Its stable economy makes residents feel comfortable. The state is part of the European Union, which allowed it to become attractive to foreigners. For Pakistanis, Spain is in the top ten most inviting countries to move to.
Methods of immigration to Spain
Every year, more and more people from Pakistan decided to move to Spain legally, since the current legislation provides several ways for it. Below are the main ones:
- Marriage to a Spanish citizen;
- Long-term study visa;
- Buying or renting a home;
- Golden investor visa;
- Opening business.
Marriage to a Spanish citizen
In the case of marriage to a Spanish citizen, a residence permit is issued quickly. After a year, a foreigner can apply for citizenship. Spouses can get married in Spain or Pakistan. To register a marriage in Spain, you must submit documents to the registry office at the place of registration of one of the spouses. The list of securities looks something like this:
- birth certificates of both spouses;
- history of registration in Spain;
- a statement signed by both parties. It is accompanied by written confirmation of the status of a free or divorced person or an extract that he was not previously married;
- copies of the identification code, passport data, or card of a resident of the country.
All Pakistani documents must be translated into Spanish and notarized. The country of registration of the marriage does not affect the receipt of a residence permit and citizenship.
Spain is actively fighting fake marriages. Therefore, one submitted application for registration is not enough. Besides, the future spouses will have to go through an interview, answering personal questions about each other (favorite color, dish, film, parents’ birthdays, and so on), or tell the details of the first meeting. It is worth noting that at any time, social workers can come to visit and check whether the spouses are living together.
Long term student visa
A long-term student visa is one of the easiest and least expensive types of immigration to Spain. Studying at a paid educational institution in Spain gives students the right to obtain a student residence permit. It could be a university, school, or educational courses. An educational institution should have the right to issue invitations for foreigners. It must have a certificate from the Spanish Ministry of Education.
A student visa is issued for the period of study and is extended with each next course. Students are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week.
After three years of stay in the country, a student visa can be easily replaced with a residence permit with the right to work. It will take 2-4 weeks to complete all documents and about 1300 euros.
Purchase or long term rental of real estate
Buying or long-term rental housing is also a popular way of immigration to Spain among Pakistanis. But this method also has several disadvantages: this category of residence permit does not imply the right to work in Spain, so you will need to find other sources of income outside of this country. You will also need to confirm that you have funds in your bank account. Another disadvantage is that the holder of such a visa must spend at least six months in the country (more than 183 days a year). Such permanent residence is issued for up to six months and costs 2,500 euros.
Golden Visa
An investor’s residence permit can be issued in two ways:
- purchase real estate;
- invest in the Spanish economy.
Acquisition of real estate
Purchase of real estate, not necessarily residential, one or more objects for a total amount of 500 thousand euros. Such a residence permit will take several weeks and will cost the owner of the property approximately 2,500 euros.
Investments in the Spanish economy
Another opportunity to obtain an investor visa is investing in the country’s economy: purchasing shares or investing in one of the local companies. The investment amount must exceed one million euros. An applicant can also open a deposit in a bank for the same amount or purchase bonds for two million euros or more.
Business immigration
Business immigration to Spain from Pakistan provides for obtaining a residence permit through the opening of a business project, the creation of new jobs, and the development of a promising industry for the country. In reality, the process of obtaining a residence permit through opening a company is a long and difficult process. It is not enough just to be the founder of a company registered in Spain. Several important conditions must be met:
- create jobs;
- pay all taxes on time;
- to conduct the active economic activity with visible turnover and profit at the end of the reporting period.
Tax and accounting documents must be checked by the Spanish Ministry of Labor, which evaluates the activities of the legal entity. We recommend obtaining an initial residence permit in Spain on any other basis. And then, being legally in Spain, open and successfully develop your business.