Essential Guide to the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa

For nomads hoping to live the good life in Spain for longer than the 90 days allowed in 180 days in the EU**, the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is your best option. This visa, the remote worker friendly counterpart to the Spanish Non-Lucrative visa, allows nomads that can prove an income of €33,152 annually to not only stay in Spain for up to a year, but also travel the European Union and Schengen zone freely for the period.

Overview

In January 2023, the Spanish government launched the Spanish Digital Nomad visa, as part of the “Startup Act” ultimately aiming to build a stronger startup ecosystem in Spain. As a result, digital nomads and remote workers finally have a way to stay legally in Spain, and the EU, continuously for a year more, with no legal conflicts with working online.

The Question: Is the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa worth it?

If you are generally the type of person that Spanish culture and a southern European lifestyle appeal to, the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is absolutely worth it!

This digital nomad visa is showing promise as an option for nomads to live in a European country with one of the highest levels of quality of life year round and one of the lowest costs of living in the EU. Amazing food and cultural experiences accent the already great opportunity travel to nearby countries, such as Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece. Additionally a, pace of life unachievable in many parts of the developed world paired with the geoarbitrage opportunity that makes Southern European countries a jackpot opportunity for digital nomads and remote workers.

Beyond lifestyle and quality of life, the visa application is (relatively) straight forward and standard considering normal European bureacracy, and reportedly easier to attain than such visas in Germany or France. The minimum income threshold is reasonable, the visa is “renewable” and can contribute to achieving permanent residence in Spain and a subsequent Spanish passport.

Ultimately, if the vibrant culture of Spain, year round wonderful whether, and pace of life that come with a country on the Mediterranean Sea, appeal to you, the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa may be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Alternative Digital Nomad Visas to Consider…

Checking out all of your options is prudent as a nomad, as committing to a long term visa, such as this one year visa, means locking in your home for the year.

If you are considering the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa specifically because of a southern European lifestyle, then also consider the Portuguese D7 visa (independent means visa), Portuguese D8 visa (digital nomad visa), the Italy Digital Nomad visa, and the standard Alabanian visa (valid for 1 year with no paperwork).

If you’ve decided that you want Spain to be your temporary home, continue reading to learn the qualifications, requirements, and how to apply.

Essential Information for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa

The Basic Requirements to apply for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa

• Be from a non-EU country (all other nationalities are eligible to apply)
• Be able to prove the minimum income requirement for the previous three months
• Provide a copy of a university degree, professional certificate, or proof of three years work experience
• Provide an employment contract, proof of employment, or proof of self employment
• Apply in person at a Spanish consulate or in Spain at the UGECE

The price of the Spanish Digital Nomad visa is roughly €90, but this fee varies by country. You can find the exact fee for your country at the Spanish Embassy or Spanish consulate’s website for your region.

Document Requirements for Spanish Digital Nomad Visa Application

• Proof of income via work contract, bank statement, or pay slip
• National criminal background check from country of citizenship and other countries of residence in the past two years
• Copy of degree from university, professional certificate or proof of three years work experience in current field
• Statement declaring no criminal offenses in the last five years
• Two standard passport photos
• Proof of residence in consular district of consulate processing visa application
• Proof of health insurance provided by a company authorized to operate in Spain and providing coverage equal to or more than Spanish public healthcare coverage. A list of authorized insurance entities is available here.
• Certificate of proof of employment or proof of self employment
• National visa application form
• Proof of payment of visa fees

Other Requirements

• Have not lived in Spain in the past 5 years

Note that all documents must be apostilled and be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. Translators may be found at https://www.atanet.org or in Spain via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Application Process

Applications for the Spanish Digital Nomad visa must be submitted in person at the consulate representing the consular district of your current residence. Additionaly, for applicants already in Spain, on a 90 day (in 180) exemption or on an alternative visa, they may apply directly for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa or the Telework Residency at Residence to the UGECE (“Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos”, del “Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones” de España – “Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit”, “Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration” of Spain).

You can find more information about applying while in Spain for the Digital Nomad Visa and Teleworker residency here.

Minimum Income for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa

The minimum income requirement for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is €33,152 annual income, calculated as 2x the official Spanish minimum wage, which was €16,576 annually as of May 2025).

Source: La Moncla Official Minimum Wage Data

Spanish Digital Nomad Visa FAQs

How hard is it to get a Spain digital nomad visa?

The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is not difficult to get, relative to other digital nomad visas. Applicants have reported the most inconvenient part of the process being gathering apostiled documents and securing the long term lease to apply for the visa. Applicants who have received the visa have highlighted high Spanish taxes (income taxes and social security taxes) and the high requirement of time to spend in Spain each year in order to renew (at least 183 days per year) stifling for nomads that prefer to travel frequently. As such, frequently moving nomads may find the process cumbersome for a simple, brief stay in Spain.

By contrast, nomads either traveling at a slower pace, potentially spending 8 months or more in the country, or simply “in love” with Spanish culture tend to find the application process worth the opportunity to “build a life” in Spain. Current and past nomads in Spain on this visa that openly ackowledged the struggles (application process, tax complications) but also reported being satisfied with the outcomed tended to be those that planted roots, settling in the region, renewing with an eye on a permanent residency, and opting to buy real estate.

Within the spectrum of digital nomad visas available globally, the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa sits at “medium” difficulty relative to the others, but proves worth the effort for those that truly want a path to live in Spain long term.

Is the Spanish digital nomad visa 15% tax?

Nomads staying in Spain on the Spanish Digital Nomad visa are liable to pay taxes, but the tax rate varies by situation. While nomads may be liable for income taxes of up to 47%, the “Beckham Law” and “Non-Resident Income Tax Regime” may allow a reduced flat tax of 24% on, up to, the first €600,000 annual income per year. Additionally, immigrating nomads should be aware that Spanish tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income.

However, nomads should consult a tax professional before planning their tax situation and visa strategy.

What is the minimum income for digital nomad visa Spain?

The minimum annual income to qualify for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is €33,152 per year, calculated as 2x the official Spanish minimum wage. For dependents on the same application, there must be 75% additional income for the first dependent, and 25% additional income for each additional dependent.

Does a Spanish digital nomad visa count towards citizenship?

No, the Spanish Digital Nomad visa does not lead directly to Spanish Citizenship. However, the Spanish Digital Nomad visa can lead to Spanish Permanent Residency after 5 years of continuous, legal stay, and this permanent residency can lead to Spanish citizenship after 10 years of continuous, legal stay.

How long is the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa valid for?

The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is valid for one year. Then, the nomad must apply for a new Spanish Digital Nomad visa to stay longer. The nomad may reapply for a nomad visa each year for five years, at which point they may apply for permanent residence in Spain.

Beware that if you wish to renew your visa, you must have resided in Spain at least 6 of the 12 months during the visa period.

What nationalities can apply for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa?

Any citizen of a non-European Union country or Non-European Economic Zone country may apply.

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A Surprise Bonus: The Spanish Telework Residence Permit

While the 1 year Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is not renewable, the Spanish government offers a 3 year “Telework Residence” that essentially follows the same application process as the shorter digital nomad visa.

Learn more at the Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones page for teleworkers and in the ministry’s Telework Residence documentation.

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The following information has been recorded from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website and Spanish Consulate in London to provide an evergreen point for official information on the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa. This section is a back up of official sources, to aggregate and share up to date information and application links for the visa application process as Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs pages change.

The information is up to date as of May 5, 2025

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Official Information on the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa

The Spanish Digital Nomad visa is for any foreigner planning to live in Spain as a resident while working remotely for a company or employer located outside of the Spanish national territory, or self-employed, and using exclusively working remotely.

If the applicant is self-employed, he/she can also work for a company located in Spain, as long as the percentage of this particular work doesn´t exceed 20% of the total amount of his/her professional activity.

The applicant must have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a University, College or Business School of prestige, or have at least 3 years of work experience in his/her current field of activity.

Spouses, unmarried partners, dependent children, and dependent relatives may also obtain the visa on the original applicant’s application.

The applicant must apply for a NIE number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero, which is a Spanish tax identification number for non-Spanish citizens) prior to visa application.   Information on how obtain a NIE number is available HERE.

Required Documents for the Application Process:

1. National visa application form. Each applicant, or his/her representative, must fill and sign a visa application form (available via Spanish Consulate websites)

2. Passport Photo. A recent, passport-size, color passport sized photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face.

3. Valid passport. Original and a photocopy of the page or pages with the biometric data must be submitted at the consulate/embassy with the application. The passport must be valid for at least 1 year and must have at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.

4. ​Valid residence permit in the country of application if applying in a country other than your country of citizenship. 

5. Apostilled Criminal record certificate with no offenses. Applicants of legal age who apply for a visa must submit the original and a copy of the criminal record certificate(s) by the national law enforcement agency issued by his/her country or countries of residence for the past 2 years. Additionally, the applicant will submit a responsible declaration confirming the absence of criminal records for the last five years.

This certificate cannot be older than 6 months, unless the certificate itself specifies a longer validity.

5. Proof of residence in the consular district of application. The applicant must provide proof of his/her legal residence in the consular district. To verify your consular district. A list of all embassies and consulates globally is available here.

6. Proof of the representative’s identity and capacity. If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the ID card or passport of the representative and a copy of the power of attorney or official document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown at the time of the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.

7. Payment of the visa fee. Visa fee payment is compulsory and has to be made at the same time when submitting a visa application. The fee has to be paid in local currency and it is subject to regular changes due to the currency fluctuations. Please check the list of Consular fees.

8. Health insurance. Original and a copy of the certificate accrediting the public or private health insurance contracted with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance policy must cover all the risks insured by Spain’s public health system.  S1 form and proof of having registered it with the Spanish National Social Security (https://tramites.seg-social.es/acceso/registro-s-1-cobertura-asistencia-sanitaria-espa%C3%B1a.html) is accepted as public health insurance

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL WORKERS: 

1. Certification of working for at least 3 months (before the visa application) for a foreign Company. To this end, the applicant will submit a certificate, issued by the company and stating the following:

• If the applicant is an employee: 1. Length of the contract. 2. Explicit consent to work remotely in Spain. 3. Salary.

• If the applicant is self-employed: 1 Length of the contract. 2. The terms and conditions to work remotely in Spain.

2. Certificate issued by the Government Companies House, declaring the date of creation of the company (or companies) and the type of business.

3. IF   APPLICANTS ARE REGISTERED WITH THE BRITISH  NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY

• Responsible declaration by the company (if the applicant is an employee) or the applicant (if he/she is self-employed), stating their commitment to comply with the British social security system obligations before starting any work-related activity.

• A1 form issued by HMRC:

FOR EMPLOYEES:  Certificate confirming you will pay UK National Insurance when working temporarily abroad (CA3822)

FOR SELF EMPLOYED: Certificate to confirm you will pay UK National Insurance while self-employed abroad temporarily (CA3837)

4. IF APPLICANTS  ARE REGISTERED WITH THE SPANISH NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY

If the applicant (or UK Company) decides to register with the Spanish Social Security System, he/she must provide with:

• A certificate proving the company and employee´s registration. If the applicant is self-employed, he/she must provide a certificate of registration with RETA (Régimen de Trabajadores Autónomos de la Seguridad Social española).

• Responsible declaration by the company (if the applicant is an employee) or the applicant (if he/she is self-employed), stating their commitment to comply with the Spanish social security obligations before starting any work-related activity. If the applicant is still registered with the British social security system this must be explicitly confirmed in the responsible declaration. 

5. Documentary proof of financial means. Financial means must be at least 200% of the monthly Spanish national minimum wage.

In the case of family members: For the first family member they must prove additional financial means of at least 75% of the Spanish minimum wage. For each additional applicant, 25% of the Spanish national minimum wage is required

In order to prove the abovementioned resources, any means of proof are acceptable: work contract, bank statements, payslips etc.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SMI IN https://www.sepe.es/HomeSepe/que-es-el-sepe/comunicacion-institucional/noticias/detalle-noticia?folder=/SEPE/2024/Febrero/&detail=El-SMI-publicado-para-2024-se-establece-en-1134-euros  ​

6) Copy of the University degree or professional certificate confirming that the applicant has at least 3 years of experience in his/her business activity. Employment history issued by the UK government is accepted: https://www.gov.uk/get-proof-employment-history.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMNTS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS: 

• Documents proving family relationship with the worker: birth or marriage certificates issued by the civil registry, certificate of registration as an unmarried couple or any other document proving that the relationship is an unregistered partnership. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, when necessary, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
• In the case of adult children, documents proving their financial dependence and civil status. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, when necessary, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
• In the case of relatives in the ascending line, documents proving they are in the investor’s care. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, when necessary, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.

PROCEDURE

Who can apply for a visa: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor. They may also be submitted through a duly accredited representative.

Place of submission: ​Applications must be submitted in person at a Spanish Consulate in the applicant’s district of residency (list of Spanish consulates globally).

Decision deadline: The legal term for reaching a decision is 10 days, but this term may be extended when an interview or additional documents are requested.

Collecting the visa: Visas must be collected in person by the applicant or by their representative within 1 month, counted from the day after the date of notification. The Consular Office will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation.  

Validity of the visa: The Spanish Digital Nomad visa will be valid for a maximum of 1 year or less (depending of the authorization granted to live and work in Spain). The holder of a valid visa can live in Spain without a foreigners’s identity card (TIE). If interested in extending his/her residence in Spain, he/she can only apply  for a TIE  2 months before the expiration of the visa,  to the UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos)   https://www.inclusion.gob.es/web/unidadgrandesempresas

Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing.

Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month from the day following the date of notification. The appeal must be addressed to the Visa Department and posted by Royal Mail or other courier service provider.

A legal appeal to the High Court of Justice of Madrid can be also submitted within the 2-month term beginning the day after the date of notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal by the Consulate.

Validity of the visa: This visa will be valid for a maximum of 1 year or the same validity as the authorization granted to live and work in Spain.  It is not compulsory to obtain a Residence Permit Card once in Spain, as the visa is proof enough of legal residency. However, it is possible to apply for a Residence Permit Card, voluntarily, in the nearest OFICINA DE EXTRANJERIA or COMISARIA DE POLICIA in Spain.

SWORN TRANSLATIONS AND LEGALISATIONS

Please visit the relevant web section of this Consulate for the list of sworn translators-interpreters.​

All foreign documents must be legalized by the consulates of the issuing country or, in the case of signatory countries to the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, hold the Hague Apostille. Official documents issued by a Member State of the European Union, do not require legalization.

Data Sources:

• Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/en/
• Spanish Embassy to the United Kingdom, London Consulate: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
• Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Strategicos page for Telkeworkers: https://www.inclusion.gob.es/web/unidadgrandesempresas/teletrabajadores
• Spanish Consulate in London announcement on Digital Nomads: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
• Spanish Consulate in Washington, D.C., announcement on Teleworkers: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/washington/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Telework-visa.aspx

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