Moving to Spain from Bangladesh

Many Bangladeshis come to Spain to join relatives already living here, and others obtain residence through arraigo after two years in the country. Some come to study or with a job offer. The big recent change: since 30 March 2025 Bangladesh applies the apostille, replacing the old chain of legalisations.

Key facts

• Visa: Bangladeshi citizens need a visa even for short stays. To live in Spain you need a national visa after the relevant permit is granted.
• Citizenship: 10 years of legal, continuous residence, the CCSE and DELE A2 exams and a declaration renouncing Bangladeshi nationality at the oath. Its effect in Bangladesh depends on Bangladeshi law.
• Driving: there is no exchange agreement. To drive as a resident you will need a Spanish licence, with theory and practical tests.
• Apostille: Bangladesh has applied the Convention since 30 March 2025, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues e-apostilles through MyGov. Several EU states objected to its accession, but Spain did not, so the apostille is valid before Spanish authorities.
• Translation: the Embassy requires documents in English or Bengali to be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.

How people usually move

• Family reunification. If your spouse or parent lives legally in Spain, they can sponsor you after their first year of residence, once renewal has been granted or applied for. Family reunification
• Arraigo. For people who have already spent 2 years in Spain and have no criminal record: social, socio-labour or socio-training arraigo (family arraigo, for example for the parent of a Spanish child, has no such minimum). Arraigo
• Employment. With a job offer from a Spanish company, which applies for the permit; you then apply for the visa in Dhaka. Employment
• Studies. Bachelor’s, master’s or vocational training with a study authorisation, which allows work up to 30 hours a week. This time does not count towards citizenship. Study stay
• Family of a Spanish or EU citizen. Marriage or registered partnership with a Spanish or EU citizen. Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen

Documents and apostille

• Police Clearance Certificate from the Bangladesh Police, requested online (pcc.police.gov.bd) and bearing your photo. For the family reunification visa, the Embassy only accepts certificates less than one year old; for procedures in Spain a more recent one is usually required.
• E-apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through MyGov, valid for academic, police, birth, marriage and other certificates. Check on the Embassy website whether its requirement lists already refer to the apostille instead of legalisation.
• Birth certificate in English and, for marriage, the Nikah Nama in English and Bengali, with the registrar’s details. They prove the family link for reunification.
• Medical certificate from a Bangladeshi hospital showing you have no serious public health diseases, required for the family reunification visa.
• Sworn translation into Spanish of all documents, including the apostille.

What to keep in mind

• The Spanish Embassy in Dhaka (Gulshan) receives applications through the BLS visa centre in Banani. National visas require an appointment first; check the current procedure on the Embassy website.
• For family reunification, apply for the visa within two months of being notified of the favourable decision; otherwise the permit lapses.
• The sponsor in Spain must provide copies of their NIE and passport certified by a Spanish notary and a collective padrón certificate listing everyone in the household.
• Once in Spain: register on the padrón and apply for your TIE within the first month.

Frequently asked questions

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