How Visas Work in Spain

Most long-term visas for Spain require two separate processes. The first happens at a Spanish consulate in your home country. The second happens in Spain after arrival.

The consulate stage results in a visa stamp in your passport. This allows entry but is not the final residency document. It typically grants 90 days to complete the in-country process.

The in-country stage involves registering with local authorities and obtaining a residence card (TIE). This card is the actual proof of residency status. Without completing this stage, the visa alone is not sufficient for long-term stay.

Spanish consulates handle initial visa applications. Each consulate serves a specific geographic area. Where someone lives determines which consulate has jurisdiction over their application.

Consulates set their own appointment systems and document requirements. While rules come from Spain's central government, interpretation and processing vary. Some consulates are stricter. Some move faster.

This stage typically requires in-person appointments. Documents must be submitted physically. Processing times range from weeks to months depending on visa type, consulate workload, and document completeness.

After arriving in Spain with a valid visa, the clock starts on in-country registration. Most visa types require completing this within 30 days. The process involves local police stations or immigration offices.

Registration includes fingerprinting and submitting additional documents. The outcome is a TIE card—a physical ID that proves residency status. This card is needed for many administrative tasks in Spain.

Appointment availability for TIE registration varies by city. Madrid and Barcelona often have longer waits. Smaller cities may have more availability but different office procedures.

Spanish visa applications require standard document categories. Passport, photos, proof of income, health insurance, background checks. The specifics within each category vary by visa type and consulate.

Background checks must come from every country where the applicant has lived. These often need apostille certification. Processing times for background checks vary widely by country of origin.

Financial proof requirements differ by visa pathway. Some require bank statements. Others require ongoing income documentation. The threshold amounts and acceptable formats are set by each consulate.

Both consulates abroad and offices in Spain use appointment systems. Availability determines how quickly applications can move forward. High-demand locations often have waits of weeks or months.

Consulate appointments for initial applications are typically the first bottleneck. These cannot usually be bypassed. Some consulates release appointments on specific schedules. Others show availability in real-time.

In-country appointments face similar constraints. Cita previa systems in Spain are notoriously difficult to navigate. Availability changes daily. Some offices handle certain visa types only on specific days.

Where someone completes the in-country process affects the experience. Madrid handles the highest volume and follows procedures strictly. Barcelona sees high international demand with more neighborhood-level variation.

Valencia and smaller cities often have shorter waits and calmer offices. The rules are the same, but pacing and accessibility differ. Some people choose their destination city partly based on administrative reputation.

Local variation does not change requirements. It changes how predictable and how fast the process feels. Understanding city-level differences helps set realistic expectations.

Spain offers several visa pathways for long-term residence. Each has different requirements, processing patterns, and renewal structures. The choice of pathway affects both initial complexity and ongoing obligations.

Non-lucrative visas require proof of passive income and prohibit local employment. Digital nomad visas allow remote work for foreign employers. Work visas require Spanish employer sponsorship.

Golden visas involve significant investment. Student visas have different conversion paths. Each pathway has its own document burden, renewal timeline, and path toward permanent residency.