For Argentine citizens, a valid passport will be required to enter Spain and spend a limited amount of time in the country. However, for lengthier stays, as well as for the purpose of relocation and to immigrate to Spain from Argentina, an individual will need to obtain the proper visa and residence permit. Our team of immigration lawyers in Spain can assist all interested Argentinians who are considering moving to Spain.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Support in moving to Spain from Argentina (YES/NO) | Yes, our immigration lawyers offer tailored services to Argentinian citizens moving to Spain. |
|
Visa requirements for Argentinian nationals |
For stays exceeding 3 months. |
|
Relocation options |
Short and long-term relocation options are available. |
| Relocation steps |
– documents drafting, – paperwork filing, – real estate rental/purchase, – relocation. |
| Residence permit types |
Temporary and permanent residency can be obtained by Argentinian citizens. |
| Documents for obtaining temporary residence |
– application form, – valid passport, – proof of financial self-sustenance, – proof of residential address, – other papers based on the reason for immigration. |
| Temporary residence permit validity |
1 to 5 years, depending on the immigration reason. |
| Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence |
5 years. |
| Documents for obtaining permanent residence in Spain |
– valid passport and residence card, – proof of residential address, – valid health insurance, – proof of paying taxes in Spain in the past 5 years. |
| Family reunification visa availability (YES/NO) | Yes. |
| Possibility to retire to Spain as an Argentinian citizen (YES/NO) |
Yes. |
| Easiest ways to move to Spain from Argentina |
– employment, – family reunion, – retirement. |
| Citizenship requirements |
2 years of living in Spain after the 5 permanent residency. |
| Spain-Argentina double tax treaty (YES/NO) |
Yes, renewed in 2013. |
| Why move to Spain from Argentina |
– no language barriers, – access to various types of visas, – accelerated naturalization procedure available for Latin American countries. |
Argentina is one of the countries whose citizens can enter the EU and Schengen member states, including Spain, for a period of three months without the need to obtain a visa. The country has many benefits to offer to expats, and it is a popular destination in the EU for non-Europeans who wish to move to the old continent.
Moving to Spain is attractive for employment purposes in a number of key business areas, but foreigners will often choose the country for its ideal climate and regions for retirement.
Individuals who are planning to apply for the appropriate visa to move to Spain need to contact the Embassy of Spain in Buenos Aires or another Consulate General in the country. The application requirements differ according to the type of visa and the purpose of the stay, and this is why we recommend talking with one of our lawyers who specializes in immigration matters.
Below, we list the types of visas available to foreigners relocating to Spain as well as answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding Spain immigration.
Get in touch with us if you are interested in Spanish residency. You are allowed to live and work in Spain once you have obtained residency. Additionally, you don’t need a visa to freely travel to countries that are a part of the Schengen area. You can apply for permits for your partner and kids so they can go to a public school in Spain. Consequently, you have the choice to start a new life outside of Spain with your family.
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What are the main visa and residency requirements for Spain?
Moving to Spain is possible for Argentinian citizens by applying for a long-term visa. The visa will allow the holder to reside in the country and, at the same time, engage in one or more activities, as permitted by the visa type. For example, visas can grant the holder the right to work or study, to invest, or to stay in the country long-term for non-lucrative purposes.
The following are the types of visas that can be applied for:
- Study: suitable for Argentinians who wish to attend university courses in Spain or those who wish to enroll in other forms of education.
- Work: a common type of visa, for Argentinians who have an employment agreement with a Spanish company or employer.
- Investment: for entrepreneurs and investors who are willing to make a substantial or specific investment, for example, in real estate.
- Family reunification: when one of the spouses is a Spanish citizen, as well as in other cases.
- Non-lucrative: for Argentinians who wish to immigrate to Spain and have the means to sustain themselves without working.
The visa is applied for in person at the Embassy or Consulate General in Argentina, and the applicant must submit both the visa application form and the relevant fees, as well as the supporting documents. For employment purposes, these will include the employment contract, just as for study purposes, they will include the acceptance letter at a Spanish higher education institution. A special category of visa, the golden visa for real estate investments, is obtained after arriving in Spain and purchasing real estate of a certain value. Individuals who can prove that they are able to sustain themselves by having a constant income can apply for a non-lucrative residence permit. Argentinian spouses of Spanish citizens can apply for a family reunification visa.
Our team of immigration lawyers in Spain can help applicants with all of the needed details about the conditions for certain types of long-term visas. You can immigrate to Spain, no matter the type of visa you choose.
Our immigration lawyer can provide specific guidance to those who need to travel to Spain for longer periods of time, including those who qualify for the new nomad visa. The paperwork that needs to be prepared and submitted months in advance can be completed by our attorneys. With your nomad visa in Spain, you can relocate after submitting the required paperwork.
Here is also our infographic on this subject:
What are the main visa application requirements for Spain?
Applicants should know that they need to qualify for a certain type of visa. The conditions vary across visa types, although some of the requirements remain the same. Below, we provide further details about the conditions for moving to Spain for work:
- the applicant must be over the age of 16 for employment purposes;
- for self-employed individuals, they must be over 18 years of age;
- they must have prior authorization to work in the country before they come to Spain; the employer is the one who applies for this authorization with the relevant Spanish authorities;
- they must obtain the visa after the work and residence authorization is issued.
These are just the general steps for obtaining a work visa for Argentinians in Spain. We recommend reaching out to one of our Spain immigration lawyers for complete details about the process. Moreover, we can provide additional details, as per your particular case. Our agents will be able to guide you throughout the process and will provide you with details about the applications that need to be submitted by the employer. With the help of our team, you will understand which are the steps that you need to follow and what parts of the process fall onto the company, agency or institution that has hired you in Spain.
How to relocate to Spain from Argentina as a digital nomad
The Spanish digital nomad visa is one of the most appreciated programs dedicated to remote workers in Europe. The quick processing times and income requirements make it very appealing for non-EU citizens interested in immigration to Spain who want to see if the country fits their lifestyle first.
If you want to move to Spain from Argentina as a digital nomad, you have two additional advantages: the language and the large communities of Argentinians and South Americans who already live here.
On the practical side, here is what you need to know if you decide on this visa:
- you need a minimum income of EUR 1,000 to EUR 3,000 per month;
- you must have your main place of employment in Argentina, however, you can also work with Spanish clients, as long as you don’t make more than 20% of your income from local activities;
- you can start the visa application procedure from Argentina or while in Spain, based on another type of visa, as the processing time is about 20 days.
The main advantage of this visa is that you can renew it for 2 more years, and so you can then apply for a Spanish residence permit. As an Argentinian, you have other benefits, among which is the possibility to obtain Spanish citizenship in a shorter period of time – 2 years of permanent residency.
Also, you can rely on our immigration lawyers in Spain for support with the document drafting and filing phases.
The non-lucrative visa, a great option to immigrate to Spain from Argentina
The Spanish authorities issue various types of visas to foreigners who want to move here. One of the most popular is the non-lucrative visa which can be used instead of the golden visa. As its name says, you cannot take employment based on the residence permit issued with it, however, you can retire to Spain with it.
It is also a great option if you are an investor and want to live here. Moreover, you can also include family members on your application. Feel free to discuss this relocation option with our Spanish immigration lawyer and apply for the visa if it suits you.
Employment-based relocation to Spain from Argentina
If you are interested in one of the safest ways to immigrate to Spain from Argentina, you can choose employment. You can apply for:
- a standard employment visa;
- a seasonal or au pair visa;
- a researcher visa;
- a self-employed visa;
- a visa for highly-skilled workers;
- a intra-company transfer visa.
Apart from the self-employed and intra-company transfer visa, you must first secure a job with a Spanish company. The employer will then handle the paperwork for bringing you to the country. Our Spain immigration services are also available for corporate clients who need assistance in work visa applications.
What are the post-arrival steps for an Argentinian immigrant in Spain?
A key step after relocating to Spain is to obtain the identification number for foreigners. This is called the NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjeros), and it is mandatory in order for the individual to be able to rent or purchase property as well as open a bank account. The application is submitted to a Directorate-General of the Police in the area where the foreigner will reside.
The application for the NIE is usually submitted in person and along with a copy of the passport as well as proof of the economic or professional interest (or other reasons) why the foreigner is making the application.
How is Spanish nationality obtained?
Argentinians who have been living in Spain for ten years can apply for nationality by residence. The time can be reduced to five years when the applicant has obtained refugee status or to two years for nationals from Ibero-American countries or for other nationals. When an Argentinian is married to a Spanish national, he or she can obtain nationality within one year, provided that at the time of the application, the couple has been married for one year and has not been separated. The one-year nationality can also be awarded to the widow or widower of a Spanish national if they were not separated at the time of the death of the other spouse.
One of our immigration lawyers in Spain can provide interested Argentinians with more information about the process of obtaining Spanish nationality. For many immigrants, this is the goal of the relocation process, and it is a natural step after having resided continuously in the country for the ten-year period or for the reduced periods, as applicable. In certain specific cases, Spanish nationality can also be lost. Individuals who believe that they can be subject to this, for example, if they are suspected of concealment or fraud in their application, can reach out to our specialists in order to clarify the situation.
We are at your service for guidance if you want to relocate to Spain.
How can our immigration lawyers in Spain help applicants?
Our team of immigration lawyers in Spain can assist you throughout the application process and once you arrive in the country. We can help you prepare the visa application so that you submit all of the documents required by the Spanish Embassy or Consulate General and thus face the smallest chance of having the application file rejected. This can help you save time, especially if you need to apply for an employment visa and need to address the formalities in a limited amount of time.
Once you arrive in Madrid or another Spanish city, our team can help you with various issues related to immigrating to Spain. From obtaining the identity number to concluding rent or property purchase agreements, our team is able to help you communicate with other Spanish parties as well as the Spanish authorities.
Spain is one of the top destinations for Argentinians. According to the National Statistical Institute, the following number of Argentinians are living in Spain:
- 256,071: the total number of Argentinians who are living in various Spanish cities;
- 18,390 Argentinians were living in Catalonia;
- 13,387: this was the number of Argentinians living in Barcelona;
- 10,526 Argentinians in Valencia.
According to the same source, 256,071, the total number also includes those individuals with dual citizenship. As far as the Argentinians with no Spanish citizenship, their number was 72,041.
Our team of Spanish lawyers specialized in immigration matters can help Argentinian immigrants with more details and more information, apart from the questions answered in this article. The immigration process does require a number of steps and can differ according to the particular situation of the individual submitting the application. This is the main reason why it is recommended to consult with our team of experts in order to clarify any issues that may not be particularly clear at the time of the application. This allows you to reduce any delays that may occur as a result of application rejection.
We invite you to contact us if you are planning to move to Spain from Argentina and have questions about the process.