Moving to Spain
Cheap by western European standards, generous to people with income — and unusually forgiving to those who arrive without papers.
Spain offers the same basic proposition as Portugal — an EU country that admits people who have money rather than a job offer — but with a larger economy, better internal transport, and a considerably longer wait for citizenship. Ten years, against Portugal's five, is the single fact that decides between them for most people.
Against that, Spain has something no other European country has at this scale: arraigo, a set of routes that regularise people who have already lived in the country for two or three years, including those who arrived without status. Hundreds of thousands of residence permits are issued this way, and a 2025 reform widened the routes further.
The golden visa was abolished in April 2025. Guides still advertising a Spanish residence permit in exchange for a property purchase are out of date; that route is closed to new applicants.
| Region | Western Europe |
| Capital | Madrid |
| Population | 48.8 million |
| Foreign-born residents | about 18% of residents |
| Official language(s) | Spanish (plus Catalan, Galician, Basque regionally) |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
Free: the Spain visa checklist
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Why people move to Spain
- Non-lucrative and digital nomad visas admit people with income and no Spanish employer.
- Cost of living is materially below France, Germany, or the Netherlands, especially outside Madrid and Barcelona.
- Public healthcare is strong, and Spain's system consistently ranks among the world's best on outcomes.
- Citizens of Latin American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines, and Equatorial Guinea naturalise after only two years.
- Regularisation routes exist for people already in Spain, which almost no other EU country offers at scale.
- Excellent internal rail and flight connections, and a climate that is the reason many people come.
What to know before you commit
- Ten years to citizenship for most nationalities, and Spain formally requires renouncing your original nationality.
- Unemployment is persistently among the highest in the EU and youth unemployment much higher still.
- Salaries are low relative to Northern Europe, and the rental market in Madrid and Barcelona is severely tight.
- The golden visa closed in April 2025 — property purchase no longer confers residence.
- Regional bureaucracy varies enormously; a process that is routine in Valencia can be slow in Barcelona.
- Wealth tax and inheritance tax vary by region and can be significant for wealthier residents.
The eight guides
Work Visas
How to get a work permit and which routes actually exist
Student Visas
Studying there, and whether study leads to residency
Family & Spouse Visas
Sponsoring a partner, children, or parents
Permanent Residency
The routes to a long-term, renewable status
Citizenship
Naturalisation timelines, tests, and dual nationality
Cost of Living
What a month actually costs, with rent and salary context
Healthcare
Who is covered, from what date, and what insurance you need
Finding a Job
The job market, in-demand fields, and how hiring works
Official sources
- Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration
- Immigration portal — Portal de Inmigracion
- Consular visa information
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.