Short-stay or residence visa for foreigners making a significant capital investment, understood as:
- An initial investment of at least 2 million euros in Spanish public debt securities, or 1 million euros in stocks or shares in Spanish companies undertaking actual business activities, or in investment or venture capital funds incorporated in Spain, or in bank deposits in Spanish financial institutions.
- The purchase of unencumbered real estate for a minimum of 500,000 euros, (if the investment is made by a couple married in community of property, one of the spouses may obtain an investor visa, and the other spouse, a visa as a family member of the investor).
- A business project in Spain considered to be of general interest, as regards the creation of jobs, the significant socio-economic impact on the geographical area in which the project is to be carried out, or its significant contribution to scientific or technological innovation. In this case, the visa may be obtained by a representative designated by the investor to manage the project.
Investments made by legal persons will be accepted, provided that the legal person is not based in a tax haven, and that the investor holds, directly or indirectly, majority voting rights and the power to appoint or dismiss the majority of the members of the board of directors.
The following family members of the investor may also obtain the visa:
- The spouse or unmarried partner.
- Children and adult children who are financially dependent on the investor and who have not created a family unit of their own.
- Relatives in the ascending line in the investor's care.
Required documents for the investor
1. National visa application form
. Each applicant, or their representative, must complete and sign a visa application form, filling in each of its sections.
2. Photograph. A recent, passport-size, colour photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face.
3. Valid, unexpired passport. Original and a photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must have a minimum validity period of 1 year and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
4. Documents accrediting the investment. Original and a copy of the following documents:
- Investment in unquoted stocks and shares: Declaration of investment made at the Foreign Investments Registry of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation.
- Investment in quoted stocks: Certificate from the financial intermediary registered at the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) or at Banco de España, accrediting that the interested party has made the investment.
- Investment in public debt: Certificate from the financial entity or from Banco de España accrediting that the applicant is the sole owner of the investment for a period equal to or exceeding 5 years.
- Bank deposit: Bank certificate indicating that the applicant is the sole owner of the investment.
- Investment in real estate: Certificate from the Land Register with up-to-date information on ownership and encumbrances, issued no more than 90 days earlier, and deed of sale if the amount of the purchase is not included in the certificate on ownership and encumbrances.
- Investment in a business project: Favourable report from the relevant Economic and Commercial Office of this consular district, stating the general interest that will be served by the business project.
- In the event of an investment made through a legal person: Favourable report from the relevant Economic and Commercial Office of this consular district, stating that the company is not based in a tax haven, and that the investor holds, directly or indirectly, majority voting rights and the power to appoint or dismiss the majority of the members of the board of directors.
Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
5. Financial means. Original and a copy of the documents proving sufficient own financial means, or accrediting a regular source of income for the investor and, where applicable, for the family members accompanying them. The minimum required amount is equivalent to 400% of Spain's Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator (IPREM) per month (2.400 euros). To this amount must be added 100% of the IPREM (600 euros) for each family member. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
6. Criminal record check certificate: The criminal background check must be issued by the U.S. Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). State background checks issued by the Department of Law Enforcement and those issued at a local level will not be accepted. The background check must be issued within the five months preceding the submission of the visa application. It must be authenticated with the Apostille of The Hague of Washington DC (US Department of State) and translated into Spanish. The applicant must submit a notarized copy of both the original document in English and the Spanish translation. Under no circumstances will a criminal background check be accepted if it has been altered or damaged in any way, including damages caused by removing staples. If the applicant has lived outside the United States during the past five years, he/she must provide an additional criminal background check from every country where he/she has lived, authenticated with the Apostille of The Hague and translated into Spanish, with a notarized copy of both documents. If the country in which the applicant has lived in the past five years does not subscribe to The Hague Convention of 1961, the background check must by authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and then by the Consulate of Spain in that country.
7. Health insurance. The applicant must submit an original and copy of documentation proving that he/she will have public or private health insurance coverage provided by an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance policy must cover all the risks insured by Spain's public health system. Travel insurance will not be accepted. Health insurance cards will not be accepted as proof of insurance. The applicant must have health insurance with coverage in Spain during the entirety of his/her stay. The policy cannot have copays, deductibles, or qualifying periods, meaning that it must cover 100% of medical, hospital, and outpatient costs. Exceptionally foreign companies offering limited coverage could be accepted, as long as they meet the other medical requirements and must demonstrate a minimum general coverage of at least 500,000 USD, with no deductibles or copays and must expressly say that the company offers coverage in the rest of the world, or at least in Spain.
8. Proof of residence in the consular district: Copy of driver's license, State Id or student Id of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee or Texas.
9. Evidence of legal residence in the United States (Non-US passport holders): Evidence of legal residence in the United States: resident alien card, valid US Visa. Applicants holding F1 student visa must also submit a photocopy of their I‐20, with the endorsement duly and recently signed. Holders of B‐1/B‐2 visas cannot apply in the United States; they must apply in their country of residence or country of origin.
10. Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and of the power of attorney or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
11. Payment of the visa fee. Money Order pay to the order of The General Consulate of Spain in Houston.
12. Only USPS (Express or Priority Mail) self-address prepaid envelope with tracking number.
13. Postal delivery authorization
- Applicants should not purchase their plane tickets until their visas have been granted.
- We will not accept incomplete applications for processing.
Required documents for family members
For each family member accompanying the investor, the following must be submitted:
- All the required documents specified in sections 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13. Where applicable, those specified in section 10 also. In the case of minors, the visa application must be signed by one of their parents or by a duly accredited representative.
- Documents proving family relationship with the investor: birth or marriage certificates issued by the civil registry, certificate of registration as an unmarried couple or any other document proving that the relationship is an unregistered partnership. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
- In the case of adult children, documents proving their financial dependence and civil status. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
- In the case of relatives in the ascending line, documents proving they are in the investor's care. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.
Procedure
This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district.
- Who can apply for a permit: Visa applications must be submitted by the applicant, or by one of their parents if they are a minor. They may also be submitted through a duly accredited representative.
- Visa application period: 1 year as of the capital investment. This period is not applicable to investments in real estate, but investments made before 29 September 2013 will not be eligible.
- Place of submission: Applications and requirements must be submitted via postal mail to General Consulate of Spain in Houston- Visa Department (1800 Bering Dr. Suite 750 Houston, Texas, 77057).
- Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Home.aspx
- Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
- Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is 10 days as of the day after the submission date of the application, but this period may be extended when an interview or additional documents are requested.
- Collecting the visa: The Consular Office will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation.
- Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.
- Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
- Validity period of the visa: The visa is valid for 1 year.
The visa accredits residence in Spain during its validity period, making it unnecessary to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card. However, this card may be applied for at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the corresponding Police Station.