of our compatriots from Russia. The procedure prior to acquiring citizenship is the registration of a residence permit (residence permit) for Spain in 2021. Its holders have the right to freely travel and work within Spain and the entire European Union.

How to obtain a residence permit in Spain for Russians on your own

The holder of a Spanish residence permit is required to live in Spain for most of the year, namely 183 days a year. If this period is shorter, the authorities have the right to refuse extension.

Foreign citizens can obtain a residence permit in Spain on the following grounds:

• marriage with a citizen of the country;
• acquisition of real estate;
• family reunification program;
• obtaining education and others.

Any grounds on which a Russian applies for a residence permit must have official confirmation in the form of certificates and certificates. The basic package for obtaining a residence permit includes:

1. Application in form EX (01-11) in two copies. The procedure for filling it out depends on the type of residence permit.

2. Original and copy of foreign passport. Its validity period must expire no earlier than 3 months before the residence permit expires.

3. Information about the availability of your own or rented real estate. This could be a bill of sale or a long-term lease agreement of at least 10 years.

4. Health insurance policy valid throughout the European Union.

5. Documents on the applicant’s solvency – salary certificate received at the place of work, income statements (for individual entrepreneurs), bank account statements.

6. Conclusion of the medical commission on the citizen’s state of health. It is required to confirm the absence of sexually transmitted and other contagious diseases.

7. Certificate of good conduct. This document is issued by authorized bodies in Russia. You can get it through Multifunction.

8. Receipt for payment of the consular fee.

9. If an applicant for a residence permit moves with a child, a foreign passport and a birth certificate of the minor are attached. Any document confirming relationship can be used as the latter.

10. Notarized consent of the parents or one of them to leave. Provided when a minor leaves Russia accompanied by a second parent or third parties.

Purchase of real estate

Obtaining the right to temporary residence through the purchase of real estate is available exclusively to wealthy Russians. As part of this direction, a foreign citizen must purchase real estate in the amount of 500,000 euros. The purpose and characteristics of the object do not matter. After the purchase and sale agreement has been concluded and officially registered, the buyer can apply for an investor residence. This is a kind of residence permit, valid for 24 months. At the end of this period, the residence can be extended for another 24 months and 5 years.

The advantage of this method is that a Russian does not need to reside permanently in the country. To obtain a residence permit, he only needs to come here once a year. In this case, the purchased premises can be rented out. After the third extension expires, the owner receives the right to submit documents for permanent residence. A prerequisite for purchasing real estate in Spain is the absence of a criminal record and health insurance valid throughout the EU.

The purchase of real estate is not considered the main condition for obtaining a residence permit. The applicant only needs to enter into a long-term lease agreement for the property. This option is considered the “cheapest” among wealthy immigrants, since it requires relatively small investments.

Investor visa

This type of entry permit is otherwise called a “Golden Visa”. It can be obtained by Russians who are ready to invest their own funds in the Spanish economy, without using loans. You can do this by:

• opening your own business;
• investments in socially significant business projects;
• investing 1 million euros in an existing enterprise;
• purchase of securities in an amount of at least 2 million euros;
• opening a deposit in a Spanish bank in the amount of 1 million euros.

An investment visa has the following features:

• the right to live freely in Spain for a whole year, without any restrictions on the length of stay;
• the opportunity to visit all Schengen states and live there under the same conditions;
• registration within 60 days;
• the initial residence permit is valid for 24 months, then it can be extended for the same period, after its expiration - for 5 years;
• after the third extension expires, the investor can apply for permanent residence;
• An investor visa allows you to run your own business in Spain.

Spouses and children of foreign investors have an equal right to obtain a residence permit through family reunification. A residence permit for investors and owners of Spanish real estate does not imply the right to work. Since it is issued to extremely wealthy foreigners with an annual income of 28,000 euros per person. It is assumed that persons with this level of income do not need employment.

Why is there information on the Internet that a Spanish residence permit through investment is obtained in two stages?

If we do not take into account the step-by-step plan that we presented earlier, then investors actually become residents of Spain in 2 large stages:
The first is when they receive an investor’s “golden visa” at home, having made investments in the Spanish economy.

The second is when they arrive in the country of their residence, they take biometrics and issue a plastic resident card for themselves and their family.

At all stages, your reliable consultants will be experienced immigration lawyers from Imperial & Legal.

What types of investment in a Spanish residence permit are the most reliable?

Imperial & Legal specialists note two ways to place investments in Spain, which have a fairly high degree of reliability:

1. Purchasing real estate worth €500,000 or more is an equally effective investment method for both those who plan to move and those who need resident status only for free movement within Europe.
2. Purchasing government bonds and debentures worth at least €2,000,000. It is unlikely that you will increase your capital in this way, but you will definitely be able to save it.