The Formal Requirements of Moving to Spain

If you wish to live in Spain, you will need to ensure that you are legally entitled to do so. Citizens of the European Union are able to move to other EU countries unrestricted, as long as they are able to support themselves financially. If you are not an EU citizen but wish to live in Spain you may need a visa.

EU Citizens
If you are an EU citizen, you are entitled to live and work in Spain. Upon arrival you will need to present a passport or an ID card to prove your identity. If you will be staying for more than three months, you are required to register at the Central Registration Office for Foreigners (the 'Registro Central de extranjeros'), located in your local immigration bureau. If there is no immigration bureau in your area, you are able to register at the police station.

Non-EU Citizens
If you are not a citizen of an EU country, you will need a visa to live, work or study in Spain. Your spouse and any dependants will also need visas if they wish to accompany you. These visas are available at Spanish consulates around the world. You will need to apply for a visa before travelling to Spain, and usually in person to prove your identity. There are different types of visa, including ones for business, study and tourism. For each visa you will require documents to prove the purpose of your trip.

The European Union / The EU
The European Union represents the political and economic unification of its twenty-seven member states. Each member must abide by certain rules and conditions to continue to qualify as an EU state. One of the main benefits of the EU is that it enables free movement of its citizens from one member state to another. This means, for example, that a British citizen is free to live and work in Germany or Spain. The twenty-seven member states are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.