Moving to Spain can feel like a long and complicated process, particularly when you are dealing with visas, documentation, appointments and different Spanish authorities.
But with the right immigration route and careful preparation, 90 days can be enough to make significant progress towards your move to Spain — and, depending on your circumstances and the route you choose, potentially obtain the documentation you need to reside here.
The key is not simply to start applying. It is to choose the right residence route before you begin.
Important: 90 days is not a guaranteed legal deadline for obtaining Spanish residence. Processing times, consular appointments and individual circumstances can affect the timeline. The goal is to use the 90 days to prepare, apply and complete the key stages of your move as efficiently as possible.
Which Route Allows You to Move to Spain?
There is no single “Spain visa”. The appropriate residence route depends on why you want to live in Spain, how you support yourself and whether you intend to work.
Some of the most relevant options for international applicants include:
| Residence route | Who is it generally for? | Can you work? |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad Visa | Professionals working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain | Yes, subject to the applicable conditions |
| Non-Lucrative Visa | People who want to live in Spain without carrying out work | No |
| Highly Qualified Professional | Professionals taking up qualifying employment in Spain | Yes |
| Entrepreneur Route | Applicants developing an innovative business project of particular economic interest to Spain | Yes, subject to the authorisation |
The Digital Nomad Visa, for example, is designed for third-country nationals carrying out remote work or professional activities for companies located outside Spain. Self-employed applicants may also work for Spanish companies, provided that the work for Spanish clients does not exceed the permitted percentage.
The Non-Lucrative Visa is different: it is intended for people who can support themselves financially in Spain without carrying out gainful employment or professional activity.
This distinction is important because choosing the wrong residence route can delay your plans considerably.
Your 90-Day Plan
Once you know which immigration route is appropriate, the process becomes much easier to organise.
Think of the 90 days as three stages: choose, prepare and apply.
Days 1–30: Choose your immigration route
The first month should focus on establishing whether you actually qualify for the residence option you are considering.
This is where many applications go wrong.
For example, someone working remotely for a foreign company may initially assume that a Non-Lucrative Visa is the simplest option. However, that visa does not permit remote work. A Digital Nomad Visa may be more appropriate if the relevant requirements are met.
During the first 30 days, you should establish:
- ✓
Which residence route applies to your circumstances - ✓
Whether you meet the financial or professional requirements - ✓
Whether your family members can apply with you - ✓
Where the application needs to be submitted - ✓
Which documents need an apostille or legalisation - ✓
Which documents require an official Spanish translation
Getting this stage right can save considerably more time than trying to accelerate an application that was never prepared correctly.
Days 31–60: Prepare your documents
Once your route is clear, the second month should be dedicated to documentation.
Depending on the residence route, this can include:
- ✓
Valid passport - ✓
Proof of sufficient financial means - ✓
Employment or professional documentation - ✓
Private health insurance, where required - ✓
Criminal record certificates - ✓
Medical certificates, where applicable - ✓
Proof of family relationships - ✓
Accommodation or other supporting documentation, where required - ✓
Official translations and apostilles or legalisations
The exact documentation varies significantly between residence routes.
For example, applicants for a Non-Lucrative Visa generally need to demonstrate sufficient financial means, appropriate health insurance and other supporting documentation, depending on the consulate handling the application.
For Digital Nomad applicants, the documentation can instead focus heavily on the applicant’s employment or professional relationship, the foreign company’s activity and the conditions under which the remote work will be carried out.
Do not leave apostilles and translations until the last minute
Foreign documents may need to be legalised or apostilled and, where applicable, accompanied by an official Spanish translation. These steps can add time to the process, particularly if several family members are applying at the same time.
Days 61–90: Submit your application and organise your move
By the third month, your objective should be to have your application ready for submission — or already submitted, depending on the route and your circumstances.
This is also the moment to start planning the practical side of your relocation.
Consider:
- ✓
Booking or confirming your application appointment, where applicable - ✓
Organising accommodation in Spain - ✓
Reviewing your Spanish bank and financial arrangements - ✓
Planning your healthcare arrangements - ✓
Understanding your tax position before becoming resident - ✓
Preparing for your arrival and local registrations - ✓
Organising the next immigration steps after arrival
For certain residence routes under Spain’s entrepreneur and internationalisation framework, applications are handled by the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE). The framework covers, among others, entrepreneurs, highly qualified professionals and international teleworkers.
For international teleworkers, Spain also allows eligible foreigners who are already legally in Spain to apply for a residence authorisation without first obtaining a visa. The resulting authorisation can have a validity of up to three years, subject to the applicable requirements.
What about the 90-day Schengen limit?
This is one of the most important distinctions to understand.
Being allowed to visit Spain for up to 90 days is not the same as having the right to reside in Spain.
For many non-EU nationals, short stays in the Schengen Area are subject to the applicable 90 days in any 180-day period rule.
That does not automatically give you permission to live and work in Spain.
If your intention is to make Spain your home, you need to identify the appropriate residence status rather than relying on repeated short visits.
The 90-day rule determines how long you may be able to stay as a short-term visitor. It does not, by itself, give you Spanish residence rights.
Can you really move to Spain in 90 days?
For some applicants, yes — but preparation is everything.
A straightforward application with complete documentation can be very different from an application involving missing documents, incorrect translations, expired certificates or an immigration route that does not match the applicant’s circumstances.
The most efficient approach is therefore not to ask:
“How quickly can I get a Spanish visa?”
but rather:
“Which Spanish residence route fits my situation, and what can I prepare before I apply?”
That change in approach can make the entire process more predictable.
A simple 90-day checklist
If you are planning your move to Spain, use this as your starting point:
- Choose your residence route – work, remote work, investment, entrepreneurship or non-working residence.
- Check your eligibility – before spending time and money preparing documents.
- Start collecting documents – especially those issued by foreign authorities.
- Arrange apostilles and translations – where required.
- Prepare your application carefully – ensuring that the documents support the specific residence route.
- Plan your arrival – including accommodation, healthcare, registrations and tax considerations.
- Get professional advice when necessary – particularly where your immigration, tax and property decisions overlap.
Planning to move to Spain?
Moving to Spain involves much more than simply obtaining a visa. Your immigration status can affect your tax residence, employment, healthcare, property ownership and family circumstances.
At Fuster & Associates, we help international clients understand these implications and make the right decisions to ensure that their move to Spain is as straightforward and secure as possible.
Do you need advice on preparing for your move? Contact Fuster & Associates and our team will be delighted to help you.
We want to help you navigate all the legal complexities that come with your home buying in Spain, but this article is legal information and should not be seen as legal advice.
- View more post about: Digital Nomad Visa, Non-Lucrative Visa
