Moving to Spain from Russia: a step-by-step roadmap
27/09/2024 
Reading time: 10 min How to move to Spain for permanent residence from Russia
First, a clarification about "permanent residence": you can't move to Spain straight onto PR. You start with a temporary residence permit on a specific basis (work, study, remote work, passive income), live on it, and only after 5 years of continuous legal residence do you qualify for permanent residence (residencia de larga duración) — and citizenship after 10. This article is a practical roadmap for someone relocating from Russia: where to start, in what order, and what to account for.
- Step 1choose a basisRemote work, study, passive income, employment, business.
- Step 2D visa at a consulateNot from Russia — via Armenia or a country where you hold residence.
- Step 3entry and TIE cardEmpadronamiento, NIE, bank, taxes.
- Permanent residenceafter 5 yearsCitizenship after 10 years of continuous residence.
- Golden visa by propertyabolishedSince 3 April 2025 — you can no longer buy residency.
The ladder: from arrival to PR and citizenship
The path is the same for almost every basis:
| Stage | Timeline | What it gives |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary permit | 1–3 years, renewable | The right to live in Spain on your basis |
| Permanent residence (larga duración) | after 5 years | Permanent residence, not tied to the basis |
| Citizenship | after 10 years | An EU passport (2 years for some Latin American nationals) |
Years on a temporary permit and PR count, but the residence must be continuous and legal — missing a renewal resets the clock.
Step 1. Choose a basis for the move
You can't "just move" — you need a basis. In brief, who fits what:
- Remote work — the digital nomad permit (income from 200% of the minimum wage ≈ €2,849/month).
- Passive income or a pension — Non-Lucrative (≈ €28,800/year, no working in Spain).
- Study — a student visa, with part-time work up to 30 h/week.
- Innovative business — a startup visa (ENISA approval).
- Employment — a work permit with a Spanish employer.
- Family in Spain — reunification with a resident spouse or parent.
A detailed breakdown of every basis, with requirements and timelines, is in the guide to residence permits in Spain. You can no longer buy residency: the golden visa was abolished on 3 April 2025.
Steps 2–3. The order of actions
- Choose a basis and gather documents (criminal-record certificate, proof of income/admission/contract — apostille and sworn translation).
- Get a type D visa at a Spanish consulate. You currently can't apply from inside Russia — see below.
- Enter Spain — you have a limited window to arrange the residence card (usually 30 days for biometrics).
- Do the empadronamiento (town-hall registration) — it's needed for almost everything.
- Get the TIE card with your NIE at the police after fingerprints.
- Open a bank account, arrange insurance, register for tax and, if needed, become autónomo.
What to do right after getting the card, step by step: my residence is approved — what's next.
Specifics of moving from Russia
There are no Spanish consulates accepting applications inside Russia. You can apply for a D visa from Armenia or from a country where you hold residence — routes are covered in the Schengen visa guide.
After 183 days in a year you become a tax resident. There's no double taxation with Russia — the 1994 treaty applies. Details: taxes in Spain.
After the move: settling in
- Where to live — regions vary widely in cost and climate: see the best cities to live in Spain.
- Language — Spanish is enough everywhere, but Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia have a co-official second language (more on languages).
- Healthcare — a residence permit requires private insurance; state healthcare opens up once you're employed.
Frequently asked questions
Official sources:
• Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration — residence permits and PR
• RD 1155/2024 — Immigration Regulation
• Ley Orgánica 1/2025 — abolition of the golden visa
