Why Japanese Citizens Are Moving to Spain
Spain offers an appealing lifestyle, world-class healthcare, and an excellent base for exploring Europe. For Japanese citizens, it also means access to a range of long-stay visas, a strong international community, and legal pathways to permanent residency or even EU citizenship.
🎯 Top Reasons to Move to Spain from Japan:
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🧘♂️ Mediterranean lifestyle with lower living costs
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✈️ Visa-free Schengen travel after residency
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🏥 Access to universal Spanish healthcare
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👩🏫 Excellent universities for students
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💼 Diverse visa routes for professionals, retirees & families
🛂 Do Japanese Citizens Need a Visa for Spain?
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✅ Short stays: No visa required for up to 90 days (tourist/business)
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📝 Long-term stays (over 90 days): Require a national visa (Visado Nacional)
🧭 Spain Visa Options for Japanese Citizens
💻 Digital Nomad Visa
For remote workers employed by non-Spanish companies.
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💵 Earn at least €2,650/month
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📑 Proof of contract or freelance history
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👨👩👧 Family members can apply together
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🔁 Renewable; counts toward permanent residency
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📝 Must show clean criminal record (Japan & past 5 years)
🏖 Non-Lucrative Visa
For retirees or financially independent individuals.
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💶 ~€2,400/month in passive income or savings
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❌ No work permitted in Spain
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👪 Family can apply on the same file
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🔁 Renewable every year; citizenship possible after 10 years
💼 Work Visa (Job Offer Required)
For those sponsored by a Spanish employer.
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🧾 Employer must request work authorization in Spain
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🏢 Common sectors: IT, healthcare, hospitality, construction
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📄 Submit application to Spanish consulate in Japan (Tokyo or Osaka)
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✅ Once granted, you’ll receive a visa to enter and get your TIE
🎓 Student Visa
For Japanese students pursuing higher education in Spain.
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🎓 Must show enrollment in an accredited program
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💼 Can work up to 20 hours/week
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🛂 Switch to work or entrepreneur visa after graduation
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📆 Renewable as long as academic progress continues
👪 EU Family Member Residency
For Japanese citizens married to or dependent on an EU/Spanish citizen.
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💍 Fast-track process with full work rights
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🧾 Only basic documentation needed
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⏳ Leads to permanent residency after 5 years
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✅ Spouse, registered partner, children, and parents eligible
📋 Required Documents for Japanese Citizens
📑 Most long-term visas require:
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🇯🇵 Valid Japanese passport (at least 1 year validity)
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🧾 Police clearance from Japan (translated + apostilled)
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🏥 Medical certificate (translated + apostilled)
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💰 Proof of funds/income or enrollment
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📄 Health insurance (for non-working visas)
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🈂️ Certified Spanish translations of all documents
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📝 Completed consular forms + visa fee
✅ Borderless Lawyers handles all translations, apostilles, and checklist preparation.
📌 Where to Apply in Japan
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🇯🇵 Spanish Embassy in Tokyo
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🇯🇵 Spanish Consulate in Osaka
🕐 Most long-stay visas take 3 to 6 weeks for processing.
👣 Step-by-Step: Moving to Spain from Japan
1️⃣ Initial Consultation & Visa Selection
We assess your situation and recommend the right immigration route.
2️⃣ Document Preparation
Includes:
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Apostilles from Japanese authorities
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Spanish translations
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Proof of finances, accommodation, or school/work enrollment
3️⃣ Consular Visa Application
Submit your application at the Spanish embassy or consulate.
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📅 Schedule an appointment online
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🔎 We review and organize your documents before submission
4️⃣ Entry into Spain & TIE Processing
After arrival:
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🏠 Register your address (empadronamiento)
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🪪 Apply for your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)
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🛂 Activate your residency rights
5️⃣ Renewal & Citizenship Planning
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🔁 Most visas renew yearly, then every 2 years
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📆 Japanese citizens are eligible for Spanish citizenship after 10 years of legal residency
⚠️ Common Pitfalls for Japanese Applicants
🚫 Submitting untranslated or non-apostilled documents
🚫 Overstaying a short-term visit without switching to the right visa
🚫 Applying under the wrong category
🚫 Failing to renew your TIE on time
✅ Avoid errors with expert legal support from our multilingual team.
👩⚖️ How Borderless Lawyers Helps Japanese Clients
At Borderless Lawyers, we’ve helped many Japanese clients make a successful move to Spain—whether for study, retirement, remote work, or family reunification.
Our Full-Service Immigration Support:
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🧭 Personalized legal strategy
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📋 Document preparation, apostilles & translations
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🏛 Application filing and follow-up
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🔄 Renewals and transition support (student → work, etc.)
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👥 Representation before Spanish immigration and consular offices
🌐 Book Your Consultation
Immigrating from Japan to Spain doesn’t need to be complex. We’re here to provide clear legal guidance, multilingual support, and end-to-end document handling.
📞 Start your Spanish immigration journey today