Simple Immigration Solution

Life in the Spanish territory can be thriving and exciting, especially for people that are looking for a fresh start. Spain offers a lifestyle that many people desire, which is why there are currently about 6 million expats living in Spanish cities. Expats are drawn by the beautiful sunny weather, breathtaking beaches, and quality of life.
If you are thinking about packing your things and moving to Spain but do not know how to do that yet, this article will serve as a guide on how you can move to Spain.
1. Who Can Move to Spain?
Anyone can move to Spain; however, the moving process is easier for certain groups of people:
• EU/EEA and Switzerland citizens can pack their bags and move to Spain without obtaining a Spanish visa. They can live and work in Spain for three months. However, if they want to stay for a period longer than three months, they must take other legal steps.
• Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens must acquire a temporary residence if they want to stay in Spain for more than three months. They must live in Spain for five continuous years so that they can become eligible for permanent residency in Spain.
2. How Can I Move to Spain as an EU Citizen?
Spain is part of the European Union, which means that as an EU citizen, you cherish the same rights are other EU nationals. You are allowed to seek employment, study in another member state of the EU, and move freely from one EU country to another without obtaining an entry visa.
However, as an EU citizen moving to Spain, you will need to register and be added to the Central Register of Foreign Nationals and obtain a residence certificate at a Foreigners’ Office or local police station within three months of arriving in Spain.
3. How Can I Move to Spain as a Non-EU Citizen?
Depending on why you wish to move to Spain, you must select the type of long-stay visa and residence permit corresponding to your travel purpose. You need a long-stay visa to apply for a residence permit. A long-stay (D visa) visa will allow you to stay in the Spanish territory for long-term residency.
Here is how you can move to Spain for over three months:
– Move to Spain for work.
– Move to Spain to study.
– Move to Spain for family reunification.
– Move to Spain for retirement.
Moving to Spain to Work
Unfortunately, as a non-EU citizen, you cannot just move to Spain and get a job there. You need to obtain a work visa if you want to move to Spain and participate in a paid activity.
Spain offers a variety of work visas for anyone who wants to work there and is always in search of highly skilled individuals for professions in employee shortage.
You can also apply for an EU Blue Card if you are a highly skilled individual who can fill the position in a job with a worker shortage.
 Moving to Spain to Study
To get a study visa, you first need to be enrolled in an accredited educational institution in Spain, and then apply for a Spain student visa.
Once you obtain your student visa and arrive in Spain, you need to get a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) as proof that you are allowed to stay legally in the country for more than six months.
A student visa will also permit you to work part-time or in a temporary position as long as it does not affect your studies.
Moving to Spain for Family Reunification
If you have a family member, who is a legal resident of Spain, you can join them by applying for a family reunification visa.
However, before applying for a family visa, your family member must have their residence permit renewed. Once the family member has his/her residence permit renewed, you can apply for a family visa at the Spanish diplomatic missions in your country.
Moving to Spain for Retirement
Although Spain does not have a designated visa for retirement, it offers other pathways that can lead to retirement. Two of the most popular ways for retirement in Spain among foreign retirees are the Golden visa, also known as the Spain Investor visa, and the Non-Lucrative Visa.
To be eligible for retirement in Spain, you must have a clear criminal record and meet the financial requirements. Therefore, you must be financially independent and have sufficient funds to support yourself.
A Golden visa can also lead to permanent residency in Spain.
4. How Can I Move to Spain Permanently?
You acquire the right to become a permanent resident of Spain if you reside legally in the Spanish territory for a continuous period of five years. However, certain groups of people can enjoy their right to permanent residency before completing their five-year residency in Spain. This includes the following:
– Workers or self-employed individuals that have reached the age for a pension when they stop working and have lived in Spain for more than three years.
– Self-employed individuals who take up early retirement if they have worked in Spain for the preceding 12 months and have lived in Spain for more than three years.
– Workers or self-employed individuals who have resided in Spain for more than two years and had to stop working due to permanent incapacity to work.
– Workers or self-employed individuals who, after three years of working and living in Spain, work in an employed or self-employed capacity in another member state but still retain their residence in Spain.
5. Can I Apply for Spanish Citizenship After Moving to Spain?
Acquiring Spanish citizenship takes more effort than just simply moving to Spain. After 10 years of legal residence in Spain with your residence permit, you can easily apply for citizenship in Spain.
Other ways you can obtain citizenship in Spain include citizenship by birth, by residency, by marriage, by descent, and by option.
Spanish citizenship also grants you the right to vote.