Working from home in another country where you can benefit from the diverse environment looks appealing to many. To live and work as a freelancer or remotely in Spain, you can apply for Spain’s digital nomad visa.
The visa type has ignited excitement among remote workers worldwide since its launch. In this article, we will explore the eligibility requirements, application process, and some more details you may wonder about as digital nomads.
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 the digital technologies and tools like computer, internet and so on.
What are some criteria for working in Spain through this visa type? Let’s remember:
- You need to work for companies located outside of Spain so that you become a holder of telework authorization.
- You can also work for a company located in Spain, not a foreign company, with the condition of the percentage of work in Spain stays under the 20% of the total of your professional activity.
- You need to have degrees, as gratulates or postgraduates from universities of recognized prestige.
- You can also apply if you have professional training and studied in one of the business schools of recognized prestige.
- You can also be eligible if you have a minimum of 3 years of professional experience.
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
There are also some other conditions that let you apply for Spain’s telework 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.
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 12 months 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 €2,400 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, you become a tax resident. Moreover, you become eligible to pay a special tax rate of 24% on income up to €600,000 per year, which is a reduced tax option. In Spain, there are also double taxation agreements with 90 other countries, which can be another benefit for you.
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 citizen from Australia, New Zeland 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.
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.
Types of Spain Digital Nomad Visas: Options for Nomads
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
You can also apply for 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, with an additional €6,778 per year for any of your accompanying family members to be eligible for this visa type. When your visa submission is approved, you have up to five years, and at this point, you can apply for permanent residence in Spain.
Spain Golden Visa
You can apply 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 may end the property investment by 2025.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa: What are the Requirements?
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.
- Prove that you have a remote worker status
- Be able to show your financial self-sufficiency
- Get a full health insurance
- Show your clean criminal record
- Stay at least 6 months within a 12-month period in Spain as the minimum stay requirement.
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. 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 Npmad 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 expect the waiting time to collect your visa between 15 and 45 days. You can track your progress from a ling 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. However, 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 and NIF
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.
Living in Spain as a Digital Nomad: What You Need to Know
Cost of Living in Spain
Here are some of the essential cost of living expenses in Spain in 2024:
| Category | Average Monthly Cost (In Euro) |
| For a single person (without rent): | |
| Inexpensive Restaurant Meal | €12.00 |
| Mid-range Restaurant Meal for Two | €50.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds | €8.75 |
| Domestic Beer (Pint) | €3.00 |
| Cappuccino (Regular) | €1.85 |
| Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) (for 915 sq ft apartment) | €130.78 |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data) | €18.08 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | €31.81 |
| For a family of four (without rent): | |
| Estimated Monthly Costs | €2,665.6 |
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 there.
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 in Spain, to understand the amount of taxes you will pay.
Conclusion
Spain Digital Nomad Visa provides a route to Spain’s remote working atmosphere. You can be a part of the enriching work-life experience. Contrary to a tourist visa, you will have a more flexible time in Spain with your residency and work permit. If you are dreaming about sipping your coffee while looking at the Mediterranean, Spain is a good destination option for you.
Spain’s digital nomad visa holders benefit from the remote working opportunities in this country and tax reduction advantages. In this article, we explained how you can get your Spanish digital nomad visa, what the tax benefits are, and how you can complete your digital nomad visa application correctly. We hope this article helps you with your new digital nomad visa and nomad adventure in Spain.
You can also discover more digital nomad countries both in the EU and non-EU countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 €2,400 to qualify to be eligible for Spain’s digital noad 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?
- Barcelona: It is a city overflowing with Gaudi’s architectural marvels, offering a vibrant social scene for nomads with numerous co-working spaces and a strong digital nomad community.
- Madrid: Spain’s dynamic capital boasts a rich cultural tapestry, not traditionally known for beaches and nomads. Spain highlights that Madrid provides excellent co-working spaces and a central location for exploring other regions.
- Valencia: This coastal city offers a perfect blend of cultural attractions, boasting a well-developed co-working infrastructure and a lower cost of living compared to Barcelona or Madrid.
- Gran Canaria (Canary Islands): Escape the mainland bustle and find serenity in this volcanic island paradise, Gran Canaria’s stunning beaches, hiking trails, and well-established digital nomad community.
- San Sebastian (Basque Country): San Sebastian is renowned for its pristine beaches, Michelin-starred restaurants, and unique Basque culture, which offers a slower pace of life while still providing co-working spaces and a growing digital nomad scene.
- Sevilla (Andalusia): The rich Andalusian heritage of Sevilla, filled with flamenco shows, historical landmarks like the Alcázar palace, delectable tapas, and a charming atmosphere for remote work with co-working spaces available, though internet speeds might be slower than major cities.
