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Q&A · Grounds · updated 04.07.2026

Which Spanish Residence Permit to Choose in 2026?

Updated: 4 July 2026 · Verified against official sources

It depends: on your income source, employment status and how long you plan to stay in Spain. For freelancers and remote employees — the DNV; for rentiers and retirees — the NLV; for studies — a student residence permit; for spouses and children of residents — family reunification. The Golden Visa was abolished 03.04.2025 and is no longer an option.

Comparing the grounds: who each one suits

Ground Who it's for Income threshold Work in Spain
DNV Freelancers, remote workers, IT €2,760–2,850/month Remote only, not for Spanish employers
NLV Rentiers, retirees, investors €2,400/month Not allowed
Family reunification Spouses, children and parents of Spanish residents Sponsor's income (depends on family size) Allowed
Student Students and language course attendees €600/month Up to 30 h/week

How to choose: step-by-step logic

  1. Is your spouse or parent already a Spanish resident? Family reunification is a ground with no income threshold for the applicant themselves: the financial requirements apply to the sponsoring resident and depend on family size.
  2. Do you work remotely for foreign clients? The DNV is your option. The income threshold is 200% of the SMI (Spain's minimum wage), i.e. €2,760–2,850/month. Plus, the Beckham tax regime is available, with a rate of 24% for 6 years.
  3. Have passive income or a pension? The NLV requires 400% of the IPREM (Spain's public income indicator) — from €2,400/month. You cannot work in Spain, but there are no requirements as to where the income comes from.
  4. Coming to study? The student residence permit is the most accessible: the threshold is 100% IPREM (€600/month). Time spent as a student partially counts toward permanent residence: 50%.
  5. Think about your time horizon. All temporary residence permits lead to permanent residence after 5 years of continuous residence, and then to citizenship after 10 years for Russian citizens. Check your personal timeline in the citizenship calculator.

For those who have already lived in Spain for several years without legal status, there is also the arraigo route (residence based on established ties in Spain) — our firm does not handle this route, so we do not include it in this selection.

What about the Golden Visa?

The programme is closed — Ley Orgánica 1/2025 abolished it as of 03.04.2025. Investors are shifting to the NLV or DNV. More details on the page “Golden Visa Abolished”.

A detailed comparison of all the grounds — with income thresholds, timelines and documents for each route — is in the article “How to Choose Your Spanish Residence Permit Ground: a Comparison”.

Not sure which income threshold applies to you? Enter your family composition — the 2026 income calculator will show the exact amount for the DNV, NLV and student residence permit, including the add-ons for family members.

This is a preliminary assessment based on official sources, not individual legal advice. Your case may differ — we'll review your case for free.

In a similar situation? We'll review your case

Describe it briefly — we'll tell you honestly which residence permit ground suits you and whether you meet the income requirement.

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Official sources: BOE — Spanish legislation · Ministry of Inclusion and Migration · Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs