Spain Digital Nomad Visa for Filipinos

The Spanish digital nomad visa is a type of work visa that specifically caters to individuals who have established international work relationships on a remote basis. As such, individuals may come to live in Spain while being allowed to earn money, but it is expected that the majority of earned income comes from abroad.

A main benefit of this visa pathway is that there are few restrictions on the type of work that you may do to qualify, provided that you can show a high enough income to support yourself. Of course, your line of work must be legal and suitable for a remote arrangement.

Applications may be filed from Spain directly and from abroad. In the Philippines, you would have to make an appointment with your local Spanish immigration authority.

This may be the Spanish embassy in Manila or a local visa application centre. Depending on where you apply you may receive an initial permission for one or three years.

Page Contents

• Digital Nomad Visa Overview
• Why to Consider a Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
• Restrictions on Spain Digital Nomad Visa
• Spain Digital Nomad Visa Eligibility Requirements
• How Much Do I Need to Earn on a Digital Nomad Visa?
• Will I Need Health Insurance for Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
• Applying for a Spain Digital Nomad Visa
• Documents Required for Digital Nomad Visa Spain
• What Is the Timeframe for Obtaining a Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
• Fees for Spain Digital Nomad Visa
• Can I Renew a Digital Nomad Visa in Spain?
• What Are the Tax Implications of Working from Spain as a Digital Nomad?
• Is the Digital Nomad Visa Right For Me?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

The main benefit of the Spanish digital nomad visa is that it offers unique flexibility in the type of work that you may carry out while also facilitating travel to other member countries of the Schengen area as long as you adhere to residential requirements in Spain to maintain eligibility.

If you are already a remote worker or have an employment opportunity that allows you to work from a distance, this visa could be an exciting opportunity to experience the culture and lifestyle in Spain without needing to find new work locally. It is also especially appealing for those who work independently as freelancers or contractors as the digital nomad visa scheme has few requirements besides a reliable income which you would need to live anyway.

Due to its specifically targeted nature, the digital nomad visa is able to better support the needs of remote workers, offering a simplified tax scheme that will allow for lower contributions than the traditional income tax for local workers.

Another benefit of this visa is that you will have the option to bring your close family and eventually obtain permanent residence or even citizenship for everyone involved.

While the digital nomad visa offers many freedoms, there are still some restrictions that you should keep in mind. Most notably, this is a visa that is geared towards workers whose professional activities are largely abroad, meaning that all or most of your clients need to be outside of Spain.

In general, there is some leeway and you may accept some opportunities that come to you locally, but this should not amount to more than 20% of your income.

On the future trajectory side of this visa, you should remember that while you are permitted to travel freely within the Schengen region, you will still need to meet certain residential criteria to be eligible for future status upgrades to permanent settlement and even citizenship.

Filipino nationals may become naturalised after only two years of residence in Spain, while individuals whose nationality falls outside of the European Union will usually need to live in Spain for at least five years to obtain permanent residence, during which they should have spent no more than one year in total outside of the country.

The Spanish digital nomad visa will be available for most Filipino citizens, provided that they are able to prove that they have a suitable remote working arrangement, can pass a criminal record check, and meet the income requirements.

Remote work arrangements can vary in their shape and nature, but to qualify you will usually be expected to show proof of a pre-existing work relationship with a reputable employer or client. As such, you must show that you have had a professional relationship with the company that you are working for that has been going on for at least three months at the time of your application. This company must also have been incorporated and trading for at least one year prior.

If you are a freelancer who is working for multiple clients at a time, you should still provide evidence that you have been working this way for at least three months while meeting income requirements. It is likely that you will need to provide details about past, present and future commissions or contracts, showing that you will be able to continue working as you move to Spain.

The digital nomad visa requires you to meet minimum income requirements as you must show that you will be able to support yourself and any family members you may wish to bring as dependents.

While the exact requirements may vary, you should usually be earning at least €28,800 annually.

The monthly income requirements are adjusted accordingly if you have dependents. You will need to submit evidence such as pay stubs, bank statements, or tax records.

Anyone who wishes to establish residence in Spain will need to show evidence of adequate health insurance, covering €30,000 or more.

Make sure to renew this policy as needed as you will need to be insured for the entirety of your time in Spain.

If you are bringing any family members or dependents you will need to take out a health insurance policy for them too.

Before you start your Spain Digital Nomad visa application you should make sure to gather all of the required documents including certified translations where necessary. The application itself can be done from abroad or from Spain directly, if you prefer to first enter on a tourist visa, for example. In general, you will need to contact the local immigration authority to submit your application form and documents and to pay the visa application fee.

From Abroad

If you are applying from the Philippines or elsewhere outside of Spain you should make an appointment with your local embassy, consulate, or visa application centre. In the Philippines, this may be the embassy in Manila. Make sure to bring your application form along with any supporting evidence and be prepared to pay for the application fee.

You should note that applications from abroad will usually grant you an initial digital nomad visa which is valid for one year but will be eligible for an upgrade to a digital nomad residential permit once it nears expiry.

From Within Spain

If you plan to travel to Spain before applying for your digital nomad permission you must first obtain a suitable visa to enter. Once you are there, you should apply for your digital nomad permission with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As you have already gone through the necessary steps to obtain a visa you should already have the required documents and translations, but take care to double-check before you submit your application. You will need to present yourself at the nearest police office where you will be able to submit your fingerprints before obtaining your residential card.

Spain digital nomad visas usually take about 20 days to be processed, but there are often additional steps that extend the overall application timeframe, such as background checks.

It is best to always be prepared for possible delays which may happen for any reason such as seasonal surges in visa applications at your local application centre. To minimise the chance of your application taking longer to process you should make sure that your application is complete and accurate before submitting.

Failure to do so can cause significant delays but may even lead to rejection or legal consequences. Never provide misleading information.

The digital nomad application usually includes a fee of €60 for 1 year.  You should keep in mind that there may be additional costs for travel, prior visas, or additional permits and licences.

It is usually cheaper to apply when you are already in Spain, but you will already have paid for the visa you needed to get there.

The digital nomad visa is generally renewable if you continue to meet the requirements. When you will need to renew depends on the permission you were first granted and might be after your first year, if you applied abroad, or after three years if you applied in Spain directly. Keep in mind that Filipino nationals usually qualify for Spanish citizenship after two years of residence which will save you the need for future renewals.

Filipino nationals should note that they may qualify for Spanish citizenship after two years of continuous residence, but you should keep in mind that this may be different if you were only a resident in the Philippines but with a different nationality. Usually, foreigners must have ten years of legal residence in Spain before qualifying for naturalisation.

While digital nomads will be liable to pay taxes on their income, you will actually benefit from the dedicated Non-resident Income Tax Regime (also called the IRNR). This means that instead of paying 48% as per the regular income tax standard in Spain, you will only be liable to pay about 15% to 24%.

To qualify for the IRNR, you must register with the Spanish Tax Authorities within 6 months after being granted your digital nomad visa.

The digital nomad visa is ideal for anyone who has an existing employment that permits for remote work (you should seek specific approval for working in Spain before applying). It is also a desirable option for freelance workers or contractors with international clients, provided that you can carry out this work from a distance.