Ukrainian citizens who want to move to Spain have several pathways they can use to immigrate temporarily or permanently in light of the current difficult situation. If you are a Ukrainian and decide on Spain, one of the most important things to know is the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration has enabled a program for hosting families fleeing from Ukraine who can move to the regions of Madrid, Barcelona, Murcia, and Malaga.
If you want to immigrate to Spain from Ukraine and need support, our lawyers are at your service. You can discuss all your options with our immigration lawyer in Spain and decide on the most appropriate for you.
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Special measures for people who relocate to Spain from Ukraine
Just like other EU countries, Spain allows Ukrainian citizens to enter the country based on biometric or regular passports without having to apply for a visa since Ukraine is not an EU member state. Crossing the border this way will enable one to stay in Spain for 90 days following which one can apply for a temporary residence permit.
It is also possible to move to Spain from Ukraine on a temporary basis with minor children based on their birth certificates and without the need for a passport.
During the 90-day period, Ukrainian citizens will be automatically granted temporary protection. Under this status, refugees can stay in Spain or in other EU countries for one year. Provided that the situation remains the same, the EU Council plans on extending this status for an additional 3-year period.
Feel free to enquire with our immigration lawyers in Spain about the documents you need to submit to the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration to obtain temporary protection.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens (YES/NO) | No, Ukrainian citizens can enter based on biometric passports without any visa. |
|
Residence permit types |
Ukrainians can obtain temporary and permanent residency, provided they meet specific requirements. |
|
Time needed to obtain the temporary residence permit (approx.) |
About 3 months. |
| Temporary residence permit validity | A temporary residence permit is valid for 1 to 5 years, depending on the purpose of stay. |
| Documents for obtaining temporary residence |
– application form, – valid passport, – recent bank statement, – residential address, – documents attesting to the relocation reason. |
| Mandatory registrations with state authorities (i.e. with the population/municipality register) |
Ukrainian citizens must register for tax and healthcare purposes, as well as with the local municipality. |
| Dependents can join the temporary permit holder (Yes/No) |
No. |
| Residency for investment purposes |
Yes, through the golden visa. |
| Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence |
5 years of temporary residency is the minimum period to live in Spain to obtain permanent residence. |
| Documents for obtaining permanent residence |
– passport, – valid residence permit, – proof of Spanish-derived income, – proof of residential address. |
| Sponsorship requirement (YES/NO) |
No, there are no such requirements in Spain. |
| Naturalization requirements |
Living in the country for a minimum period of 10 years. |
| Special conditions to respect in terms of residency for Ukrainians |
No, however, they can also immigrate to Spain as refugees. |
| Easiest ways to move to Spain from Ukraine |
Employment and the non-lucrative visa are the easiest and most common options. |
| Support in immigrating to Spain from Ukraine | Yes, you can rely on our immigration lawyers if you want to move to Spain from Ukraine. |
Our Spanish immigration experts have practical knowledge in dealing with foreigners. Application procedures for Spanish residency vary depending on the reason for the transfer. We can provide you with more details regarding the prerequisites that must be completed. Understanding how to do this can be helped by speaking with one of our immigration experts.
Who can benefit from the special measures?
Persons seeking to immigrate to Spain from Ukraine should know that they can benefit from the special measures set in place by the Spanish government if:
- they had to flee Ukraine starting on the 24th of February 2022;
- they were residing in Spain before the 24th of February 2022 and were unable to return to their home country because of the conflict;
- they were in a difficult situation before the 24th of February 2022 and could not return to Ukraine.
At the moment, more than 100,000 Ukrainian citizens live in Spain, and they continue to do so through the inclusion measures announced by the Ministry.
Here is also an infographic on this topic:
If you want to remain in Spain, the government has enabled a special program that will allow you to work here.
We are also at the service of those who want to immigrate to Spain from the USA or another country.
How to immigrate to Spain from Ukraine if not falling under the temporary protection status
Even if the special status can be obtained, it is also possible to relocate to Spain from Ukraine through the regular pathways, which include:
- the non-lucrative visa that enables one to live here for a limited duration;
- the work permit that can be issued if the Ukrainian citizen has a Spanish employer;
- family reunification can also be used to bring family members;
- EU Blue Cards are also available for Ukrainian specialists.
It is also possible to move to Spain from Ukraine from another EU country based on the residence card obtained there.
How to move to Spain from Ukraine based on employment
One of the main ways through which you can relocate to Spain from Ukraine is employment, as it comes with several benefits. Among them, are access to public healthcare and fixed income through salary.
To immigrate to Spain from Ukraine, you will need both a work visa and a residence permit. For the first type of authorization, you must have a local employer.
The documents required for emigrating to Spain based on employment imply:
- the national visa application form;
- valid passport;
- recent photographs;
- medical certificate;
- clear criminal record.
The employer must also file an application stating the intention to hire a non-EU citizen with the Immigration Office.
Another way to move here is by applying for a digital nomad visa in Spain. This is a great option for Ukrainian freelancers, business owners, and even employees who have the possibility to work remotely. The conditions to obtain this visa come with additional requirements, such as a pre-established minimum income and proof of remote work. Our immigration lawyers in Spain can advise on the approval criteria for this visa.
The non-lucrative visa for Ukrainian citizens in Spain
The non-lucrative visa is one of the most advantageous ways to move to Spain from Ukraine as it covers relocation options for those who cannot take employment, such as retirees and even investors. This visa is issued for a period of a maximum of 3 months and is also a suitable possibility to reunite with family members living in Spain.
As its name says, you cannot work if you immigrate to Spain from Ukraine based on it, however, you can renew it for up to 2 years, following which you can apply for Spanish residency.
No matter the type of visa you decide on, our Spanish immigration lawyers can assist you with the application process.
What is the best way to relocate to Spain from Ukraine?
There is no one solution to fit all immigrants, however, with the help of our immigration specialists you can decide on the most suitable option for you. When making a decision, you can consider aspects like:
- your income, especially if you want to retire to Spain or move here without taking employment.
- the time you intend to remain in the country and even apply for Spanish citizenship at some point;
- your qualifications which may allow you to take employment under very advantageous conditions;
Feel free to talk to our immigration law firm in Spain about becoming a permanent resident. We also have a video on this topic:
Since the beginning of the conflict in Spain, around 110 refugees from Ukraine have entered Spain. At the beginning of April 2022, approximately 47,000 had already obtained the temporary protection status.
According to the latest data, at the level of 2024:
- Germany hosted 1,178,610 Ukrainian refugees;
- it was closely followed by Poland with 957,505 refugees;
- Spain hosted 202,690 Ukrainian citizens.
Should you want to immigrate to Spain from Ukraine, contact our specialists who can offer tailored support.