Immigration

We here in Murlà & Contreras Advocats, S.L.P. speak English, French, Catalan and Castilian Spanish. Our experience, training and ability to speak other languages allow us to offer legal services to foreign investors who seek to establish companies in Spain, as well as people who wish to reside in Spain and access its labor market.

Our office has extensive experience in providing comprehensive service in legal consultations with our foreign clients, with responsibility, professionalism and empathy, as we have Latin American partners who know first hand the needs and concerns of immigrants in Spain.

In this way, our office truly takes the human aspect and our client’s priorities into account in the area of immigration law. We offer the following services:

Residence for citizens of the European Union and their family members

European Union citizen registry certificate

The citizens of a member State of the European Union, from another State that forms part of the Agreement on the European Economic Space or Switzerland who are going to reside in the territory of Spain for a period longer than three months are required to request their inscription in the Central Foreign Residents Registry.

European Union citizen family member residence card

Family members of a Spanish citizen or a citizen of another Member State of the European Union, or another State that forms part of the Agreement on the European Economic Space or Switzerland, who do not hold the nationality of one of these States, must request and obtain a European Union Citizen family member card, when they reunite with the citizen or accompany them and will reside in Spain for a period of more than three months.

Residence for citizens of other States

Authorizations to work and reside in Spain

  • Residence and work permit authorization: This is a temporary residence and work permit authorization in which an employee or entrepreneur requests to hire a worker who neither lives in nor resides in Spain.
  • Residence and self-employed work permit authorization: This is a temporary residence and work permit authorization for a non-resident foreign citizen in Spain to carry out professional activity on their own behalf.
  • Students, research or training stays, student mobility, unpaid internships and voluntary work: This is an authorization that allows an individual to stay in Spain for a period longer than ninety days to carry out or broaden studies in an authorized teaching center in Spain, in a full time program, which leads to obtaining a study title or certificate.

Arraigos (Ties to the Country)

  • Arraigo laboral (Labor Ties): This is an option if you have lived in Spain for at least two years and you can accredit a labor relationship that lasts no less than six months.
    More at: Portal de Inmigración (Gobierno de España)
  • Arraigo social (Social Ties): This is an option if you have stayed in Spain for at least three years, have a work contract and accredit family ties with other foreign residents or can present a social insertion report.
    More at: Portal de Inmigración (Gobierno de España)
  • Arraigo familiar (Family ties): This is an option if you are the son or daughter of a native-born Spanish father or son or you are the father or mother of a minor of Spanish nationality.
    More at: Portal de Inmigración (Gobierno de España)

Family reunification

  • Temporary residence due to family reunification.
    More at: Portal de Inmigración (Gobierno de España)
  • Temporary residence authorization due to family reunification. Family members of researchers, EU Blue Card holders and EU long-term residents in another Member State.
    More at: Portal de Inmigración (Gobierno de España)
  • Temporary residence authorization due to family reunification. Mobility of family members of researchers, EU Blue Card holders and EU long-term residents.
    More at: Portal de Inmigración (Gobierno de España)
  • Independent residence of reunified family members.
    More at: Portal de Inmigración (Gobierno de España)

Spanish nationality by residence

This form of acquiring nationality requires that the individual has resided in Spain for ten years in a legal and continuous form immediately prior to the request. There are cases where the required residency period is reduced:

Five years

To concede Spanish nationality to those persons who have obtained the condition of refugee.

Two years

For nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or individuals of Sephardi origin.

One year

  • Anyone who was born in Spanish territory.
  • Anyone who did not duly exercise their right to acquire Spanish nationality by option.
  • Anyone who is legally subject to guardianship (under the guardian’s supervision), custody or foster care (in the event that there is a resolution from the public entity that is entrusted with the protection of minors and foster care that the care is legally recognized, the required residence period is reduced to one year) of a Spanish citizen or institution for two consecutive years, even if the minor continues in this situation at the time of the request.
  • Anyone who, at the moment of the request, is married to a Spanish citizen for a year and is not legally or de facto separated.
  • The widower or widow of a Spanish citizen, if at the time of the spouse’s death they were not de facto or legally separated.
  • Anyone born outside of Spain whose mother or father, or grandmother or grandfather was originally a Spanish citizen, even if this direct relative were born outside of Spain.

Nationality for Spaniards by origin

The following are Spaniards by origin:

  • Those born of a Spanish father or mother.
  • Those born in Spain when the parents are foreigners if, at least one of the parents was born in Spain (with the exception of children of diplomats).

Nationality by option

The option is a benefit that our legislation offers foreign residents who are in specific conditions so that they may acquire Spanish nationality. The following individuals have the right to acquire Spanish nationality by this mean:

  • Those individuals who are or have been subject to the custody of a Spanish citizen.
  • Those individuals whose father or mother is Spanish and who was born in Spain.

At Murlà & Contreras, we offer you our services in Immigration Law

RESPONSIBILITY AND PROFESSIONALITY

Our firm stands out for its international vocation: it is composed of highly specialized professionals committed to academic research.

WE ARE AMULTILINGUAL TEAM

We speak English, French, Catalan and Spanish. Our experience, training and ability to speak other languages allow us to offer legal services to foreign investors.

A SET OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES

Our firm has extensive experience in caring, in a comprehensive manner, of legal inquiries from our foreign clients, with professional responsibility and empathy.