Canary Islands (IC)
The Canary Islands are Spain's Atlantic autonomous community: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa.
Visa & Immigration
Entry and residence options for Canary Islands.
✈️ Visa-Free Access
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not need a visa. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, UK, USA and ~60 other countries can enter visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period (Schengen rules). Visa-exempt Latin American citizens (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, etc.) can also enter for 90 days but must apply for residence visas from their home country for longer stays.
All long-stay visas are applied for at a Spanish consulate in your country of residence, EXCEPT: Digital Nomad Visa, Highly Qualified Professional, Entrepreneur, and some Arraigo categories which can be applied for from within Spain. After arrival, you have 30 days to apply for your TIE (foreigner ID card) at the Comisaría de Policía Nacional — book an appointment online at icp.administracionelectronica.gob.es (cita previa). The Golden Visa (Investor Visa) was ABOLISHED on 3 April 2025 under Ley Orgánica 1/2025.
Non-Lucrative Residence Visa
Non-EU citizens with sufficient passive income and no plans to work in Spain. Popular with retirees and early-retirees living off savings, pensions or investments.
2–4 months at Spanish consulate in country of residence
- ✓Valid passport + photocopies
- ✓EX-01 application form
- ✓Proof of passive income: ≥ 400% of IPREM (~€2,400/month in 2026) for main applicant + 100% IPREM (~€600/month) per dependent
- ✓Private health insurance valid in Spain with no copayments, full coverage
- ✓Certificado de antecedentes penales (criminal record, apostilled + sworn-translated)
- ✓Medical certificate (valid for 3 months, stating you have no diseases under the International Health Regulations)
- ✓Proof of accommodation in Spain (rental contract, property deed, or notarised invitation)
Student Visa
Accepted by an accredited Spanish educational institution for a course longer than 90 days
1–2 months
- ✓Acceptance letter from Spanish educational institution
- ✓Proof of €600–900/month financial means (100% IPREM)
- ✓Private health insurance with full coverage
- ✓Clean criminal record (apostilled, sworn-translated) if 18+
- ✓Medical certificate
- ✓Proof of accommodation
Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) Visa
Non-EU workers with a job offer in positions requiring university-level qualification, or senior specialist roles. Introduced by Ley de Emprendedores 14/2013.
20 business days at UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas), faster than standard work permit
- ✓Binding job offer from a qualifying Spanish company
- ✓Minimum salary typically €40,000+ (varies by role)
- ✓University degree or equivalent professional experience
- ✓Clean criminal record
- ✓Private health insurance until SNS registered
Work Visa — Cuenta Ajena (employee)
Non-EU citizens with a Spanish employer that has obtained quota approval for a non-EU hire.
3–6 months total (employer permit + consulate visa)
- ✓Employer-led process: Spanish employer applies first for autorización at Extranjería
- ✓Employment contract with minimum SMI salary
- ✓Role must not be filled by EU/legal resident candidates (unless shortage occupation)
- ✓Clean criminal record
- ✓University diploma or proof of professional experience if role requires it
- ✓Social security registration after arrival
Visado Arraigo (Rooting) and Arraigo Sociolaboral 2025
Non-EU citizens who have lived in Spain ≥ 2 years (arraigo social), ≥ 6 months with 6-month contract (arraigo laboral, simplified in 2025 reform), or with family ties to Spanish citizens.
1–3 months
- ✓Proof of continued Spanish residence (empadronamientos, bills)
- ✓For arraigo social: 1-year job offer or self-employment plan + local authority integration report
- ✓For arraigo laboral (2025 reform): 6-month employment contract + 2 years continuous residence
- ✓No criminal record
Visa for International Teleworking (Digital Nomad Visa)
Digital NomadNon-EU remote workers for foreign companies, or self-employed freelancers with ≤ 20% of clients being Spanish companies. Introduced by Ley 28/2022 de Fomento del Ecosistema de Empresas Emergentes.
20 business days at UGE-CE if applied from inside Spain (tourist entry fast-track); 1–2 months at consulate if applied from abroad
- ✓Non-EU citizen (EU citizens do not need this visa)
- ✓Work for a non-Spanish company OR freelance with up to 20% of income from Spanish clients
- ✓Minimum earnings: ≥ 200% of SMI (≈ €2,762/month in 2026) for main applicant; +75% for spouse (≈ €1,068); +25% per additional dependent
- ✓University degree OR 3+ years of professional experience in the field
- ✓Employment contract / freelance contract ≥ 3 months old
- ✓Company must be established ≥ 1 year
- ✓Private health insurance valid in Spain
- ✓Clean criminal record (apostilled, sworn-translated)
- ✓Proof of no tax residence in Spain in the past 5 years (for Ley Beckham eligibility)
EU Blue Card
Blue CardNon-EU nationals with a recognised university degree (or 5 years equivalent professional experience) and a Spanish job offer meeting the salary threshold
20 business days at UGE-CE (fast-track)
- ✓University degree OR 5 years relevant professional experience (new 2023 rule)
- ✓Employment contract ≥ 6 months
- ✓Annual gross salary ≥ 1.4× Spanish average (€39,269.92/year in 2026; shortage occupations ≥ 80% of that = €31,415.94/year; per Orden PJC/44/2026, BOE 30 January 2026)
- ✓Clean criminal record
- ✓Private health insurance until SNS registered
Visa & Immigration
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