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AC Advisors

Visas and Residence in Spain for foreigners

If you want to live, work or study in Spain, choosing the right visa is just as important as understanding how it will affect your taxes. Our team offers comprehensive tax and legal advice to ensure that the entire process — from choosing a visa to establishing your tax residence — is clear, secure and free of surprises with the tax authorities or immigration services.

What visas we process:

Short-stay visas
  • Stay visa (Schengen)
    To come to Spain for tourism, family visits or short-term business trips.

  • Airport transit visa
    To stop over at a Spanish airport when your final destination is another country.

 
Visas for family members of EU or Spanish citizens
  • Visas for family members of EU citizens and beneficiaries of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement
    For spouses, partners and children of EU or UK citizens in certain cases.

  • General family reunification visa
    For family reunification when the EU regime does not apply.

  • Residence visa for family members of Spanish nationals
    For immediate family members of Spanish nationals who are moving to or residing in Spain.

 
National visas for residence, study or work
  • Study visa and internship visa
    To pursue official studies or undertake internships at Spanish institutions.

  • Research visa
    For those joining research projects in Spain.

  • Non-lucrative residence visa
    To reside in Spain without engaging in work or professional activity.

  • Residence visa for teleworking (digital nomad)
    To work remotely for foreign companies or clients while residing in Spain.

  • Work visa for employees
    To work as an employee of a company in Spain.

  • Work visa for self-employed persons
    To carry out an economic activity on your own in Spain.

  • Entrepreneur visa
    For developing entrepreneurial projects or start-ups of special interest to the Spanish economy.

  • Visa to recover long-term or long-term EU residence
    For those who had this type of residence and want to recover it.

  • Visa for highly qualified workers and intra-company transfers
    For managers, specialists or other qualified profiles who are transferring within the same business group.

  • Visas for job seekers
    Authorises foreign nationals to travel to Spain to seek employment for a period of twelve months. Visas for job seekers are of the following types:
    • a) Visas for job seekers who are children or grandchildren of Spanish nationals.
    • b) Visas for job seekers in certain occupations and geographical areas.

We always base our advice on the official requirements published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant Consulate, and we help you to interpret how they apply to your specific situation and tax planning.

What our visa and residence service includes

Our goal is to save you the hassle of coordinating immigration lawyers, tax advisors, and your company on your own. We integrate everything into a single support package:

 

  • Assessment of which visa suits your situation and plans
    We review your country of origin, professional background, expected income, whether you are coming alone or with your family, and what you want to do in the medium term (work, invest, study, telework) to determine the most appropriate type of visa.

  • Coordination with immigration solicitors
    We work together with solicitors specialising in immigration so that all the legal and documentary aspects of the visa (forms, appointments, requirements, deadlines) are handled correctly, without you having to repeat your story to several different offices.

  • Review of the tax impact of each visa
    We analyse how each visa may affect your tax residence, your income tax and, where applicable, the possible application of the Beckham law or other special regimes. We clearly explain what your days of stay imply, where your income is taxed and how to avoid, as far as possible, double taxation with your country of origin.

  • Support with renewals and changes of status
    We help you when it is time to renew your visa or when you want to switch from a visa to residency, change the type of permit or modify your employment status (for example, from student to worker, from salaried employee to self-employed, etc.), reviewing the tax consequences again.

Case studies

Digital nomad moving to Spain

Marketing professional working remotely for several companies in the EU and the United States. We analyse which visa is best for you, coordinate the preparation of documentation with immigration lawyers and review your tax residence to determine where you should declare your income. We design a schedule of obligations in Spain and assist you with the renewal of your permit.

 

Professional hired by a Spanish company

Engineer who receives a job offer in Spain as a highly qualified professional. We study whether her visa and contract allow her to benefit from the Beckham law, explain the impact on her net salary and the cost to the company, coordinate the application with HR, and manage her tax returns for the following years.

Frequently asked questions about visas and taxation

Which visa is best for me if I work remotely for a foreign company?

It depends on whether you meet the income requirements, type of contract and country of origin required by the regulations for a digital nomad visa or other options. We review your specific case and assess which permit best suits your plans and your tax situation.

 

When do I become a tax resident in Spain with my visa?

It does not depend solely on the visa, but also on the number of days you spend in Spain, where your economic and family interests are centred, and what is established in double taxation agreements. We analyse all these factors to determine whether you are already a tax resident and what that entails.

 

Can I change from a study visa to a work or residence visa?

In many cases, this is possible, provided that you meet the legal requirements and submit your application within the appropriate time frame. We coordinate with you and immigration solicitors to change your status and reorganise your tax planning for the new stage.

 

Does the type of visa influence whether I can apply for the Beckham law?

It can influence it, because certain requirements of the special regime are linked to the type of relocation, the contract and the time you arrive in Spain. We review your situation to see if your visa and employment relationship allow you to apply for the Beckham law and if it is really advantageous for you.

Short case study

‘A client residing in Germany with a rented flat in Valencia. He had not filed taxes in Spain for years because he thought that declaring the rent in Germany was sufficient. We reviewed his situation, regularised the pending tax years and designed a tax return schedule for the following years, avoiding future problems. In addition, we reviewed the rental contracts and updated the clauses to protect his interests as a non-resident owner.’

Let’s talk about your Visa and Residence in Spain

Whether you are just beginning to consider coming to Spain or already have a visa and want to ensure that your tax situation is properly addressed, we can review your case and accompany you throughout the process.