Spain, explained properly.
Two of Spain’s routes are residence pathways and one is an identification number that is regularly mistaken for one. Getting that distinction right is the difference between a plan that works and months spent on the wrong thing.
Two residence routes, and one practical service
Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa and Digital Nomad Visa are residence pathways: they lead to permission to live in Spain, and they are decided by the Spanish authorities on your circumstances. They suit very different people, and the deciding factor is usually whether you need to work while you are there.
The NIE is something else entirely. It is a personal identification number for foreigners who have economic, professional or social dealings with Spain. It is genuinely useful — often necessary — but it does not give you the right to live in Spain, and it is not a step on the way to residency. We keep it in a separate group on this page for that reason.
Routes that lead to living in Spain.
Official sources
This page is written from official government and consular sources, not from other advisory websites. Last reviewed 2026-08-12.
Not sure which Spanish route fits?
The deciding factor is usually whether you need to work while you are there. Tell us your situation and we will tell you which route is realistic.