Regardless of their reasons, in order to immigrate to Spain from Japan, individuals will need to submit an application to the Embassy of Spain in Tokyo or another Consulate of Spain, such as that in Osaka or Nagoya.
Our team of immigration lawyers in Spain can assist all interested Japanese nationals who wish to know how to apply for a proper employment or study visa and how to obtain the subsequent residence permit. The process is not complicated; however, our team can help you throughout the needed stages and when filling in the application form. It is recommended to handle some of the steps in advance, so you can reach out to us as soon as you decide to study or work in Spain.
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Spain’s immigration options for Japanese citizens
There are several ways through which one can move to Spain from Japan, each falling under one of the following categories:
- short-term relocation, which indicates a stay ranging from a few months to one or two years;
- long-term immigration, which usually refers to a few years’ stay and potentially permanent residence in Spain (if this is the Japanese citizen’s goal).
With respect to the reasons based on which one can relocate to Spain from Japan and secure a residence permit, here are the main options:
- study;
- employment;
- business;
- family reunion;
- retirement.
No matter your option, our immigration lawyers in Spain will help you apply for the suitable visa and residence permit.
Main types of Spanish visas and their validity
Once you decide to immigrate to Spain from Japan, one of the simplest ways to choose the visa to apply for is based on its validity. From this point of view, you should know that you can file for:
- a Schengen visa, which has a validity of 90 days;
- a national D visa, which has a validity of more than 3 months, and be obtained by students, temporary workers, businesspeople;
- the digital nomad visa, which has a validity of one year, with the possibility of extension to 3 years;
- the non-lucrative visa, which has a validity of up to 2 years, and is renewable;
- the entrepreneur visa, which has a validity of 1 to 2 years.
Applying for a residence permit for Spain immigration
Spain is one of the top locations in Europe for expats. Japanese who move to Spain do so largely for employment purposes or for study purposes, with many of them residing in Barcelona. However, some Japanese also choose to come to Spain’s Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where they retire or simply enjoy the beautiful Islands long-term, not only for the permitted three months without a visa.
Japanese citizens can enter Spain and stay without a visa for a maximum period of three months. During this time, they must be in possession of a valid passport. However, the visas that allow foreign nationals to stay in the country for longer periods of time are awarded according to the purpose of the stay. Thus, they can be for employment, study, or even family reunification purposes. The application for these types of visas can be downloaded from the embassy’s or the consulate’s website, and the visa applications are filed in person, along with the required or supporting documents.
Below, we describe the main types of visas that can be awarded to Japanese nationals who wish to relocate to Spain:
- for working in Spain: Japanese nationals can work either as employees or self-employed individuals in Spain; many of the positions occupied by them are management ones in international Japanese companies that are also present on the Spanish market; a highly skilled professional’s visa is also available.
- for studying in Spain: a student visa is an option for Japanese nationals who wish to spend more than three months in the country in order to enroll in a lengthier study master’s or Ph.D. program; the visa can be extended if the study period needs to be longer.
- the non-lucrative visa: allows foreign individuals with a reliable source of income to reside in Spain for more than three months; the visa application will also need to include proof of income for the applicant and for the family members, if applicable.
The supporting documents for the visa application differ from one type of visa to the other, however, in general, the applicant will need to provide the confirmation letter (for study) or the employment contract, as well as proof of approval for the investment. Other general documents will include a valid passport, travel insurance, proof of address, and proof of income (when required), a criminal record and health certificate, as well as two photographs. A residence permit in Spain is quite easy to obtain.
You can also rely on us in Spanish citizenship matters. If you want to relocate to Spain, feel free to reach out.
We can also help if you choose to apply for a nomad visa in Spain. You should be aware that you must also meet certain monthly income requirements in order to be granted such a visa. One of the primary prerequisites for becoming eligible for this kind of temporary residency permit is this. For information on all the requirements imposed by the Spanish government, get in touch with us.
Employment visas for Japanese citizens
If you plan to immigrate to Spain from Japan based on employment, you have several variants:
- obtain a work visa, if you manage to secure a job with a Spanish employer;
- become self-employed, and obtain the visa with the same name if you have a profession or craft, you can carry out independently;
- file for an entrepreneur visa, if you have an innovative business idea, you can start a company with;
- obtain an EU Blue Card if you are a specialist in a field and obtain a work offer that meets the salary requirements imposed for this type of visa (around EUR 34,000).
Apart from these, there are also the au pair and working holiday visas. The first one is associated with completing housework or childcare activities, while the second one is available for Japanese citizens aged 18 to 30 who can work and visit Spain.
Another popular option lately is the Spanish digital nomad visa, especially since this is one of the best structured programs for foreigners in Europe.
All the questions related to filing for employment-related visas can be answered by our Spanish immigration specialists, who can also help you gather the necessary documents in accordance with their type.
Post-arrival requirements for Japanese citizens in Spain
Once they move to Spain, Japanese nationals can begin to handle the post-entry formalities. These include obtaining a foreigner identity card and a foreigner’s identity card (applications are submitted with the Provincial Brigade of Immigration and Borders) and the foreigner’s identification number or NIE (applications are submitted at the Consular Post in the district in which the foreigner resides).
Japanese citizens who have been temporary residents in Spain for five consecutive years and meet the applicable conditions can obtain long-term residence. One of our agents who specializes in Spain immigration can give you more details about the long-term residence permit checklist. Japanese who have been living in the country for ten years following the first residency application can acquire Spanish nationality. This is possible for many Japanese expats living in Spain, and the period can be reduced if, at the time of the application, the Japanese national has been married for one year to a Spanish national. The application for nationality is submitted to the Civil Registry of the Consulate.
We can also help you move here and obtain a residence permit. Any foreign nationals who relocate here can be granted residency, allowing them to travel freely within the Union. Spain is also a member of the Schengen Agreement, which enables visitors from other countries to enter Spain without requiring a separate visa. You can contact our attorneys for further details on acquiring Spanish residency.
One of the options you have if you want to get a residence permit in Spain is to purchase a home for at least €500,000. This purchase can be made in person, through a power of attorney signed in front of a notary, or even through any Spanish consulate or embassy worldwide. You can rely on our immigration specialists who can support you in this endeavor.
As a non-EU citizen, you can become a Spanish citizen by obtaining nationality after 10 years of residence in the country. The biggest disadvantage of taking this route to obtain long-term residency is that you will have to give up your native nationality in order to get the Spanish one. Feel free to address our immigration lawyers for support in applying for citizenship in Spain.
For more information on how to immigrate to Spain from Japan, please contact our immigration lawyers. We can help answer any questions and assist you during the visa application procedure and once you arrive in the country, with complete services for expats, including relocating to Spain for residency.