Working from home in another country where you can benefit from the diverse environment looks appealing to many. In this context, Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa offers an option for those who desire to live as a resident in Spain by working remotely.
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa has ignited excitement among remote workers and freelancers worldwide since its launch in 2023. It allows individuals to settle and work up to 12 months, which is renewable for up to 5 years. In this article, we will explore the eligibility requirements, application process, and some more details you may wonder about as digital nomads.
- Spain: Quality of Life Attributes
- Cost of living: 46.24
- Property Price-Income Ratio: 8.69
- Internet Speed: 247.94 Mbps
- Healthcare: 77.19
- Climate: 46.24
- Safety: 63.20
What you will find in this article:
- Spain Telework (Digital nomad) Visa Overview
- Main Requirements You Need to Meet
- Spain Digital Nomad Visa: How Did it Start?
- Spanish Digital Nomad Visa Eligibility
- How Can You Apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa Step-by-Step?
- Timeline: How Long Does it Take to Apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
- Living in Spain as a Digital Nomad: What You Need to Know
- Alternative Options for Nomads
- Frequently Asked Questions on Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Key Aspects of Spain Digital Nomad Visa
- Spain Digital Nomad Visa offers Non-EU/EEA citizens an option to settle in by working remotely for a foreign company, from January, 2023.
- The length of this visa starts initially with one year, with an opportunity for a 5 year extension. Besides, it gives you a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship after five years.
- It provides eligibility to stay and remotely work in Spain with visa-free access to the Schengen area.
- The financial requirements for the Digital Nomad Visa include a monthly income of at least 200% of the Spanish minimum wage, currently set at €2,762.66.
- The cost of Spain Digital Nomad Visa is around €80 (the fees may differ).
- Spain Digital Nomad Visa offers you a tax benefit under the Non-Resident Income Tax Regime. According to this, you need to pay a favorable tax rate of 24% on your income up to €600,000 per year.
- If there is a double taxation agreement with your home country, you don’t have to pay taxes on the same income in both countries.
Spain Telework (Digital nomad) Visa Overview
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa is aimed at non-EU countries’ nationals who want to travel to Spain and carry out remote work or pursue their career in companies located outside of Spain. These types of professional life can be possible through the exclusive usage of digital technologies and tools like computers, the internet and so on.
Main Requirements You Need to Meet
Here is the list of eligibility requirements if you are planning to apply for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa. Remember that it is open to all remote workers, freelancers, and self-employed individuals who are non-EU/EEA citizens.
Evidence of Remote Employment
To grant your Digital Nomad Visa, you need to meet the certain criteria to prove your working status:
- You must demonstrate the ability to work remotely from Spain.
- You need to show your proof of expertise (degree, certificate, or 3 years of experience).
- You must have been employed for at least 3 months with a contract covering the stay.
- Freelancers need long-term contracts.
- The employer must have been in business for at least 1 year.
- You need to earn up to 20% of income from Spanish clients.
Proof of Financial Independence
Remote workers and freelancers needs to prove their financial independence to obtain Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa:
- Minimum income requirement is €2,400/month (€28,800/year), which must be proved through bank statements, payslips, and employment contracts.
- The required income increases by 75% for the first family member and 25% for each additional one. This results in a minimum of €4,200 per month for a family of two, €4,800 per month for a family of three, and €5,400 per month for a family of four.
Health Insurance
Among the documents you need to provide, you are required to have private health insurance from a Spanish provider. Your health insurance must cover all applicants and accompanying family members.
Clear Criminal Background
Applicants must provide a criminal record certificate from all countries they have lived in during the past five years. Besides, it must be officially translated into Spanish and apostilled.
Minimum Residency Requirements
To be eligible, applicants shouldn’t have lived in Spain illegally or within the past five years. While there is no minimum stay requirement for the initial visa, renewal process requires residing in Spain for at least six months within a 12 month period.
Family Members
Like some other visa types, Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa also allows your family members to obtain a family visa. Here are the details of who can be included in the family members:
- Your spouse or unmarried partner
- Your children and adult children are financially dependent on and do not have a family unit of their own
Other Conditions
There are also some other conditions that let you apply for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa. As a foreigner, if you reside in Spain legally, you have the chance to apply for a telework residence permit directly. In this case, you do not need a prior telework (digital nomad) visa in Spain.
The residence permit you obtain can be valid for a maximum of 3 years. However, the visa has only a maximum validity of 1 year, so technically, it can only be a year of residence permit if you follow this method.
What do legal foreigners mean when we mention the criteria for Spain’s residence permit through a Digital Nomad Visa?
- If you are legally in Spain and don’t need a visa, you can be a citizen from the US, for example, and you do not need a visa for 90 days in a period of 180 days.
- If you are in Spain with any visa, like a tourist visa, your visa is valid during that period.
Considering these requirements, if you are from the UK, Canada, Australia, and other countries, you can apply for the Digital Nomad Visa in Spain if you meet the requirements.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa: How Did it Start?
Spain launched the Digital Nomad Visa in January 2023. It was a part of the new Startup Act and some measures to encourage entrepreneurship and foreign investment in the country.
This visa type allows non-EU/EEA remote workers and freelancers to live and work in the country. They can have a 12 month stay in the first instance. In addition, this visa type is renewable for up to five years.
When you prove having a minimum income of €2,762.66 per month, you can apply for a Spanish Digital Nomad Visa. You will need to prove higher income brackets if you are accompanied by your partner or children.
If you become a visa holder and spend more than 183 days in Spain, you typically become a tax resident. However, under Spain’s Beckham Law, you may qualify for a special tax regime that allows you to be taxed as a non-resident. This means you can benefit from a reduced flat tax rate of 24% on income up to €600,000 per year. Additionally, Spain has double taxation agreements with 90 other countries, which can further optimize your tax situation..
Spanish Digital Nomad Visa Eligibility
Non-EU/EEA citizens can apply for a Spain Digital Nomad Visa. The European Union and European Economic Area citizens can already work remotely in Spain without the need to have a Digital Nomad Visa.
If you are a US citizen or you are a Green Card holder, you are eligible to apply for Spain’s DNV, and if you are a citizen from Australia, New Zealand and Canada as well. You have two options to apply for Spain Digital Nomad Visa in this case. You can go to the Spanish embassy in your country. Or, you can enter Spain as a visa-free tourist and apply for the Digital Nomad Visa before your 90-day visit expires.
The United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and all European Union countries have double taxation agreements with Spain. This means that you will not need to pay tax on your international income twice once you become a Spanish tax resident through the Digital Nomad Visa of Spain.
How Can You Apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa Step-by-Step?
Step 1 – Obtain the Necessary Documents
First, you are expected to put together the relevant documents required for the application according to Spain’s Digital Nomad official website . Remember that some of the documents must be with an official Apostille used internationally.
Here is the list of required documents to apply for a Spanish Digital Nomad Visa:
- Your national visa application form, the completed copy for each person, if you have any dependent for them, as well
- Valid passport with two blank pages and that is valid for one year and
- Two of your passport photos
- Proof of your suitable employment, either a work contract letter from your employer confirming that you can work remotely
- A document showing your employer or company has been active for at least one year
- Your income proofs as payslips, work contracts, or bank statements
- Your qualifications include a university degree, professional certificate, or evidence of at least three years of experience
- Your health insurance that is authorized to operate in Spain
- Your criminal record check certificates for the last five years with Apostille and copy
- The proof of familial relationship to other applicants, for example, marriage certificate or birth certificate(s)
Step 2 – Book an Appointment
You need to make your application for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa in person at your local Spanish Embassy or Consulate.
These are the information and documents you will need to submit for your application:
- Your full name
- A photo of you holding your passport
- Your Passport details
- Your Email address
- Your Telephone number
- Your local contact address
- The type of visa that you are applying for
- Information about any of your dependent applicants
After providing the information needed, you will receive a link to select the day of your appointment. This is the step in which you also make the payment for your visa fee, which is around €80.
Step 3 – Show Up at Your Appointment
As a third step, you will attend your appointment at the Spanish embassy or consulate. You will bring your full documentation and be prepared to answer any initial questions you may get from the interviewer. These questions might be based on the preliminary review of your submitted documents.
Also, you will need to leave your passport at the embassy or consulate while your application is being assessed. During your appointment, the copies of your documents will be taken or confirmed. So, you can take your original documentation with you and do not have to leave them.
Step 4 – Collect Your Visa
It is possible to expect the waiting time to collect your visa between 15 and 45 days. You can track your progress from the link given to you. If required, you can submit some additional documentation.
If your application is approved, you will have a month to collect your visa from the embassy or consulate.
If your visa is not approved, you will get a notification in writing and receive the information explaining the reason for rejection. However, you will still have a month to file an appeal with additional documentation supporting your refusal. Unfortunately, the visa-free is non-refundable, so in either case, you pay for it and do not get back.
Step 5 – Submit Your Application to Get NIE
When you are in Spain, you will need to get an NIE, which is the national identity number. It is also a tax number that you need to open a bank account and make significant purchases.
You have an option to apply for these at your local embassy before going to Spain or after your arrival in the country. Indeed, it is an easy process when you get it in Spain.
Timeline: How Long Does it Take to Apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
Gathering documents and securing Apostilles and translations may take some time. In the US, when you try to obtain your criminal background check from the FBI, it may take three to five working days, for example, after you get the receipt for a fingerprint card sent by post.
In the UK, it is possible to apply for an ARCO Police Certificate online or by post. However, the process takes around 12 working days.
After you have all the documentation, the process of time becomes more predictable. It may take around 4-12 weeks to become a Digital Nomad Visa holder in Spain. You can schedule an appointment in 2-4 weeks and get your visa issued in around 2-6 weeks.
The Cost of Spain Digital Nomad Visa
To grant a Digital Nomad Visa in Spain, applicants must cover the fees stated below:
- Application through the consulate costs around €90 for a one year visa.
- UGE application costs €73.26 for a three year visa.
- The residence card equals €16.8.
Note that the renewal fees are not included.
Living in Spain as a Digital Nomad: What You Need to Know
Cost of Living in Spain
As one of the digital nomad countries, here are some of the essential cost of living expenses in Spain in 2025:
| Category | Average Monthly Cost (In Euro) |
| For a single person (without rent): | |
| Inexpensive Restaurant Meal | €14.00 |
| Mid-range Restaurant Meal for Two | €50.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds | €9.0 |
| Domestic Beer (Pint) | €3.25 |
| Cappuccino (Regular) | €1.99 |
| Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) (for 915 sq ft apartment) | €132.01 |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data) | €17.57 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | €29.59 |
| For a family of four (without rent): | |
| Estimated Monthly Costs | €2,531.9 |
Source: Numbeo
Taxes for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa
You need to stay in Spain for more than 183 days in a year while holding your Spanish Digital Nomad Visa to become a resident for tax purposes. However, there is still the possibility of becoming a tax resident in Spain even if you spend fewer days in the country. This can be the reality for you when your center of activities is in Spain, or you have a family living in Spain.
You may be eligible for a special 19% tax cut on Spanish income of up to €600,000 per year for the first four years of your stay in Spain. If you have any income above this, your income becomes subject to a 48% rate. It is still a better option and advantage compared to the standard tax range of 50%.
How can you benefit from this tax regime in Spain?
- File your application with the Spanish tax authorities within 6 months of getting your Digital Nomad Visa.
- Check if your native country is among the ones with double taxation. Spain has double taxation agreements with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all EU countries.
- If you can benefit from a double taxation agreement, it means that you will pay tax on your foreign income in your home country and will not be taxed on it again in Spain.
- When you are registered as a resident in Spain, you will be liable for Spain’s income tax. It depends on your personal situation and the region you reside, to understand the amount of taxes in Spain you will pay.
Alternative Options for Nomads
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
You can also apply for Spain’s non-lucrative visa Spain’s non-lucrative visa, which is known as a retirement visa. This visa type is for non-EU citizens again who have no longer active working lives and wish to spend their time in Spain. If you can show your passive income from a retirement fund or similar source, you can be eligible for a non-lucrative visa in Spain.
In addition, you can show that you have at least €27,115.20 per year for an individual., Wwith an additional €6,778 per year, you can add for any of your accompanying family members to be eligible for this visa type too. When your visa submission is approved, you have up to five years., Aand at this point, you can also apply for permanent residence in Spain.
Spain Golden Visa
You can submit your application for the Spain Golden Visa Program for a number of years with the requirement of at least €500,000 investment. There are also some other investment options you can check. The investment of €500,000 includes a property investment option in 2024. However, a decision from the council has decided to terminate the program on April 3, 2025. may end the property investment by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions on Spain Digital Nomad Visa
How much does it cost to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa in Spain?
The cost of Digital Nomad Visa is around €80, which may differ depending on the country you apply from.
How can I renew or extend my Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
You can extend your Digital Nomad Visa in Spain for up to five years in total. However, you need to apply the requirements specified above.
Can I apply for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa while abroad?
Yes, you can apply from a Spanish consulate in another country.
What is the required minimum income for a Digital Nomad Visa in Spain?
You need to earn a monthly income of €2,762.66 to qualify to be eligible for Spain’s digital nomad visa. You may need higher amounts of income if you have dependents.
Do digital nomads pay tax in Spain?
Spain expects digital nomad taxes. It means that if you become a tax resident in Spain, you pay taxes, but it depends; you may get a tax reduction in some cases. Also, agreements with some countries prevent double taxation.
What is the difference between the Digital Nomad Visa and the Tourist Visa in Spain?
You can stay up to 90 days when you have a tourist visa. So, they are quite short stays, and you are not allowed to work remotely in Spain. On the other hand, the Digital Nomad Visa lets you have residency and permits to work remotely for an extended period.
What are the Benefits of Working In Spain as a Nomad?
You can feel free to discover beautiful cities in Spain and benefit from the tax advantages when your income comes from a foreign company or your personal business outside of Spain.
What are the best places to visit in Spain as a Nomadic?
As a nomadic, you can prefer Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Gran Canaria, San Sebastian and Sevilla with their charming atmosphere for remote work with co-working spaces available.
Can a US citizen work remotely in Spain?
Yes, a US citizen can work remotely in Spain, but they typically need a visa that allows it, such as the Spain Digital Nomad Visa.
How do I prove my income for a Digital Nomad Visa?
To prove your income for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa, provide bank statements, tax returns, employment contracts, and pay stubs showing stable income.
What is the difference between non-lucrative visa and digital nomad visa in Spain?
The Non-Lucrative Visa is for individuals who do not intend to work in Spain, while the Digital Nomad Visa allows remote workers with foreign clients to live and work in Spain legally.
