Spain Digital Nomad Visa: All You Need to Know
Spain now looks more accessible than ever to the global remote working community. It can be reachable thanks to the Digital Nomad Visa. In Spain, you can work from virtually anywhere. You can unlock the potential for a flexible work-life balance and open the door to experiencing Spain’s diverse regions.
You can apply for Spain’s digital nomad visa as of June 2023. It’s become a reality to live and work in Spain for a year as a remote worker or a freelancer through this visa type. It’s renewable for up to five years, but you need to meet the minimum income requirement of €2,160 per month for one person.
We can say that it’s easy to get since it only requires a low-income threshold. Once you get Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of working in Spain as a digital nomad.
Remember that this visa type is different from the Spanish tourist visa. Spanish tourist visas only allow visitors to stay in the country for up to 90 days during any six months. But you’ll not have access to a residency permit.
What are the Types of Spain Digital Nomad Visas
You can apply for a Spain digital nomad visa that’ll be valid for a year. Or, you can submit your application for the digital nomad residency permit, valid for three years for remote workers. While you can get a digital nomad visa in your country, you must be in Spain to obtain your digital nomad residency.
What else can you expect from the digital nomad residency permit?
- You can renew it for two more years.
- You can obtain a permanent residency visa or become a Spanish citizen, which can be better if you continue working remotely long-term in Spain.
- Remember, to apply for a permanent residence visa, you need to stay in Spain for at least five years.
Some of the benefits of a digital nomad visa:
- As a foreigner, you can work remotely from Spain
- While working on your laptop, you can reside in Spain
- It’s also beneficial to the country as it drives digital entrepreneurship that you’re a part of
- It’s possible to apply for a digital nomad visa within your home country or when you
- Even if your application is not approved, you can still file a new one immediately, as the visa application is quick.
- Your application will be processed in about 20 days.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa Application: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Who Can Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain?
If you’re a digital nomad with non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationality, such as the UK, you can apply for Spain’s new digital nomad visa.
If you’re a remote worker or freelancer from a European country, you can already work in Spain without needing additional applications by using your passport. But it’ll be applicable for only six months.
No matter your nationality, you need to get a resident Foreign Identity Number (NIE) to enable extending your stay in Spain. It’ll be a unique number for remote workers and freelancers like you who want to reside in Spain for more than six months.
The digital nomad visa is a temporary residence visa type. And it’s aimed at remote workers.
You can apply for this visa type in Spain if you meet one of the following conditions:
- If you’re working for a company outside Spain
- If you’re a digital entrepreneur or freelancer and you have clients from all around the world
- If you’re a freelancer, an employee or you’re working for a foreign company in Spain
Step 2: How to succeed in your application
- Fulfill a minimum income requirement
- Pay the visa fee
Step 3: Timeline and Validity Period of the Digital Nomad Visa
Application of the new digital nomad visa within Spain holding a tourist visa: Digital nomad residency permit valid for three years
Application for the new digital nomad visa when you’re in your country and submit your request through a Spanish Consulate: Digital nomad visa valid for one year. You’re able to switch to the digital nomad residency permit when you spend a year in Spain.
Application for the permanent residency permit: Lived in Spain for at least five years.
Remember, you can only file your application for the last one if you already had your digital nomad visa, stayed in Spain for three years, and extended your stay for another two years.
Application for Spanish citizenship: Lived in Spain for at least ten years.
If you’re a non-EU citizen, you can have free travel access to EU countries with your digital nomad visas. But there’s a condition. You can only stay outside Spain for a year out of the five years. The reason for this process is to qualify for a permanent residency visa.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa Update and Latest News
A digital nomad visa in Spain is shaped for any foreigner who plans to live in Spain as a resident and work remotely, either for a company, an employer, or a self-employed. The employment is located outside of the Spanish territory. And you’re waiting to use exclusively telematics and telecommunication media and systems.
Applying for the digital nomad visa as a self-employed:
- Your company can be located in Spain, but you should be at most 20% of the total amount of your professional activity.
As an applicant, you’ll need an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a university, college, or business school with prestige. Or, you’ll have at least three years of work experience in your field of activity.
What about your family members? Your spouse or unmarried partner can obtain the visa as well. Suppose you have dependent children or relatives in the ascending line who are a part of the family unit. In that case, they can also apply for a digital nomad visa.
Before applying, don’t forget to apply for your NIE number.
What are the required documents for you as a worker and your family members:
- National visa application form: You or your representative will complete and sign a visa application form.
- Photography: You’ll have a recent color photograph in passport size, taken against a light background when you face forward without dark or reflective glasses or any garments that can conceal the oval of your face.
- Valid passport: You’ll need an original and a photocopy of the page or pages with your biometric data. Your passport should be valid for at least one year with at least two blank pages. Be careful to have your passport issued within ten years, not more than that. If you’re a non-British national, you’ll need a valid residence permit in the UK.
- Criminal record certificate: If you’re an applicant over the legal age, you must submit both the original and a copy of your criminal record certificate from the county where you resided in the past two years. You’ll also need to confirm that there have been no criminal records in the last five years. Your certificate should not be over six months old unless asked for it. For the UK, you’ll also need an ACRO Certificate.
- Proof of residence in the consular district: You’re expected to show evidence of your legal residence within the consulate’s jurisdiction.
- Proof of representative’s identity and capacity: If you submitted your visa application through a representative, you’ll need to present copies of your representative’s ID or passport and a document proving their authority (like a power of attorney). You should show the originals at the time of your application. You’ll need legalization or an apostille for your foreign documents and add an official Spanish translation if necessary.
- Payment of the visa fee: You’ll need to pay in local currency when submitting your application.
- Health insurance: You must provide the original or a copy of your certificate from a company authorized in Spain. The policy should cover risks insured by Spain’s public health system. An S1 form and proof of registration with the Spanish National Social Security is also acceptable as public health insurance.
Spanish Digital Nomad Visa Requirements
- You need to prove your ability to work online from Spain
- Possess expertise in your field
- Show job stability for at least three months
- Have a well-established company with a one-year history
- Ensure no more than 20% of your income comes from Spanish clients
- Prove that you’re over the age of 18
- Show a specific monthly minimum income
- Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a legitimate university, college, or business school.
- Have at least three years of relevant work experience in your current professional field.
- Show that you’re financially stable, approximately €2,280 per month or €30,840 per year.
- Prove also your income with bank statements, payslips, and employment contracts.
- Prove having a clean criminal record
- Prove that you didn’t reside in Spain during the past five years
- If you’re in Spain, show you have the proper legal authorization
How to Open a Foreign Company with a Nomad Visa in Spain
If you have a university degree or at least three years of work experience, you can open a company with a digital nomad visa in Spain.
You’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Visa application form
- Recent photograph
- Valid passport and photocopy of biometric data pages
- Criminal record certificate
- Proof of legal residence
- If applying through a representative, proof of the representative’s identity and capacity.
- Payment of the visa fee
- Health insurance covering risks insured by Spain’s public health system
As an international worker in Spain, here are some of the specific requirements you’ll need to meet:
- Certification of working for a foreign company for at least three months before your visa application
- Certificate from the Government Companies House about your company’s creation date and business nature
- Compliance with social security obligations in your country or Spain
- Documentary proof of financial at least 200% of the Spanish national minimum wage
- University degree or professional certificate proving that you have at least three years of experience in the business activity.
Timeline: The decision deadline is usually ten days but may be extended. You can collect your visa in person within one month of notification. The visa is valid for one year or per the authorization to live and work in Spain.
Cost: Around €75, excluding the consulate fee.
Taxes for Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Non-residents on a digital nomad visa are subject to a 24% tax rate, applicable up to €600,000 per year during the initial four years of your Spanish stay. Any earnings above this amount are taxed at 48%.
Here are some of the tax benefits of the Spain Digital Nomad Visa:
When you have a digital nomad visa, you will be a non-tax resident in Spain for the year of your relocation and the following five tax years.
In Spain, the tax rate for employment income is 24%, for amounts up to €600,000; for higher incomes, it increases to 47%. However, income earned outside of Spain is not subject to taxation. Spain taxes employment income at a flat rate of 24% for income up to €600,000, regardless of where it is paid or received. The rate is 47% above this threshold. The standard rate, which applies to income over €300,000 in most regions, is less favorable. Spanish income taxes do not apply to income earned outside of Spain.
If you’re accumulated as a Spanish resident, only pension funds will be taxed in Spain.
As a non-resident for tax purposes, you’re not liable for wealth or solidarity tax on worldwide assets. Yet, Spanish assets are liable and subject to high allowances.
Tips for Working Remotely in Spain
Let’s assume that all of your steps work according to the plan, at least most of them. Looking at the brighter side of the process, you’ll follow the following steps when working in Spain remotely:
- You have a job that fits your experiences
- You found the perfect city that you can call home
- You completed the application process for the digital nomad visa
- You planned your working day and found the perfect spot to be productive
- You completed healthcare and insurance requirements
- You have the required documents legally
- You know the banking and finance options
What are Digital Nomad Destinations in Spain?
Here are the top 4 best cities for digital nomads in Spain.
Malaga
You’ll find a warm climate and many beautiful beaches in Malaga. When working remotely as a digital nomad, let’s also enjoy the outdoors. You can already think about what you’ll do in your breaks, maybe swimming in the crystal-clear waters?
You can work from home, in a cafe, or near the sea. Or, you can check out the coworking spaces in Malaga and connect with the digital nomad community in the city. It can be a good option for collaborating and networking as a newcomer.
Madrid
The capital of Spain is one of the top Spanish digital nomad hotspots. You’ll find plenty of greenery to explore in Madrid. Madrid can be your new home if you’re especially interested in daily walks. The fast internet and the growing community of digital nomads make this city one of the most popular destinations for remote workers.
Madrid offers many coworking spaces, not only in the center, but you can find options in many different parts of the city. You can meet with many like-minded people in your industry or the ones with whom you share similar needs and challenges as remote worker digital nomads.
Bilbao
Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque region of Spain and is famous for notable architectural landmarks like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Alhondiga. You can enjoy discovering the city’s cultural aspects and always find inspiration.
In the center of the city, the heart of downtown, there are many coworking spaces in Bilboa. You can find business growth options since the city has one of the strongest economies in Spain. The city is also a 90-minute drive to France, so there are a lot of opportunities when you have time to explore another country.
Valencia
The third-largest city, Valencia, is affordable and provides many coworking spaces. The old town of this digital nomad-friendly city is full of historic buildings, plazas, and markets. We need to mention Valencia’s futuristic City of Arts and Sciences complex and Turia Park as some of the city attractions.
Don’t forget to get a taste of the delicious food of Spain in Valencia, as it’s the birthplace of paella. Also, you can give a chance to rice and seafood dishes.
Conclusion
If you’re dreaming of living in a foreign country and working remotely at the same time, Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa offers many benefits. It’s a chance to live and work in one of Europe’s most vibrant countries.
The trend of remote work is growing. You can find your spot in Spain, as the country is one of the top destinations for digital nomads. Let’s consider your lifestyle when you make this decision and choose the best place to live.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Spain offer a digital nomad visa?
Yes, Spain offers a Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers employed by non-Spanish companies or self-employed individuals working primarily with foreign clients.
What can be the minimum income for a Digital Nomad Visa in Spain?
You must demonstrate financial means at least 200% of the Spanish national minimum wage.
Can I work remotely for a US Company?
Yes. You can work remotely in Spain for a US company with the Digital Nomad Visa.
What should you do if your Spain Digital Nomad Visa is denied?
If your application is denied, you can appeal for reconsideration to the Consular Office within one month or submit a legal appeal to the High Court of Justice of Madrid within two months.
How can I extend my Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
Extension procedures involve demonstrating continued eligibility. It might be ongoing employment with a non-Spanish company and sufficient financial means.
Who can be eligible for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa?
Eligible individuals include remote workers with a contract from a non-Spanish company and self-employed individuals with foreign clients. You must meet financial and professional experience criteria.
What are the restrictions on Digital Nomad Visas in Spain?
Restrictions include the requirement that the majority of work must be for non-Spanish entities. And the visa doesn't automatically grant tax residency or full access to public healthcare.
