- Live in Spain for the term of the permit and travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180 days without a visa[2][4].
- Work is not allowed with every permit: non-lucrative residence does not allow work, the digital nomad visa allows working for a foreign company, and employment and self-employment permits allow working in Spain[1][2][3].
- After five years a residence permit leads to long-term residence (larga duración), which lets you live and work like Spaniards; after ten years Russians can apply for citizenship[1][6].
Rights every permit holder has
- Live in Spain for the whole term of the permit. If it is issued for more than six months, you apply for the TIE card within a month[2].
- Travel in Schengen with the TIE card and passport: up to 90 days in any 180 days in other Schengen countries without a visa[4]. A Spanish permit does not allow you to live or work in another EU country.
- School for children: education is compulsory and free for foreign children up to 16, and up to 18 they also have a right to further education[1].
- Healthcare under Spanish health legislation[1]. Access to public healthcare depends on your link to Social Security; some grounds require private insurance.
- Build up residence time for long-term residence and citizenship: years of legal residence count[1][6].
Can you work with a Spanish residence permit
The right to work depends on the ground. Any paid activity requires a work authorisation (article 36 of Organic Law 4/2000)[1].
| Ground | Work in Spain | More |
|---|---|---|
| Non-lucrative residence | Not allowed, including remote work[2][5] | what is not allowed on non-lucrative |
| Digital nomad visa | Remote work for a company or clients outside Spain; for freelancers, Spanish clients at most 20 % of the activity[3] | the 20 % rule |
| Employment | For the employer the permit was issued for[1] | work permit |
| Self-employment (cuenta propia) | Your own business in Spain[1] | cuenta propia |
| Studies | With limits | working as a student |
You can change the ground without leaving. After one year on non-lucrative residence you can switch to employment or self-employment without a labour market test (article 191 of the Regulation)[2].
Family: who you can bring
Under the general regime a resident can bring family after one year of residence and an application to renew for another year. Parents can be brought only with long-term status (larga duración)[1]. You need housing and sufficient means for the whole family[1].
With the digital nomad visa, the family can move together with the applicant from the start[3]. More on the regimes: family reunification in Spain.
What a Spanish residence permit does not give
- The right to live or work in other EU countries. Only Spanish citizenship or a separate permit from the other country gives that.
- Visa-free entry to non-Schengen countries. The rules depend on the country and your passport, not on the Spanish permit.
- Permanence. A temporary permit is renewed, and on renewal the authorities check that the conditions still apply. For non-lucrative residence you must live in Spain more than 183 days a year (article 64 of the Regulation)[2].
Obligations of a permit holder
More than 183 days a year in Spain means tax residence and tax on worldwide income: more in tax residence, 183 days. Holders of Ley 14/2013 permits, including the digital nomad visa, report changes in the conditions on which the permit was granted.
Russian law requires Russian citizens to notify the authorities of a residence permit in a foreign state; failure to do so falls under article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code[7]. Check the deadline and procedure in the current version of the law.
From a residence permit to long-term residence and citizenship
After five years of legal and continuous residence you can obtain long-term residence (larga duración). It allows you to live and work in Spain indefinitely on the same terms as Spaniards[1]. Citizenship by residence is available to Russians after ten years[6].
The difference between the statuses: temporary and long-term residence in Spain. If you are still choosing a ground, start with the plan for moving to Spain from Russia.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Spanish residence permit give?
Can I travel around Europe without a visa with a Spanish residence permit?
Can I work with a Spanish residence permit?
After how many years can a residence permit become long-term residence?
Official sources
- BOE · Organic Law 4/2000, articles 9, 10, 12, 18, 32 and 36 ↗
- BOE · Real Decreto 1155/2024 (Immigration Regulation), articles 61, 64, 191 and 209 ↗
- BOE · Ley 14/2013, articles 62 and 74 bis to 74 quinquies (digital nomad visa and family) ↗
- EUR-Lex · Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement, article 21 (travel by residence permit holders) ↗
- Ministry of Inclusion, UGE · FAQ on international teleworking ↗
- BOE · Civil Code, article 22 (nationality by residence) ↗
- ConsultantPlus · Russian Criminal Code, article 330.2 (notifying a foreign residence permit) ↗
Sources reviewed on 28.10.2026. Consolidated texts and government reference pages are for information only: applying the law depends on official publications, amendments and the specific circumstances. Reviewed by lawyer Francisco Romero Jiménez (ICAB 33641) on 28.10.2026.
Turn the information into questions.
The navigator helps you gather topics for an individual review. It does not determine your right to a residence permit and does not submit an application.
Build your checklistHow ReloVictory works: a 15-minute consultation is free, a full consultation costs €121 for 45 minutes; case handling is priced by quote, and fees and translations are paid separately. The legal side is handled by the team’s lawyer, tax and administrative matters by a graduada social. More: about the team.
Prefer to do it yourself? Step-by-step guides: residence permit in Barcelona: from empadronamiento to TIE and route cards by residence ground.
Related articles
ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 28.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.