Good to know · Residency
Which Spain Visa/Residency Route Is Right for Me? (Overview)
A decision-orientation overview comparing the main national residency routes available to non-EU/EEA foreigners moving to Spain: non-lucrative visa (living on passive income/savings, no work), digital nomad visa (remote work for non-Spanish employers/clients), general work visa (Spanish employer sponsorship), and student visa (study-based, with possible transition to work). The former investor 'Golden Visa' route is understood to have been eliminated and is not a current option for new applicants (see the Golden Visa item).
- Why it matters
- This is usually the first decision point for anyone from outside the EU planning a move to Spain: picking the wrong route wastes time and money, since each has different income/documentation requirements and different rights (e.g., ability to work).
- When
- Starting to plan a move to Spain and needing to choose which residency route to pursue.
- How long it takes
- N/A — overview item.
- Official page
- Consular services page listing all national visa categories (non-lucrative, work, study, digital nomad)
- Last checked
- 15 Oct 2026
In the guide: the 5 steps, what to bring (1 item), the office with addresses and hours, and tips and what to watch for, with every official source.
Do these first
- Non-lucrative residence visa (living in Spain without working)
- International telework (digital nomad) visa or residence authorization
- General Work Visa / Work Authorization (Autorización de Residencia y Trabajo por Cuenta Ajena)
- Student Visa and Its Residency Implications (Visado de Estudios)
- Golden Visa (Investor Residence Visa) — Abolished Route, Status and Transition