Residency and Immigration Services in Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera

Residency and Immigration Services for Property Owners in Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera

Whether you are an EU citizen formalising status in Spain, a British national covered by the Withdrawal Agreement or the general regime, or a non-EU national considering a residence route, immigration requirements depend on nationality, arrival date, activity and family circumstances.

Palliser Law Firm provides end-to-end residency and immigration support for property owners and prospective residents in Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera. We guide you through the administrative maze, represent you before the relevant authorities, and ensure your application is properly prepared and submitted.

Our Immigration Services

NIE Application (Numero de Identidad de Extranjero)

The NIE is a personal, unique and permanent number identifying a foreign national in dealings with Spain. It is normally required for property, tax and administrative transactions, but it is not a residence permit and does not prove an address.

We handle:

• NIE applications in Spain — booking appointments at the Policia Nacional office in Mao or Ciutadella, preparing the required documentation, and attending on your behalf with a power of attorney
• NIE applications through consulates — coordinating with the Spanish consulate in your country of residence
• Replacement or updated certificates — the NIE number does not expire, although the document evidencing it may need to be obtained again
• NIE assignment confirmation — obtaining the official certificate (certificado de asignacion de NIE) needed for property transactions

Documentation typically required:

• Valid passport (original and copy)
• Completed EX-15 application form
• Justification for the NIE request (property purchase contract, tax obligation, etc.)
• Proof of payment of the associated fee (Tasa 790, codigo 012)

EU Citizen Registration

EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals who plan to reside in Spain for more than three months must register on the Registro Central de Extranjeros and obtain a certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Union. This green card-sized document contains your NIE and confirms your right to reside.

Requirements include:

• Proof of employment, self-employment, or sufficient financial resources
• Health insurance coverage (public or private)
• Registration on the padron municipal of your municipality on the relevant island

We coordinate the appointment, prepare the file and accompany you. The application must be made in person within three months of entering Spain; the certificate is issued immediately when the requirements are met.

Non-Lucrative Visa

The visado de residencia no lucrativa is designed for non-EU nationals who wish to live in Spain without engaging in professional or business activities. It is popular with retirees and individuals with passive income.

Key requirements:

• Sufficient means — 400% of the IPREM for the applicant plus 100% for each dependent family member, using the IPREM in force when applying
• Public or private health insurance with an entity authorised to operate in Spain and the coverage required by the rules
• No criminal record (apostilled and translated)
• Medical certificate confirming good health
• No employment in Spain during the visa period

The process involves:

1. Gathering and legalising documentation in your home country
2. Submitting the visa application at the Spanish consulate
3. Upon approval, travelling to Spain within the validity period
4. Applying in person for the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) within one month of entering Spain
5. Where applicable, a two-year renewal, proving the current requirements and the real and effective residence required by the Immigration Regulations

We manage the Spanish side of this process, coordinate with your home-country requirements, and handle the TIE application and renewals.

Digital Nomad Visa (Visado para Teletrabajo Internacional)

Spain’s digital nomad visa, introduced in 2023 under the Startups Act (Ley 28/2022), is designed for remote workers and freelancers employed by or providing services to companies outside Spain. For property owners in Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera who work remotely, this is an increasingly popular pathway.

Key requirements:

• Foreign company or group with real and continuous activity for at least one year, and a prior employment or professional relationship of at least three months
• A recognised university, vocational-training or business-school qualification, or at least three years of equivalent professional experience
• Sufficient financial means — income of at least 200% of the Spanish minimum wage in force
• Social-security coverage or health insurance, depending on the applicant’s circumstances and admissible evidence
• No criminal record
• For professional activity, work for Spanish companies may not exceed 20% of the total professional activity

Benefits:

• A visa for up to one year or, if residence authorisation is applied for from Spain, authorisation for up to three years; renewals are for two years
• Right to work remotely for foreign employers from Spain
• Possible access to the special tax regime for inbound workers, subject to a separate application and all tax conditions being met
• Family reunification — spouse and dependent children can obtain derived authorisations
• Short stays in other Schengen states within the applicable limits; this is not EU-citizen free movement
• Possible long-term residence after five years of lawful and continuous residence, if the requirements are met

Our role includes:

• Assessing your eligibility and recommending the optimal application strategy
• Preparing the comprehensive documentation package
• Coordinating the visa application at the Spanish consulate or directly in Spain (if entering under a different status)
• Managing the special tax regime application (regimen especial de trabajadores desplazados)
• Handling renewals and ensuring continued compliance

Note: Organic Law 1/2025 ended new investor authorisations from 3 April 2025. Applications filed before that date are decided under the rules in force when filed, and valid authorisations may be renewed under the transitional rules. Buying property no longer opens a new investor-residence route.

Residency Permits for Non-EU Nationals

Beyond the digital nomad visa and non-lucrative visa, various other residency routes exist:

• Work permits — for those with a job offer or self-employment plan in Spain
• Family reunification — for dependents of existing residents
• Entrepreneur visa — for those establishing a business of economic interest to Spain
• Highly qualified professional authorisation — for posts and profiles meeting its specific conditions
• Arraigo routes — for those who have been in Spain for an extended period

We assess your individual circumstances and recommend the most appropriate pathway.

Official Appointments and Representation

Spanish immigration procedures require appointments at various government offices:

• Policia Nacional — for NIE assignments and TIE card applications
• Oficina de Extranjeria — for residency permit applications and renewals
• Ayuntamiento — for padron municipal registration
• Seguridad Social — for social security registration
• Agencia Tributaria — for tax identification matters

Appointment availability in Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera can be limited, particularly during the summer months. We secure appointments promptly and, where permitted, attend on your behalf through a power of attorney.

Padron Municipal Registration

The padron municipal is the municipal census register. Registration is:

• Mandatory for anyone residing in a Spanish municipality
• Useful evidence of address, but it does not itself create public-healthcare entitlement
• Required for many administrative and residency procedures
• Used as proof of residence duration for certain visa and residency applications

We assist with registration before the relevant local authority for the property and ensure your registration remains current.

Documentation Preparation

Immigration applications live or die on documentation. We ensure that every document in your application is:

• Complete — no missing fields, signatures, or supporting evidence
• Current — within the specific period required for that document by the rules and competent authority
• Properly legalised — apostilled where required under the Hague Convention
• Accurately translated — by sworn translators (traductores jurados) recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Correctly formatted — meeting the specific requirements of each authority

Post-Brexit Considerations for UK Nationals

A British national’s position depends on whether they were protected by the Withdrawal Agreement on 31 December 2020 or arrived afterwards:

• Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries retain the rights it protects. The green certificate remains valid evidence in Spain, although the Article 50 TIE makes status and border checks easier
• Those arriving after the transition period are generally subject to the third-country regime and need the appropriate authorisation
• Work authorisation and healthcare coverage depend on the route and individual circumstances

We have extensive experience helping British property owners in Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera navigate the post-Brexit landscape and secure their residency status.

A Coordinated Approach

Immigration matters are rarely isolated from other aspects of property ownership. Your residency status affects your tax obligations, your access to healthcare, your ability to rent out your property, and much more. Palliser Law Firm coordinates across these dimensions, ensuring that your immigration pathway aligns with your broader plans for life in Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera.

Contact us to discuss your residency or immigration needs. Whether you are just beginning to explore your options or need to resolve a specific procedural challenge, we are here to guide you through the process.

Official sources reviewed

• Official Gazette — Immigration Regulations (Royal Decree 1155/2024)
• Official Gazette — EU citizens regime (Royal Decree 240/2007)
• Official Gazette — Law 14/2013, international remote work
• Official Gazette — Organic Law 1/2025, repeal of investor authorisations
• Spanish administration — UK nationals and the Withdrawal Agreement