Free generator · updated 03.07.2026
Personal document checklist for a Spain residence permit
Three questions — one list. Choose your grounds, family composition and where you are applying from — we will assemble your document set with notes on where an apostille is needed, where a sworn translation is required, and which certificates "expire" after 90 days. You can print the list or save it as a PDF. Need a general list without customization — see the universal residence permit document checklist.
The list is indicative, based on the rules as of July 2026: consulates and Extranjería (immigration) offices may request additional documents, and requirements vary between consulates. This is not legal advice.
How to gather your documents without redoing them
The key principle: first the "slow" documents, then the "perishable" ones. Apostilles for the criminal record certificate and civil registry certificates, sworn translations and diploma legalization take weeks. Meanwhile the certificates themselves — criminal record and medical — must in practice be no older than 90 days on the filing date. If you start with the certificates, they will "expire" by the time the translations are ready, and you will have to order everything again.
A working sequence: 1) lock in your grounds and the exact list (generator above); 2) start the apostilles for civil certificates and the other slow documents; 3) book your filing appointment (cita); 4) 3–4 weeks before the date, order the criminal record and medical certificates and send them for sworn translation; 5) gather your financial proof with fresh statements. Translations must be done by a traductor jurado (sworn translator) from the official list of Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs — consulates do not accept a regular notarized translation.
The 2026 financial thresholds your proof must meet: DNV — at least 200% SMI (Spain's minimum wage; ≈ 2 849 €/month), NLV — at least 400% IPREM (≈ 2 400 €/month plus 600 € per family member; IPREM is Spain's reference income index), study — at least 100% IPREM (≈ 600 €/month), reunification — 150% IPREM for a family of two. Exact amounts and the form of proof depend on the consulate — check them before filing.
Frequently asked questions
What documents are needed for a Spain residence permit in 2026?
The core set: a valid passport, criminal record certificates from your countries of residence over the past 5 years (apostille + sworn translation), a medical certificate under the IHR 2005, insurance from a Spanish insurer, and financial proof matching your grounds. The rest depends on the grounds — build your list with the generator above.
Which documents need an apostille and a sworn translation?
Apostille — for official documents of the issuing country: criminal record certificate (in Russia — the Ministry of Internal Affairs), marriage/birth certificates (civil registry / Ministry of Justice). Sworn translation — for everything not in Spanish.
How long do certificates stay valid?
Criminal record and medical certificates — in practice no older than 90 days on the filing date. Order them last.
Can I apply while already in Spain?
It depends on the grounds: DNV and study — possible from within Spain if you are staying legally; NLV — only through the consulate in your country of residence.
What is needed for a spouse and children?
Marriage/birth certificates with apostille and translation, the spouse's criminal record certificate, insurance for everyone; if a child travels with one parent — the other parent's consent. The financial threshold rises with each family member.
Official sources: Spanish Consulate in Moscow · Ministry of Inclusion and Migration — hojas informativas (info sheets) · RD 1155/2024 (Reglamento de Extranjería — Spain's Immigration Regulation)