Long Stay Visas for Spain: A Complete Guide

If you're hoping to stay in Spain longterm, it's important to make sure you know all of the steps it'll take to get you there.

Regardless of the reason, most people will need to apply for a long stay visa in order to turn that dream into a reality.

But what about you? Do you need a long stay visa for Spain? If so, which one do you need? And how do you apply for one?

Don't worry - we will answer all of your questions about Spanish long stay visas here so you can have all the information you need to get the ball rolling and enjoy your time spent in Spain.

What is a Spain long stay visa?

A long stay visa allows you to stay in a specific foreign country for an extended period of time. An approved long stay visa for Spain allows you to stay in the country for more than 90 days.

It is important to know that a long stay visa doesn't give you carte blanche in Spain. Depending on the type of long stay visa, you may or may not be allowed to work on Spanish soil, study, etc. We will talk more about that in the following sections. D

Do I need a long stay visa for Spain?

You may need a long stay visa for Spain if you're planning on staying there long term - for any reason.

If you can say yes to the following questions, you most likely need to apply for a long stay visa:

• You are NOT an EU/Schengen country citizen.
• You intend to stay in Spain for more than 90 days.

If you plan to stay there less than 90 days, you do not need a long stay visa, but you might need a Schengen visa instead.

How to apply for a long stay visa for Spain

Applying for a Spanish long stay visa requires a few steps.

Determine the type you need

First, you need to determine which type you need and what the requirements are for it. Even within the same country, different types of visas can have different requirements. For example, a study abroad visa will require different documents than a work visa.

Make sure you can meet the visa requirements

Following the last point, you need to make sure that you are able to meet the minimum requirements for the type of visa that you're applying for. We will talk more about this in the following sections.

Begin preparing your application

Your application will consist of an official long stay visa application form as well as several documents requested by the Spanish Embassy.

Book a visa appointment

To apply for a long stay visa for Spain, you must attend a scheduled in-person appointment in your country of residence. You will book this appointment online, and depending on your country of residence and the type of visa you're applying for, you will apply at either a trusted visa application center or Spanish consulate/Embassy.

Attend your appointment

You will bring all of the requested documents (in their requested formats) with you to your visa appointment. At this appointment, an official will review your "file" (all of the documents you have brought) to make sure that nothing is missing. Completed files will then be forwarded for the decision-making process.

Wait for an answer

After you've attended your appointment, all that's left is to wait for an official decision on your long stay visa for Spain.

Types of Spain long stay visas

So, which type do you need?

You may see the term "national visa" during your research on Spanish long stay visas. You may also see "Type D". The three terms: national visa, type D, and long stay all refer to the same thing - a visa that allows you to stay in Spain for more than 90 days.

With that context, the long stay visa (or national visa) you should apply for depends entirely on the purpose of your long trip to Spain. If you're going to Spain to study abroad, you should apply for the appropriate study abroad visa, for instance.

There are several types of visas available, such as:

• Student visas
• Work visas
• Au pair visa
• Family reunification visa (for a spouse, for example)
• More

Some of these types of visas have several subtypes within them, such as self-employment visas for workers, or visas for students who are minors participating in a high school exchange program.

The Spanish Embassy's official website in your country of residence will list all of the visa options so you can see which one fits your situation best.

Spain long stay visa requirements

Different types of national visas have different requirements associated with them.

Generally speaking, a valid passport, a recent passport-sized photograph, and a completed application form are mandatory for all Spanish national visa applications.

Other common requirements include:

• Proof of financial means. Typically, you must be able to prove that you can financially provide for yourself during the entire validity of your intended stay.
• A criminal certificate. When required, there are specific pieces of information it must contain, in a specified format.
• A medical certificate. When required, it will also have specific criteria it needs to meet.

The documents are very specific to each visa type. For instance, a Spanish au pair visa requires applicants to enroll in an immersive language program during their stay. An employee visa requires your work contract. Etc., etc..

💡 This is why it's very important that you source all actionable information about the visa process from the Spanish Embassy's official website or a trusted partner (such as a visa processor like BLS). They will have the most accurate and up-to-date information.

FAQs about Spain national visas