Residence and work in Spain: initial permit and renewal

If you are not a citizen of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland (and you are not the family member of one with rights under the EU regime), you need a residence permit to stay in Spain for more than 90 days. The framework in force is the Reglamento de Extranjeria (the Spanish immigration regulations) approved by Real Decreto 1155/2024, which replaces the previous RD 557/2011 and has been in force since 20 May 2025.

There are 4 usual routes, depending on what you want to do: working for a company (as an employee), setting up your own activity as an autonomo (self-employed), living in Spain without working by proving your own income or savings (non-lucrative), or renewing a permit you already hold. Each route has its own requirements and its own service page, where you can see the documents and the current price.

This is the route for coming to Spain with an employment contract. Under the new regulations it is the employing company that has to prove it is solvent (economic, material and staffing resources) to take on the contract, which must guarantee continuous activity. The initial permit lasts 1 year and the contract must guarantee continuous activity throughout that period; it is also limited to a geographical area and to one occupation. Save for the exceptions provided by law, the occupation is still subject to the national employment situation (situacion nacional de empleo): it must appear in the catalogue of hard-to-fill occupations, or the employer must prove how difficult it is to fill the post with workers from the domestic labour market.

Once it is granted, you have 1 month to apply for the visa at the consulate and, after entering Spain, you must be registered with the Seguridad Social (the Spanish social security system) for the permit to take effect. You can check the requirements and the current price on the page for the initial residence and work permit as an employee. Managora prepares the file, coordinates the company's paperwork and files it for you.

If you want to set up on your own, the initial residence and work permit for self-employed work lasts 1 year and is limited to one comunidad autonoma (Spanish region) and to one sector of activity. You have to prove that you meet the legal requirements for the planned activity (a viable project, sufficient investment, and any licences or qualifications the sector requires) and that you have no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you have lived over the last 5 years.

Foreign documents must be submitted with a sworn translation and, where applicable, legalised or apostilled. The page for the initial residence and work permit for self-employed work has the list of documents and the current price. Managora structures your activity plan, gathers the paperwork and files the application on your behalf.

The non-lucrative residence permit is designed for people who want to live in Spain without carrying out any employed or professional activity, supporting themselves with their own resources (income, pensions, savings or investments). It does not allow you to work, either as an employee or as a self-employed worker. The initial permit lasts 1 year and it takes effect when you enter Spain.

You have to prove sufficient financial means for yourself and, if your family comes with you, for each member, plus health insurance with cover in Spain and no waiting periods. The amount is calculated on the IPREM (the Spanish public income benchmark): a percentage for the main applicant and a further percentage for each family member. You can see the exact, current amount on the non-lucrative residence page. The visa is applied for at the consulate of your country of residence. Managora gathers and organises your financial paperwork and files the application for you.

Temporary residence permits are renewed. You can apply for the renewal during the 2 months before the expiry date; an application is also accepted within the 3 months after expiry, although in that case penalty proceedings may be opened. Filing on time extends the validity of your previous permit until a decision is issued.

One change brought in by RD 1155/2024 is that the renewed residence and work permit now lasts 4 years (both as an employee and as a self-employed worker), which cuts down the number of procedures; the non-lucrative permit is renewed for 2 years. Once you can prove 5 years of legal and continuous residence, you can move on to long-term residence, which allows you to work anywhere in Spain. The residence permit renewal page sets out the requirements and the price. Managora keeps track of your expiry date and files your renewal on time.

In almost every case you will be asked for: a complete, valid passport; a criminal record certificate from the country or countries where you have lived over the last 5 years (translated and legalised or apostilled); proof of financial means or of your employment contract; health insurance where applicable; and payment of the corresponding tasas (official fees). Foreign paperwork must carry a sworn translation.

Managora reviews your case, tells you exactly what you need to provide, prepares the official forms, files the application with the Administration on your behalf and sends you the decision and the documents by email. For initial permits handled from abroad there are 2 steps in person that fall to you: appearing at the consulate to apply for and collect your visa, and giving your fingerprints (biometrics) for the TIE card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, the Spanish foreigner ID card) once you are in Spain. Within Spain, the card biometrics are the only compulsory step in person.