Legal route library · reviewed July 2026
There is more than the four visas everyone talks about.
Browse Spain's legal landscape by situation—from free movement and work to family, study, post-reform arraigo and long-term status. These are research starting points, not eligibility decisions.
Start with your circumstances
How are you thinking about Spain?
Choose the situation closest to yours. Routes can appear in more than one place because legal frameworks overlap.
Already in Spain
Already in Spain? Your possible routes may be different.
Where you are, how long you have been here and your current or former status can change which procedures are open. The current post-reform arraigo rules are not the old rules.
32 routes to investigate
Explore already in spain routes
Digital Nomad route
A route worth investigating if your work is mainly carried out remotely for organizations outside Spain.
Read the overviewStudy stay
For people whose primary purpose in Spain is a recognized course of study.
Read the overviewFamily route
Family relationship and the sponsor’s status determine which framework may be relevant.
Read the overviewHighly Qualified Professional
An international-mobility authorization for qualifying highly skilled roles and employers.
Read the overviewEU Blue Card
A residence and work framework for qualifying highly skilled employment meeting the current conditions.
Read the overviewIntra-company transfer
For qualifying managers, specialists or trainees transferred within a company or corporate group.
Read the overviewResearcher authorization
A route for qualifying research, development and innovation activity with an eligible host.
Read the overviewEntrepreneur route
An international-mobility route for a qualifying innovative entrepreneurial project of particular economic interest.
Opening an ordinary company is not, by itself, enough for this route.
Read the overviewInternship residence authorization
A specific framework for qualifying internships linked to recent higher education in the circumstances recognized by law.
Read the overviewFamily member of a Spanish citizen
The current residence framework for qualifying relatives of Spanish citizens, with categories and evidence defined by law.
Read the overviewFamily member of an EU citizen
The EU free-movement family framework for qualifying non-EU relatives accompanying or joining an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.
Read the overviewSpouse, registered partner or qualifying stable partner
Partner evidence is assessed within the relevant Spanish, EU or general family framework rather than one universal partner visa.
Read the overviewNot sure where you fit?