Immigration to Spain without the complications

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero, or Foreigner Identification Number) is a foreigner’s tax number in Spain. It is essential for opening a bank account, signing employment or rental contracts, buying property and any tax-related operation. It is not a residence document: you can have an NIE without holding a residence permit.

The NIE is strictly your Spanish tax identification number (usually issued on paper), while the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is your physical, biometric card. For holders of visas or residence authorizations, issuing the TIE is the final step that materializes and proves your legal and secure stay in Spain.

Empadronamiento is your registration on the Municipal Register (Padrón Municipal), which amounts to officially telling the town hall where you live. It is required to access public healthcare, school enrollment and social services, and — crucially — to count your time of residence in the arraigo process. Without empadronamiento, the time does not count. We guide you through the whole process.

The Hague Apostille is the international recognition of documents issued by one country so they can be used in another. When immigrating to Spain, the documents that are usually apostilled are: birth certificate, marriage certificate, criminal record, university degree and related documents. We tell you exactly which documents to apostille and where.

It is not mandatory. You can apply for the Digital Nomad Visa as an employee (with a contract from a foreign company) or as a freelancer with client contracts outside Spain. If you want to formalize activity in Spain, you can opt for the self-employed (Autónomo) regime.

It depends on the route. The Digital Nomad Visa takes 3 to 5 months from the application at the consulate. Arraigo social can take 6 to 9 months at the Immigration Office. Citizenship by residence takes 1 to 3 years. These are indicative timelines based on Spanish government guidelines and past cases, which in practice can be shorter or longer depending on the volume of applications at the competent office and how complete your documentation is.

Yes. Family Reunification lets you bring your spouse, minor children and, in some cases, dependent parents. The residence holder can start the application after obtaining their own authorization. For the Digital Nomad Visa, family reunification can be requested together with the main application.

For most immigration processes, our advisory service covers all the guidance you need. When a case requires representation by a lawyer (administrative appeals, for example), we recommend trusted partners who specialize in immigration. We never leave our clients without support.