Start with four facts
Write down your nationality, where you are legally resident now, how your income is earned, and whether you need to work in Spain. A spouse, dependent child, Spanish/EU family member, study plan or existing Spanish residence changes the route.
Decision table
| If this is your situation | Investigate first |
|---|---|
| EU/EEA/Swiss citizen | No visa or work permit. For a stay over three months, complete EU registration with EX-18 and obtain the green certificate. |
| Remote employee or contractor abroad | International teleworker authorisation through UGE. It is not the non-lucrative route; check employer/client history, the 20% Spanish-client ceiling and SMI-linked income formula. |
| Spanish job offer | Employer-led work authorisation, highly qualified professional, EU Blue Card or another employer route. The job, salary, qualification and employer determine the filing. |
| Study plan | Long-stay study stay (estancia por estudios), not ordinary residence. Work compatibility and later modification are separate steps. |
| Passive income and no work | Non-lucrative residence: EX-01, 400% IPREM for the applicant plus 100% per dependent, and qualifying health cover. |
| Family connection | Check the exact sponsor regime: EX-19 for qualifying family of an EU citizen, or EX-24 for qualifying relatives of a Spanish national. |
| Already in Spain without regular status | Read the current arraigo categories and evidence in the amended regulation. Do not rely on the closed 2026 extraordinary window. |
What is not a route
An NIE is a number, not residence. A padrón is a municipal address record, not immigration status. A property purchase does not create a new investor visa route. The investor/golden-visa regime should not be presented as available to a new applicant.
Build the file in the right order
- Read the official information sheet for the route.
- Identify the receiving authority and whether you apply abroad or in Spain.
- Check passport validity, criminal-record period, medical wording, apostille/legalisation and sworn-translation rules.
- Calculate funds or income using the correct index: IPREM for NLV; SMI-linked formula for DNV.
- Only then book travel, insurance, legal help or a long-term rental.
Go directly to the source
Ministry · Official immigration formsBOE · Immigration regulationUGE · International teleworkersMinistry · Study stay
Official requirements, prices and availability can change. Open the relevant source before applying, booking or paying.