Spanish Residency for Saudi Nationals and Residents

Who Applies from the Kingdom

Applications reaching us from Saudi Arabia come from two distinct groups: Saudi nationals seeking a European base for the family, and expatriate professionals resident in the Kingdom — frequently on senior contracts — who want a residency position that does not depend on their employer. The routes are the same; the document chains and the planning are not.

The Routes Available in 2026

Spain's residency-by-investment programme was abolished in April 2025 and is no longer available. What remains open is the Non-Lucrative Residency for those with sufficient passive income or savings, the Digital Nomad authorisation for remote workers, and the Self-Employment and Entrepreneur routes for those establishing an activity in Spain.

Any guide still presenting a property purchase as a route to Spanish residency is describing a programme that closed. Buying a home in Spain confers no residency right in itself.

Financial Thresholds

For the Non-Lucrative Residency, the 2026 IPREM remains €600 per month, and the main applicant must evidence 400% annually: €28,800, plus €7,200 per family member. The permit runs one year, then two, then two.

For the Digital Nomad route, Royal Decree 126/2026 set the minimum wage at €1,221 per month over fourteen payments, making the threshold €2,849 per month for the main applicant, plus €1,069 for a first family member and €356 for each further one. The UGE grants three years, renewable for two, and resolves in twenty working days.

Legalising Documents Issued in Saudi Arabia

Documents issued in the Kingdom are validated by apostille for use in Spain, followed by sworn translation into Spanish.

One practical caution. Requirements in this area have changed in recent years and some published Spanish-language guidance still describes the older consular legalisation chain of foreign ministry, consulate and local ministry endorsement. Much of that guidance addresses Spanish documents travelling to the Gulf, which is the opposite direction to an immigration file. Before you begin, confirm the current requirement for your specific document type. We do this at the outset of every file rather than relying on what applied last year.

Expatriates: The Iqama Question

If you are an expatriate resident rather than a Saudi national, your ability to apply through the Spanish consular network in the Kingdom depends on your residence status there. Where documents originate in a third country — a criminal record certificate from your country of nationality, for instance — that country's own legalisation rules apply, not Saudi Arabia's. Iranian-issued documents, for example, require consular legalisation rather than apostille.

Insurance, Accommodation and Timing

Private health insurance must provide full Spanish coverage with no co-payments or waiting periods; employer international schemes are routinely rejected. Consular applications are resolved within three months of a complete file. Work backwards from your intended move date, because the document chain, not the decision, is usually the constraint.

How We Work with Clients in the Kingdom

We are a Madrid-based immigration and global mobility firm with Arabic and Persian-speaking specialists and more than 400 approved residencies. We confirm the current legalisation requirement for each document before the file opens, assess which route fits, and manage the submission. Consultations are by video call or telephone.