Now is the time of the remote worker. It’s an era when millions of professionals find themselves free to live anywhere they want, so long as they have an internet connection.
As these so-called digital nomads hop around the globe, many countries are actively courting them to their shores—boosting their economies and growing their cultural capital.
Spain has recently joined the growing number of European countries making a bid for this new transitory professional class. This campaign to attract them all centers on their Digital Nomad Visa.
The program was launched through the “Startup Law” (Law 28/2022)—which followed in the footsteps of countries like Portugal, Malta, and Croatia. The law created a number of incentives for entrepreneurial types to move to the country, including the Digital Nomad Visa.
The visa provides non-EU remote workers with a legal pathway to live and work from Spain (as long as they maintain employment with foreign companies). It gives visa holders the chance to enjoy the benefits of Spain and free travel throughout Europe—and it even sets the stage for full Spanish citizenship.
Use the guide below to determine your own eligibility, discover next steps, and learn what the transition will be like.
Are You Eligible?
Though Spain is a latecomer to the Digital Nomad Visa game, its major appeal is its already strong economy and culture combined with generally easy-to-clear requirements.
Here are the requirements:
- Be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen and not have been a Spanish resident in the past five years.
- Work remotely for a company or clients based outside Spain. (If you’re a freelancer, you can’t earn more than 20% of your income from Spanish clients.)
- Have worked with their foreign employer or clients for at least three months before applying.
- Hold a university degree or have at least three years of professional experience in their field.
- Meet the minimum income requirement of 200% of Spain’s minimum wage (~€2,300/month or about $2,408—but this number goes up every year).
- Provide a clean criminal record
- Have private health insurance covering their stay in Spain.
- Register with Spanish Social Security, unless your home country has a social security agreement with Spain (the U.S. does, so an American would not need to do this).
- Apply for a Foreigner’s Identification Number (NIE).
Application Process
1. Documentation
Get these documents together to apply:
- A completed visa application form (find a PDF for the national visa form here)
- Valid passport good for at least one year
- Passport-size photo (color photo with a clear background)
- Proof of qualifications (degree certificate or proof of three years of work experience)
- Proof of employment (a letter from your employer confirming remote work and contract duration or, for freelancers, business registration and client contracts)
- Proof of income (pay slips, bank statements, or invoices verifying at least €2,300/month)
- Health insurance certificate covering all medical expenses in Spain
- Criminal record certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish
- NIE Number (Foreigner’s Identification Number)
3. Application
Before getting to the application, you need to know where you’ll apply. In Spain, applicants have two options:
- Apply at a Spanish consulate or embassy in your home country. This is highly recommended for those applying before going to Spain.
- Apply in Spain (within 90 days of arrival on a tourist visa). If you go this route, you can apply for a residence permit right away, which allows for a three-year stay.
With that settled, you’ll take these steps to finish out the application:
- Submit abroad at a Spanish consulate—in-country applications can be done online with the UGE portal
- Pay the application fee (€75–€90) at the time of submission
- Provide biometrics (fingerprints and photo)
- The processing time is typically 10–15 business days for consular applications and up to 20 working days for in-country approvals
4. Obtain Your Visa and Residence Card (TIE)
- If applying from abroad, successful applicants receive a 90-day entry visa. Upon arrival in Spain, they must apply for a Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) residence card within 30 days.
- If applying from Spain, the TIE process begins immediately after approval.
Tax Implications
Tax Residency Rules
Knowing if you’ll owe taxes on income to Spain is all based on your tax residency status. If you reside in Spain for 183+ days per year, you are considered a tax resident. In that case, you’ll need to pay Spanish taxes on worldwide income.
But, if you come from a country that has a tax treaty with Spain, you’ll avoid double taxation. And you’ll be taxed using the Beckham Law—a flat 24% tax on Spanish income (up to €600,000), which is significantly lower than standard progressive rates.
If you end up a tax resident and want to know more about avoiding double taxation, check out this guide for tax liability in Spain as a dual citizen.
Social Security Contributions
Digital nomads must register with Spanish Social Security and contribute monthly unless covered by a bilateral agreement with their home country. The U.S. has a totalization agreement with Spain, so if you are American, you don’t owe Social Security.
Self-employed workers must register as autónomos and pay contributions (~€300+/month).
Cost of Living
Spain offers a high quality of life at a moderate cost.
To get a better picture of just exactly how moderate, here are estimated monthly expenses:
- Rent: Madrid/Barcelona (€900–€1,300), Valencia/Málaga (€600–€900), smaller towns (€400–€700)
- Utilities & Internet: €100–€150
- Groceries: €150–€250
- Dining Out: €10–€25 per meal
- Public Transport: €40–€60 monthly pass
- Private Health Insurance: €30–€100 per month
Welcome to the Digital Nomads
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa is one of the most competitive in Europe, and it’s a great pathway to full citizenship.
As that renewal date approaches, you might even be wondering how you can leverage this residency into full dual citizenship.
Check out our guide on how to get Spanish dual citizenship.
