What do you need to move to Spain?

More and more compatriots are thinking about changing their place of residence. This is due both to the economic component and to the ineradicable desire to discover new horizons for oneself. Many people choose Spain as a future country and it is quite easy to leave here. 

Why Spain

The European Union is a powerful economic structure in which everyone can find their place. Spain is one of the countries where they are loyal to Russian immigrants and all conditions have been created for active business development, so many people choose Spain as a country to move to. The country's economy is on the rise, there are many beautiful places and the level of education is not inferior to large European states.

The reasons to start collecting documents for moving to Spain may be different:

• The desire to live in the European Union. Having the official status of a resident of one of the European countries gives a lot - excellent education, modern medicine and the opportunity to travel without barriers throughout Europe.
• Business development. In Spain, entrepreneurs who are ready to work in a new place are well treated. At the same time, the government is well aware that third-party investments and successful business can become the main factor in the development of the local economy. For this reason, entrepreneurs here are waiting for tax benefits, assistance in paperwork and special conditions for the next of kin. 
• Getting an education. Spain is famous for its excellent universities of all directions, so students from many countries come here to obtain an academic degree. Anyone can obtain a visa to enter Spain on the basis of education and student programs are considered the easiest to participate in.
• The desire to live in a tourist area. There are many great places for tourist holidays in Spain. There are beautiful mountains, spacious hills and coasts with sandy beaches. Life in such a place pleases not only with good weather at any time of the year, but also with a lot of jobs in different sectors of the economy.

If you are determined that it is time to change your place of residence, we suggest that you find out what you need to move to Spain and how to do it the fastest.

What do I need to move to Spain for permanent residence?

First of all, it is necessary to understand the difference between permanent residence and residence permit. Permanent residence is a status that brings a resident closer to obtaining citizenship, a temporary residence permit is a transitional stage. First, you get a visa and register at the address, but have limited rights compared to Spanish citizens. It is possible to apply for a residence permit only if a number of requirements are met, and there are a number of programs under which this status is issued.

The residence permit is valid for several years, but it can be extended as needed. If at all stages you have fulfilled all the requirements and you have not had any problems with the law, you can apply for permanent residence. This status is issued after 5 years of permanent residence in the country. By the way, having permanent residence gives you all the rights of Spanish citizens, but you still cannot vote or stand as candidates in political elections.

The main requirements relate to the fulfillment of the requirements of immigration policy. Firstly, you cannot leave the country for more than six months, and the total duration of your absence from Spain should not exceed 10 months for the entire period of validity of the residence permit. The government of the country has set strict requirements in relation to applicants, so you will have to collect a lot of documents, confirm your income and describe your activities for the entire period of validity of the residence permit. Also, a mandatory requirement will be passing the state exam for knowledge of the Spanish language.

What difficulties may arise

In order to obtain the status of an official resident in Spain, you will need a lot of time, a sufficient amount of money and scrupulousness regarding documents. First of all, it is worth answering the question of how much money you need to move to Spain. Depending on the program under which you get a visa and apply for a residence permit, you will need different amounts. For example, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency under the investor program. In this case, you will have to spend a significant amount on the purchase of shares of local companies or purchase real estate in the country.    

If you are going to move to Spain for a work or educational program, the legalization process will take much less money. For a work visa, it is enough to have an employment contract with a company that offers a job and confirm the availability of financial means to live in the country. Educational programs operate on the same principle, the amount on the account is set depending on the average living minimum and the number of applicants. So, when submitting documents for the whole family, there should be enough money not only for yourself, but also for all relatives who are indicated in the application. 

One of the main problems when applying for permanent residence will be knowledge of the language. The state exam is passed by all applicants, so you will have to strain and learn Spanish at the required level.   

How to go to Spain?

There are several ways to immigrate to Europe from Russia, but each of them has its own characteristics. You should carefully consider each possibility and decide which method is right for you and your family.

Marriage to a Spanish citizen

If your spouse is a Spanish citizen and the marriage is formal, you can apply for citizenship under special rules. At the same time, the marriage itself can be registered both in Russia and in Spain. The list of documents will be standard, but an interview with government officials will be a prerequisite. This is done in order to prevent the conclusion of fictitious marriages to obtain a residence permit. The legalization procedure itself also consists of stages, and first a residence permit is issued.

Residence permit without the right to work and with the right to work

If you have enough money for a quiet unemployed life, you can apply for a special type of residence permit. This status does not require you to have a job, but you must still prove that you have enough money to live. As a rule, you can provide a certificate from the bank where a sufficient amount of money is stored in the account. You will also need to confirm the receipt of funds to the account for the last three months. 

Those who are not accustomed to lead an idle lifestyle and have found a job in Spain are issued a visa with the right to conduct professional activities. The work must be official, you must not have tax arrears.

Investor or property owner visa

The easiest way to immigrate, if you have a specific amount of money, is to invest in the local economy. You need to purchase shares or bonds of Spanish companies worth one million euros. It is also possible to open your own business or private investment in other companies.     

In Spain, there is another opportunity to legalize, which has a lot of advantages. You have the right to purchase real estate and for this reason become an official applicant for a residence permit. The cost of your future residence must be at least half a million euros, you can live in the house on your own or rent it out.

Citizenship

The basic requirements for obtaining citizenship are as follows:

• legal residence in Spain for 10 years;
• availability of a valid residence permit card;
• compliance with migration rules - you can not leave the country for a period of more than six months;
• knowledge of the Spanish language at a level that will be sufficient to pass the exam.

The registration scheme consists of several stages, since you cannot immediately obtain permanent residence after entering the country. At the first stage, a residence permit is issued for a period of 1 year, then this document is extended for 2 years. At the end of the first extension period, the residence permit is issued again for the next 2 years and only after that it is possible to apply for permanent residence. At each stage, a package of documents is required, which is collected anew before each appeal to the authorities. It is worth noting that your family members go through the same stages and a package of separate documents is collected for each person in the application.   

Mandatory conditions for successful registration will be the availability of housing, proof of income and the absence of problems with local authorities. In some cases, you will need to indicate your expenses, provide documents on education in official educational institutions, or track the development of your own business.  

How to find a job and housing?

If the question of how much it costs to move to Spain worries you in the first place, we advise you to carefully prepare for the trip. Renting a house is quite simple and it can be done even from Russia, as some companies provide similar services. At the same time, you will be offered a fairly large database of real estate in different regions, so you will have the opportunity to find the perfect home for your family.

Regarding the work, it is also worth contacting specialized agencies. In addition to the fact that specialists will help you collect the necessary documents, you will be told about all the stages of obtaining a residence permit and permanent residence. Also, the company can assist you in obtaining a residence permit and will take care of all issues with local authorities.

You can discuss the disadvantages of moving to Spain for a long time, but this country is one of the most attractive destinations for immigration. If your decision to go to Europe has not changed, we advise you to pay attention to this European country.