Spanish Digital Nomad Visa for Non-EU Remote Workers

To get Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must have sufficient funds to support themselves, proof they can work remotely from Spain, and must already have been working in their current ‘remote worker’ employment or self-employment prior to applying.

Holders of the Digital Nomad Visa or Residency Permit, may also be eligible for a special income tax rate fixed at 24% for the first 5 years, offering higher earners reduced income tax compared to normal residents.

The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa Requirements

This Spanish Digital Nomad Visa opens up Spanish residency to a whole new demographic of people who until now have not been able to live and work in Spain. The Digital Nomad Visa is open non-resident individuals who work remotely either as freelancers, or for non-Spanish companies, and is aimed primarily at people from non-EU countries, such as the UK and USA.

General residency application requirements apply, which are that you must:

• be 18 years or over
• have a valid passport with at least 1 year before expiry
• not have entered or stayed illegally in Spanish territory or be barred from entry to Spain
• not have been refused entry or barred from any of the 26 Schengen countries
• have sufficient financial means to cover personal and family living costs
• not have a criminal record in Spain or any countries lived in, in the last 5 years
• have access to public healthcare, or private health insurance through an insurer authorised to operate in Spain providing the equivalent to state healthcare

In addition to these general requirements Digital Nomad Visa applicants must demonstrate that they are qualified and experienced in their field, and will be paying social security.   They therefore need to provide the following relating to their work / employment:

• Contract of employment or, if freelancing, proof of regular and ongoing contracting with a company outside of Spain.
• Evidence that the company they work for or contract to has been trading for at least a year
• Proof that their work can be carried out remotely including written confirmation from the employer or professional client
• Certificate confirming payment of National Insurance / Social Security or proof of Social Security registration in Spain
• CV and proof of professional qualifications and or relevant experience covering the last 3 years

The existing contractual work, employed or self-employed must have been in existence for at least three months prior to the visa application. Freelancers must have a professional relationship with at least one company outside Spain and proof that the arrangement is compatible with remote working.

Applying For The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa

Applications for the Digital Nomad Visa are handled by the same Government Agency that processes Golden Visas.  The UGE, This means that this visa can be applied for either directly in Spain, or if you are unable to travel to Spain, through the Spanish Consulate in the country where your currently live. You can apply in person or appoint a legal representative to submit the application on your behalf.

If applying in Spain, the application can be processed on line. The Digital Nomad Visa is fast track, so the application approval time if all is present and correct, should be within 20 business days.

If you apply for your Digital Nomad Visa through the Spanish Consulate in your country, you will be issued with a one year residency visa. At the end of that visa, you will be able to apply for a Digital Nomad residency permit. When you apply in Spain, you are not issued a visa, rather granted a residency permit straight away. Once Digital Nomad residency permit has been approved, you apply for a Foreigners ID Card (Tarjeta de Indentidad de Extranjero TIE).

If you would like to check your eligibility for the visa or register your interest our Digital Nomad Visa service, please complete the questionnaire at the end of the page to get a free assessment.

Spanish Digital Nomad Visa FAQ’s

Is the Digital Nomad Visa Available Now?

Yes. The Ley de Start Ups was passed with a majority vote and approved on the 23rd of December, 2022.

Who is the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa for?

This visa is designed for non-resident individuals who wish to work remotely from Spain. This would include teleworkers, freelance consultants and anyone employed by a company outside of Spain, that them do their job remotely while living in Spain.

Does Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa Offer a Tax Advantage?

This depends on your financial circumstances. The special fixed 24% rate of tax applies to the income from the remote work earned outside of Spain up to €600,000 per year. For anyone earning €40,000 or more, this will be advantageous. Six figure Digital Nomad Visa workers, will pay considerably less income tax than their counterparts who hold normal residency. The tax rate from €600,000 upwards is 47%.

Do I have to be a National of a Third Country to get a Digital Nomad Visa?

No. Whilst Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa is aimed at non-EEA nationals, nationals of EU countries who have not been resident in Spain for at least five years are also eligible to benefit form the residency scheme an non resident tax

Does the Digital Nomad Visa Extend to Family Members?

Yes, as with other types of residency and visas, non-Spanish nationals applying for the Digital Nomad Visa can include dependent immediate family members such as their spouse and children, providing they have the sufficient financial means to to support them.

Which Family Members Can Be Included on the Digital Nomad Visa?

A legal partner (married spouse or civil partner) and children under 18 are eligible to be dependent family member applicants. Children over 18 may also be included if you can prove that they live with and are financially dependent on you.

Can family members work in Spain with this visa?

Yes, the fourth additional provision of Law 14/2013 establishes that the residence permit authorizes work (both self-employed and employed).

What are the Financial Means That Are Needed for the Digital Nomad Visa?

You need to have annum income of at least €25,000 (200% minimum wage ‘Salario Mínimo Interprofesional – SMI), as the main applicant  plus if applicable approximately €9,400 (75% SMI) for the first dependent family member that is applying, and €3,100 (25% SMI) for each additional family member thereafter.

What if my income is less that the required amount?

If your income is less than the required amount, you will need to have savings to make up the annual difference for each year of residency.  E.g. if apply for 3 years residency an annual income shortfall of €7,000 will require savings of €21,000.

Is there a minimum amount of time that I have to spend in Spain or a limit on how long I can spend out of Spain?

You can be absent a maximum of six months per calendar year to continue maintaining the requirements for the authorization

If you have more questions about your situation and the Digital Nomad Visa, please click on the link below and complete the questionnaire to get a free assessment.

Digital Nomad Visa Assessment