Since 2022, moving from Russia to Spain takes more planning: there are no direct flights, Russian cards do not work in the EU, and sanctions make it harder to move money and prove income. Even so, the legal routes remain open (remote work, non-lucrative residence, studies or skilled work) as long as your documents and proof of means are well prepared. Here is what to know before you book an appointment.
Key facts
- Visa: Russian citizens need a visa even for short stays. To live in Spain you need a national visa or a permit applied for from Spain during a legal stay.
- Citizenship: 10 years of legal, continuous residence, the CCSE and DELE A2 exams and a declaration renouncing Russian nationality at the oath. What effect that renunciation has in Russia depends on Russian law.
- Driving: there is no exchange agreement. Once resident you can drive on your Russian licence for six months; after that you need a Spanish licence, with theory and practical tests.
- Social security: a Spain–Russia social security agreement lets periods of contributions in both countries be taken into account for your pension.
- EU sanctions: the limit on deposits by Russian nationals at EU banks does not apply to holders of a temporary or permanent residence permit in a member state (Regulation (EU) 833/2014, Art. 5b).
- Golden visa: residence through buying property was abolished in 2025 and is no longer a route to residence.
How people usually move
- Digital nomad. For people working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain, with a relationship of at least three months. You apply at the consulate or, while legally in Spain, with the Large Companies Unit (UGE). The key is proving real, regular payments. Digital nomad
- Non-lucrative residence. For living on savings or passive income without working in Spain. It requires a consular visa, private health insurance with no co-payments or waiting periods, a medical certificate, a criminal record certificate and funds you can show in bank statements. Non-lucrative residence
- 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 as residence for citizenship. Study stay
- Skilled work. Highly qualified professional or EU Blue Card, common for IT and engineering profiles, processed by the UGE. Highly qualified professional
- Family. Marriage or registered partnership with a Spanish or EU citizen. Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen
- International protection. Only for people facing persecution, for example on political grounds; it is not an economic route and each case is assessed individually. International protection
Documents and apostille
- Criminal record certificate (spravka o nesudimosti) from the MVD. You order it on Gosuslugi or at an MFC; for Spain you need the original paper version with an apostille, which the MVD itself affixes. From abroad it is requested through a Russian consulate. It usually needs to be recent.
- Birth and marriage certificates from the civil registry (ZAGS). The apostille is affixed by the ZAGS authority of the region that issued the document. For a Soviet-era certificate you may need a current duplicate.
- Sworn translation into Spanish of all Russian documents, including the apostille, by a sworn translator-interpreter appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Proof of means or income: bank statements, contracts and proof of payments for recent months. Given the sanctions, prepare a clear explanation of where the funds come from.
- University degrees with an apostille, if you plan to have them recognised or apply for a skilled visa.
What to keep in mind
- In Moscow, national visas are filed at the Consulate General by appointment (requested by email) and short-stay visas at the BLS centre. Study visas can also be filed at BLS Moscow. The Moscow consulate also covers Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
- The Consulate General in St Petersburg covers St Petersburg, the Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov and Kaliningrad regions and Karelia. There, study, remote-work and non-lucrative visas are handled directly by appointment.
- If you already live legally in another country, you normally apply at the Spanish consulate there. Check its requirements.
- Once in Spain: register on the padrón and apply for your TIE within the first month. With a TIE it is easier to open a Spanish bank account.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the digital nomad visa if I work for a Russian company?
Law 14/2013 requires the company or clients to be outside Spain and does not exclude any country. In practice you must show a relationship of at least three months, regular payments and that the money actually reaches your account. If the company is subject to EU sanctions, this route is not viable.
Can I open an account at a Spanish bank with a Russian passport?
Yes. The deposit limit for Russian nationals does not apply to holders of a temporary or permanent residence permit in the EU. Banks still apply enhanced checks on the origin of funds, so have your paperwork ready.
Will I have to give up Russian citizenship to become Spanish?
Spain has no dual nationality treaty with Russia: after 10 years of legal residence, you declare at the oath that you renounce Russian nationality. What effect that declaration has in Russia depends on Russian law.
Official sources
- Consulado General de España en Moscú: visados nacionales con cita y visados Schengen en BLS
- Consulado General de España en San Petersburgo: visados de estudios, teletrabajo y no lucrativa
- Demarcación del Consulado General en Moscú y consulados honorarios
- Comisión Europea: preguntas frecuentes sobre depósitos (Reglamento 833/2014, art. 5 ter)
- Código Civil, arts. 22 y 24