In this article, I will give step-by-step instructions on how to jump into the last carriage of the departing Spanish train. This instruction is suitable for those who are sure that they did not confuse the train and the platform. If you have no doubt that a house on the Mediterranean coast is still needed, and a residence permit is still interesting, then this article is for you.
Spain continues to issue tourist visas, but I hope you already have a passport and a visa! Otherwise, you will have to stand in a long queue. Currently, the Spanish visa application center issues long-term tourist visas quite well. And no matter what anyone says, Spain remains the most hospitable country in the European Union. The feedback from our customers, who lived in summer cottages all summer 2022, speaks for itself. Many, by the way, have already managed to send their children to school and have seriously reconsidered their attitude towards the country, deciding to stay permanently.
So, what should I do if I already have a visa in my passport? The answer is obvious — to put aside all doubts and fly to Spain. This way you can personally verify whether the Kingdom of Spain is suitable for your family.
step 1. Fly to Spain
To buy a house, you need to fly to Spain. That’s the only way now! It was possible to reserve online during the covid days. Spain has not yet lifted sanitary restrictions. At the time of writing, a negative PCR test and a QR code will be required to travel to Spain. The test is valid for 72 hours, information about the code can be filled in two days before departure on the Spanish health website. Please note that children under the age of 12 do not need to do either a PCR test or a code.
You can fly to sunny Spain with one transfer via Istanbul, Dubai, Belgrade and a number of other cities. Recently, many customers have been flying convenient direct flights from Helsinki to Alicante. Helsinki can be reached by a comfortable bus. The bus does not stand in traffic and goes along a dedicated corridor, it has WI-FI, tea, coffee, toilet.
Do not forget that for each person, including small children, it is possible and necessary to carry cash for a total amount not exceeding the equivalent of 10,000 US dollars (I advise you to find out the details in advance). The money will be required for the real estate reserve, general expenses. You can deposit up to 3,000 euros per day to your new Spanish bank account. It is advisable not to exceed the amount of 10,000 euros in cash, but transfers from your account to your account are not severely limited in amount. As before, all bank transfers to Spanish developers are covered by a bank guarantee!
step 2. Choose a property
All our clients fly prepared and at the time of the trip they already know which new construction sites they will be looking at. As soon as there is no doubt about the selected object, we reserve it in the Spanish sales office, a reserve contract is signed for 3-4 months. Many people are in a hurry to reserve an object under construction, because there is an opportunity for interest-free installment payments, and you can slowly transfer money in parts to buy real estate to your account(s) in a Spanish Bank.
New construction projects in Spain have many advantages: a 10-year warranty, a low energy consumption class in new buildings and many others. Villas are rarely bought now, but houses in cottage settlements and apartments with terraces are in enviable demand. A view of the sea and the sunny side and you have to wait for 6-8 months even if you have money in your account in Spain.
STEP 3. Open an account(s) in a Spanish Bank
An account in a Spanish bank is opened on the basis of a Russian passport and a 2‑personal income tax certificate (current and previous year) or an income declaration for the previous year. No more documents are required. We usually open at least two accounts per family. An important condition for opening an account is the purchase of any banking product. This is usually health insurance. It will cost about 65 euros per month per person. This step is one of the most important for the first visit to Spain, since your future residence (residence permit for financial independence) depends on its success.
STEP 4. Make an appointment to apply for a residence permit upon return
The key to a successful decision on a residence permit for your family (you + spouse + minor children) is real estate (at the time of filing it may be in the process of registering ownership), having a Spanish bank account and Spanish medical insurance.
Due to the unprecedented influx of entries in The consular application takes place at least a month in advance. You can now wait four months for a decision, instead of the promised three. The demand for this service, which is very relevant and among our customers, is huge. Everyone wants to be guaranteed to fly to their second/first home. And a residence permit allows you to live in Spain for more than 183 days a year. Of course, you need to show passive income and balances on your accounts (in the Russian Federation / Spain / Turkey, etc.) to prove their financial independence, because the first year the card is issued without the right to work. After a year, you can already apply for a job or start your own business.
Financial security for a one-year residence permit without the right to work:
STEP 5. Fly to Spain to sign a deal and live enjoying the sea, the sun and the quality of life
Many clients sign a power of attorney deal and arrive in Spain with a new D visa. They pick up the keys to a new house and receive a previously approved residence card from the police. In this case, at STEP 1, it is necessary to leave a notarized power of attorney for signing the transaction by our lawyer. I always advise you to fly in person to sign the deal and accept the apartment. This solemn and long-awaited procedure is worth attending in person.
Of course, there will be an infinite number of steps: enrolling children in an educational institution, learning Spanish, applying for a Spanish driver’s license, starting your own business, getting a job, and just adapting takes, as a rule, at least 1 year.
Victoria Kutuzova,
Sales Director at Sunnierhomes.
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