Foreign citizens seeking to immigrate to Spain have plenty of choices in terms of means of obtaining residency here. Until a few months ago, these were also available for Russian citizens interested in moving here, however, at the moment several measures have been taken by the Spanish government as a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine.
If you are interested in moving to Spain from Russia under the current circumstances, you should know that this is still possible. Below, our immigration lawyers in Spain explain the main ways you can do that.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa requirements for Russian citizens (YES/NO) | Yes, alongside a valid passport and round trip flight ticket. |
Residence permit types | Russians can apply for temporary and permanent residency, just like citizens of other countries. |
Time needed to obtain the temporary residence permit (approx.) | Such a permit is issued in about 90 days. |
| Temporary residence permit validity | Temporary residence permits can be issued for one year or a maximum period of 5 years. |
| Documents for obtaining temporary residence | – valid passport, – application form, – proof of self-sustenance means (bank statement), – proof of local address, – documents attesting to the immigration reason. |
| Mandatory registrations with state authorities (i.e. with the population/municipality register) | Yes, Russian citizens must obtain tax identification numbers, register for public or private healthcare, and with the local municipality. |
| Dependents can join the temporary permit holder (Yes/No) | No, each applicant must file a separate petition. |
| Residency for investment purposes | Yes, Russians can apply for the Spanish Golden Visa Scheme. |
| Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence | 5 years. |
| Documents for obtaining permanent residence | – the residence permit, – the passport, – proof of obtaining a legal income in Spain, – proof of having a local address. |
| Sponsorship requirement (YES/NO) | No. |
| Naturalization requirements | Russian citizens must live here for 10 years before filing for Spanish citizenship. |
| Special conditions to respect in terms of residency for Russians | Political asylum is available for Russian citizens. |
| Easiest ways to move to Spain from Russia | Asylum and investment represent good options for Russians. |
| Support in immigrating to Spain from Russia | Yes, we are at the service of citizens who want to immigrate to Spain from Russia. |
Table of Contents
What to consider if you want to relocate to Spain from Russia
The first and most important aspect to consider if you want to immigrate to Spain from Russia is that the government does not impose any sanctions on ordinary citizens. Another important aspect to take into account is that if you are a Russian citizen who has already obtained an EU residence permit, you can enter Spain based on it.
Those who are first-time comers to Spain can apply for one of the visas or residence permits available under the legislation of this country.
Our immigration lawyer in Spain can offer tailored assistance to Russian citizens who find themselves in the position of having to leave their home country. We can also aid in your relocation and residence permit application. Any foreign nationals moving here may be given residency, enabling them to move around the Union without restriction. Due to Spain’s membership in the Schengen Agreement, foreign travelers can enter Spain without obtaining a separate visa. For more information about obtaining residency in Spain, get in touch with our lawyers.
We can also help you apply for a passport. Spanish citizenship can be obtained most easily through residency. After residing in Spain with your resident permit for 2, 5, or 10 years, you can easily apply for citizenship by residence. The key distinctions in the requirements based on the years during which you can obtain a passport can be explained by our immigration lawyer in Spain.
How can Russian citizens move to Spain?
If you want to immigrate to Spain from Russia, here are the main types of residence permits and the ways you can obtain them:
- work visas can still be obtained by Russian citizens who have employment contracts with Spanish companies;
- non-lucrative visas that enable Russian citizens to live in Spain for a limited period of time provided that they can support their stay here;
- family reunification visas can also be obtained by those who have family members established in Spain;
- refugee visas are also available for those who can prove they are persecuted in Russia.
Considering Russian citizens were some of the most important beneficiaries of wealth visas in Spain, we remind them that at the moment the program is suspended for them. However, our lawyers can guide you on other means of immigration.
We are also at your service if you want to relocate to Spain from another country, including the USA.
We can also provide you with short-term relocation assistance. If you decide to temporarily relocate here using a Spanish nomad visa, our attorneys can aid you in getting one if you need it. We are here to assist anyone who wants to move to one of Europe’s most beautiful countries. If you need assistance obtaining this visa, don’t be afraid to get in touch with us.
How to move to Spain from Russia based on a work visa
Employment is one of the main ways through which one can relocate to Spain from Russia. One of the most important is the work visa options a Russian citizen has in terms of short or long-term relocation.
Here are the main ways through which you can immigrate to Spain based on employment:
- by ensuring employment, followed by obtaining a regular work permit;
- through intra-company transfer, if you are employed in a foreign company that has a branch or subsidiary in Spain;
- the skilled professional visa, if you fall under its requirements;
- the Spanish digital nomad visa, if you are employed in Russia and can work remotely.
Considering all options, we invite you to request the assistance of our Spanish immigration lawyers for the visas that require special qualifications or other conditions for successful application.
Here is also our infographic on this topic:
Asylum application for Russian citizens
One of the ways through which you can move to Spain from Russia is by filing for asylum. In this case, the procedure to follow is:
- file the petition for asylum no later than one month from entering the country;
- go through the interview process where your status will be assessed;
- in case of a favorable response, you will be granted the so-called red card, which will enable you to stay here for 6 months;
- during these 6 months, you can file for temporary residency;
- in case there is a delay in the temporary residence application, the validity of the red card will be renewed for another 6 months.
Our immigration law firm in Spain can help you with filing for asylum.
Special conditions to comply with when you immigrate to Spain from Russia
Most types of visas and Spanish residence permits are subject to special requirements that must be met before moving here. Here are the general aspects to consider for all of them:
- having a valid passport is a general requirement when you relocate to Spain from Russia, no matter the length of your stay;
- sufficient money to fund your stay here is also required – you can use a bank statement to prove your financial worthiness;
- valid health insurance is a mandatory document you need to supply when filing for a visa or temporary residence permit;
- documents that attest to the reason for coming here will also be requested.
Apart from these, please consider the clean criminal record requirement, especially for long-term relocation and proof of residence. With the latter, we have expat services through which you can rent a property here. You can obtain more information on our additional solutions related to immigration to Spain from our lawyers.
Assistance for persons who want to immigrate to Spain from Russia
If you want to move to Spain from Russia and need support, our lawyers can help you. From advice in choosing the appropriate type of residence permit that enables you to live here to obtaining asylum, you can definitely rely on us. For those who are not acquainted with the Spanish immigration system, it is worth noting that a temporary residence permit has a validity of one or 2 years. The non-lucrative visa, however, will enable one to live there for more than 90 days if you are looking to stay here for less than a year.
Assistance in enrolling with the social security services and renting a property is also in the attention of our law firm.
If you decide to immigrate to Spain from Russia, feel free to address us your questions. Here is also our video on this subject:
How many Russian citizens live in Spain?
The Russian community in Spain is not a large one, representing around 0.83% of all immigrants. According to data cited by a local newspaper:
- at the level of 2022, there are 79,485 Russian citizens registered in Spain;
- 16,543 live in Alicante, while 15,672 live in Barcelona;
- Andalucia is also home to approximately 14,000 Russians.
If you decide to move to Spain from Russia and need legal advice or support, contact us. Our immigration law firm can help you find a suitable solution.