Section · updated 12.07.2026
Residence permits in Spain: articles and in-depth guides
The "Residence Permits in Spain" section offers practical breakdowns of every stage of legalisation: from choosing your grounds to permanent residence and citizenship. Here you will find a comparison of the legal grounds — the digital nomad visa (DNV), the non-lucrative residence permit (NLV), family and study routes — a breakdown of what to do after a refusal, how a residence permit ties into tax residency, the requirements for documents with an apostille and sworn translation, limits on absence from the country, and the route to permanent residence.
The 2026 rules. The new immigration regulation — Real Decreto 1155/2024 (in force since 20.05.2025) — now applies, and the investor "golden visa" was abolished on 03.04.2025. We check every article against the BOE and keep the figures current: income thresholds based on IPREM (Spain's public income index) and SMI (the minimum wage), card validity periods, and renewal rules.
If you need a step-by-step application guide, start with "How to Get a Spain Residence Permit", and for renewing your card see the section "Residence Permit Renewal".
Articles in this section
Spain Residence Permit 2026: How to Choose Your Grounds — Comparing DNV, NLV, Investor, Family and Study
A comparison table of five scenarios: 2026 income thresholds, the right to work, first-card validity periods and who each path suits. The investor route is covered only as an abolished option, with working alternatives.
Read the guide RefusalsSpain Residence Permit Refused: Reasons and What to Do Next
Typical reasons for refusal, appeal deadlines (recurso de reposición — 1 month, court — 2 months) and when it makes more sense to reapply.
Read TaxesSpain Residence Permit and Tax Residency: the 183-Day Rule and the Beckham Regime
When a residence permit holder becomes a tax resident: 183 days, centre of interests, family. The Beckham regime and the key tax returns.
Read DocumentsCriminal Record Certificate, Apostille and Sworn Translation for a Spain Residence Permit
Where to obtain the certificate, how long it stays valid, how to get an apostille and order a translation from a traductor jurado (sworn translator) — step by step and without the usual mistakes.
Read StrategyFrom Residence Permit to Permanent Residence and Spanish Citizenship: Timeline and Path
The resident's route: first residence permit → renewals → permanent residence after 5 years → citizenship after 10 (2 years for preferential categories). Continuity of residence and the DELE A2 and CCSE exams.
Read Keeping your statusSpain Residence Permit and Long Absences: How Long You Can Stay Outside Spain
Absence limits for temporary cards, the "6 and 10" rule on the way to permanent residence, and 12 months for larga duración — how to avoid losing your status because of travel.
ReadRelated services on this topic
The articles help you understand the rules, but obtaining a specific status means working with your own documents and figures. The firm's dedicated service pages:
How payment works at our firm: we offer a single service — turnkey support — with three payments instead of the full amount upfront: 50% opens work on your case, another 25% is paid at the submission stage, and the remaining 25% once the decision is issued in your favour and your resident status is granted.
Disclaimer: the rules these articles cover have a life of their own — IPREM and SMI are indexed, extranjería (immigration) offices in different provinces interpret the regulation in their own way, and official clarifications are issued throughout the year. So every article here is a reference point, not a ready-made solution: before filing your documents, check the requirements against your specific situation at a consultation.