EU residents and those covered by the European Economic Agreement (Norway and Iceland) don’t need residence visas. But, if you intend to stay in Spain for an extended period, you will need a Foreign Identity Number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero, or NIE) and may also need a Residence Card (Tarjeta de Residencia).

You can apply through the Oficina de Extranjeros/Oficina d’Estrangers (available in English, French and Spanish). Once you have settled in, you’ll want to head over to your local city hall (Ajuntament if you are living in Barcelona) and add your name to the Padró Municipal d’Habitants, the residency registry which entitles you to other benefits.

Non-EU Citizens
Everyone else, roll up your sleeves. This is where the cat and mouse game begins and the rubber-stamp collecting can get complicated.

First, you’ll need to decide on the most appropriate visa for you. The broad categories include student, residency and a combined work and residency visa.

There are also visas for family members, family reunification, retired persons, self-employment and investors.

 In all cases, though, you’ll want to coordinate with the local Spanish consulate in your home country, which will act as the middleman for all visa-related matters.

Other things to keep in mind:
•    Confirm that what’s listed on the consulate’s website is the most up to date set of requirements. Rules change, so call and ask for specific lists of necessary forms, essential documents and certifications.
•    Cross-check requirements with the Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales’ Secretaría de Estado de Inmigración y Emigración, as there may be other forms you need once you get here.
•    Verify if visas will be issued for a certain period of time and if they can be renewed. Some are issued for 180 days and no more, while others may be initially offered for a year with renewals extending for two years.
•    Build in extra time for getting documents translated.
•    Clarify what tasks employers will organise and what burden falls back to you.
•    Schedule time in Barcelona to get authorisations from proper agencies.
•    Expect the process to be costly and take several months to complete.

Residence Visa

There are a few types of residence visa that allow you to live in Spain, but not to work or conduct ‘lucrative activities’ here.

These visas include:

Retired resident: For this, you’ll need medical and criminal record certificates, documents showing financial status and a passport valid for at least one year. Plus, you may need to prove family ties to someone already living in Spain.

Family residency: If you’ve been resident in Spain for one year and have your residency renewed for another 12 months you can make moves to ‘sponsor’ family members. Visa applications can be submitted for a spouse, unmarried children under 18 and parents (either the resident’s or the spouse’s) if they are dependants or their stay can be otherwise justified. The foreigner ‘sponsoring’ the family members must get approval from the Delegación or Subdelegación del Gobierno. Copies of this authorisation and the sponsoring resident’s passport, along with certified birth and marriage certificates and proof of funds, may also be needed.

Labour & Residence Visa

There a handful of different live-work visas, issued for fixed periods of time or certain kinds of jobs, but you may have to trudge through several layers of bureaucracy to get all the right papers together.

Employee visa: Starting your life in Barcelona with a job contract will make the visa process much easier, but given the competitive market and increasing number of foreigners scrapping for these jobs, getting hired from abroad can be tricky.

In many cases, your employer will guide you through the process or submit documentation on your behalf. But, in order to complete your visa application at the consulate’s office in your country of origin, you may need a letter from the Immigration Office in Spain (Oficina de Extranjero/Oficina d’Estrangers; Avinguda Marquès de l’Argentera 4, www.map.es, 93 520 14 10) granting you and your company work permit authorisation.


Reunite with an EU citizen: Spouses, children and parents of Spanish or EU citizens may apply for this visa and be granted the same work privileges as an EU citizen. You’ll need to prove family ties and will also need a copy of the sponsoring Spanish or EU citizen’s passport and Empadronamiento, the piece of paper that lists their residency in the Ajuntament’s books.

Student Visa

If you’re coming to Barcelona for studies, training or research, you can apply for a student visa. You can simultaneously request visas for your spouse or any children under 18 for the duration of your studies. Among the standard stack of documents, expect to show your admission or pre-registration letter from a recognised educational institution, a clean criminal record certificate, and, if you’re below 18, notarised authorisation from your parents or legal guardian to study abroad.

Other Useful Information

Once you clear the hurdles and walk away with a visa fixed to your passport, you’ll have a month to apply for your Foreign Identity Number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero, or NIE) and possibly a Foreign Residence Card (Tarjeta de Identificación de Extranjero, or TIE).

You can apply in person at the Oficina de Extranjeros/Oficina d’Estrangers (available in English, French and Spanish) or at the Police Department. Some visas will also require you to enrol in the Social Security system (National Social Security Institute, INSS).

Reprinted with permission of Explorer Publishing from Barcelona Complete Residents' Guide on October 2008.