Your first residence permit in Spain: five routes that work in 2026.
Everything starts with the first permit. It’s what sets the clock that matters most running — 5 years to permanent residence, with citizenship beyond that. Choosing it is simpler than it looks, as long as you’re working from current rules rather than old articles.
First, what’s gone: residence by investment (the Golden Visa) hasn’t been issued since 3 April 2025. If a website is still offering “Spanish residency for buying property”, it’s out of date.
What works now:
- Non-Lucrative Visa — for people living on passive income from about €2,400 a month. Move without needing to work.
- Digital Nomad Visa (Ley 28/2022) — remote work for foreign clients, income from 200% of the minimum wage.
- Highly-Qualified Professional / EU Blue Card — a job offer from €41,356 a year (or €33,085 at the reduced threshold).
- Entrepreneur Visa — for an innovative project with a favourable official report.
- Work visa (RD 1155/2024) — the classic route through an employment contract.
A first permit usually runs 1 year, then renews on a 2+2 pattern. At the 5-year mark, you qualify for permanent residence.
Three myths worth clearing before you prepare for things that don’t exist. The DELE A2 language exam and the CCSE society test are for citizenship only — there’s nothing to sit for a residence permit. The “6 months a year” presence rule isn’t universal; requirements depend on the permit type. And state fees follow the Modelo 790 forms (052 for the visa, 012 for the TIE card) and vary by nationality — there’s no flat €60 per person.
So which route is yours? Book a free consultation — we’ll compare the options against your income, profession, and family, and get your 5-year clock running.