Immigration to Spain

Immigration to Spain from Ukraine in 2026 works through a specific residence ground: temporary protection for people displaced by the war, non-lucrative residence for those with stable passive income, the digital nomad visa and permit for remote work for foreign companies, the entrepreneur permit backed by an ENISA report, self-employment, salaried work and the EU Blue Card. After 5 years of continuous legal residence you can obtain long-term residence (permanent residency), and after 10 years you can apply for citizenship. The investor «golden visa» was abolished on 3 April 2025, and registering a company does not by itself give a right to live in Spain. Checked against the consolidated laws in the Spanish Official Gazette (BOE) on 9 October 2026.

Residence routes to Spain at a glance

What changed in 2025–2026

• 3 April 2025: Organic Law 1/2025 abolished the investor residence permit («golden visa»), including the real-estate route from €500,000. Permits issued earlier remain valid until expiry.
• 20 May 2025: the new Immigration Regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024) entered into force, replacing the 2011 regulation.
• 17 February 2026: Order INT/96/2026 automatically extended temporary protection TIE cards to 4 March 2027 without new cards being issued.
• 16 April 2026: Royal Decree 316/2026 allowed temporary protection holders to apply from within Spain for other permits, including arraigo and all permits under Law 14/2013 (entrepreneur, digital nomad, Blue Card).
• 2026: the minimum wage (SMI) is €1,221 per month paid in 14 instalments; the digital nomad income test is based on it.
• 30 July 2026: EU Council Decision 2026/1912 extended temporary protection to 4 March 2028. As of 9 October 2026 Spain has yet to publish its order extending the cards for that period.

Moving with passive income

Non-lucrative residence suits people living on savings, rent, dividends or a pension. The Regulation requires funds of at least 400% of IPREM per month for the applicant and 100% of IPREM per family member, for the whole permit period. IPREM is €600 per month: the amount was set by the 2023 budget law, and as of 9 October 2026 no new value has been published in the BOE. That gives roughly €2,400 per month or €28,800 per year for one person. The first permit is issued for 1 year; renewal requires more than 183 days in Spain per year, which also makes you a Spanish tax resident taxed on worldwide income. Details: residence permit in Spain.

Work and remote work

Remote work for companies outside Spain has its own regime: the digital nomad visa and permit. An employee may work only for a foreign employer, while a freelancer may do up to 20% of their work for Spanish clients. Salaried work for a Spanish employer requires a residence and work authorisation, and highly qualified professionals with a contract of at least 6 months can use the EU Blue Card. Applications under Law 14/2013 are handled electronically by the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE).

Business and relocation

An entrepreneur needs two separate procedures. The first is the company: a Spanish SL can be set up with share capital from €1 and must have a registered address in Spain. The second is the entrepreneur residence permit, granted when the state agency ENISA confirms the project is innovative or of special economic interest for Spain. For an ordinary business there is the self-employment permit, which requires sufficient investment.

Path to permanent residence and citizenship

Long-term residence (larga duración-UE) is granted after 5 years of continuous legal residence with stable resources and health insurance. Absences of up to 6 consecutive months and up to 10 months in total over 5 years keep the residence continuous. Study periods count at 50%. The law does not state expressly whether years under temporary protection count, so we plan the route through a separate residence permit. Citizenship by residence is available after 10 years, with the DELE A2 and CCSE exams; Ukrainian citizens must renounce their previous nationality.

How we help

• We choose the lawful route for your income, work, business and family.
• We calculate the financial thresholds on the filing date: IPREM, SMI, family members.
• We prepare the file, translations and the application to the consulate, the immigration office or the UGE.
• For temporary protection holders we plan the switch to another permit from within Spain.
• We connect the immigration side with corporate and tax matters: company, accounting, taxes.

Request a tailored proposal →

Related services

Documents from Ukraine for a residence permit (certificates, translations, apostille) can be prepared with RegServ, which also handles SL registration in Spain. Company and owner taxes in Spain are covered by Crystal Tax, SL accounting and reporting by Keys. Market entry (subsidiary or branch) together with an immigration assessment: INNOVA Consulting Group (Spain).

Sources (as of 9 October 2026): Law 14/2013 (entrepreneurs, digital nomads, Blue Card); Immigration Regulation, Royal Decree 1155/2024; Organic Law 1/2025 (end of the golden visa); Order INT/96/2026; Royal Decree 316/2026; EU Council Decision 2026/1912; Royal Decree 126/2026 (SMI 2026); Law 31/2022 (IPREM); Organic Law 4/2000 on foreigners; Spanish Civil Code; Capital Companies Act (LSC).