Jun 213 min read

Spain Digital Nomad Visa: Easy Pathway to Spanish Residency

Quick Visa Facts

Visa length: Up to 36 months
Extension possibility: Yes, up to 5 years
Eligibility: Non-EU/EEA citizens
Minimum Income Requirements: €2,400 per month for a single adult
Processing time: 15-45 days

A woman stands in front of a historic building in Zaragoza, Spain, holding a Spanish flag. She wears a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and a stylish dress, smiling under the clear blue sky. The backdrop features the impressive architecture of the Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, with its ornate towers and domes.

Overview of the Spain Digital Nomad Visa

In January 2023, Spain introduced the Digital Nomad Visa under the new Startup Act, aimed at boosting entrepreneurship and foreign investment. This visa allows non-EU/EEA remote workers and freelancers to reside and work in Spain for up to 12 months initially, with the option to extend up to five years.

Applicants must prove a minimum monthly income of €2,400, with higher requirements if accompanied by a partner or children. Additionally, remote workers must demonstrate a stable job, company permission to work remotely from Spain, and that their employer has been operational for at least a year. Uniquely, freelancers can earn up to 20% of their income from Spanish clients.

Successful applicants can also apply for a Spanish residency permit, allowing travel within the European Union. Most visa holders will become tax residents and can benefit from a special reduced tax rate of 24% on income up to €600,000 annually. Spain has double taxation agreements with 90 countries, ensuring you won’t be taxed twice on international income.

Who Can Apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?

The Spain Digital Nomad Visa is open to non-EU/EEA citizens. Citizens from the European Union and European Economic Area do not need this visa to work remotely in Spain.

Eligible applicants include citizens and Green Card holders from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Applications can be submitted at a Spanish embassy or consulate in your home country, or you can enter Spain as a visa-free tourist and apply within your 90-day visitation period.

Spain’s double taxation agreements with countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all EU countries ensure that visa holders will not be taxed twice on their international income.

A group of four multiethnic friends, all millennials, stand in an urban park holding their smartphones. They are dressed in casual, stylish clothing: leather jackets, jeans, and sneakers. Behind them are modern residential buildings and a distinctive high-rise with greenery on its balconies. The group is smiling and appears connected and engaged, representing a diverse, tech-savvy generation.

Types of Spain Digital Nomad Visas

The Spain Digital Nomad Visa is the country’s first significant visa for remote workers and freelancers. Previously, non-EU/EEA citizens could only stay in Spain for up to 90 days on a tourist visa without the option for a residence permit.

Spain also offers a Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), designed for non-EU citizens who wish to retire in Spain. This requires proof of passive income from a retirement fund or similar source, with a minimum of €27,115.20 annually for an individual and an additional €6,778 per family member. The NLV is granted annually for up to five years, after which you can apply for permanent residence.

The Golden Visa program, requiring a minimum investment of €500,000, will end by early 2025.

The new Digital Nomad Visa is advantageous with its lower income requirement, set at 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (€1,080). This equates to €2,400 per month for a single adult, with higher thresholds for those with dependents. The visa is initially valid for 12 months and can be renewed for up to three years. Continuous residence for five years makes you eligible for permanent residence, and after ten years, for citizenship.

Requirements for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa

Proof of Remote Worker Status

Must prove remote work capability via an internet connection.
Demonstrate expertise with a university degree, professional certificate, or three years of work experience.
Show job stability with at least three months of employment and a contract for your stay in Spain.
Freelancers need long-term contracts to prove stability.
Employer must have been operational for at least one year.
Freelancers can earn up to 20% of their income from Spanish clients.

Proof of Financial Self-Sufficiency

Must demonstrate an income of at least €2,400 per month or €28,800 annually.
Higher income requirements for applicants with partners or children:
Family of 2: €4,200 per month
Family of 3: €4,800 per month
Family of 4: €5,400 per month
Provide bank statements, payslips, and employment contracts as proof.

Full Health Insurance

Required to have full health insurance from a Spanish provider for the applicant and accompanying family members.

Clean Criminal Record

Must show a clean criminal record from all countries of residence in the past five years.
Documents should be translated into Spanish and authenticated with an Apostille.

Minimum Stay Requirement

Should not have lived in Spain for the past five years.
Cannot apply if currently in Spain illegally.
No minimum period for the initial visa application, but must stay in Spain for at least six months within a 12-month period to renew.

A multiracial group of cheerful sports fans is celebrating on a street. They are wearing red and blue striped jerseys, with scarves and flags draped over their shoulders. One woman in the foreground is holding a soccer ball and smiling brightly. The fans are lively and enthusiastic, with face paint and a fun atmosphere, showcasing their team spirit and excitement.

How to Apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa

Contact the Red Migration team to schedule a 45-minute consultation with our legal team in Spain. The consultation fee is €100.

This guide aims to provide a clear, comprehensive overview of the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, ensuring you have all the information needed to apply successfully.