Spain residence permits · updated 28.06.2026

Moving to Spain from Russia in 2026: where to start

Updated: 28 June 2026 · Verified by the EuroGarant team against official sources

We take on complex cases — even if on paper you don't meet the requirements

We never turn anyone away: we find the right basis and route for your situation — including past refusals, non-standard documents and complicated circumstances. Money-back guarantee: we work under a contract, payment is staged and tied to results, and if you receive a refusal, we refund what you paid for our services.

In short: a legal move to Spain starts with choosing the basis for your residence permit — it determines the income requirements and the documents. The most workable bases in 2026: digital nomad (remote work), NLV (passive income), business, family reunification, study. Then come document collection, filing, and the TIE residence card. Let's walk through it step by step.

Step 1. Choose the basis for your move

You can't "just move" — you need a legal status. Match a basis to your situation:

I work remotely → DNVDigital nomad visa. Income from 200% of SMI. I have income/savings → NLVResidence permit without the right to work. From 400% of IPREM. Not sure → CalculatorWe'll match you with a basis in 60 seconds.

There are also the entrepreneur visa, a residence permit for highly qualified professionals, and family reunification (if a relative is already a resident). The investor "golden visa" has been abolished 03.04.2025 — it is no longer an option.

Step 2. How much money you need

The main filter is proof of income or funds. In 2026, IPREM (Spain's public income index) is frozen at €600/month, and the thresholds are calculated from it:

€2,400/month NLV — passive income of at least 400% of IPREM (~€28,800/year) + €600/month per family member

€2,760–2,850/month DNV — income of at least 200% of SMI + family supplements

+ one-off costs apostille, sworn translations, health insurance, government fees (tasa)

Work out your relocation budget: the 2026 income calculator will show whether you meet the thresholds for each basis, family included.

Step 3. The step-by-step process

Basis and documents. Choose your basis and gather the documents: passport, criminal record certificate with apostille, proof of income, health insurance, translations.
Appointment and filing. Book a cita previa (official appointment) and file — from within Spain at Extranjería/UGE-CE (the immigration office) or through a consulate as a type D visa.
Decision and TIE card. Wait for the decision and collect your residence card, the TIE.
Settling in. Municipal registration (empadronamiento), opening a bank account, getting your NIE (foreigner ID number) and social security.

The full procedure for obtaining the status is covered in our guide "How to Get a Spanish Residence Permit in 2026".

And the entire relocation route — from preparing documents to settling in — is laid out in our interactive Spain relocation roadmap.

Get your relocation route — free

Common relocation mistakes

Coming on a tourist visa to "look around" with no legalization plan — that's not a way to get a status

The right order is the reverse: first lock in your basis for a residence permit, then plan entry dates, housing and logistics around it

Calculating income from the wrong base (DNV — from SMI, NLV — from IPREM)

Before filing, check your calculation against the current 2026 SMI and IPREM figures and budget for the supplement for each family member

An incomplete file and errors in sworn translations → refusal

Your file must pass a double check before filing: every document with an apostille and a translation by a sworn translator (traductor jurado)

Relocating with full support: how it works

There is only one format — a single package: "Turnkey", with no stripped-down tiers. The bureau handles the entire legal route: analyzing your situation and choosing the basis, checking your income against the thresholds, apostilles and sworn translations, booking the cita previa and filing. Your side is the move itself: tickets, housing, school for the kids; document-wise, all we need from you is your passport and the source certificates — we assemble the rest of the file.

Payment is tied to the progress of your case and split into three stages:

50% Getting started. An advance payment: we fix the terms, choose your basis, and start assembling the file.

+25% Stage complete — 75% in total. File assembled, translations ready, application filed.

+25% Result — 100% in total. Final settlement after your residence permit is issued.

Haven't been to Spain yet? To enter, you'll need a Schengen visa — it's handled by our project visagarant.online (Schengen visas, including after refusals).

Frequently asked questions about moving to Spain

Where do I start a move to Spain from Russia?

Start by choosing a legal basis: digital nomad visa (DNV), non-lucrative residence without the right to work (NLV), entrepreneur visa, family reunification, or study. The basis determines the income requirements and the document package. Then come document collection with sworn translations, booking a cita previa, filing, and receiving the TIE residence card.

How much money do I need to move to Spain?

It depends on the basis. For the NLV — passive income of at least 400% of IPREM = €2,400/month (≈ €28,800/year), plus €600/month per family member. For the DNV — income of at least 200% of SMI, i.e. €2,760–2,850/month. Plus one-off costs: apostille, sworn translations, health insurance, government fees (tasa).

Can I move to Spain without speaking Spanish?

Yes — no language skills are required for an initial residence permit (DNV, NLV and others), so language won't hold up your move. You'll need it later: Spanish citizenship requires the DELE A2 (language) and CCSE (country knowledge) exams.