Digital
nomad (DNV)
Remote work for foreign clients or an employer abroad: income, application to the UGE, renewal.
Open the cardRoutes · checklists · step by step
Route cards: residence permits in Spain step by step
22 cards: seven by type of residence permit, ten “do it yourself” cards for life in Barcelona and five on documents, diplomas and driving licences. Each step has a checklist, where to apply, the timing and the cost, plus a line on when going without a lawyer or a tax and administrative specialist (graduada social) is risky. Tick off the steps, print the card or download it as TXT.
How to use a card
A card is a list of actions rather than an article: every step has a checklist, a place, a deadline and a cost.
Tick off the steps
Ticks are saved in your browser on this device, so you always see where you stopped.
Print or download
Above the list there are two buttons: print the card and download the list as TXT.
Deadlines and amounts with a date
Figures checked against the BOE and official websites on 3 October 2026. Anything we could not confirm is not given as a figure.
Where you need help, we say so plainly
Every step has a line on the situations where going without a lawyer or a tax and administrative specialist is risky.
Seven cards by type of residence permit
Choose your permit type to open the scheme from choosing it to renewal.
Digital
Residence permit
without work
Living on your own funds: means, insurance, consulate, renewal.
Open the cardStudy
in Spain
Student estancia: enrolment, funds, renewal and switching to other statuses.
Open the cardWork and
self-employment
Employment and your own business: contract, employer, application, TIE.
Open the cardFamily
reunification
Spouse, partner, children and parents: choosing the regime, documents, visa, TIE.
Open the cardArraigo
in Spain
Types, a two-year timeline, evidence and the informe de integración in Catalonia.
Open the cardResidence permit renewal
and the path to permanent residence
Application windows, documents for each permit type, late filing, larga duración and citizenship.
Open the cardThe general procedure, which applies to every permit type, is set out in the route “Residence permit in Barcelona: from empadronamiento to TIE”.
Life in Barcelona: 10 “do it yourself” cards
Housing, work, taxes, healthcare, children and documents: 15 steps each, with official sources.
Renting
a flat
Budget, a renter file without a nómina, checking the owner, the contract, the deposit at INCASÒL and padrón registration.
Open the cardBuying
a flat
For non-residents: NIE, budget and taxes, nota simple, arras, notary and registration.
Open the cardBecoming
autónomo
Registering with the tax office and RETA, contributions, IVA and IRPF, invoices and returns.
Open the cardSetting up
a company (SL)
Name, articles of association, capital, notary, registry, NIF and annual accounts.
Open the cardFirst
tax year
Tax residence, Renta, forms 720 and 721, the Beckham regime and Catalan deductions.
Open the cardDoctors
and healthcare
TSI health card, family doctor, appointments, emergencies and prescriptions in Catalonia.
Open the cardSchool
for your child
Padró, enrolment outside the standard period, school records, admission and Catalan.
Open the cardBirth
of a child
Birth registration, passport, padró, residence authorisation, TIE and benefits.
Open the cardDriving
licence
Exchange or DGT exams, medical check, theory and practical tests.
Open the cardSpanish
citizenship
Residence period, DELE and CCSE, documents, online application, oath, DNI and passport.
Open the cardDocuments, diplomas and driving licences
Homologation, sworn translation and driving licences: 15 steps each, with official sources.
Homologating
a university degree
Homologación, equivalencia and recognition of a profession: documents, fee, application, decision.
Open the cardHomologating
a school certificate
School certificates after grades 9 and 11: homologación or convalidación, volante, entry to university and FP.
Open the cardSworn
translation
How to find a translator on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list, apostille, quote, checking and submitting the translation.
Open the cardExchanging
a Ukrainian licence
Canje at the DGT, rules under temporary protection, medical check, fee and appointment.
Open the cardRussian licence:
exams
No exchange: six months, theory and practical tests at the DGT, new-driver licence.
Open the cardWhich card to choose
You choose the permit type by what you will do in Spain, not by nationality. If you are not sure, start with the general route: residence permit in Barcelona on your own and the comparison table of permit types.
| Your situation | Card |
|---|---|
| I work remotely for foreign companies | DNV, digital nomad |
| I want to live on my own funds without working in Spain | No lucrativa |
| I’m coming to study | Study |
| I have an employment contract or my own business | Work and self-employment |
| My family is moving or is already in Spain | Family reunification |
| I have lived in Spain without status for at least two years | Arraigo |
| My residence permit is about to expire or has expired | Residence permit renewal |
Frequently asked questions
What is a route card and how is it different from an article?
It is a step-by-step checklist for one path, for example the DNV or renewal: each step has actions, where to apply, timing and cost. An article answers one question; a card takes you from choosing your permit type to the application and renewal.
Are my ticks on the page saved?
Ticks are saved in your browser on this device. They are lost if you clear the site data, and they do not carry over to another device. You can print the card or download it as TXT with the buttons above the list.
Can I apply for a residence permit on my own with a card like this?
The law does not require a lawyer to apply: you may file yourself or through a representative. In court, a lawyer is mandatory. The card shows what you can do yourself and where it is better to bring in a lawyer or a tax and administrative specialist: do you need a lawyer for a residence permit.
How up to date are the cards?
Checked on 3 October 2026 against the BOE (the Reglamento text of 22.09.2026, with the Tribunal Supremo rulings of 2026) and official websites. The rules in force on the day you apply are what count, so check them before you apply: where to check the rules.
Which card should I choose if several fit?
Compare the permit types by requirements, income and the right to work in the table: which residence permit to choose. If you are unsure, we will go through your case in a consultation.
What you should know
This material is for information only and does not replace an individual consultation. We do not promise approval: the decision rests with the authority, and we are not responsible for its response times. ReloVictory is a relocation centre, not a law firm: legal work is handled by the team’s lawyer, and tax and administrative matters by a tax and administrative specialist. Residence permit rules changed in 2026 and the Tribunal Supremo struck down some provisions, so on the day you apply check the BOE text and the ministry’s information sheets. DNV figures updated on 01.10.2026.
First consultation: 15 minutes free. Full individual consultation: €121 for 45 minutes. Case handling is priced by quote; fees and translations are paid separately, and appeals are not included.
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How does this apply to your situation?
Choose your first step with a short quiz or discuss your questions with the ReloVictory team.