After severing ties with the EU, there are now uncertainties about whether Brits can emigrate to Spain. But, statistically, about 400,000 Brits enjoy the Spanish, good climates, rich culture, delectable cuisines, international schools, low living costs, and good health care. Brexit has only made it necessary for UK citizens in Spain to make their residence legal. And that explains the need for visas and residence permits, which we will discuss in this post.
Can I move to Spain from the UK?
You can still move to Spain from the UK even after Brexit. But you will only be allowed to stay for 90 days in Spain. Once the 90 days have elapsed, the Spanish government will allow you to remain on a non-lucrative visa.
The non-lucrative visa or the long-stay visa only allows you residence in Spain, meaning you will not be eligible to work or run a business. Again, the visa will only be granted to applicants who can support themselves financially.
Applying for the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa
The Spanish immigration board engineered the non-lucrative residence visa application procedure in a similar way to that of the UK visas. You need to apply for it a month before traveling to Spain and submit it to embassies or consulates of Spain. The application procedure involves:
Booking a Visa Appointment
You ought to figure out when and how to make the appointment. There are typically two ways: over the telephone or via the online portal of the Spanish embassies, consulates, or any visa processing agency.
Ensure that you reserve the time for the meeting in advance. It may take several months to set up an appointment in nations whose Spanish consular offices get a high volume of visa requests.
Carry along the necessary paperwork
Immediately after booking the appointment, gather the paperwork for the non-lucrative resident visa in Spain. Gather all paperwork as needed, adhering to the standards established by the government of Spain. You may also have to accompany your application with supporting documents.
What are the requirements for the non-lucrative visa application
Application form
This form may be downloaded from the Visa application portal. You have to ensure all the questions in this form are correctly answered.
Legal passport
Your passports ought to be active and issued within the last decade. Still, it has to be valid for another full year from the application date bintangplus4d.
Two colored photos.
These photos should be clear and taken within the last 90 days.
Health certificate
The health certificate may be obtained from a licensed physician in the UK within 90 days of your application date. Also, it must state that you are free of any illnesses that might be dangerous to the general public.
Medical coverage
After obtaining the health certificate, you will need health insurance coverage. This is similar to the UK health surcharge. But, in Spain, you may get it from a private insurer.
Background check report
The records should show that you haven’t engaged in any unlawful behavior in the previous five years. Additionally, the record should not be dated more than 90 days at the time of submission.
NIE code
If you are to remain in Spain for more than 180 days, you must ask for the NIE code from the Spanish consulate in the UK.
A solid paycheck
As mentioned earlier, your financial status will determine whether you qualify for the non-lucrative Visa. Speaking of which, your minimum monthly income should be 2,150 euros. If you have dependents, an additional 535 euros will be needed. You may have to present either of the following as evidence of financial capabilities murah4d.
- Bank statements obtained within the last 90 days or a statement specifying your wage if you’ll be getting paid by a company not based in Spain.
- Proof of investment
- Documents showing additional sources of income, such as rental property.
Finalizing the Non-lucrative Visa application
Normally, you will have to present yourself at the Spanish consulate to issue your biometrics (fingerprints and photos) and other supporting documents. Finally, you have to pay the visa application fee. Note that when your application is dismissed or you decide to withdraw, there will be no refunds.
The Non-Lucrative Visa waiting period
Depending on the number of applicants, processing time may be prolonged or shortened. It may take 90 days for you to get a decision on your visa application. After getting a decision, you have 30 days to pick up your visa. Failure to comply will result in revocation.
Moving to Spain
Once you get a decision on the visa application, you have a window of 30 days to travel to Spain and apply for the foreigner’s identification card. The requirements for a foreigner’s ID application include.
- Travel passport
- Spanish Visa
- Three colored photos
The foreigner’s ID is different from the newly issued Visa. It acts as proof of legal residence in Spain. Yet in conjunction with the non-lucrative Visa,
it may enable you to travel to about 25 additional nations inside the Schengen Zone, provided that you have traveling insurance cover.
The validity period on Non-lucrative Vista
Non-lucrative Visas are only valid for 105 days. Within this period, it’s wise that you apply for the Non-Lucrative Residence Permit. Typically, you will be allowed to stay for 24 months under a residence permit. But, once you have spent six months consecutively in Spain, you will be allowed to extend it for another two years.
After two years, you still have the opportunity to extend your stay for another five years. Finally, the last five years may qualify you for the Spanish permanent residence permit.
Wrapping up
As a Brit, you are allowed a Visa-free passage to Spain and a stay period of 90 days. But if you wish to stay for more than 90 days, you must play your cards with the non-lucrative Spanish Visa. If you are well behaved during your visa stay, you could be one step away from becoming a permanent resident in Spain!