Checklist · 2026

Universal Document Checklist for a Spain Residence Permit

A universal set of documents required for almost any route. For a specific route (DNV, NLV, entrepreneur, HQP, family, study) the list is extended — we put together the exact list during a free case review.

Need a personalized list for your route — build one in the document checklist generator.

1. Personal documents

• PassportValid, with remaining validity of at least the period of the residence permit you are applying for. Copies of all pages containing stamps.
• PhotosIn colour, on a white background, per consular requirements (usually 3.5 × 4.5 cm).
• Application formsEX-00 / EX-01 or the national D visa form — depending on the route and place of application.

2. Criminal record and legalization

• Criminal record certificateFrom every country you have lived in over the last 5 years. Its validity is limited — order it close to your submission date.
• ApostilleFor the criminal record certificate and other official documents (marriage/birth certificates, etc.).
• Sworn translation (traductor jurado)All Russian-language documents must be translated by a sworn translator accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A regular notarized translation is not accepted.

3. Proof of funds

• Proof of income or savingsDepends on the route. 2026 benchmarks: NLV — 400% IPREM ≈ 2 400 €/mo (+600 €/mo per family member); DNV — from 200% SMI ≈ 2 760–2 850 €/mo; student — 100% IPREM ≈ 600 €/mo.
• Bank statements / contracts / certificatesCovering 3–12 months, depending on the route. For DNV — a contract with a foreign employer or clients plus proof of your remote work track record.

4. Insurance and housing

• Health insuranceFull coverage with no deductibles or co-payments — from an insurer authorized in Spain.
• Proof of accommodationRental agreement, owned property, or a booking — not required for every route; we confirm this individually.

5. Submission

• Payment of the government fee (tasa)Form 790 — the code depends on the permit type.
• Booking a cita previa (appointment)At the consulate or the Oficina de Extranjería (immigration office). Slots go fast — book well in advance.
• Certificate validity periodsMake sure all certificates will still be valid on the submission date, not just on the date you ordered them.

What documents are required for different residence permit grounds

The basic set is the same for everyone: a foreign travel passport, a completed application form, photos, a criminal record certificate with an apostille and sworn translation, health insurance with no deductible, and proof of accommodation in Spain. The differences begin in two areas — how you prove your income and how you prove the grounds for your stay itself. Below is what gets added to the basic package in each case.

• Non-lucrative residence permit (no lucrativa, without the right to work). Bank statements, certificates of passive income (rent, dividends, pension), proof of the origin of funds. The threshold is calculated from the IPREM indicator — 600 €/month, or 7,200 €/year — with a multiplier for the applicant and a separate additional amount for each family member. A medical certificate confirming the absence of any diseases listed in the International Health Regulations.
• Digital nomad. A contract or agreements with a foreign client, proof that the company has been operating for at least a year, employer authorisation for remote work from Spain, payslips for recent months. Income — from 2,760 to 2,850 €/month; for the first family member, add 75% of the SMI (SMI, the national minimum wage — 1,221 €/month). Plus a diploma or proof of professional experience and registration with the social security system.
• Studies. An admission letter from an accredited educational institution with the course paid for, proof of funds from 600 €/month for the entire duration of the studies, insurance for the study period. If the family is coming too — documents proving the family relationship and income for each accompanying person.
• Employment or highly qualified professional (HQP). A signed employment contract, employer documents (company registration, no outstanding debts to the tax authority or social security), a legalised diploma or proof of qualifications, and for regulated professions — recognition of the diploma (homologación).
• Family reunification (reagrupación familiar). Marriage and birth certificates with an apostille and translation, proof that the relative resides legally in Spain, a housing adequacy report (informe de vivienda) from the town hall, and the host party's income covering all family members.

Document validity periods vary: the criminal record certificate and the medical certificate are usually accepted only within a limited period from the date of issue, so they are ordered last, while the apostille and sworn translation are done immediately after the original is received. Bank statements are collected for several consecutive recent months — consulates look not only at the account balance, but also at the stability of incoming funds.

If you are short of documents for one of the grounds — for example, your income is close to the threshold, part of your earnings is unofficial, or your diploma is not recognised in Spain — that is not a dead end. The case is non-standard, and we will look at it separately: there is almost always another basis, an option involving reworking the package, or a two-step route where one category of residence permit is obtained first and the change of status then takes place inside Spain.

Documents by residence permit category: a comparison table

The core of the package is almost the same for every category: your passport and copies of it, photos meeting the official standard, a criminal record certificate with an apostille and a sworn translation, health insurance with no deductibles, and proof of your address of residence in Spain. The differences begin where you prove your entitlement to the status: the underlying document (an employment contract, university enrolment, proof of family relationship) and the financial part. Below is what gets added to the basic package for each category.

• Employment and highly qualified professionals — an employment contract, the employer's documents, diplomas and proof of qualifications; your own bank statements are usually not required, as the contract serves as proof of income.
• Family reunification (reagrupación familiar) and family member of an EU citizen status — marriage or birth certificates with an apostille and translation, proof of housing of sufficient size, and the sponsoring party's documents and income.

Pay particular attention to the form of the documents, not just to the list: the criminal record certificate and civil status records are accepted with an apostille and a sworn translator's translation, bank statements must cover several months and show account activity, and the insurance must cover the entire period of stay with no co-payments. It is the form, rather than the substance, where time is most often lost.

If your figures or documents do not match the requirements for your chosen category, that is not a dead end but a reason to look at your situation separately. There is usually a solution: a different category, reworking the package, or moving to the status you need in two steps. Write to us about which documents you have to hand, and we will find a suitable route for you.

Common Questions About Documents for Spanish Residency

What documents are required for Spanish residency under any type of application?

The basic set is the same for everyone: your passport and copies of its pages, photos meeting consular requirements, an application form (EX form or national D visa form), a criminal record certificate with an apostille and sworn translation, health insurance with no deductible, and proof of accommodation in Spain. To this you add the documents specific to your particular type of application and proof of income.

Will a notarised translation of documents be accepted?

No. Russian-language documents must be translated by a sworn translator (traductor jurado) accredited by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; an ordinary notarised translation is not accepted.

When should the criminal record certificate be ordered?

Closer to filing: its validity period is limited. The certificate is needed from every country where you have lived over the past 5 years, with an apostille and sworn translation. Check that all certificates will still be valid on the filing date, not just on the date they were ordered.

What if some documents are missing or your income is close to the threshold?

This is not a dead end. There is usually another type of application available, an option involving further work on the document package, or a two-step route in which one category of residency is obtained first and the status is then changed in Spain. We draw up the exact list for your situation during a free assessment.

Documents for Family Members: Spouse, Children, Parents