Emigrating to Spain from Australia

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Emigrating to Spain from Australia

Australian citizens wishing to travel to Spain for tourist purposes do not need to obtain a special type of visa before their visit.

However, for longer stays, they will need to obtain the work and residence permits required by law.

Moving to Spain is a significant decision, and Australians who decide to do so may be drawn to this beautiful European country for various reasons.

Whether for the purpose of seeking job opportunities, due to a company transfer, or for investment purposes, applicants for a residence permit must follow the procedure according to their particular reason for staying in the country long-term.

If you want to emigrate to Spain from Australia, our team of immigration agents in Spain can assist you in processing the work and residence permits and will support you throughout the application process.


Moving to Spain from Australia

Australian citizens interested in immigrating to Spain can stay in the country for extended periods once they obtain one of the following types of long-term visas:

  • Work visa: Dependent on obtaining a job contract with a Spanish employer.
  • Student visa: For those admitted to a university in Spain or for other formal education/studies.
  • Investment visa: For those opening a business or making a significant investment in real estate or shares in Spanish companies.
  • Non-lucrative visa: Intended for individuals wishing to stay in Spain for retirement purposes and can support themselves.
  • Family reunification: When the applicant wishes to reunite with their Spanish spouse or partner or under other conditions.

Other visas are also available for specific purposes, such as medical visas or for cultural, cinematographic, or sports purposes for actors, artists, or athletes.

However, for the purpose of immigrating to Spain, our agents have considered that the types mentioned in the list above will be more suitable for longer stays or permanent relocation.

Our immigration lawyers in Spain can provide Australian citizens with comprehensive information on all types of visas and how they can be changed or updated, for example, if someone initially arrives in the country with a student visa but wishes to work in a Spanish city.

Preparations for immigrating to Spain from Australia

Taking such an important step as moving from one country to another, it is important to make some arrangements before the actual move.

When immigrating to Spain from Australia, it is crucial to consider housing options before relocation.

There are two options for those immigrating to Spain: renting a property or buying one.

Regardless of the choice, finding a property in Spain is not difficult when it comes to rentals.

Those looking to immigrate to Spain and acquire real estate may consider the residency by investment program available to non-EU citizens.

Regardless of the choice, our lawyers can assist with accommodation services for expatriates moving to Spain.

We can also provide necessary information about insurance requirements that must be met when immigrating to Spain from Australia.


Standard Immigration Procedure to Spain from Australia

Australian citizens wishing to immigrate to Spain will find it quite straightforward as they must follow the standard procedure applicable to other foreign citizens interested in relocating to Europe.

Spain is one of the countries that has embassies and consulates in a large number of countries outside of Europe, and Australia is no exception.

Those wishing to immigrate to Spain from Australia can do so by applying for the corresponding type of visa.

An important aspect to consider is that they need to obtain the residence or work permit before entering Spain.

Another thing to consider is that Spain and Australia have created the Youth Mobility Program that allows Australian students to travel and work in Spain for a limited period of time.

Our immigration lawyers in Spain can provide further information on the steps to take when moving from Australia according to the type of visa requested.

We offer full support to those wishing to immigrate to Spain from Australia.


Important Steps for Immigration to Spain from Australia

The immigration process to Spain is not complicated for Australian citizens; however, they will need to handle some applications before arriving in the country.

The common procedure for immigrants includes the following steps:

  1. Visa application: This is done before coming to Spain, at the Embassy or Consulate of the country of residence.
  2. Applying for a permanent residence permit: A long-term residence permit for Australians who can work and reside in the country in the same way as nationals; this permanent residence can be granted after five years.
  3. Applying for citizenship: After ten years, individuals can apply for Spanish citizenship; this can also be done through marriage.
  4. Obtaining the NIE: The foreigner identification number is mandatory for individuals moving to Spain and will be used for identification purposes.
  5. Other steps: Finding employment, opening a bank account, renting or buying property are considerations when immigrating to Spain.

The Foreigner Identification Number application form is in Spanish and includes the applicant’s details (name, passport number, date of birth, nationality, etc.), as well as the address used for notification purposes and the reason for the application. A legal representative can also submit this document.

One of our immigration lawyers in Spain can provide full assistance for those who need to submit an application with the help of a legal representative. In such cases, the details of the person submitting the application will be included in the Spanish form.

The foreigner card is a separate document obtained by foreigners who have acquired the right to stay in the country for more than six months. The application is submitted at the Foreigners’ Office in the area where they reside and must be submitted within one month of their arrival. This is different from the NIE mentioned earlier. One of our specialists can provide more details.

Our immigration agents in Spain can assist you through all these steps, including preparing documents in advance, filling out required forms, and providing information on the overall timeline of the application and how the process is expected to unfold.

By working with our team, you’ll find it easier to prepare the application file, which will include all documents in the correct format so you can be confident that the application will not be rejected due to incomplete documentation. Additionally, we can also assist Australian immigrants with post-arrival procedures, as mentioned above, to obtain the identification number and handle a range of other formalities.


Documents Required for Immigrating to Spain from Australia

In most cases, the documents required when immigrating to Spain from Australia are the same unless the applicant applies for a specific type of visa, such as the investor visa.

The following documents should be considered when immigrating to Spain:

  • A completed application form (several forms are available depending on the type of visa being applied for).
  • A valid passport and recent photographs.
  • Information about the reason for immigrating to Spain.
  • A copy of the employment contract when immigrating with a work visa.
  • Proof of investment when immigrating based on the Golden Visa program.
  • Other documents, depending on the applicant’s status.
  • An insurance contract.

Requirements for Traveling from Australia to Spain

Australia has been classified as a risk country. The list of risk countries and areas, which is regularly updated, can be consulted at the following link.

The requirements for traveling from Australia to Spain are detailed in the consolidated text of Order INT 657/2020.

Regarding the requirements for traveling to Spain from Australia, as of May 21, 2022, to enter Spain, it is necessary to be in possession of one of the following certificates:

  1. Vaccination certificate: Certificates issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin will be accepted from 14 days after the date of administration of the last dose of the complete vaccination schedule, provided that no more than 270 days have elapsed since the date of administration of the last dose of said schedule.
  2. Diagnostic certificate: Negative results certificates obtained within 72 hours prior to departure to Spain will be accepted for nucleic acid amplification tests (PCR or similar) or within 24 hours prior to departure to Spain for rapid antigen tests (RAT).
  3. Recovery certificate: Certificates of recovery issued by the competent authority or by a medical service at least 11 days after the first positive NAAT diagnostic test or rapid test will be accepted. The certificate will be valid for 180 days after the first positive result.

It is very important to note that the certificates mentioned above must comply with the provisions of the Resolution of April 1, 2022, of the Directorate General of Public Health, which can be consulted at the following link:

  • Resolution of Health 1st April 2022 on health controls (BOE 06-04-2022)

Children under 12 years of age may enter Spain without the need to present any certificate.

The Youth Mobility Agreement between Spain and Australia

Spain and Australia signed the Youth Mobility Program Visa in 2014.

According to it, Australian citizens can apply for a 1-year visa to Spain, allowing them to travel, work, and/or study here.

Under this program, the Spanish government issues 500 visas per year to Australian citizens wishing to temporarily move here.

To be accepted into the program, the following conditions must be met:

The program is targeted exclusively at citizens with Australian nationality; The applicant must be between 18 and 30 years old; The applicant must have sufficient funds to support themselves for the duration of the stay; The applicant must have completed at least 2 years of study; The applicant must also have a satisfactory level of Spanish language proficiency (at least level A1).

Apart from these conditions, an applicant can enroll in this program once and is not allowed to bring dependents.

The advantages of this program are that Australian citizens can enroll in courses with Spanish universities and also work for Spanish companies during their stay here.

The conditions to be met are that the selected candidate can study for a period of 4 months by participating in one or more courses and working for the same employer for no more than 6 months.

If you are interested in obtaining more information about the Youth Mobility Program, our immigration lawyers in Spain can provide you with more details.


How long does it take to immigrate to Spain from Australia?

Australian citizens interested in immigrating to Spain should note that they need to submit their applications at the Embassy of Spain in Australia at least a few weeks before their departure.

The issuance of a visa from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs usually takes about 4 weeks.

Our immigration lawyers can support the preparation process for obtaining any type of visa.

Moving to Spain from Australia with our agents

Moving to Spain is a process that can also be done through other means, tailored to investors.

The Golden Visa is an option for interested parties to commit to a significant real estate investment.

Another option is to move to Spain through an investor visa or a skilled worker visa.

Entrepreneurs who wish to live in Spain and can demonstrate that they can support themselves without working can come to the country through a wealth visa.

One of our agents working as immigration lawyers in Spain can assist you with detailed information on the conditions for obtaining these visas.

Once they have legally resided in Spain for ten years, Australians can apply for citizenship by residency in Spain.

This period can be reduced for Australian citizens who, at the time of their application for residency citizenship, have been married to a Spanish national for one year.

One of our immigration lawyers in Spain can also provide you with comprehensive information on acquiring citizenship.

Spain is a preferred immigration destination in Europe due to the quality of life for expatriates, beautiful cities, and its coastline, a real attraction.

According to the National Statistics Institute, the population and immigration figures were as follows for 2017:

  • In 2018, there were approximately 5,947,106 foreign-born individuals in Spain, accounting for about 12.8% of the population.
  • In 2018, the resident population in Spain totaled more than 4,572,000 foreigners.
  • In 2017, the population increased in the age group of 10 to 24 years and in the age group of 40 to 79 years.
  • The population increase in 2017 was due to the growth of foreigners (152,600 more foreigners).

Australians moving to Spain or other countries will generally seek options that provide them with a good standard of living, combined with their preferred climate and lifestyle, as well as a reasonable cost of living.

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