Spain
Living, work, immigration, education & business — official links and practical guides
Key Facts
Basics
Currency
EUR
Region
Southern Europe
Local time
UTC+2
Europe/Madrid
Economy
Population
48.85M
GDP (current US$)
$1.73T
GDP per capita
$35,327
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0) · 2024 · Last checked: 2026-07-06
Tax snapshot
Corporate tax
25%
VAT
21%
Top individual income tax
24.5%
+20.5–29.5% regional
Capital-gains tax
30%
- The 30% capital-gains rate is the top of the savings-income scale. It is split half state, half regional, but both halves are set by national law and regions cannot change them, so it is uniform nationwide. Net wealth tax in some autonomies only (Madrid refunds); Beckham law inbound-resident regime exists.
Source: National tax authority · Cross-check: OECD · PwC · KPMG · Last checked: 2026-07-16
Headline statutory rates. The income-tax figure includes national surtaxes; any regional or municipal layer is shown beside it. Social contributions and reliefs are excluded. Verify the current rate with the authority before relying on it.
At a glance
A popular EU destination with a digital-nomad visa and highly-qualified routes; the investor Golden Visa was abolished in April 2025.
Best for
Remote workers (nomad visa), highly-qualified professionals and founders, and students.
Who this may not suit
People relying on a local salary to fund the move — unemployment is high in parts of the country and pay is modest compared with the cost of housing in Madrid or Barcelona.
Main routes in
Digital Nomad Visa For remote workers and employees of non-Spanish companies. Highly Qualified Professional An employer-sponsored route for qualified roles. Student → job search Study, then a job-search period or a change to a work permit.
Key trade-offs
- The investor Golden Visa ended in April 2025 — no longer an option.
- Spanish (and regional languages) helps with work and daily life.
- Bureaucracy (NIE, empadronamiento, appointments) can be slow.
First steps
- 1 Choose your route and apply via a consulate or (in Spain) the UGE for nomad/HQP.
- 2 Get your NIE and register your address (empadronamiento).
- 3 Obtain the TIE residence card after approval.
- 4 Register for health cover or hold private insurance as required.
What changes often
- · Digital-nomad and non-lucrative visa requirements
- · The Beckham-law special tax regime and its conditions
- · Regional differences in permits, tax and housing rules
Routes and thresholds change — confirm on Spain’s immigration portal and consulate. Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones ↗
Major cities
All cities (8) →Living
Housing
Renting and buying property in Spain — typical rents, deposits, contracts, and official tenancy rules.
Healthcare
How the Spain healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
Insurance
Insurance in Spain — health, travel, and digital-nomad cover, what is mandatory, and how to choose a plan.
Work
Jobs
Where to find jobs in Spain — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
Employers
Major employers hiring in Spain, with links to their official careers pages.
Government Jobs
Public-sector and civil-service hiring in Spain — the official government job portal.
Salaries
Typical salaries by role in Spain — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
Immigration & Mobility
Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Startup Visa
Entrepreneur and startup visa programs, investment thresholds, and application criteria.
Student Visa
Student visa categories, eligibility, required documents, work rights, and application steps.
Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
Permanent Residency
Permanent-residence routes: eligibility, required years of residence, and the official application steps — including any investment routes where a country offers them.
Citizenship
Naturalization rules: required residence years, language and civics requirements, and each country's dual-citizenship policy.
Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Digital Nomad Visa
Remote-work visa programs, income requirements, duration, taxes, and application steps.
Education
Universities
Top universities in Spain, admissions, tuition, and international-student support.
Online Courses
Online learning relevant to Spain — accredited platforms, local MOOCs, and language courses.
Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in Spain — government, university, and international programs.
Study Abroad
How to study in Spain as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Business
Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Business Banking
Opening business and personal bank accounts, remote options, required documents, and fees.
Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Tax System
Corporate tax, VAT/GST, personal income tax, capital gains, and filing obligations.
Import & Export
Customs procedures, duties, de minimis thresholds, EORI/registration, and restricted goods.
Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Compliance
Corporate, tax, employment, data-protection, AML/KYC, trade and AI compliance — official regulators and registries.
Corporate Compliance
Annual filings, registered-agent and beneficial-ownership obligations, and the official company registry.
Tax Compliance
Filing calendars, registration thresholds and the official tax authority.
Employment Compliance
Mandatory contracts, payroll and social-insurance registration, and the official labor authority.
Privacy & Data Protection
The country's own data-protection regime, registration duties, and its official supervisory authority.
AML & KYC
Anti-money-laundering and customer-due-diligence obligations, regulated activities, and the official financial regulator.
Import & Export Compliance
Customs registration, controlled/restricted goods, sanctions screening, and the official customs authority.
AI Regulations
The country's own AI governance approach, risk tiers, transparency duties, and its official authority.