Moving to Spain
Emigration to Spain. Description of visa programs in Spain. Questions and answers. Documents Registration. Options for moving to Spain.
The difficulty of moving
One of the easiest countries in the EU to move to and immigrate
Quality-of-life/price
Inexpensive life, warm weather, ocean, delicious food and friendly people
Climate
One of the most comfortable climates, with warm winters
Visa programs in Spain
Resident visa information
Visa with the possibility of obtaining a residence permit for foreigners who have invested in the Spanish economy through the purchase of real estate or investment
Visa for obtaining a residence permit under the reunification program with the closest relatives living in Spain officially
Visa for the internal corporate transfer of an employee of the company to an office or branch located in Spain, followed by registration of a residence permit
A visa that allows you to issue a residence permit for professionals with a high level of qualification
A visa on the basis of which it is possible to issue a residence permit without the right to work for foreigners who want to live in Spain with funds from passive income received from abroad
A visa that allows you to obtain a residence permit in Spain, for studying at language courses, in a professional or higher educational institution for a long time
Visa, on the basis of which it is possible to issue a residence permit for entrepreneurs opening their business in Spain
Immigration to Spain
A handy compilation of practical information
Polina
Imigrata Immigration Specialist
Visas to Spain:
Janssen, Sinopharm and Sinovac-Coronavac, Russians on a Schengen visa with a vaccination certificate approved by WHO or EMA, as well as persons with a residence permit, are currently allowed to enter Spain by Spanish citizens and their family members, EU citizens vaccinated with one of the country's recognized vaccines: Pfizer, Spikevax, Vaxzevria, Janssen, Sinopharm and Sinovac-Coronavac, Russians on a Schengen visa with a vaccination certificate approved by WHO or EMA, or persons with a residence permit, or people who have a work or student visa.
Visas are issued:
Transit conditions:
Transit is allowed without restrictions, but entry to Spain is closed to tourists arriving from Brazil, India and South Africa.
Tickets:
Spain has banned flights of Russian aircraft over its territory, flights from Russia have been canceled. You can get into the country through Turkey, the UAE or from other European countries.
Epidemiological situation:
Janssen, Sinopharm and Sinovac-Coronavac, Russians on a Schengen visa with a vaccination certificate approved by WHO or EMA, as well as persons with a residence permit, are currently allowed to enter Spain by Spanish citizens and their family members, EU citizens vaccinated with one of the country's recognized vaccines: Pfizer, Spikevax, Vaxzevria, Janssen, Sinopharm and Sinovac-Coronavac, Russians on a Schengen visa with a vaccination certificate approved by WHO or EMA, or persons with a residence permit, or people who have a work or student visa.
Visas are issued:
- Russians who already had long-term visas to Spain (2.3 or 5 years);
- property owners in Spain.
Transit conditions:
Transit is allowed without restrictions, but entry to Spain is closed to tourists arriving from Brazil, India and South Africa.
Tickets:
Spain has banned flights of Russian aircraft over its territory, flights from Russia have been canceled. You can get into the country through Turkey, the UAE or from other European countries.
Epidemiological situation:
- entry to Spain is allowed with a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours or an antigen test no older than 24 hours;
- Janssen, Sinopharm or Sinovac-Coronavac vaccination certificate is required from Pfizer, Spikevax, Vaxzevria, Sinopharm or Sinovac-Coronavac;
- you will need medical insurance covering a possible Covid disease
The best cities to live in Spain
The top 5 best cities to live in Spain include:
Barcelona is traditionally a favorite of Russian-speaking emigrants, the capital city of Catalonia, famous for the Olympics and the architecture of Antonio Gaudi;
Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, in the main cathedral of which the Grail is kept, recognized as "real" by the Pope himself, and the main attraction is the futuristic city-Museum of Science and Art;
Malaga is a port city in the south of the country with mild winters, stunning beaches and the Andalusia Technology Park, where about 20 thousand people work;
Madrid is the capital of Spain with many museums, parks, cultural attractions, nightlife and convenient infrastructure;
Alicante is a developing city in the Costa Blanca region with an ideal climate, kilometer-long beaches and a low cost of living.
Barcelona is traditionally a favorite of Russian-speaking emigrants, the capital city of Catalonia, famous for the Olympics and the architecture of Antonio Gaudi;
Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, in the main cathedral of which the Grail is kept, recognized as "real" by the Pope himself, and the main attraction is the futuristic city-Museum of Science and Art;
Malaga is a port city in the south of the country with mild winters, stunning beaches and the Andalusia Technology Park, where about 20 thousand people work;
Madrid is the capital of Spain with many museums, parks, cultural attractions, nightlife and convenient infrastructure;
Alicante is a developing city in the Costa Blanca region with an ideal climate, kilometer-long beaches and a low cost of living.
Pros and cons of moving to Spain
Advantages of living in Spain:
- Spain is the second country in the world in terms of the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the first in terms of the number of Blue Flag beaches in the Northern Hemisphere;
- Low, by the standards of other EU countries, prices;
- The friendliness of Spaniards who love people, do not look at visitors from high, are always ready to help and are very happy when you try to talk to them in broken Spanish, trying to understand you with all your might;
- Medicine in Spain is available at an inexpensive insurance for absolutely all segments of the population, and high-quality clinics with good doctors can be found anywhere in the country, even not the most tourist;
- Mediterranean cuisine is one of the most delicious and healthy, and seafood is an essential part of the diet of local residents, supporting their health and cheerfulness;
- High level of higher education and a huge number of universities;
- Spain has a decent and constantly growing life expectancy for both men and women.
- The habit of putting off for tomorrow what you can not do at all. The most common word is "tomorrow" (nevertheless, the Spaniards do everything necessary);
- Lack of skill to speak quietly. Spaniards are used to expressing their emotions violently and not lowering their voice anywhere and under any circumstances, but you get used to it quickly;
- It is mandatory to learn Spanish, since not everyone speaks English even among young people, not to mention older residents;
- Inflexible taxation system, which is difficult to understand without a glass (or even a bottle of delicious Spanish champagne, which is called Cava)
- Bloated bureaucracy and low professional level of civil servants, which is why paperwork is often delayed.
Accommodation in Spain
Renting a house in Spain for a long time is quite simple, but it is worth keeping in mind a few features:
In Spain, the labeling of housing is slightly different compared to Russia. What we used to call a "one-bedroom apartment" will be called a studio, and a two-bedroom apartment will be called a one-bedroom apartment. In Spain, it is traditionally customary to indicate not the number of rooms in total, but the number of separate bedrooms. The living room, in any case, will be attached to these bedrooms, more often, with an American-style kitchen, that is, combined with the living room.
The cost of renting an apartment:
as in any other country, it depends on the location - the more prestigious the area, the more expensive it is to rent a house.
The cost of utilities:
the cost of house maintenance, garbage collection, cleaning and cleaning of the pool (if there is one in your house) is most often included in the rent and is approximately 50-70 euros per month, depending on the commune. Electricity and water are paid separately and is approximately 200-250 euros per month.
Housing prices vary depending on the region and start from about 350 euros per month, the average price in Spain is 700-1000 euros for a one-bedroom apartment. In most cases, this cost will include the Internet, which is not very fast in the country, so if you need to work from home with the transmission of large amounts of information over the network, specify the possibility of increasing the speed and power of the Internet additionally!
Where to look for housing:
- as a rule, the lease agreement is concluded for one year and is automatically extended if one of the parties does not want to terminate it (serious justifications are needed for termination by the landlord, for example, the sale of real estate or proven damage to real estate caused by the fault of the tenant);
- in 50% of cases, proof of financial viability will be required from you. An employment contract is suitable if you come to Spain to work, or an account statement. Recently, tenants from the Russian Federation have been asked to pay at least 2-3 months of rent at once, in some cases it may be necessary to pay for housing for six months. The deposit is usually equal to the payment amount for one month;
- you can bargain and try to lower the price.
In Spain, the labeling of housing is slightly different compared to Russia. What we used to call a "one-bedroom apartment" will be called a studio, and a two-bedroom apartment will be called a one-bedroom apartment. In Spain, it is traditionally customary to indicate not the number of rooms in total, but the number of separate bedrooms. The living room, in any case, will be attached to these bedrooms, more often, with an American-style kitchen, that is, combined with the living room.
The cost of renting an apartment:
as in any other country, it depends on the location - the more prestigious the area, the more expensive it is to rent a house.
The cost of utilities:
the cost of house maintenance, garbage collection, cleaning and cleaning of the pool (if there is one in your house) is most often included in the rent and is approximately 50-70 euros per month, depending on the commune. Electricity and water are paid separately and is approximately 200-250 euros per month.
Housing prices vary depending on the region and start from about 350 euros per month, the average price in Spain is 700-1000 euros for a one-bedroom apartment. In most cases, this cost will include the Internet, which is not very fast in the country, so if you need to work from home with the transmission of large amounts of information over the network, specify the possibility of increasing the speed and power of the Internet additionally!
Where to look for housing:
Medicine in Spain
The Spanish healthcare system is recognized as one of the best in the world in terms of accessibility for the population.
Clinics equipped with the latest medical technology and highly qualified specialists can be found in any region of the country, and not only in large cities, since the medical system in Spain works on the principle of universal accessibility - more than 95% of residents have the right to free medical care, any working resident of Spain, as well as his family members have access to free regular and emergency medical care. The exception is dentistry and complex surgical interventions related to aesthetic medicine (plastic surgery, etc.)
The main problem of free medicine in Spain is queues, so sometimes you have to wait a long time for a specialist's consultation, but this issue is solved with the help of private medical centers where you can purchase insurance. It is also important that if you have such insurance, you will easily be able to visit Russian-speaking specialists, of whom there are enough, so you can not be afraid of the language barrier in matters of medicine.
Regardless of their citizenship, they have the right to free medical care:
Medicines in pharmacies are not cheap, but if you come with a prescription from a Spanish doctor, they will sell them to you at a significant discount (40-60%, and sometimes 90%) or even give them out for freeно.
Clinics equipped with the latest medical technology and highly qualified specialists can be found in any region of the country, and not only in large cities, since the medical system in Spain works on the principle of universal accessibility - more than 95% of residents have the right to free medical care, any working resident of Spain, as well as his family members have access to free regular and emergency medical care. The exception is dentistry and complex surgical interventions related to aesthetic medicine (plastic surgery, etc.)
The main problem of free medicine in Spain is queues, so sometimes you have to wait a long time for a specialist's consultation, but this issue is solved with the help of private medical centers where you can purchase insurance. It is also important that if you have such insurance, you will easily be able to visit Russian-speaking specialists, of whom there are enough, so you can not be afraid of the language barrier in matters of medicine.
Regardless of their citizenship, they have the right to free medical care:
- Working foreigners;
- Children under 18; Pregnant women
Medicines in pharmacies are not cheap, but if you come with a prescription from a Spanish doctor, they will sell them to you at a significant discount (40-60%, and sometimes 90%) or even give them out for freeно.
Education in Spain
Education in Spain consists of four stages:
Up to 3 years of age, they will help take care of children in public and private nurseries and kindergartens.
Preschool education in Spain is not mandatory, but from 3 to 6 years of age a child can be sent to a specialized school, which are of three types:
Higher education in Spain has three stages:
- preschool education for children from young age to 6 years;
- primary school education for children from 6 to 12 years;
- secondary education for teenagers from 12 to 16 (general) or up to 18 years (professional or preparation for university admission);
- higher education.
Up to 3 years of age, they will help take care of children in public and private nurseries and kindergartens.
Preschool education in Spain is not mandatory, but from 3 to 6 years of age a child can be sent to a specialized school, which are of three types:
- public (free),
- private (tuition is paid by parents),
- private with partial funding (part of the costs is borne by the state).
Higher education in Spain has three stages:
- bachelor's degree, which in Spain is called Grado;
- Master's degree or specialty: plus 1-2 year courses for a Master's degree;
- Doctorate, or Doctorado — plus three or more years of study after obtaining a master's degree. An analogue of the Russian postgraduate school, as a result, implies the defense of a dissertation.
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