🇪🇸 What is the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
- The Spain Digital Nomad Visa is a residence permit designed for non-EU/EEA nationals who want to live in Spain while working remotely for a foreign (non-Spanish) company — or, if self-employed, working for foreign clients.
- Launched in 2023 as part of reforms under the “Startups Act,” the program lets remote professionals and freelancers legally reside in Spain while “teleworking” using digital tools.
- For freelancers, there’s a caveat: if you take on Spanish clients, work for them must not exceed 20% of your total income under the visa rules.
This visa is different from a working holiday or working visa — it gives you long term residence rights, with a pathway to PR or citizenship. But, you do not have the right to work locally and find a job with a Spanish business, as an employee.
✅ Who is Eligible — Key Requirements
To qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa, you generally need to meet the following:
- Be a non-EU/EEA national. Citizens of EU/EEA countries already have rights to live and work in Spain, so the visa is mostly for outside-EU/EEA applicants.
- Have a remote job (employee) or freelance business that allows remote work. For employees: a contract with a non-Spanish company. For freelancers: long-term clients outside of Spain.
- Have been working for that company or with those clients for at least a few months before applying (at least 3 months is common).
- Show either a university degree or at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
- Prove sufficient income using pay slips, bank statements, invoices, or other financial docs.
- Have private health insurance valid in Spain.
- Have a clean criminal record (no serious criminal history).
If you plan to bring family (spouse/partner, dependent children), there are additional income requirements.
💶 Income & Financial Thresholds (2025)
One of the most important requirements is meeting the income threshold:
- The minimum income for a single applicant is 200% of Spain’s minimum wage (SMI). As of 2025, that’s roughly €2,760–€2,763 per month.
- If you have dependents: add about 75% of SMI for the first dependent (spouse/partner) and roughly 25% for each additional dependent (child) — so the required monthly income increases accordingly.
- Acceptable proof includes employment contracts + payslips (for employees) or invoices + bank statements (for freelancers), ideally showing regular income over past months.
This financial requirement is so much higher because the government wants to make sure you support yourself (and any accompanying family) without relying on public funds.
📝 What Documents You Typically Need
When applying for the visa you will usually need to submit:
- A completed visa/residence application form.
- Valid passport (with sufficient validity beyond your intended stay).
- Proof of remote work: employment contract (if employed) or client contracts/invoices (for freelancers) that show remote-work capability.
- Proof of sufficient income (bank statements, pay slips, etc.).
- Proof of qualifications — degree certification or evidence of at least 3 years’ work experience.
- Private health insurance valid in Spain.
- A “clean criminal record” certificate — from your home country and any other country you lived in, usually covering the last 5 years.
- Any translations and apostilles if your documents are not originally in Spanish. Official translations are usually required.
If applying from outside Spain, you generally apply through the Spanish consulate or embassy in your home country.
If you are already legally in Spain (on a valid visa or after visa-free entry), some sources indicate you can apply in-country via residence permit procedures.
🚶♂️ How to Apply — Step by Step
Here’s a typical step-by-step process to get your Digital Nomad Visa:
- Check eligibility: Confirm you meet nationality, remote-work, income, experience/qualification, and health-insurance requirements.
- Gather all required documents: passport, contract or client letters, income proof, health insurance, criminal record, and any translations/apostilles.
- Apply at the Spanish consulate/embassy (if you’re outside Spain) or through the appropriate Spanish immigration office (if you’re already in Spain). Submission may require an in-person appointment.
- Pay visa/residence fees (these vary by country and embassy; often around €75–€120) and pay any additional translation/notary costs.
- Wait for processing: After submitting, processing times vary depending on consulate workload, completeness of documentation, and other factors.
- Upon approval: Receive your residence permit / visa. If applying from abroad — typically your first permit is for one year.
- If you arrive in Spain first (on tourist visa or visa-free): You may be able to apply in-country to convert to a residence permit under the Digital Nomad Visa scheme (subject to meeting requirements).
📆 Duration, Renewal & Long-Term Stay
- The initial visa usually grants one-year residence when applying from abroad. Or 3 year residency if applying from within Spain. After which, you can apply to renew for 2 years. After those additional 2, you are eligible to apply for PR.
- Once in Spain on the visa, you can often renew/extend the residence permit for additional periods (often two-year increments), provided you still meet the requirements.
- After a number of years (usually five years residence), you may become eligible for permanent residence — opening up the possibility of even longer-term stay.
This makes the Digital Nomad Visa not just a short-term stay option, but a potential gateway to long-term life in Spain.
🎯 Is this Visa Right for You?
This visa is especially attractive if you:
- Work remotely for a foreign company or have international clients — and want to base yourself in Spain for a while.
- Want to live in Europe, enjoy Spanish culture/lifestyle, but don’t want to rely on Spanish employers or local job markets.
- Value flexibility: You can bring family members, live in Spain, experience Spanish cities or countryside, and still maintain your remote work.
- Want a legal residence status rather than hopping around on tourist visas.
It’s less suitable if you:
- Plan to work mainly for Spanish companies or rely on local employment (because there are restrictions on Spanish income under the visa).
- Cannot meet the income threshold or don’t have steady, proven remote income.
- Do not have the required work experience or qualification (unless you meet the 3-year experience threshold).
📌 Tips & Common Pitfalls to Watch Out For
- Prepare translations: If your documents (degree, contracts, bank statements) aren’t in Spanish, you’ll likely need certified translations and possibly apostille/legalisation.
- Prove stable income: Show consistent deposits over several months — random or irregular income might raise red flags.
- Ensure remote-work legitimacy: Your job must be genuinely remote and outside Spain (unless freelancing — but Spanish clients must remain < 20% of business).
- Health insurance matters: Private coverage is mandatory — Spain’s public health system may not apply to visa holders immediately.
- Plan for delays: Embassy processing times vary; don’t plan big moves before your visa is officially approved.
- Keep updated: Rules evolve — e.g. income thresholds may change as Spain’s minimum wage changes; check latest official guidance before applying.
📝 Final Thoughts
The Spain Digital Nomad Visa presents a golden opportunity for remote workers and freelancers worldwide to embrace the Spanish lifestyle — vibrant culture, rich history, good quality of life — while maintaining their careers remotely. With clear requirements, a well-structured application process, and potential for long-term residency, it’s a strong path for those who want stability and flexibility at once.
If you like, we can walk you through a sample application checklist (with all required documents + timeline) — could help you plan step by step.
If this could be of value to you. Book a Consultonsult with us now!
