Citizens of European Union countries, as well as those outside the EU who have signed up to Freedom of Movement – Norway and Switzerland – have the right to live, work or start a business in any part of Spain, including The Canary Islands.
Citizens of many non-EU countries do not require a Lanzarote visa to visit the island for a holiday and can stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180 days.
Visas are available to citizens of third countries to move here to live, for work and to start a business.
These must be applied for and granted within 90 days prior to arrival in Lanzarote – you must apply before moving to Lanzarote.
We’ve listed the key options below:
Non Lucrative Visa
This option would work, for example, for a retired person planning to move to Spain. Non-lucrative means they will not be allowed to work while living here.
The requirements are:
- A secure annual income of €25,816 per person, or €32,270 for a couple. (The income is calculated based on standard figures which will change each year.)
- Fully Comprehensive medical insurance.
- Certificate of no criminal record from their home country, issued within 3 months of planned arrival date.
- A medical certificate issued in home country stipulating the applicant does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with what is stipulated by the International Health Regulations of 2005
Initially the visa will be issued for one year, and can be renewed for two years, and then a further two years. After five years, you can apply for residency. You are not allowed to work in Spain or open a branch of your own business in Spain.
The non lucrative visa fee is £516 per person.
Business Start Visa
As the name suggests, this visa is people planning to start a business here in Lanzarote. It is also known as an entrepreneur visa.
The Requirements are:
- A secure annual income of €6454.
- Certificate of no criminal record from their home country, issued within 3 months of planned arrival date.
- Fully Comprehensive medical insurance.
- A medical certificate issued in home country stipulating the applicant does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with what is stipulated by the International Health Regulations of 2005
The Business Start Visa Fee is £966 per person
Work Visa
This visa is for those moving to Lanzarote who have a job to come to. Companies in Spain can only hire staff from outside the EU, if they are unable to show that they cannot recruit the right person from an EU country.
The requirements are:
- A work contract from the proposed employer
- Certificate of no criminal record from their home country, issued within 3 months of planned arrival date.
- A medical certificate issued in home country stipulating the applicant does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with what is stipulated by the International Health Regulations of 2005
The work visa fee is £409 per person.
Those are the key visas available, but there are others, for example for corporate transfer, family reunion etc.
You can see the full list on The Spanish Government website: Visas for entry to Spain.
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