Spain Digital Nomad Visa
In January 2023, the Spanish government approved the digital nomad visa scheme, which allows foreign nationals the opportunity to travel to Spain whilst continuing to work remotely. This page explains how digital nomad visas work and how US citizens can apply.
If you would like to learn more about Spain digital nomad visas, you can get in touch with our team of experts online or call us today on +1 844 290 6312.
What is the Digital Nomad Visa in Spain?
The term ‘digital nomad’ (teletrabajadores de carácter internacional) is a new term to describe the increasing number of workers who wish to travel and live abroad whilst continuing to work for their employer or for themselves online as remote workers.
In recent years many countries around the world have started offering a subcategory of visas dedicated to this increasing number of remote workers who are spending extended periods of time travelling through or living in foreign countries. Spain launched its digital nomad visa scheme in 2023.
The Spanish digital nomad visa allows remote workers from the US and other non EU or EEA countries to reside in Spain for 1 year whilst continuing to work online for a US-based organization. Applicants will not be required to take on any work in the Spanish market with this visa.
The Spain digital nomad visa offers two types of permits for digital nomads:
- The digital nomad visa
- The digital nomad residence permit.
Page Contents
- What is the Digital Nomad Visa in Spain?
- What’s the Difference Between the Digital Nomad Visa and Digital Nomad Resident Permit?
- Tax As a Digital Nomad in Spain
- Do I Need a Digital Nomad Visa for Spain?
- Eligibility Requirements for a Spain Digital Nomad Visa or Residence Permit
- Application Process for Spain Digital Nomad Visa
- Documents Requirements for Spain Digital Nomad Visa
- Processing Time and Fees for Digital Nomad Visa Spain
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What's the Difference Between the Digital Nomad Visa and Digital Nomad Resident Permit?
There are two immigration routes available to remote workers from the US who wish to spend an extended period of time in Spain. Applicants will be required to obtain a Spanish foreign national identity card (NIE) once their application is approved.
Digital Nomad Visa
The Digital Nomad visa is an immigration permission that allows foreign nationals to reside in Spain for up to 1 year as remote workers.
This visa is applicable to those who are applying for their first digital nomad visa in Spain and can be applied for from the US or another foreign country, or in Spain as well. It is fairly common for remote workers to apply for a digital nomad visa whilst they near the expiry of their tourist visa (also known as a Schengen visa).
If you are already in Spain on a digital nomad visa and wish to continue you residence in the country, then you can apply for a Digital Nomad Residence Permit.
Digital Nomad Residence Permit
The Digital Nomad residence permit is an immigration permission that allows foreign nationals to reside in Spain for up to 3 years as remote workers. This permit can only be applied for by foreign nationals who are already in Spain.
This residence permit is valid for up to three years, and can be renewed for an additional two years to add up to a total of 5 years. After that, assuming visa holders meet all the other criteria, they will be eligible to apply for permanent residency in Spain.
Tax As a Digital Nomad in Spain
Paying tax as a digital nomad can be very confusing. However, the Spanish tax authorities offer tax benefits for US digital nomads using the Non-Resident Income Tax (IRNR) regime. You will be expected to pay between 15% and 24% in tax on your monthly income.
This means that as a digital nomad, you do not have to pay as much tax as a Spanish tax resident generally does. You must apply with the Spanish Tax Agency within the first 6 months of obtaining your new digital nomad visa.
Do I Need a Digital Nomad Visa for Spain?
If you are a citizen of a country in the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland, you will not be required to apply for a digital nomad as Spain allows citizens of these countries to live, work and travel freely.
A national from any other country, including the US and the UK (since Brexit), will meet the criteria for a digital nomad visa if:
- They intend to stay in Spain for longer than 90 days within a 180 day period
- They are an employee of a company located outside of Spain earning a foreign income
- They work remotely as a freelancer or as an entrepreneur and work for companies based abroad
- They are an employee or freelancer for a foreign company based inside Spain, but the amount of work they conduct for this company is less than 20% of their professional activity and income.
- They can prove they can financially support themselves and any dependents during the course of the visa validity period.
Due to remote worker status being a fairly recent phenomenon, we appreciate that many online workers have fairly complex or varied employment circumstances, and that they may not neatly fit into the eligibility criteria above. We can help. Contact us online or call us today on +1 844 290 6312 to discuss your situation and receive personalized guidance for your digital nomad visa application.
Eligibility Requirements for a Spain Digital Nomad Visa or Residence Permit
Overview
If you meet all of the Spanish government’s eligibility criteria for considering yourself a digital nomad as outlined above, then you can begin the process of gathering the relevant documents and information required in order to apply for a digital nomad visa or residence permit.
There are still other, more generalized criteria that must be met by US citizens and other foreign nationals in order to qualify for a visa for Spain.
As part of the application process for a digital nomad visa, you will need to ensure you have:
- A degree or equivalent in a related field to your current work, or at least three years of work experience in the field of your work
- Adequate health insurance that covers the duration of your visa or permit, covering you for a minimum of €30,000 of medical fees
- Proof of employment/earnings
- Proof of finances
- A clean criminal background check.
Proof of Experience/Qualifications
Applicants for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa must prove that they are experienced and qualified for the remote work they are undertaking during their time in Spain.
This can be proven with the following:
- The applicant has an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from an accredited educational institution that is in a related field to their current job
- The applicant has a minimum of three years experience in their current role or in a similar role related to their industry or field.
It may be helpful to submit any other supporting evidence you have such as relevant intern or volunteer work to support your case. If you are concerned about whether or not your work and education history will be eligible for the new digital nomad visa, you can chat to one of our team today by calling us on +1 844 290 6312 or getting in touch online.
Proof of Income for Salaried Applicants
The Spain Digital Nomad visa application requires applicants to prove that they have sufficient income or access to sufficient savings in order to comfortably live and work in Spain.
The Spanish government have set out that anyone applying for the digital nomad visa must be earning a monthly income of at least around €2,400 per month.
You will need to prove that you have been receiving at least this amount per month for the previous three months.
Proof of Income for Freelancers and Entrepreneurs
In general, if you are a freelancer or small business entrepreneur who doesn’t have a consistent monthly salary, you will still need to show evidence of an income of at least $2400 per month by submitting recent bank statements or work contracts.
Proving that you have a consistent contract or salary as a freelancer or entrepreneur can be difficult, as the nature of the work is usually project-based or includes several shorter-term contracts, or if you have a business is based on for example your monthly take-home profit from sales, which naturally fluctuates through the course of the year.
If you generally expect to earn at least $29,000 per year, then you might have to submit bank statements from previous years to show that your income is reliable enough to meet the minimum requirement. You can also submit bank statements of your savings account to help prove that you are financially self-sufficient and eligible for the visa.
For example, if you have $5000 in savings, and can prove that in the last two years you have earned at least $25,000 per year through your freelance or entrepreneurial income, then this should be taken as sufficient evidence and make you eligible for a Spain digital nomad visa.
If you conduct any form of work for any Spanish companies or clients, you must prove that it only makes up to 20% of your total income.
Criminal Record Certificate
In order to be eligible for a Digital Nomad visa, you will be required to complete a criminal record background check and submit it as part of your application.
The background check must:
- Come back with no criminal convictions
- Include copies of your fingerprints
- Be taken within 3 months of applying for the visa
- Have Apostille authorisation (if applicable).
Application Process for Spain Digital Nomad Visa
To apply for the Spain digital nomad visa, you will need to:
- Check and confirm that you meet all the relevant eligibility criteria detailed in this page
- Gather all relevant documents and evidence
- Obtain and fill out the Digital Nomad visa application form in full.
Once you have completed these three steps, you can then submit your application.
Once your digital nomad visa application is accepted, your visa will be valid for one year and will allow you to obtain a digital nomad temporary residence permit, which is valid for three years.
Applying from the US or Abroad
Please note that you can only apply for the digital nomad visa from Spain, and not the digital nomad residence permit – this must be done in Spain.
To apply for the visa, you will need to visit your nearest Spanish consulate or embassy and will likely need to book an appointment.
Applying from Spain
US nationals can apply for the digital nomad visa if they are already in Spain using a tourist visa or other similar Schengen visa.
In order to apply, you must visit the Ministry of Foreign affairs and submit your application.
Documents Requirements for Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Overview
The document you need to apply for the digital nomad visa will vary slightly depending on the type of work you do and whether or not you are applying for yourself or have dependents joining you on your visa.
In general, all applicants will be required to provide the following:
- A valid, in-date passport
- A completed digital nomad visa application form
- Bank statements from the previous three months proving you earn at least €2,400 monthly income
- Proof of work experience in your field or your undergraduate/postgraduate certificate
- Proof your job can be done fully remotely
- Private health insurance covering a minimum of €30,000 of medical costs
- Your criminal record certificate
- A medical certificate proving you do not have a condition deemed dangerous to public health.
Applicants who are Employed/Salaried
In general, employed applicants will need to also include the following in their application:
- An employment contract to prove you have consistent work and income
- Permission from your employer to work abroad remotely
- The company incorporation number to prove it has been operational for at least 12 months.
Applicants who are Self-employed/Entrepreneurs
For self-employed applicants, you will need to:
- Prove you have ongoing or incoming work ideally for up to the next foreseeable year
- Provide all relevant contracts or agreements with clients to prove your ongoing work relationship
- Provide any additional bank statements or financial proof that clearly shows you will be earning a minimum of €2,400 per month.
Applying with Family Members
If you intend to bring your dependent spouse or children with you to Spain with a digital nomad visa, you will need to provide all the relevant information outlined above based on the type of work you do, and also include the following for your family:
- Their valid, up-to-date passports
- Marriage certificate and birth certificate as proof of your relationship
- Financial evidence to show:
- A minimum of €970 per month to cover your spouse
- A minimum of €330 per month to cover children
- Health insurance for the full family
- Criminal record certificate for each family member
- Medical certificates for each family member.
Processing Time and Fees for Digital Nomad Visa Spain
The Digital Nomad visa is usually cleared in approximately 3 weeks. However, this may vary depending on whether you apply during a particularly busy period, or whether your circumstances are more complex and the immigration officer requires further documentation or evidence to support your application approval.
Digital Nomad visa holders can then apply for a residence permit.
The digital nomad visa fee costs approximately €75 to apply in Spain and usually costs more if you apply from the US or abroad. You will be required to translate all your documents into Spanish, which usually costs between €60-€100.
Once you are in Spain, you will be required to purchase your resident permit, which costs approximately €22, and your foreigner identity card (TIE), which costs approximately €11.
Printing costs, travel costs, and other necessary medical or travel insurances should all be factored into your budget when applying for the digital nomad visa.
How Can Total Law Help?
Obtaining Spain’s Digital Nomad visa for Spain is in most cases a fairly straightforward process for most US citizens. Thousands of Americans each year venture to Europe to explore the region whilst still working remotely and flexibly.
In many instances, our customers simply get in touch to talk through the visa process and to ensure that they are applying for the right visa for their circumstances. However, sometimes visa applications can be more complex, particularly for those who may have complex personal circumstances, restricted financial means, or who have a previous criminal record.
That’s why Total Law is here. We have a team of expert immigration lawyers who can advise and guide you through the entire application process, and ensure you are fully equipped and ready for your travels to Spain as a digital nomad. You can get in touch with us online, or call us on +1 844 290 6312. We are here to help.
Advice Package
Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.
Application Package
Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Fast Track Package
Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.
Appeal Package
Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.
The Advice Package
During this untimed Advice Session with our professional immigration lawyers in London, you will receive our comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.
The Appeal Package
By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
A tourist visa, also known as the Schengen Visa, is a short-term temporary visa that allows foreign nationals to travel to Spain and any other country that is part of the EU, EEA, or another Schengen country. It allows you to visit, conduct business meetings, travel for medical treatment, and various other commitments that are short-term and non-lucrative. It is valid for up to 90 days in 180 days.
The Digital nomad visa is a type ‘D’ long-term visa that legally allows you to work remotely in Spain and other EU countries. It includes being allowed a temporary residence permit and being able to live long-term in Spain.
Yes. You are allowed to include immediate family members (spouse and dependent children) in your application for a digital nomad visa so long as you can prove that you have the financial means to support everyone during your time in Spain.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Total Law before making any decisions based on the content provided.