Micheline M. Says:
I want to move to Spain, as I am retired, and have family in Europe. I want to move permanently, but am having some difficulty finding out the correct way.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
IL Contributor and Spain Expat Sally Pederson Says:
I’m glad to hear you are interested in moving to Spain. There are many options available in terms of residence visas for expats in Spain. As you are retired, I would recommend the Non-Lucrative Visa and Residency Permit (sometimes called the Retirement Visa). This will give you an initial residency permit for one year, with your first and second renewals being for two years each. After two renewals, you will have been in Spain five years and so will be eligible for Long Duration Residency. You will not be able to work in Spain on this visa, but since you are retired that shouldn’t be an issue.
There is of course a lot of paperwork required to apply for the Non-Lucrative Visa and Residency Permit. Among other things, you will need copies of your birth certificate (with your parent’s name on it), a clear criminal record check, proof of income or ability to be self-sufficient, a valid passport, a medical certificate and proof of health insurance. You can find the complete list on the Spanish Ministry of the Exterior website here.
Once you have the documents required you can make an appointment with the Spanish consular office to apply. There is a list of the Spanish Consulates in the U.S. here.
If you are not sure which region you want to move to. I would recommend going to Spain on a scouting trip. There are many fantastic regions in Spain and since it is a big move, you want to make sure you are settling down in an area that will suit you.
Once you know which region you would like to move to, it is best to start the procedure as soon as possible.
Processing times are now longer than they used to be. If you are applying for one when you arrive in Spain, be prepared to not be able to leave the country for several months (over your three-month tourist visa). I know of situations where the applicant has not been able to leave for nine months due to processing times.
Editor’s Note: Our Escape to Spain guide is a dedicated manual to getting you from where you are now to a new life in Spain. It contains information on the various regions of Spain, the healthcare system, the cost of living, and of course details of visas and residency options (Chapter 5 is entirely dedicated to this). You can find it on our Bookstore right here.
We have also created some handy travel itineraries for your own scouting trip to Spain. You can find them here.