3 Ways to Legally
Emigrate to Spain in 2026

Digital Nomad, Start Up & Student Visas

For many years now Spain has been considered one the best destinations for both tourists and expats offering warm climate and, compared to France and Italy, affordable rent and cost of living (check our article of the cost of living in Valencia).

As a result, the number of foreigners living in Spain is constantly increasing, reaching almost 9 million people or around 18% of the total Spanish population in 2024 (5% of European origin and 13% outside of the EU). In some regions the percentage is even higher, like in Valencia where approximately 25% of registered citizens are foreigners.

So today, we discuss documents and requirements, as well as pros and cons of the most popular types of legal emigration to the Spanish Kingdom. We want this article to serve you as a Guide on how to choose the most suitable residence according to your needs.

There are 3 main ways to get long-term Spanish residence: Start up, digital nomad and student visa. Let’s look at each option in detail.

1. Start Up Residence

A startup visa, also known as residencia para emprendedores, is a residence permit with the right to work in Spain for foreign citizens and it is requested when the applicant has an original, innovative and scalable project that he or she wants to launch and develop in Spain.

The initial residence is issued for a period of 3 years and later can be extended for 2 more years if the resident successfully continues developing the project according to the previously approved business plan. After 5 years of start up visa, you are allowed to apply for a 5-year permanent residence permit and later apply for Spanish citizenship. Both the applicant and his/her family members (minor children and spouse) can apply. The start up project can have more than one main applicant.

The unique feature of this type of residency is that its holder is obligated to open a business within the first 6 months of the permit's validity, requiring a separate application. Although the application itself does not mention a 6-month period, our practice shows that if the business is not registered within the first half-a-year, the residence can be revoked.

IMPORANT: The resident MUST open a business within 6 months of the visa approval

1.1 Start Up / Documents & Requirements

The Project

modern, innovative, scalable and unique for the Spanish market. It can be a software or hardware IT (most of them are) project or related to a certain technical innovation in the existing traditional markets.
Founder's CV

The contents must, of course, be relevant to the qualifications for the project. That is, if you are fulfilling the CFO or CMO functions in the project, you must have the relevant education and/or work experience.
Passport

Copy of all pages, even blank ones, in color so that all entry and exit stamps are clearly visible.
Legal Stay

Valid Schengen visa or another document confirming the legality of your stay in Spain at the time of submitting the request.
Spanish Medical Insurance

Full coverage, no co-payments, no waiting periods health insurance. We collaborate with several Spanish companies. You can find more info on the eligible health insurance here.
Bank Account Statement

Showing a balance of at least €34.000 for the main applicant, €12.000 for the first family member and around €4.000 per second and third family members. You can show the balance in either a Spanish or any other foreign account. The bank stamp in the certificate is essential.
Paid Government Fee

You must pay the Modelo 790 codigo 038 state fee of approximately €80 for each applicant.
Criminal Record Certificate

This must be obtained from all countries where you have lived in the last 2 years for 180 days or more during a calendar year. An apostille from the issuing country is required. According to the new rules, if you already have a Spanish residence permit (for example, a student residence permit), you don't need to provide proof of a clean criminal record.
Application Form

Standard for filled in by the applicant or by his/her legal representative
Additional docs & requirements

We have also updated our LinkedIn accounts and re-checked our website, blog, and social media accounts connected to the project and your professional qualifications

1.2 Start Up / How & When to Apply

Question:

When to Submit the Docs?

Answer:

During your legal stay in Spain (valid Schengen visa, EU residence or Passport that gives you the right for the visa-free stay)
Question:

Where to Submit?

Answer:

In the Spanish territory
Question:

How to Submit?

Answer:

electronically, via digital signature or an official representative
Question:

What's the waiting period?

Answer:

from 20 to 90 days, depending on the Spanish authorities current workload (in August the process stalls as government employees go on vacation)
Question:

Can family members apply?

Answer:

Yes, spouse and minor children
Question:

Is there an age limit?

Answer:

For main applicants (founders) no. For children its officially under 18, but there are ways to submit those who are older as well

CHANCES OF APPROVAL: 50/50. Since the decision on your project is made by the Spanish Ministry of Economics (ENISA/UGE), the likelihood of approval of your business plan depends entirely on the project's compliance with the requirements of innovation, uniqueness, and scalability.

Health Insurance for Spanish Residence Permit | Compare Prices

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Cost of Living in Valencia | April 2025

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2. Digital Nomad Residence

This type of residence, also know as nomada digital is currently the most popular among expats due to high chances of approval, if you have all the necessary documents.

In comparison to the start up visa where everything depends on if the Spanish authorities deem your project viable and interesting for their economy, digital nomad is approved when you provide confirmation of a legal remote work.

As with Start Up visa, the resident must pay taxes in the Spanish territory, usually the difference between his/her country of origin's and Spanish taxes. For nomads the tax rate is between 20% and 30% depending on the employement.

IMPORTANT: the nomad visa gives you the right to have the maximum of 20% of your income from Spanish companies, so 80% of you income must come from remote work

Minimum Income Amounts

Main applicant: 3000€

+ the spouse: 3800€

+ first child: 4200€

+ second child: 4500€

2.1 Digital Nomad / Documents for Main Applicant

Application Form

Standard form that is filled in by the applicant or his/her legal representative
Paid Government Fee

Modelo 790 codigo 038 state fee of approximately €80
Passport scan

All pages (including blank ones) in color
Criminal Record Certificate

with an apostille from all the countries where the applicant lived in the last 2 years + a declaration stating that you do not have any criminal records in the countries where you've lived in the last 5 years.
Job Contract

An employment contract or cooperation agreement with a foreign (not Spanish) company signed more than 3 months before applying for a residence permit. This type of residence permit assumes that you work remotely for a foreign company, either as an employee or as a self-employed individual.
Company registration

A certificate that states that the company has been established more than 1 year ago at the time of the residence permit application. The extract from the register must be apostilled.
Official Remote Work

A letter from the company stating that the applicant can perform their job duties remotely from Spain, stating the job description, salary, and conditions for performing duties.
Bank Account Statement

An applicant’s bank account statement for the last 3 months, which should reflect receipts of salary payments from the company
Diploma

An applicant’s diploma (if the education coincides with the job responsibilities of the applicant) or other documents confirming the qualifications and work experience sufficient to perform job responsibilities in the company
CV

An applicant's resume, confirming the experience in the job poisition
Spanish Health Insurance

Private Spanish health insurance for at least 1 year. No co-payments, no waiting periods, full coverage. Read more about medical insurance here.

2.2 Digital Nomad / Family members

As with the Start Up residence, the Main applicant can submit his/her family members as well, providing additional documents and financial means in order to support them. If approved, the family members receive the official right to work in Spain legally.

Application Form

Standard form that is filled in by the applicant or his/her legal representative
Paid Government Fee

Modelo 790 codigo 038 state fee of approximately €80
Passport scan

All pages (including blank ones) in color
Criminal Record Certificate

with an apostille from all the countries where the applicant lived in the last 2 years + a declaration stating that you do not have any criminal records in the countries where you've lived in the last 5 years.
Spanish Health Insurance

With the same coverage as the main applicant's
Marriage and Birth Certificates

Marriage certificate for the spouse and birth certificates for the childers, to confirm kinship with the main applicant

2.3 Digital Nomad / How & When to Apply

Question:

When to Submit the Docs?

Answer:

During your legal stay in Spain (valid Schengen visa, EU residence or Passport that gives you the right for the visa-free stay)
Question:

Where to Submit?

Answer:

In the Spanish territory
Question:

How to Submit?

Answer:

electronically, via digital signature or an official representative
Question:

What's the waiting period?

Answer:

officially up to 20 days, but it always depends on the Spanish authorities current workload (in August the process stalls as government employees go on vacation)
Question:

Can family members apply?

Answer:

Yes, spouse and minor children
Question:

Is there an age limit?

Answer:

For main applicants (founders) no. For children its officially under 18, but there are ways to submit those who are older as well

3. Student Visa

The third option of legal emigration to Spain is the student visa. Even though officially it is not considered by the Consulate the emigration visa, it is one of the most affordable ways to legally move to Spain for a long-term (at least 2 years).

If you are between 18 and 30 years old, and you do not have an income necessary for nomad or start up, but you still want to come to Spain to learn the language and find a job, then the study visa via language courses is for you.

This visa is usually obtained through a 1-year language program, the price of which starts at 3900€. The required documents include:

Acceptance letter form the school (course must be paid in full)
Health insurance
Accommodation confirmation for 3-4 weeks
Criminal record certificate with an apostille
Medical certificate
Motivational letter
Financial means
Passport
Photos
Application form

PLEASE NOTE: We have a separate article in our blog with everything you need to know about the documents, costs and requirements for this type of visa. Please, read it carefully and ask us any questions you might have

Read the articles below

Guide to Student Visa to Spain in 2026

Today, we’ll walk you through the process of applying for a long-term Spanish student visa using an invitation letter from a language school or university. We’ll cover everything you need to know

University Pathway Program in Spain | Language and Exam preparation

We offer you unique courses to prepare for universities in Spain, which include both studying subjects and learning Spanish from scratch

Long-term courses for Spanish student visa | Get discounts

Up to 1 year of Spanish language courses for moving to Valencia, Barcelona, Alicante, Madrid and other Spanish cities. We provide discounts and a student visa support

3.1 Student Visa / How & When to Apply

Question:

When to Submit the Docs?

Answer:

Anytime during the whole year
Question:

Where to Submit?

Answer:

Spanish Consulate or BLS Visa center in your country and, in some cases, from the Spanish territory
Question:

How to Submit?

Answer:

in person
Question:

What's the waiting period?

Answer:

60 days, but it could be faster or slower depending on the country and current worldload of the department
Question:

Can family members apply?

Answer:

Only with higher education
Question:

Is there an age limit?

Answer:

18-30, with those older sometimes having visa denied

4. Comparison

Let's look at all the options and compare them in terms of costs and compatibility to your goals and plans:

To summarize, if you want to emigrate with your family member and have remote work with a salary exceeding 5.000€, you can apply for a Digital Nomad visa. If you are developing a start up project and can show 50.000€ in your bank account, you should apply for a Start Up visa.

If you are 30 years old or younger, you want to travel alone or with your spouse/couple, then the best way for you is to request a student visa with Spanish language courses.

In Liberty Lingvo we provide everything you need for a student visa. We help with the school, health insurance and consult you on the docs and requirements for the Consulate. We´ll be happy to help!

Ask us a question

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