Spain Visa & Immigration Services

Hudson McKenzie's immigration team advises individuals, families and businesses on Spanish immigration — from Digital Nomad and Non-Lucrative Visas through to highly qualified professional permits, EU Blue Cards, entrepreneur routes and family residence.

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Whether you are relocating to Spain, working remotely from Spain, expanding a business, transferring employees or planning a longer-term move, our team provides guidance tailored to your circumstances. Speak to our team to find the right route for you.

Spain offers residence options for individuals who want to relocate without taking up conventional employment with a Spanish employer. Two of the most relevant routes are the Digital Nomad Visa and Non-Lucrative Visa.

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Digital Nomad Visa: For qualifying non-EU nationals who want to live in Spain while working remotely using telecommunications and computer systems. The route is primarily designed for international teleworkers whose employment or professional activity is connected to businesses outside Spain.

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Applicants must satisfy the applicable professional, financial, social security and documentary requirements. Eligible family members may also be able to accompany the principal applicant.

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Non-Lucrative Residence Visa: For financially self-sufficient non-EU nationals who want to reside in Spain without carrying out work or professional activity. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial resources and meet requirements relating to health insurance and supporting documentation.

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	Digital Nomad Visa	Non-Lucrative Visa
Best for	International remote workers	Financially independent applicants
Work permitted	Qualifying remote work	No
Financial requirements	Yes	Yes
Family applications	Available, subject to eligibility	Available, subject to eligibility
Main consideration	Working relationship must meet the applicable rules	Applicant must be able to reside without working

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The correct route depends on what you intend to do while living in Spain. A Non-Lucrative Visa should not be treated as an alternative to the Digital Nomad route where the applicant intends to continue working remotely.

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Not sure which option applies? Contact us for advice specific to your circumstances.

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Spain offers several immigration routes for non-EU nationals taking up employment or professional assignments in Spain. The appropriate category depends on the role, qualifications, employer and structure of the employment relationship.

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Highly Qualified Professional: For qualifying managerial, specialist and professional roles meeting Spain's requirements for highly qualified employment.

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EU Blue Card: For qualifying highly skilled non-EU professionals taking up eligible employment in Spain. Requirements can include qualifications or relevant professional experience, the employment terms and applicable salary thresholds.

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Intra-Company Transfer: For qualifying employees transferring from an overseas business to an entity in Spain within the same corporate group.

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General Employee Work and Residence Permit: For non-EU nationals taking up employment in Spain where a specialist international mobility category does not apply.

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	Highly Qualified Professional	EU Blue Card	Intra-Company Transfer
Best for	Senior or specialist professionals	Highly skilled professionals	Existing employees transferring within a group
Spanish employment/assignment	Required	Required	Intra-group assignment
Qualifications/experience	Relevant criteria apply	Relevant criteria apply	Depends on transfer category
Salary requirements	Applicable requirements must be met	Applicable threshold applies	Depends on category

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Salary thresholds and other requirements can change and should be checked at the point of application.

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For the latest on Spanish immigration policy changes, see our Insight article: Spain Implements Immigration Changes.‍

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Not sure which route fits your business or your role? Speak to our team — we assess eligibility and assist with the immigration process.

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Spain provides immigration routes for non-EU nationals who intend to establish or undertake qualifying business and professional activities.

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Entrepreneur Residence Permit: For qualifying entrepreneurs proposing a business project that meets the requirements of Spain's entrepreneur immigration framework. This is a specialist immigration category and not every new business will qualify.

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Self-Employed Residence and Work Permit: For individuals intending to establish or carry out an independent business, trade or professional activity in Spain under the general immigration regime.

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	Entrepreneur Route	Self-Employed Route
Best for	Qualifying entrepreneurial projects	Independent business or professional activity
Business assessment	Specialist entrepreneur criteria apply	Proposed activity must meet applicable requirements
Work permitted	Subject to approved immigration status	Subject to approved immigration status
Suitable for every new business?	No	Eligibility depends on the proposed activity

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Choosing between the entrepreneur and general self-employed routes requires an assessment of the proposed activity, the applicant's circumstances and the applicable immigration criteria.

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Hudson McKenzie can assess the proposed business or professional activity, identify the appropriate immigration route and assist with the supporting documentation and residence application.

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Spanish immigration law provides additional routes for families, students and foreign nationals who have established long-term residence in Spain.

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Family Reunification: Qualifying foreign nationals legally resident in Spain may be able to bring eligible family members to Spain. The requirements depend on the immigration status of the person already resident and the family relationship.

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Family Members of EU Citizens: Different residence provisions apply to qualifying family members of EU citizens exercising free-movement rights in Spain.

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Student Visa: For qualifying non-EU nationals undertaking eligible studies or educational activities in Spain. Requirements depend on the programme, institution, duration of study and applicant's circumstances.

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Long-Term Residence: Foreign nationals who have completed the required period of legal and continuous residence in Spain may become eligible for long-term residence, subject to the statutory requirements.

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Route	Who It's For
Family Reunification	Eligible family members of qualifying residents
EU Family Residence	Qualifying family members of EU citizens
Student Visa	International students undertaking eligible studies
Long-Term Residence	Eligible foreign nationals with the required period of lawful residence

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Periods spent outside Spain can affect eligibility for long-term residence, so an applicant's residence history should be reviewed before an application is made.

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For a recent update relevant to this route, see our Insight article: Spain Relaxes Family Visa Rules.

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Please reach out to Hudson McKenzie for an assessment to determine the best route for your circumstances.

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Why Choose Hudson McKenzie

Hudson McKenzie advises individuals, entrepreneurs, families and businesses on every stage of Spanish immigration — from Digital Nomad and Non-Lucrative Visas through to work permits, highly qualified professional applications, EU Blue Cards, entrepreneur and self-employed routes, family residence and long-term immigration planning.

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For businesses, we assist with international recruitment, intra-company transfers and the immigration requirements involved in relocating employees to Spain.

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We also provide support with documentation requirements, including legalisation, apostille and translations where required, helping clients prepare applications that meet the relevant Spanish immigration requirements.

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Ready to explore your options? Contact our team for a confidential assessment.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules, financial requirements, salary thresholds and application procedures are subject to change. Please contact Hudson McKenzie for advice tailored to your specific circumstances.

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