Frequently Asked Questions
This guide covers the most common questions about how we work, what we offer, how billing and access work, and how to get support. Use the table of contents to jump to the section you need.
20,000+ Expats Guided
600+ Clients Moved with Our Plans
Visas & Residency
Choosing the right visa depends on your circumstances:
- For remote work or freelancing: the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV).
- For retirees or those living off passive income (pension, investments, savings): the Non‑Lucrative Visa (NLV).
- For people with a job offer from a Spanish employer or wanting to start a business: a work permit/entrepreneur visa / highly skilled professional visa.
- For study: a Student Visa matched to a recognised course.
If you’re unsure, book a consultation with our expert immigration lawyer partners; they’ll help you select the right visa and prepare your application.
Spain divides visas into:
- Type C (Schengen / short stay), up to 90 days, for tourism, business, family visits, etc.
- Type D (Long-stay/residence visas) covers long-term residence under categories such as Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, Work Visas, Student Visas, Entrepreneur/Autónomo Visas, and Highly Skilled Professional Visas.
Type D visas are the foundation for legal residency, long-term stays, and eventual permanent residency or citizenship.
Spain supports multiple work-oriented visas and work permits:
- Work Visa: for employees with a legitimate job offer from a Spanish employer.
- Entrepreneur / Autónomo Visa: for those starting or owning a business in Spain.
- Highly Skilled Professional Visa: for professionals with job offers that meet certain skill/qualification thresholds.
Each visa has distinct requirements. If you’re unsure which option fits best or whether your documentation qualifies, using a Spanish immigration lawyer simplifies the selection and submission process.
Yes, many long-stay visas are a first step toward long-term residency. After legally residing in Spain for 5 years with a residence permit, you become eligible for Spanish permanent residency (Residencia de Larga Duración).
After ten years of continuous legal residency (or less, in some exceptional cases), you may qualify for Spanish citizenship by naturalization. There are language, integration, and legal criteria.
Taxes & Finances
You generally become a Spanish tax resident when you meet any of the following:
- You spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year
- Your primary financial interests or centre of economic activity is in Spain
- Your spouse and dependent children live in Spain (presumption of residency)
- Official reference 👉 https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/
Tax residents may be subject to:
- Income tax (IRPF)
- Wealth tax (varies by region; some regions offer discounts)
- Savings/investment tax
- Property taxes if you own real estate (IBI)
- VAT (IVA) on goods and services
To understand how much tax you may pay in Spain (and how to minimize your liability), you should meet with a cross-border tax expert in Spain.
Our full Spanish Tax System Expat guide explains each in detail.
Modelo 720 is Spain’s foreign asset declaration required for Spanish tax residents who hold:
- Foreign bank accounts
- Foreign investments
- Foreign property
All Spanish tax residents with global assets exceeding €50,000 in any of the three categories must file annually. It is crucial to file it correctly, even though it is an informational form that does not involve a tax payment, as failure to comply still carries significant financial penalties.
Cost of Living in Spain
Costs vary by region, but the cost of living in Spain is generally lower than in the US or the UK. Where you live, and the lifestyle you choose will impact how much cheaper your new life in Spain is. Our research shows that equivalent lifestyles in Spain are up to 35% cheaper than in the US and 25% cheaper than in the UK.
Use our Spain Cost of Living Calculator to work out your new budget and to compare costs in major Spanish cities.
Foreign pensions and Social Security benefits are generally taxable in Spain once you become a tax resident. And unlike your home country, Spain doesn’t always honor tax-free portions of pensions (like the UK’s 25% lump sum), nor does it automatically exempt income from IRAs or Superannuation accounts.
To see how Spain may tax your pension or Social Security payments (and how to minimize your liability), you should meet with a cross-border tax expert in Spain.
Choosing Where to Live in Spain
There are four criteria that we advise clients to consider when exploring where to live in Spain.
- Climate – Spain has a wide variety of climates, from the cool, wet Atlantic coast to the warm, dry South. You should explore the year-round weather – not just the summertime highlights!
- Culture – Spain’s regions have different cultures, and in some areas, different languages. What suits your personality?
- Taxation – Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities have different tax rates, so you should compare them
- Cost of Living – How much of your savings goes on rent and groceries changes dramatically across Spain. Use our Spain Cost of Living Calculator to find the place to suit your budget.
Spain is huge, with hundreds of cities and towns – find one that meets your requirements in all four categories.
According to our Best Places to Retire in Spain Index, the Top 5 places for Expats to retire in Spain are:
- Calpe (2024 Ranking #5)
Calpe offers stunning coastal scenery, excellent infrastructure, strong healthcare, and a vibrant year-round expat and retiree community. - Almuñécar (2024 Ranking #1)
Almuñécar is a laid-back coastal gem loved by retirees for its charm, climate, and relaxed lifestyle that feels like a well-kept secret. - Benidorm (2024 Ranking #6)
Benidorm provides exceptional retiree services, strong healthcare, and an extensive expat community far beyond its party-town reputation. - Jávea / Xàbia (2024 Ranking #4)
Jávea combines scenic coastal beauty, cooler temperatures, and a mature expat community with rich cultural experiences. - Salamanca (2024 Ranking #36)
Salamanca surprises retirees with its strong senior-friendly infrastructure, low costs, safety, and traditional Spanish charm.
Explore these cities and more in our “Living In” series of Spain destination guides, or explore all 38 best Spanish towns and cities for retirees on our long list.
Working In Spain
Yes, but you need the correct work-eligible visa or residency. Options include the Digital Nomad Visa, Work Visa, Entrepreneur/Autónomo Visa, or Highly Skilled Professional Visa.
Full overview 👉 https://movingtospain.com/spain-visa-types/
For work visas, we strongly recommend working with an expert Spanish immigration lawyer.
For remote workers and freelancers, the Spain Digital Nomad Visa is typically the most accessible route because it does not require a Spanish employer to sponsor you.
For remote workers and freelancers, the Spain Digital Nomad Visa is typically the most accessible route because it does not require a Spanish employer to sponsor you.
Yes, but you must apply for an Entrepreneur/Autónomo Visa or be eligible under the Digital Nomad Visa. Remember, Spain has strict rules on registration, invoicing, and taxes for autónomos.
Because Autónomo Visas require business plans and legal compliance, we strongly recommend working with an expert Spanish immigration lawyer.
Retiring in Spain
Most retirees use the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), also called the Spanish Retirement Visa, which allows long-term residence. You can’t work (either in Spain or remotely) on this visa. You’ll need to show proof of sufficient passive income or savings and full private health insurance.
For NLV applications, many retirees choose to work with our vetted NLV expert lawyer partners.
According to our Best Places to Retire in Spain Index, the Top 5 places for Expats to retire in Spain are:
- Calpe (2024 Ranking #5)
Calpe offers stunning coastal scenery, excellent infrastructure, strong healthcare, and a vibrant year-round expat and retiree community. - Almuñécar (2024 Ranking #1)
Almuñécar is a laid-back coastal gem loved by retirees for its charm, climate, and relaxed lifestyle that feels like a well-kept secret. - Benidorm (2024 Ranking #6)
Benidorm provides exceptional retiree services, strong healthcare, and an extensive expat community far beyond its party-town reputation. - Jávea / Xàbia (2024 Ranking #4)
Jávea combines scenic coastal beauty, cooler temperatures, and a mature expat community with rich cultural experiences. - Salamanca (2024 Ranking #36)
Salamanca surprises retirees with its strong senior-friendly infrastructure, low costs, safety, and traditional Spanish charm.
Explore these cities and more in our “Living In” series of Spain destination guides, or explore all 38 best Spanish towns and cities for retirees on our long list.
Foreign pensions and Social Security benefits are generally taxable in Spain once you become a tax resident. And unlike your home country, Spain doesn’t always honor tax-free portions of pensions (like the UK’s 25% lump sum), nor does it automatically exempt income from IRAs or Superannuation accounts.
To see how Spain may tax your pension or Social Security payments (and how to minimize your liability), you should meet with a cross-border tax expert in Spain.
No, Expat retirees in Spain do not get access to the Spanish public healthcare system unless they pay social security contributions through an EU S1 Form or the Convenio Especial system. Most expat retirees will need Spanish private health insurance for their visa or residency.
Yes, in almost all cases, non-EU citizens retiring to Spain will need private health insurance to apply for the Spain Retirement Visa.
Most retirees use the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), also called the Spanish Retirement Visa, which allows long-term residence. You can’t work (either in Spain or remotely) on this visa. You’ll need to show proof of sufficient passive income or savings and full private health insurance.
For NLV applications, many retirees choose to work with our vetted NLV expert lawyer partners.
Moving to Spain Services
Our Moving to Spain Relocation Plans provide structured, expert guidance for every stage of relocation, including one-on-one coaching, immigration and tax consultations, personalised planning, and access to essential relocation tools. Our plans make the entire process smoother, faster, and far less stressful by helping you avoid common mistakes that can delay or derail a move.
Through carefully selected English-speaking Spanish immigration lawyers, MovingToSpain.com helps applicants navigate Spain’s complex visa and residency rules. This support ensures your application meets legal requirements, includes the correct documentation, and has the highest possible chance of approval.
Yes. MovingToSpain.com offers a comparison tool that provides Spanish private health insurance quotes that meet official visa requirements, such as full medical coverage, no co-pays, and no waiting periods. Our partners specialize in helping expats moving to Spain secure compliant insurance quickly and at competitive prices.
MovingToSpain.com connects clients with trusted rental search specialists and property buyer agents who understand local markets, neighbourhoods, pricing, and legal considerations. Most importantly, our partners work for you – not for an estate agency, a seller, or a landlord. This support is especially valuable for avoiding misleading listings, securing desirable rentals, and navigating Spain’s complex housing market with confidence.
The platform includes an interactive Moving to Spain checklist, a Spain cost-of-living calculator, a moving budget planner, and a tool to request quotes from international moving companies. These tools help you understand your costs, organise your tasks, and manage the practical details of your move in a simple and efficient way.
Partners are selected through a rigorous multi-step evaluation process that focuses on professionalism, ethics, expertise, client service quality, and proven success supporting international clients. Only providers who consistently demonstrate excellence and reliability are invited into the network. Partners who don’t continue to meet our standard are removed from our roster.
Spain’s immigration, tax, real estate, and healthcare systems can be complex. Working with vetted specialists significantly reduces the risk of delays, misinformation, or costly mistakes. Our partners have a track record of helping expats succeed and are held accountable through ongoing monitoring and feedback. All selected partners specialise in supporting expats from English-speaking countries, especially those relocating from the US, UK, and Canada. They are chosen for their ability to communicate clearly, explain local procedures, and provide solutions tailored to your needs.to work with our vetted NLV expert lawyer partners.
