Unfortunately for other citizens of non-EU nations, the situation has remained the same as before. There are seven types of this visa, and it important to get the right one when you apply. There are visas for people who just want to retire in Spain, visas for people who are going to start a business, visas for those who have found employment, visas for top-level executives, visas for students and visas for teachers. Non-EU applicants who intend to take up employment must show a proper work contract, along with proof that the position has been advertised with the Spanish employment office and that no suitable Spanish candidate can be found for the job. Once in Spain, applicants need a health certificate and a certificate that they are registered with their home country's consulate in Spain.
Further paperwork is required if they want to apply for a permit as a self-employed worker.
Copyright 2001 David Searl. This article is meant as a general guide for those seeking information on Spanish laws and regulations. It is not a substitute for professional legal advice and cannot be a basis for any claim against Freelance Spain or its editors. You are strongly advised to seek more detailed information from the Spanish Embassy in your country and to contract the professional services of a qualified Spanish lawyer. For a comprehensive guide to Spanish laws for foreign residents, read David Searl's authoritative You and the Law in Spain , published by Santana Books, Spain.