Canadians usually come to Spain through the youth mobility programme, to retire or live on savings, to work remotely or to study. Since January 2024 Canada has applied the apostille, which has made paperwork much simpler. Here are the usual routes and how to prepare Canadian documents.
Key facts
- Entry: Canadian passport holders can stay in the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This does not allow work and does not, on its own, let you settle.
- Citizenship: the general requirement is 10 years of legal, continuous residence, with the CCSE and DELE A2. At the oath you must declare that you renounce Canadian nationality (art. 24 of the Civil Code); its effect in Canada depends on Canadian law.
- Documents: Canada has applied the Hague Convention since 11 January 2024, so an apostille is enough. Documents in English or French need a sworn translation.
- Driving: there is no exchange agreement. Once resident you can drive for six months on your Canadian licence; after that you must take the Spanish theory and practical tests.
- Social security: the Spain–Canada agreement lets you combine contribution periods; Quebec has its own agreement with Spain for its pension plan.
How people usually move
- Youth mobility (ages 18 to 35). Lets you live and work in Spain for up to a year in five categories, including working holiday, student internships and training with a contract. It can be used twice, in different categories, with at least three months between stays. It is not residence: to stay afterwards you need another permit.
- Non-lucrative residence. For retirees and people living on savings, pensions or passive income. It does not allow work in Spain and requires private health insurance with no co-payments or waiting periods, a medical certificate and a criminal record check. Non-lucrative residence
- Digital nomad. For people working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain, with a relationship of at least three months. Digital nomad
- Studies. A master’s, degree or course with a study authorisation, which allows work up to 30 hours a week in higher education or vocational training. Study permit
- Skilled work. Highly qualified professional, EU Blue Card or intra-company transfer, processed by the Large Companies Unit (UGE). Highly qualified professional
- Family. Marriage or registered partnership with a Spanish or EU citizen. Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen
Documents and apostille
- Criminal record: the fingerprint-based Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) certificate covering the last 5 years. Local police certificates are not accepted. It usually has to be recent.
- Apostille: the RCMP certificate and other federal documents are apostilled by Global Affairs Canada; in some provinces, provincial documents (such as birth certificates) are apostilled by the provincial authority. Use Global Affairs Canada’s search tool.
- Sworn translation into Spanish of documents in English or French, by an authorised sworn translator.
- NIE: for the youth mobility visa the consulate requires you to already have a foreigner identity number; request it before your appointment.
- Health insurance and medical certificate: insurance covering hospitalisation and repatriation for youth mobility, and a medical certificate for stays over 180 days.
What to keep in mind
- Spain has the consular section of the Embassy in Ottawa (Ottawa, Gatineau and the National Capital Region), the Consulate General in Toronto (rest of Ontario, western provinces and territories) and the Consulate General in Montreal (Quebec and the Atlantic provinces). Applications are filed in person, by appointment requested by email.
- For youth mobility, the apostilled RCMP check and the NIE take the longest: start months ahead.
- A common mistake is submitting a local police certificate instead of the RCMP one, or one without an apostille.
- In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón) and apply for your TIE within the first month. If you plan to stay after youth mobility, prepare the switch to another permit before it expires.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay in Spain when youth mobility ends?
Not automatically: the visa lasts at most one year and is not residence. To stay you need another permit, such as work, studies or digital nomad, which is best prepared before your stay ends.
Which criminal record do I need?
The fingerprint-based RCMP certificate covering the last 5 years, apostilled by Global Affairs Canada and with a sworn translation into Spanish. Local police certificates are not accepted. If you lived in another country in the last 5 years, you need that country’s certificate too.
Do my Canadian contributions count in Spain?
Yes. The Spain–Canada social security agreement lets you combine periods to qualify for a pension. Contributions to the Quebec Pension Plan are coordinated through a separate agreement between Spain and Quebec.