Emigration to Spain: key features of the procedure

Advantages of living in Spain

Emigration to Spain from Russia is an attractive prospect for a huge number of the Russian-speaking population. The Mediterranean kingdom is distinguished by a developed healthcare system, progressive social policy and fairly low prices (compared to other EU countries) for rent, food, and utility bills.

Spain offers its residents:

• good environmental conditions;
• high quality of consumer goods, household appliances and food products;
• an advanced system of affordable medical care (the quality of which is confirmed by a high standard of living);
• obtaining an education recognized in any EU country;
• decent wages;
• low utility bills.

The population of the kingdom is 47 million people. Spain is a multinational country, consisting of 82% of indigenous Spaniards (Basques, Catalans, Castilians), who are very loyal to immigrants from other countries, and 18% of immigrants who join the population annually. The average life expectancy of a Spanish citizen is 79 years.

The Mediterranean kingdom ranks second in Europe in terms of living standards and is distinguished by a well-developed system of affordable healthcare and high-quality medical care.

Spain offers low prices for housing rentals (compared to other European countries), food, and necessary consumer goods at a high wage threshold. The minimum wage in the country is 800 euros. Monthly remuneration varies depending on the region (residents of Catalonia and Madrid have the highest salaries).

The average income of a family of 3 people is approximately 23 euros per year. Politicians and the indigenous population of Spain are loyal to visitors. Foreign citizens have the opportunity to freely purchase housing on the Mediterranean coast. When purchasing a villa costing over 500 thousand euros, a residence permit is automatically purchased.

A purchase and sale agreement for residential space of lesser value makes it possible to obtain an annual Schengen multiple entry visa, subject to easy extension. Spain is famous for its universities. The level of Spanish education is considered very high and valued throughout Europe. Obtaining a diploma is equally possible for native Spaniards and foreign students.

Universities have affordable prices; popular specializations provide free places. Foreigners studying in the kingdom acquire a permanently renewable residence permit with subsequent opportunity for employment and permanent residence. The Spanish kingdom is interested in qualified workers.

The most popular specializations in 2021 are:

• the doctors;
• teachers;
• engineering and technical workers.

Emigration to Spain from Russia is possible for work reasons; you need to know the most in-demand professions.
The country is characterized by a high level of unemployment, as a result of which it is quite difficult for foreign citizens to get a job with a salary exceeding 1,000 euros per month. Agriculture provides the most jobs for emigrants (especially during the harvest season).

The Russian-speaking population prefers to live in the southern regions (Barcelona), the northern part of the country (Aragon), large cities and agricultural areas (Andalusia, Navarre). Most often, emigrants register near their place of work. Those who come for temporary work prefer to settle in large cities and suburbs with a good climate and developed agriculture.

Migration policy in Spain

Emigration to Spain from Russia or any other state is regulated by regulations aimed at stabilizing the flow of migrants and providing assistance in adaptation to arriving foreign citizens.

Most emigrants coming from:

• Latin America;
• Muslim countries;
• Russia.

Spanish migration legislation is very loyal to foreign citizens, allowing them to stay in the country for a long time, provided they have the necessary funds for living.

The Migration Law of 2000 divides all foreigners coming to Spain into:

• those who intend to stay in the country for less than 90 days;
• those who live in the kingdom for more than 90 days, but less than 2 years;
• permanently living emigrants (over 5 years).

Persons staying in Spain for a period of more than 90 days must provide documentary evidence of the presence of sufficient financial resources in the account or provide an invitation to work (study) from a Spanish organization or educational institution.

After reviewing the employment contract and the diploma required to occupy the specified position, the foreigner is issued a work permit for a period of up to 5 years. At the end of the specified time period (subject to renewal of the contract), the residence permit is extended.

An organization that decides to invite a foreign specialist must apply to the Ministry of Labor for the necessary permission. Every year, the Spanish government sets a certain number of jobs to be offered to foreign nationals.

Options for emigration to Spain

Emigration to Spain from Russia is possible upon receipt of a permit for permanent residence (and after 10 years of residence, permanent residence) on the grounds established by legislative acts.

Methods for obtaining a permanent residence permit

Documented reasons for allowing a D visa are:

• With a Spanish education. The permit is issued for students and professionals wishing to receive or continue their education at Spanish universities.

  

• Upon marriage to a citizen of Spain.
• Happy family reunion. A foreign citizen who has relatives living in the kingdom or historical Spanish roots can become a resident.
• With the purchase of real estate. When purchasing any home worth $500 or more, a residence permit is automatically issued.
• With an invitation to work in a Spanish company. In this case, it is necessary to obtain permission from the Ministry of Labor when providing an employment contract and a legalized diploma confirming the necessary qualifications.
• With opening your own business. A residence permit is issued in case of purchasing a ready-made company or if you have the funds, qualifications, and a correct business plan necessary to form your own prosperous company.

Legal residence is also provided to refugees from disadvantaged regions. For the first time, a temporary residence permit is issued for a period of 1 year, followed by further extension (2, 7, 10 years).

Foreign citizens holding a Spanish residence permit can:

• move freely throughout the country and in the European Union zone;
• freely enter and exit the borders of Spain;
• use health and social services.

Those with permanent residence permits must reside within the kingdom for at least six months. If grounds established by law arise, the residence permit may be revoked or not renewed.

Features of permanent residence and citizenship

Permanent residence is issued after the provision of a residence permit and its repeated (more than 3 times) extension. After 10 years of living and (or) working in Spain, the emigrant acquires citizenship of the kingdom.

Permanent residence permits the recipient:

• voting rights;
• the opportunity to hold positions in government bodies;
• diplomatic protection.

Unlike a temporary residence permit, which can be revoked:

• when breaking the law;
• in the absence of funds necessary for living;
• upon termination of the employment contract;
• when staying on the territory of the kingdom, less (more) than the period prescribed by law.

Permanent residence is permanent and cannot be cancelled.

How can you obtain permanent residence in Spain?

There are several legal ways to obtain a residence permit in Spain. This document gives full right to stay in the country even after the visa expires.

Read also: Labor migration in Russia

It is proposed to consider various options.

Marriage with a foreigner

Entering into a legal union with a citizen is the easiest and almost guaranteed way to settle in the country.
You can get married both in Spain and in the Russian Federation. The main advantage of this method of obtaining a residence permit is the lowest cost of registration.

In addition, a residence permit is issued for 5 years, and also provides for a simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship. In other words, a person married to a Spanish citizen has the right to apply for citizenship after a year.

It is not recommended to enter into a fictitious marriage, since in addition to the obligations provided for by family law and the marriage contract, you will need to undergo a special interview. In addition, visits from regulatory authorities cannot be ruled out in order to check the reality of the marriage relationship.

Family reunification

Having relatives in Spain is another way to legally settle in the country.
Having lived in the territory of the state with the status of a temporary residence permit for more than 1 year, a migrant can facilitate the migration of his spouse, his minor child or adult incapacitated children. After five years of residence, the right to obtain a residence permit is granted to the migrant’s parents.

Important! Spanish legislation does not classify pensioner migrants as a preferential category, and emigration and immigration occur on a general basis.

One of the conditions for the relocation of loved ones is the mandatory availability of funds for the maintenance of invited relatives:

• if a spouse moves, then for two migrants a minimum of 1.5 times the equivalent of the minimum wage will be required. In Spain it is called IPREM;
• for each subsequent relative an increase of 0.5 minimum wages per month is required.

In 2021 it is 537.84 euros. In addition, another mandatory requirement is the availability of living space. This may be owned property or leased use.

A house or apartment with the number of bedrooms equal to the number of residents is recommended.

The transported relatives, as well as the initiator of the move, obtain the same type of residence permit with the right to work and for the same period.

Education

For the younger generation, there is another way to legally migrate to Spain - getting an education in paid educational institutions that have been certified by the country’s Ministry of Education.
The cost of obtaining a residence permit will cost around 1.5 thousand euros and will take about 4 weeks. In addition to the general package of documents, you will need to provide confirmation of enrollment in the university, as well as a bank statement indicating the availability of money to pay for studies, accommodation and return to your homeland.

In addition, knowledge of Spanish or proof of enrollment in training courses is required. With a residence permit of this category, you can work no more than 20 hours a week.

Purchase of real estate

Purchasing your own home worth at least half a million euros for each migrant allows you to obtain an investor residence permit. In everyday life, this status is called a “golden visa”. This is a good type of investment because:

• the buyer becomes the owner of the property in Spain;
• There is always an opportunity to sell a liquid asset without loss of value.

The legislation does not establish requirements that the minimum amount of one property must be valued at 500 thousand euros. This could be the purchase of several apartments or houses for the same amount.

Additionally, the migrant receives a passive source of income, since he can live in one apartment and rent out another and compensate for daily material expenses.

Registration of a residence permit under such a program will cost approximately 2.5 thousand euros and will take up to six months.

In order not to lose a residence permit, the program allows periodic visits to the country to renew documents. In other words, the owner of the property does not have to reside permanently in Spain.

It is noteworthy that the cost of renting or purchasing real estate is often much lower than in Russian cities with a population of more than 1 million people.

Investment activities

The government encourages foreigners to invest in the economy.
Read also: How to obtain a TIN for a foreign citizen

Types of investments are:

• acquisition of securities in the amount of 2 million euros;
• purchase of shares or investment in the capital of a company registered in Spain in the amount of 1 million euros;
• opening a deposit account in the amount of 1 million euros.

Important! If the bank account is closed or the invested funds are received back, the extension of the residence permit within the framework of the investment activity program is impossible.

There is also a more economical option to obtain a residence permit as part of investment activities - to establish your own business in the country with the creation of jobs.

Obtaining refugee status

Migrating to a country as a refugee is a labor-intensive procedure, the implementation of which is possible under certain circumstances.
It is difficult to do this without a lawyer fluent in Spanish. To obtain refugee status, you will need to prove the fact of infringement of the rights and interests of a citizen on the territory of your country. Conducting hostilities in the registration area greatly simplifies the task of proving the existence of a threat to life and health.

Working category

Unfortunately, Spain has a high unemployment rate. Despite a slight improvement in the situation over the past few years, more than 4 million people in the country are still unemployed.

An employer may be interested in a foreign employee provided that there is no suitably qualified specialist among the local population who agrees to work under the proposed conditions.

Residence permit by settlement

Many foreigners choose this method of relocating to Spain for permanent residence.
It is possible that in 2021 the government of the country will exclude this option of obtaining a residence permit. The chronology of the migrant's actions is as follows:

• obtaining a temporary residence permit for 1 year;
• after the specified period, the residence permit is extended for 2 years;
• after this, the migrant once again renews the residence permit for 2 years.

After the second extension, the legislation allows you to submit a document to obtain the right to permanent residence.

It is easier for residents of the Schengen area to obtain permanent residence rights, but for Russians there is a requirement for continuous residence in the country for 5 years.

Additionally, you should remember that it is impossible to have 2 citizenships; therefore, if the final decision is made to settle in Spain, then you will have to renounce Russian citizenship.

Where to start the moving procedure

Emigration to Spain from Russia requires careful preparation.

When planning a move, you must:

• Determine the grounds on which a request for a residence permit (category D permit) will be sent.
• To obtain a student visa, a former student must pass the Selectividad exam, the results of which are used to enroll in a Spanish university, and in the event of a possible transfer from one university to another, the student must prepare a certified certificate containing a list of subjects taken.
• Purchase and certify the documents necessary for the consul. Papers are selected depending on the moving option.
• Decide on a place to live. To obtain a long-term visa, local registration is required.
• Find a suitable employment option, submit documents to a Spanish university for enrollment and provide an invitation to enroll.

  

• Learn a foreign language and receive an international DELE certificate confirming your fluency in Spanish.

All important documents must be copied, translated into Spanish, and certified with an apostille. Failure to comply with this condition will result in refusal by the consular office.

Immigration to Spain from Russia in 2021

Emigration of Russian citizens to the Kingdom of Spain in 2021 is carried out after receiving a long-term Schengen visa category D for 3 months (or more), giving the opportunity to live in the state for up to 90 days (with or without the right to work).

To obtain a residence permit, the future emigrant submits an application (letter) in Spanish (or English), in which he indicates the desired reason for moving. The specifics of obtaining a visa directly depend on the reason for emigration.

List of documents

The Spanish government has established a list of papers required to obtain a long-term Schengen visa.

Common documents required when moving are:

• valid international passport;

  

• medical insurance with coverage of at least 30 thousand euros;
• document confirming registration in the Kingdom of Spain;
• photographs (at least 4 pieces, size 2*3);
• papers confirming no criminal record;
• medical certificate (form 086-U) confirming the absence of serious health problems;
• bank account statement confirming financial solvency (at least 23 thousand euros per 1 family member);
• copies of documents confirming marital status;
• certificate certifying fluency in Spanish;
• air ticket reservation.

The list of additional papers varies depending on the purpose of emigration:

To obtain refugee status, a request for political asylum is submitted immediately after crossing the Spanish border. If the emigration service makes a positive decision (within 3 days), the foreigner is assigned the status of a legal migrant.

Where to contact

Documents for obtaining a residence permit are submitted:

• to the Spanish consulate located in Moscow and St. Petersburg;

  

• to the BLS International visa center;
• to the migration service (when staying in the kingdom).

Review time and reasons for refusal

The period for reviewing documents is up to 3 months. Papers are submitted by appointment in person. If a positive decision is made, a D (resident) visa is issued.

Within 3 weeks (after approval), official confirmation of the permit is sent to the postal address at the place of registration. With a “golden visa” (type D), upon arrival in Spain, a foreign citizen must visit the police to issue and provide him with a resident card.

The consulate refuses a residence permit in the following cases:

• providing an incomplete package of required documents;
• lack of translation of submitted papers into Spanish;
• attempted forgery or deception of the consul;
• having a criminal record or an established violation of the law in Spain or in the EU countries;

  

• previous refusal to provide a residence permit from other countries.

Refusal for other reasons or at the discretion of the consul is permitted.

Residence permit for financially independent persons

If your income exceeds 4 Spanish minimum wages, that is, more than €2 thousand per month, you can apply for a residence permit in the country on this basis. Another prerequisite is to rent or rent a home that will become your official place of residence.

It will be possible to move with your family, but none of the holders of this status will receive the right to work in Spain for hire. Therefore, this option is often used by pensioners or mothers with children whose father continues to work in his homeland. However, there are opportunities to earn money in Spain itself: you are allowed to open your own business here, rent out real estate, or work remotely for a foreign company.

Documentation

You will need to confirm the availability of the required amount for the entire period for which the residence permit is requested, that is, for 1 year upon initial receipt, for 2 or 5 years upon renewal. In addition, you will need to prove that you have regular income at the required level, obtained legally. To do this, you will have to show an account statement or salary certificate for six months to a year.

Immigration specialists will answer your questions

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The most in-demand professions in Spain

In Spain, the high unemployment rate is accompanied by a large shortage of highly qualified personnel specializing in the chemical industry, construction, engineering, and energy. The number of jobs for emigrants is established annually by the Ministry of Labor.

The easiest time for visitors to find work is in agriculture, especially in the autumn-spring period, before planting and harvesting. In the summer months, difficulties arise with housing, since all available living space is occupied by tourists. Salaries in the agricultural industry depend on the season and amount to up to 1000 euros per month.

In large cities there is a significant shortage of qualified personnel, including:

• Engineering and technical workers specializing in the field of mechanical engineering, construction, mechanized production. The salary level here is the highest and ranges from 60 to 100 thousand euros per year.
• Medical personnel and doctors receiving up to 80 thousand euros annually (if there is a private practice, up to 100 thousand).
• IT specialists, programmers, computer website developers – from 20 to 50 thousand euros.
• Power engineers, chemical industry laboratory assistants – up to 70 thousand euros.
• Secretaries, managers with knowledge of foreign languages, telephone consultants, trade workers have a salary of up to 40 thousand euros per year.
• Hotel and restaurant workers, cooks, social workers - up to 20-30 euros per year.
• Operators for industrial care – up to 19 thousand euros.
• Couriers, ground transport workers – 15-16 thousand euros.

Without qualifications you can earn up to 3 thousand euros per month working:

• maid;
• nanny;
• nurse;
• builder;
• security guard.

To find a promising place, you need good knowledge of foreign languages ​​(Spanish and English), legalized educational documents.

The level of wages directly depends on:

• by gender (men get more than women);
• location of the organization (the highest level of wages is in the north and in large cities);
• qualifications, work experience;
• position held;
• employee age;
• chosen profession (the highest salaries are in the energy and engineering sectors, workers in land transport and tourism receive the least).

Professions for Russians

Immigrants from Russia, when emigrating to Spain, can easily find a job on a farm as seasonal fruit harvesting workers. The employment of Russians and other migrants is handled by intermediary companies, which take on the hassle of completing documentation and finding an employer. The amount of earnings is determined by the number of boxes collected. Having fulfilled the required norm, you will be able to earn up to one and a half thousand euros per month.

Also, the most popular working professions in Spain include:

• builders;
• tour guides;
• truck drivers;
• for women - governesses and housekeepers;
• cooks and waiters;
• electricians, plumbers;
• car mechanic and others.

When emigrating to Spain, an applicant from Russia should expect a monthly salary level of nine hundred to one and a half thousand euros.

Ways to find a job

You can find work in Spain using:

• Russian-language websites of the Spanish labor exchange;
• newspaper publications (for example, “MK-Spain”);
• social sites;
• employment center.

To search for a vacancy, you need to fill out a resume in Spanish, indicating the position being presented and listing your existing diplomas and work experience.

Documents confirming education and qualifications (as well as language proficiency) must be translated into Spanish and certified with an apostille. A certificate of higher education is subject to mandatory legalization.

Where to read reviews about moving

Russian citizens who moved to live in the Kingdom of Spain publish their reviews on the following websites:

• otzov-mf_ru;
• esrate-spain_com;
• otzovik_com.

You can read real stories of Russians who settled in Spain in groups created on social networks (Odnoklassniki, VKontakte, Facebook) and on forums.

Moving to Spain is the desire of many citizens who dream of life in the European Union. When thinking about emigrating from Russia, it is necessary to carry out thorough preparation aimed at collecting documentation, studying the language and laws of the country. Thorough preparation will help you quickly obtain a visa and easily adapt to a new place.

Article design: Oleg Lozinsky

Immigration through the purchase of real estate

If an immigrant is able to purchase real estate in Spain for more than 500 thousand euros, then he receives a multiple visa to visit the country, and also provides his entire family with this category of visa.

After purchasing expensive real estate, the right to obtain a residence permit depends only on the years lived in Spanish territories. The purchase procedure itself is simple and does not take more than 2 weeks, which can be done with a tourist visa.

Moving to Spain is a tempting prospect that more and more people are trying to achieve. Spain is a pleasant country with a good climate and clean environment. It is easy and interesting to live, study and work there, as well as raise children.