First things First, let’s go through applying for and getting a long term Visa
If you are retiring or even still working, the process to apply for a Spanish long term visa can seem confusing, contradictory and even impossible if you only have the Spanish Consulate site or other sites on the internet. Fear Not, this site will provide you with all the most up-to-date and clearly detailed instructions, guiding you through each step on your journey to long term residence in Spain!
On this page we will take you through each step of the process, beginning with the forms that take the most time to process and also provide you with a “NO COST” way to easily and safely download the necessary up-to-date forms you will need with clear instructions on how to fill them out! What could be easier? Keep in mind that once this visa is granted, after one year and three years you will have to go to this link of the Immigration Offices in your city of Spain and register for more time. In this way you can stay for 8 years! After that time you can apply for a Spanish passport!
First Things First. I may seem like a no-brainer, but you have to have a valid and current passport from your home country where you have citizenship! It should be valid with an expiration date at least one year out from today. In all practicality, it should have an expiration date of at least 3 to 5 years from the date you plan to move to Spain. Longer is better! In addition, it should have several blank pages for travel and visa stamps. Again, the more the better, and at least three blank pages at a minimum. If either of these points is an issue…
National Passport:
FIRST APPLY FOR A NEW PASSPORT. There are many services that offer secure as well as express passport services. My wife Kimberly and I used the FedEx Kinkos passport service and had great success. It can be accessed here: FEDEX In addition they provide handy passport photo services as well so you can fill in the online form, submit payment and then take the application paperwork to your nearest FedEx Kinkos office to get your photos done and send it all off to the US Passport Offices.
NOTE: They say it can take up to 8 or 12 weeks to get your new passport. We got ours in 5 weeks so no telling.
NOTE: Do this ASAP and don’t doddle!!! However, if you are wanting to leave for Spain in the next 3-6 months, FIRST do Step One below as you will need your current passport to apply and secure an NIE number. Just make sure your passport is still valid!
NOTE: I would not suggest paying for the credit card size passport card since it does not allow you to get into any countries including your own! It is only good as a form of identification, and your home country drivers license is just as good!
NOTE: If you are planning on renting a car, or even not planning on it, I strongly suggest you go ahead and get your International Drivers Permit before you go. It is needed for most coming from non-EU countries such as the US, Canada and Australia to name a few. For the US, you can apply and pay for this drivers permit at the AAA Travel National Office or at www.e-ita.org. It does not cost much money and in Spain, along with a valid drivers license from your home country, is necessary. The permit is mailed to your home address and can be expedited for an additional charge.
Step One: Get an NIE Number
NIE Foreign Identification Number:
This step is necessary as your NIE Number is required to be put on all other forms to be filled out. It is your Foreigner Identification Number. In addition, when you arrive in Spain you will need it for all sorts of things like registering when you arrive, getting a Spanish bank account, etc. Each ADULT going to Spain in your family needs an NIE Number!
Form EX-15… as shown below, is what you need to download the NIE form, fill it out, and submit it to your nearest Spanish consulate to secure an in person appointment to get your very own NIE number. Click here to apply online at the Spanish Consulate closest to where you live: U.S. List of Spanish Consulates
Note: To go to the Spanish Consulate nearest you, just click on the name of that city consulate listed in blue letters. Once on that site, click on “Consular services” in the yellow main menu bar, and then scroll all the way down the page and click on the “Foreigner Identity Number (NIE). Scroll down to the “APPOINTMENT” link and carefully read ALL the instructions. Then click on the “ACCEPT” button at the bottom. On the next page, scroll down to the “FOREIGN INDENTIFICATION NUMBER (NIE) and select that option. In the page that opens, select a time for the day shown.
Note: Don’t get too frustrated when the option to select a different day for an appointment does not work. That’s just the Spanish way! If the day and times shown do not work for you, just check back to this page in a day or so to select a different day. 👌
Schedule to Complete:
Please carefully read and follow this schedule on completing the various forms as timing is critical!!! I can not stress this enough…
If your current passport is valid as discussed above then first “Apply for you NIE Number”.
If your current passport is NOT valid as discussed above, then first “Apply for a NEW Passport”. Then apply for your NIE Number.
After Steps 1 and 2 above are successfully completed, then apply for your “Valid and Current Criminal Record Certificate”. This is because it takes the longest amount of time. Scroll down this page to get the details at this section below! 😊 This Criminal Record Certificate is only valid for 5 months from the date of Apostille so make sure you are going to submit your visa document within the next 5 months after receiving it.
After Steps 1, 2, and 3 above are successfully completed, then apply for your valid “Medical Certificate”. Scroll down this page to get the details! This Medical Certificate is only valid for 3 months from the day your doctors office stamps it, so make sure you are planning to submit your visa documents within the next 3 months! That would mean that once your receive your Criminal Record Certificate you could wait two months and then get your Medical Certificate completed and then wait 3 more months before submitting all of these documents and your fees to the Spanish Consulate for your visa. But I would strongly suggest submitting all of your documents and fees to the Spanish Consulate as soon as your get all of these documents together!
Then download the other forms and instructions below, print them and fill them out, or if you have Adobe Pro for PDFs you can fill them out and then print them.
Step Two: Get your Visa Documents filled out
Click here to to get online documents from the Spanish Consulate site closest to where you live: U.S. List of Spanish Consulates Just click on the name of that city consulate listed in blue letters. Once on that site, click on “Consular services” in the yellow main menu bar, and then scroll all the way down the page and click on the type of visa you need. In the case of retirees, click on the “Non-working residence visa”. On this page, let’s begin with the first form, the “National visa application form”.
Note: Sometimes the links and the forms do not work. Fear not, the up to date forms with instructions can be easily accessed below for FREE! No strings attached!
National Visa Application:
It seems easy enough as it has instructions in both Spanish and English. However, it’s not clear which parts of the form you should fill out! 😒
No worries… just click below and you can get the form along with clear and easy instructions on how to fill it out.
Proof of Financial Means
This requirement is dependent on the total number of those in your family. If it is just yourself, then you need to be able to show proof that you have the minimum equivalent of $2,800 dollars a month in income. For every additional family member, and extra $700 a month is required on top of the $2,800. Using modern math, that would mean for one couple retiring to Spain, you would have to show proof of at least a monthly income of $3, 500 a month, coming in every month from your retirement and/or savings and/or rental property and/or any thing else. 👍
Do not mention or provide evidence of income from any job regardless of where the job is located or where you get paid. For this type of visa, all monthly income you show must be passive, in example, income that you do not work for.
Note: To fulfill this requirement you must provide copies of your bank statements for the last 12 months and/or your investment accounts and/or rental income and/or annuities.
Note: Make these copies and include them in your visa submission at the very last so your statements are up to date and most current!
Non-lucrative residence authorization application form:
Form EX-01 does not have the English version of the directions. But don’t worry, just get the form and easy to follow directions by clicking below.
Valid and Current Medical Certificate
This is a pretty easy one, especially if you have a family doctor, or if your parent or child is a doctor! No, I’m not so lucky… Just take the form below into your doctor or a walk in clinic and ask that they sign it and stamp it. Keep in mind some medical offices may want to take some blood tests and other stuff just to run up the bill! Hence the statement above for those with a family doctor!
Note: This signed and stamped Medical Certificate is only good for THREE MONTHS from the date of issue. So, do this right before you are ready to mail off all of your paperwork to the Spanish Consulate.
Note: Make sure the doctor signs it, writes in their medical number AND stamps this document!!!
Valid and Current Criminal Record Certificate
This is where it gets a bit detailed, but don’t worry. Just follow these steps and it will turn out great! 😁 This is mandatory for anyone applying for a visa over 18 and you must have lived in the country of your current residence where you are applying for your visa for at least 5 years.
First things first… for the U.S. you need to apply to the US Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Keep in mind that it takes 4-6 weeks to get this certificate completed and then it is valid for just five (5) months after you receive it! Therefore you should do this right after making sure you passport is up to date AND you have received your EIN number!
Note: The criminal record certificate must be legalized by a legally approved Apostille (means officially certified as genuine) and officially translated into Spanish. You MUST submit originals of the criminal certificate, the apostille, and the Spanish translation of the certificate, along with copies of all those documents to the Spanish Consulate when you apply for your visa!
Note: To get your US Department of Justice - FBI criminal record certificate first go to this FBI website to order. Just enter your valid email address where indicated on the page and you will receive an email with your PIN and instructions on how to submit for your FBI criminal record certificate. I would suggest when you submit your application that you sign up to have a hard copy mailed to you as well as the ability to download the results! You can never be too cautious… Once your pay and submit your form and then receive an email that your report is ready which usually takes 4-6 weeks, you sign into your account and download the PDF electronic copy. This is important because you can then email that PDF copy to the service listed below to get your Apostille certification and Criminal Record translated into Spanish.
Note; You will need to get official fingerprints taken to submit for your US Department of Justice - FBI criminal record certificate. Once your receive your email from the FBI with your FBI order confirmation number, you need to get your fingerprints taken and submitted to the FBI. To do so you can check to see if a post office near you provides this service here and if the post office near you offers this service go here to sign up… OR find another service in your area here. Do this as soon as you get your email from the FBI with your FBI order confirmation number!
Note: To get your Apostille certification of your FBI Criminal Record you can submit your request to the US Department of State here… OR search for an Apostille service online. Those services usually cut the time to get your certificate by half. You will pay extra but for us it was well worth it. My wife and I used Southeast Spanish, Inc, SES, Inc. for getting our Apostille of our US Department of Justice - FBI criminal record certificate.
Note; To get your Apostille and other documents formally translated into Spanish, you can go here to find a list of certified and dependable translators near you. My wife and I used Southeast Spanish, Inc, SES, Inc. for getting our Apostille of our US Department of Justice - FBI criminal record and apostille translated and were very satisficed with their service and pricing. They can be reached at:
Dan Hickman, Ph.D. Certified Translation Services, Worldwide Apostille Services 865-263-5625 (Office), 865-235-1275 (Text Messages Only) • Phone Availability: 8AM to 2PM Eastern, Mon-Fri, less after 2PM. • Email Availability: 8AM to 8PM Eastern, Mon-Fri, less on weekends.
Health Insurance
This is another timing thing. 😉You should begin researching your options for health insurance while in Spain anytime you want. You must provide the original and a copy of the public or private health insurance certificate to operate in Spain, paid in advance for one year for all included family members. Your Insurance from your home country does not apply… At a minimum this insurance coverage must include all prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation care in health centers as well as urgent medical transport.
Note: You can Google European Health Insurance companies by typing in “Expat Health Insurance for Spain”. Some of the insurance company websites where you can get quotes are https://www.insubuy.com/ , https://www.asssa.es/en/landing/visa-for-spain-usa/ , and our favorite https://www.innoinsure.com/innoinsure/expat-insurance#coverage . Shop around and compare coverage and ratings. You will need a digital copy of your NIE form and a copy of your passport. Copies of what you will send in your visa packet will be perfect!
Note: You should buy this right before you submit your visa documents to the Spanish Consulate. Make sure to have this health insurance go into affect at a minimum of two months in the future since it will take at least that long to get your Spanish Visa after submitting all your documents to the Spanish Consulate!
Valid and Current Proof of Residence
This another easy one. Just make a color copy of your drivers license or state issued ID with the address in the state or coverage area of the Spanish Consulate you are sending your visa application to. Make sure to have the color copy notarized! No form is needed, thankfully…
Application Photograph:
This is one of the easier things to do! Just go to your local FedEx Kinkos office or most Walgreens or CVS drug store and get six passport-sized photographs taken. Why six? Because you will need two for your visa, two more for an ID card when you arrive in Spain and the other two when you lose some! Make sure they are in full color, wear a dark shirt and make sure the background is white and make sure nothing hides the oval photo of your face such as shade or sunglasses. No jewelry ladies, or men! 😊
Statement that you will not work while in Spain
A brief statement in Spanish and English that while you are in Spain you will not engage in any type of work. Please sign it and have this statement notarized. See the forms to download for a sample.
Valid and Current Passport:
We already went into this in detail at the beginning of this page, so another easy one to do although if you need a new or updated passport, then there is some time to wait! Once you have that precious passport as discussed in the above first paragraph, you will need to get a color photograph of the page where your photograph and information is and the adjoining page. You then need to get this color photo NOTARIZED. Again, FedEx Kinkos or any local copy store such as UPS will do.
Note: DO NOT ever mail in your passport with you visa application!!! Just mail in the color photo of your passport that you have had notarized.. You will bring your original passport with you every time you go in person to visit the Spanish consulate offices.
Note: Your passport MUST have been issued not more than 10 years ago and must for valid for at least one more year. It must have at least 2 blank pages for the visa stamp.
Payment of Fees
Finally the very last thing to do is pay the Spanish Consulate it’s money… For US Citizens this means a fee of $140 in a non-refundable Money Order payable to: "CONSULATE GENERAL OF SPAIN". You also need to include a $12 non-refundable Money Order payable to: "CONSULATE GENERAL OF SPAIN". This $12 dollar fee must include two copies of form 790, code 052, section 2.1. You can fill out this form 790 online and print out the two copies here.
Note: Filling out this form is very challenging. But you must fill it out online for some bizarre reason! Just follow the provided instructions to keep yourself from going mad!!! For the Province move the mouse about until the province of Castellon appears which is for the Barcelona area. Click OK. Now, download our instructions below for filling out this form and follow them as you fill out this form online and then save and print two copies. No worries!
Family Requirements
If you are going to Spain with others in your family, such as a spouse or children, then you MUST provide proof of that. You will need to provide the original marriage certificate and have it translated into Spanish and apostilled. You can use the services referenced in the above paragraphs to get your marriage certificate apostilled and translated into Spanish. You can usually get your state government to provide the apostille service as well. Just Google that. If you are not married, but still consider yourselves to be a couple then you MUST provide a document that certifies the validity of the relationship. Joint filled tax returns or any other documents that show you are a couple such as a sworn affidavit which you can download here. I would get that document translated into Spanish and apostilled as well.
If children are part of your family going to Spain, then you must provide the original birth certificate of the children (translated into Spanish and apostilled). You must include a travel authorization signed by both parents and certified copies of their personal identification. The parents' travel authorization document should be issued before a Notary, apostilled and written in Spanish or English. In the case of minor children of divorced parents, they must also present the final divorce decree and the judge's ruling containing the provisions on the custody of the minor, granting custody to the parent who is processing the visa application, legalized or apostilled and written in Spanish or English. In the case of adult children, you must provide documents that prove that adult child’s continued economic dependence, the child's marital status and that they will continue to be part of the family unit.
Raise a glass and toast yourself on doing such a great job getting your visa application completed and into the mail to the Spanish Consulate!
Some Final & Important Things!
Please note the following:
Your packets of all this paperwork, your photographs and Money Orders must be sent in by POSTAL MAIL only! You MUST also include a Tracking Number so send it Registered Mail. To make this handy for you and the Spanish Consulate, we suggest that you have an envelope for each adults packet of forms, photographs and money orders. On the outside of the envelope list the name of each document as well as the photos and money orders in the envelope. On the other side of the envelope write your name and the names of the other family members going with you. The Spanish Consulate WILL NOT process any incomplete visa submissions! Then place ALL of these envelopes into a larger mailing envelope and mail it to the Spanish Consulate that you used for getting your NIE number. You can also find it by going to U.S. List of Spanish Consulates and then on the home page of the Spanish Consulate nearest to you click on “Consulate” in the top yellow menu bar, and in the drop down click on Schedule, location and contact. Include in the Spanish Consulate address the words “Visa Department”!
Once the Spanish Consulate receives you submission, you will receive by mail a receipt of your application along with a code so you can sign in and check the status of your application at this website: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/ You will also receive a copy of your application form EX01 and proof of your fee payments. It usually takes the Spanish Consulate 4 to 6 weeks to make a decision on your application and issue you a visa.
The Spanish Consulate may contact you via mail, email or a phone call and ask you to provide any missing documents, etc. You should provide what is asked for ASAP as the deadline for the Spanish Consulate to make a decision on your application is only 3 months from the date you submitted your application! Don’t doddle… They may also ask you to come in for an interview.
Once your visa is approved, the Spanish Consulate will notify you of a day and time to come in person and collect your visas. Don’t miss it!!! 😉 I would make sure to check on a weekly bases the status of your application on the website https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/ as better safe than sorry…
Important Note: Once you arrive in Spain, they say you only have 30 days to go to the Spanish Foreigners Office or one of the corresponding Police Stations to apply for the Foreigner Identity Card. The Foreigner Identity Card in Spain (TIE card) is an identification document that proves your legal status as a foreign national in Spain. The TIE card is issued to foreign nationals that have a valid issued visa to stay in Spain for more than 6 months. Once received, you should carry it with you just like a drivers license!
Make sure you have an address that you will be at for a least a few months as it take about a month for Spain to process the TIE card !
You will need to provide a completed Form EX 17 , a form 790 Code 012 as proof of payment, your passport and 2 passport sized photos of yourself. See below for the forms. For the form 790, Code 012 go to this link to fill it out online and then download it. You can select to view the form in English but you may want to still download and read our instructions. Take all 3 completed copies to a local bank to pay. Most banks will require you to use the ATM to pay this tax. Ask for their help to do this as it is a bit confusing. Then take the two remaining copies and the payment receipt with you to get your TIE card.
To make an appointment go to this webpage and click the button at the bottom “Access the Procedure” . Select the province you live in, put in your NIE number and full name, and then check the drop down list for offices that process the TIE. There will only be a few in the city you are in and you will have to check them out by their address to find the one or two that are close to you that process the TIE. Once you pick that office, you will find that it will take many, many repeated attempts to get an available appointment over many days. Don’t fret as everyone in Spain knows this but does nothing about it! La Vida Loca… 😒 You can also go to this link of the Immigration Offices in your city of Spain and try walk in… Just google what province your Spanish city is located in and then select that province from the list on this page, and then scroll down to your city! Larger cities will have a few offices. But if you want to go to a police station to get your TIE card, you will have to make an appointment. 😢Just go to this link and select your city to see a list of the police stations. This is a good link to save in your bookmarks as you never know what kind of trouble your spouse will get into!!!
