- A D visa lets you enter Spain to live there for more than 90 days. A Schengen C visa allows at most 90 days in any 180 days in the Schengen area[4][6].
- Types: studies, employment and self-employment, family reunification, non-lucrative residence, the digital nomad visa, researchers, internships, highly qualified workers and others[1].
- Where Russians apply: where they live, through the visa centres in Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod and Samara or through the consulate in Saint Petersburg[1][3].
How a D visa differs from a Schengen C visa
A Schengen C visa is for short stays: at most 90 days in any 180 days across the Schengen area[6]. You cannot live in Spain on it.
A D visa (visado nacional) is issued for a specific residence ground: studies, work, family, living on savings. You enter Spain with it and, if the permit is for more than six months, you apply in person for the TIE card within a month of entry[4].
Which national visas exist
The Consulate of Spain in Moscow lists these national visas[1]:
| Visa | Who it is for | Money needed per month |
|---|---|---|
| Study (estudios) | University, master's, language courses | €600 for one person[4] |
| Non-lucrative residence | Living on savings or passive income | €2,400 for one person[4] |
| Digital nomad (teletrabajo) | Remote work for a company or clients outside Spain | €2,849 for one person[5] |
| Family reunification | A relative already lives in Spain with a permit | Based on the sponsor's income[4] |
| Employment, self-employment, entrepreneurs | You have an employer or a business in Spain | Depends on the ground |
| Researchers, internships, highly qualified workers | Under programmes and contracts | Depends on the ground |
| Relatives of Spanish nationals, recovering long-term residence | Special grounds | Depends on the ground |
Amounts for families of two, three and four are in how much money you need for a Spanish residence permit.
Where Russians apply for a D visa
National visas are requested where you live. The Moscow consulate takes applications through BLS visa centres in Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod and Samara, with submissions on weekdays from 9:00 to 16:00[1]. Since 1 June 2026, study, internship, researcher, family reunification, employment and non-lucrative visas are filed through the visa centre[2].
Residents of Saint Petersburg, the Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov and Kaliningrad regions and Karelia apply at the consulate in Saint Petersburg[3]. If you live legally in another country, apply at the Spanish consulate there.
The digital nomad permit can also be obtained without a D visa: if you are in Spain legally, the three-year permit is requested here[5]. More on where to apply: Spanish visa centre and consulate in Moscow.
How to get a D visa: the steps
- Choose the ground and check that you meet the amount and conditions.
- Collect the documents: passport, full copy of the internal passport, proof of means or income, insurance, criminal record certificate with apostille if the ground requires it, sworn translations.
- Book and submit at the visa centre or consulate where you live[1].
- Get the visa, enter Spain and apply for the TIE card within a month if the permit is longer than six months[4].
The full plan with Russian documents and budget: moving to Spain from Russia in 2026. How a visa, a permit and the TIE card differ: NIE, TIE and residence permit.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Spain D visa?
Where can Russians get a Spain D visa?
Can I get Spanish residence without a D visa?
What do I do after entering on a D visa?
Official sources
- Consulate of Spain in Moscow · national visa types and visa centres ↗
- Consulate of Spain in Moscow · notice on national visas of 14.04.2026 ↗
- Consulate of Spain in Saint Petersburg · consular district ↗
- BOE · Real Decreto 1155/2024 (Immigration Regulation), articles 32, 35, 62 and 209 ↗
- BOE · Ley 14/2013, articles 74 bis to 74 quinquies (digital nomad visa) ↗
- European Commission · Schengen visa policy: short-stay visas up to 90 days in 180 ↗
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.
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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 28.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.