Donovan, a Brit, found love in Spain and decided to stay. But his romantic reunion turned into a bureaucratic maze. This is a story of how the experts at Click to Spain helped him secure residency, ensuring a happy ending.
Donovan, a data analyst from London, traveled to Barcelona on vacation. There, he met Kate, a Russian lady who had been living in Spain for several years. A year of long-distance romance—monthly flights and endless WhatsApp calls—led to an inevitable conclusion: they were tired of the constant travel and simply wanted to live together.
Choosing a strategy
During a free first consultation with Click to Spain, the experts looked at Donovan’s situation:
- He worked remotely
- He worked for a UK company
- He had a stable, high income
A digital nomad visa is perfect for this.
The legal team began preparing the documents. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond Donovan’s control, his employer was unable to provide the specific documentation required for the digital nomad visa.
During a new brainstorming session, the experts came up with a backup option.
The ideal plan B – а student visa.
Donovan enrolled in an intensive Spanish language program (5 days a week). Gaining admission to the course would allow him to live in Spain legally. Plus, as he admits, it’s a great way to immerse himself in a culture he’s genuinely interested in.
Battle with bureaucracy: negotiating with the bank
The legal team at Click to Spain explained exactly which documents Donavan needed. They verified the documents. Then they prepared the application for submission.
One requirement was proof of sufficient funds in a bank account. However, Donovan’s bank refused to issue the specific certificate required for the visa. This was due to its internal rules. Instead, the bank offered a bank statement that showed transactions. This document would not be accepted for the visa application. It had to conduct a series of negotiations with several bank specialists in order to finally obtain the document in the required format.
All the documents for the application from Spain had been collected.
Why was the decision made to apply from Spain and not from the British Consulate?
Donovan was over 30 years old. The British Consulate might have questioned his intentions to study at that age. Conversely, Spanish officials don’t ask such questions.
An unexpected twist: the Italian stamp problem
Before moving, Donovan and Kate planned a trip to Italy in September. Donovan later moved to Spain in December.
However, when calculating Schengen days—based on 90 days within any 180-day period—the time spent in Italy fell within the six months prior to the move. What seemed simple became a problem after arriving in Spain.
Donovan submitted his application, but soon got an additional request.
What was asked for in the additional request?
It was necessary to confirm the number of days remaining on the schengen visa.
This happened because the entry and exit dates on the Italian stamp in his passport were hard to read. According to the rules, an applicant must have at least 30 days left on their Schengen visa (at the time of submission). Spanish officials couldn’t calculate Donovan’s days correctly. The issue had to be solved within 10 days.
How the experts found a solution
One of our experts at Click to Spain suggested providing a boarding pass. However, the passes were stored in Apple Wallet and couldn’t be exported as a readable PDF. They contacted the airline, which said it would take a month to issue a confirmation—far too late.
“I was completely calm because I knew the experts would figure it out. If I had been handling this myself, I would have gone crazy with stress. Spain has its own unique way of doing things,” Donovan recalls.
Instead, the lawyer proposed proving their stay in Italy through a bank statement.
The team requested a statement showing transactions at restaurants, shops, and hotels in Rome. They also added a hotel booking confirmation in Donovan’s name. They compiled the package and sent it in response to the official request.
It was enough. The authorities accepted the indirect evidence.
When the long-awaited approval finally arrived, Donovan and Kate were overjoyed and even threw a small party. Their dream had come true: no more WhatsApp calls just to stay connected.
Now, Donovan is enjoying life in Spain:
“I love the Spanish people. They’re very open and family-oriented; traditions matter to them. I love the weather, being able to go to the beach, and sitting in little coffee shops. The pace of life is completely different, and it suits me.”
Book your free consultation today. We’ll help you navigate the path to getting your visa without the turbulence.