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 consecutive 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 (not issued in Canada) must be legalzed 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). To this amount must be added 100% of the IPREM for each family member. Foreign documents (not issued in Canada) must be legalzed or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
6. Criminal record check certificate. Applicants of legal age must submit both the original and a copy of the criminal record check certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence for the past 2 years. Additionally, they must complete and sign a Responsible statement declaring that they have no criminal records for the past 5 years.
In the case of Canada, only the criminal record certificate issued by the RCMP containing the visa applicant's fingerprints will be accepted. You will find more information about how to obtain it here.
Criminal records certificates from local police stations will not be accepted. The Canadian Criminal Record Certificate must be with the Hague Apostille Certification issued by Global Affairs Canada, and translated into Spanish. If the criminal record certificate has been issued outside of Canada, it must be legalized by the Spanish Consular Office with jurisdiction in that country, unless the country that issued it has signed the Hague Convention, in which case it must be apostilled. You can check the list of the countries signatories of the Hague Convention here.
7. Health insurance. Original and a copy of the certificate accrediting the public or private health insurance contracted with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain.
8. Proof of residence in the consular demarcation. Permanent resident card or Canadian passport.
9. Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the visa is requested by a representative, a copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and the power of attorney or document proving the representation, must be submitted. Original documents will be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents (not issued in Canada) must be legalzed or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
10. Payment of the visa fee. Check the fee in Tasas Montreal 2024. The consular fee is to be paid the day of your appointment, preferably in cash or by money order or certified cheque to "The Consulate General of Spain in Montreal".
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.
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 and 10. Where applicable, those specified in section 9 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 (not issued in Canada) must be legalzed 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 (not issued in Canada) must be legalzed 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 (not issued in Canada) must be legalzed 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 demarcation.
- Who can apply for a permit: Visa applications must be submitted in person 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: The Visa application must be submitted in person. You must previously request an appointment by sending an email to cog.montreal.vis@maec.es. In your email you must indicate your full name and send scanned copies of your passport and of a document proving your residence in this consular demarcation. In case you do not have Canadian citizenship, you must provide along with your passport, a document proving your status in Canada (permanent resident card).
- 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 term to make a decision is 10 days from the day after the application is submitted, but this term may be extended when additional documents are requested or an interview is held.
- Collecting the visa: The visa must be collected in person by the applicant or by their representative within a maximum period of 1 month, counted as of the day after the date on which the favourable decision is notified. 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.