Moving to Spain from India

Indian migration to Spain combines two growing profiles: skilled professionals, especially in technology, and students on master’s and business school programmes. Alongside them is an established community bringing family over through reunification. Here is what you need to know about visas, documents and citizenship.

Key facts

• Visa: Indian citizens need a visa even for short stays. To live in Spain you need a national visa after the relevant permit is granted, or a Large Companies Unit permit for skilled profiles.
• Citizenship: 10 years of legal, continuous residence, the CCSE and DELE A2 exams and a declaration renouncing Indian nationality at the oath. India does not allow dual citizenship; former Indian citizens can hold an OCI card.
• Driving: there is no exchange agreement. To drive as a resident you will need a Spanish licence, with theory and practical tests.
• Documents: India applies the apostille and Spain accepts it. Documents in English or Indian languages need a sworn translation into Spanish.

How people usually move

• Highly qualified professional or EU Blue Card. The employer applies to the Large Companies Unit (UGE), and your family can join you from the start. Intra-company transfers to a Spanish subsidiary are also possible. Highly qualified professional
• Studies. Master’s, bachelor’s or vocational training with a study authorisation, which allows work up to 30 hours a week. Afterwards you can move to job-seeking or a work permit. Study stay
• Employment. With a job offer from a Spanish company that does not fit the skilled regime; the employer applies for the permit and you apply for the visa. Employment
• 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. Arraigo

Documents and apostille

• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) requested through Passport Seva (regional passport office). If you live outside India, apply at the Indian embassy or consulate. It usually needs to be recent.
• Apostille: affixed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after the state government or a regional authentication centre has verified the document. The MEA does not accept documents from individuals: they go through authorised agencies.
• Birth and registered marriage certificates, apostilled. For family reunification they prove the family link.
• Degrees and transcripts with an apostille, to have them recognised, apply for a master’s place or prove professional qualifications.
• Sworn translation into Spanish of all documents, including those in English.

What to keep in mind

• The consular section of the Embassy in New Delhi covers northern, central and eastern India plus Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives; the Consulate General in Mumbai covers the western and southern states. A 2025 royal decree created a Consulate General in Bangalore for Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry: check whether it already processes visas.
• Applications are filed at BLS International centres.
• For studies, apply for the visa well ahead of the course start date: this is the most common reason students arrive late.
• Once in Spain: register on the padrón and apply for your TIE within the first month.

Frequently asked questions

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