Artist Visa + Health care

[surfbird]

Hola,

My husband and I U.S. citizens heading to Sevilla in November and would like to stay for 6 months. Does anyone have any information or advice about getting an Artist's Visa? I'm having a hard time finding application guidelines for something like this. Would my husband be allowed to stay with me based on my visa or does he need to get his own?

We are willing to work and would REALLY like to if possible, though I'm not hopeful since the unemployment rate in Spain is so high. I've heard of a Working Holiday visa, would that be better than an Artist Visa?

I'm also wondering about health care for Americans in Spain. I have a medical condition where I have to get regular blood tests...is it easy to do this? Do I just walk into a hospital and tell them my situation? Where can I find the costs for medical care?

Thanks in advance for any answers you can share! We are so excited about this adventure

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by surfbird

Hola,

My husband and I U.S. citizens heading to Sevilla in November and would like to stay for 6 months. Does anyone have any information or advice about getting an Artist's Visa? I'm having a hard time finding application guidelines for something like this. Would my husband be allowed to stay with me based on my visa or does he need to get his own?

We are willing to work and would REALLY like to if possible, though I'm not hopeful since the unemployment rate in Spain is so high. I've heard of a Working Holiday visa, would that be better than an Artist Visa?

I'm also wondering about health care for Americans in Spain. I have a medical condition where I have to get regular blood tests...is it easy to do this? Do I just walk into a hospital and tell them my situation? Where can I find the costs for medical care?

Thanks in advance for any answers you can share! We are so excited about this adventure

hi & welcome

I'm afraid I don't know anything about an Artist Visa, but I did find this article written for this forum Spain Visas, Permits and Immigration, which does mention the Artist Visa

as for a working holiday visa, I'm 99% certain that Spain has no agreement with the US for this type of visa

as far as medical care is concerned - you would need private health insurance

[Alcalaina]

I believe you need to be invited into the country - for am exhibition, performance tour or something - to qualify for an artist's visa, but I couldn't find any details either.

You can come for 90 days a year on a tourist visa, but as a non-EU citizen you will need a work permit or student visa to stay longer. I don't think working holiday visas exist here.

Spanish authorities will issue a work permit only if it is demonstrated that there are no qualified European Union citizens available to fill the position. Temporary work permits are available for artists, professors or other skilled personnel to perform temporary jobs. These temporary work permits cannot be extended. USA Citizens in Spain | Madrid Insider

You would need private health insurance as you would not be eligible for reciprocal free health care. I imagine this would be cheaper than in the US, but might not cover pre-existing conditions. You can get a quote online from companies like AXA or Sanitas.

First off, this isn't going to be easy or cheap - be prepared!

That being said, here's the Spanish Consulate in Los Angeles' website listing the visas available: Look at "visados de larga duración."

Here's a blurb I found on another website about artist visas in Spain:
"Estos visados se conceden a los artistas que vengan a España contratados para realizar actuaciones concretas que no supongan una actividad continuada. Estarán incluidas en este supuesto las personas que, de forma individual o colectiva, se desplacen a España para realizar una actividad artística, directamente ante el público o destinada a la grabación de cualquier tipo de difusión, en cualquier medio o local destinado habitual o accidentalmente a espectáculos públicos o actuaciones de tipo artístico. Las actividades que se realicen no podrán superar cinco días continuados de actuación o veinte días de actuación en un período inferior a seis meses."

Do you have a formal invitation and/or concrete act?

You could come as self employed but I do believe one of the requirements is that you demonstrate a certain significant sum of savings in the bank to support you.

I've found that most health insurance companies only allow you to take out full-year policies. I've had very good luck with Mapfre. It's expensive, but I've been very happy with them.

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by halydia

First off, this isn't going to be easy or cheap - be prepared!

That being said, here's the Spanish Consulate in Los Angeles' website listing the visas available: Look at "visados de larga duración."

Here's a blurb I found on another website about artist visas in Spain:
"Estos visados se conceden a los artistas que vengan a España contratados para realizar actuaciones concretas que no supongan una actividad continuada. Estarán incluidas en este supuesto las personas que, de forma individual o colectiva, se desplacen a España para realizar una actividad artística, directamente ante el público o destinada a la grabación de cualquier tipo de difusión, en cualquier medio o local destinado habitual o accidentalmente a espectáculos públicos o actuaciones de tipo artístico. Las actividades que se realicen no podrán superar cinco días continuados de actuación o veinte días de actuación en un período inferior a seis meses."

Do you have a formal invitation and/or concrete act?

You could come as self employed but I do believe one of the requirements is that you demonstrate a certain significant sum of savings in the bank to support you.

I've found that most health insurance companies only allow you to take out full-year policies. I've had very good luck with Mapfre. It's expensive, but I've been very happy with them.

the link I gave talks about a Non-Lucrative Residence Permit

The non-lucrative residence permit of Spain is granted to people who want to establish their own residence in this country. However, they are not allowed to make any commercial activities in the republic of Spain. To become a Spanish resident, the candidates must gain all the rights obtainable to European residents. This type of permit is not available to everybody. To have this permit, foreign nationals must have a minimum of 75 thousand US dollars as annual income and an extra 15 thousand US dollars per year for additional candidates.

[surfbird]

Aye dios mio! Thanks for all this information - I'll look it over and digest. I know I will have many follow-up questions

One that comes to mind immediately - would my US insurance cover me while traveling? I suppose checking with them would answer that, though an online forum is probably faster than sitting on hold with them! If I only stay for 90 days in Spain it doesn't make sense to get an insurance policy there. Could I pay cash for services?

My understanding is that with the 90 day tourist visa, I can go anywhere in the Schengen countries, and after 90 days I am not allowed in any of them for 90 more days.

So in theory, I could spend my 90 days using Spain as a base, and then go to London for 90 more days? Just want to make sure I have this right.

thanks again!

[surfbird]

Oh, and to answer your question Halydia, I do not have an invitation of any kind The reason I thought of an Artist Visa is that I have a friend who went to Berlin on a tourist visa and has extended his stay for nearly a year on an Artist Visa. He was not invited for that purpose and is not making much art (though he is a painter) so I got the feeling there weren't very strict rules surrounding this type of visa.

I emailed him for details and haven't heard back yet. Perhaps what he has is specific to Germany?

Originally Posted by surfbird

Oh, and to answer your question Halydia, I do not have an invitation of any kind The reason I thought of an Artist Visa is that I have a friend who went to Berlin on a tourist visa and has extended his stay for nearly a year on an Artist Visa. He was not invited for that purpose and is not making much art (though he is a painter) so I got the feeling there weren't very strict rules surrounding this type of visa.

I emailed him for details and haven't heard back yet. Perhaps what he has is specific to Germany?

As each country controls their visas, I'd imagine his experience in Germany would not be the same here in Spain. Over the last three years I've noticed significant changes in the visa and/or foreigners office processes and it sure seems as if they're getting tougher. When one thinks of "people without papers in Spain," one doesn't typically think of Americans but I have heard of Americans getting kicked out of the country.

[surfbird]

Originally Posted by halydia

As each country controls their visas, I'd imagine his experience in Germany would not be the same here in Spain. Over the last three years I've noticed significant changes in the visa and/or foreigners office processes and it sure seems as if they're getting tougher. When one thinks of "people without papers in Spain," one doesn't typically think of Americans but I have heard of Americans getting kicked out of the country.

Thanks for this information - I'll do some googling and see if I can find information per country rather than for the entire EU as I've been searching. I'll post what I find out, in case it's helpful to others too. I definitely do not want to get kicked out so if I have to extend my travels outside of the EU, I will. I'm just very excited to live outside of the US and expand my cultural horizons

It's pretty sketchy to do without papers, and it wouldn't be the first time I've heard of someone booted at passport control when the computers show 90-in, 90-out travel patterns. Either way, good luck!