Spain Digital Nomad Visa | Freelance Visa in Spain | Calling All Remote Workers

In January 2023, Spain launched their Digital Nomad Visa as part of the new Startup Act, a group of measures designed to encourage entrepreneurship and foreign investment. New Spain remote work visa allows non-EU/EEA remote workers and freelancers to live and work in Spain for up to 12 months in the first instance, renewable for up to five years.

Applicants must prove that they have a minimum income of €2,400 per month to apply, with higher income brackets if they will be accompanied by a partner or children.

Remote workers must also show that they have a stable contract, that they have permission from their company to work in Spain, and that their company has been in business for at least one year. Unlike many other Digital Nomad Visas, up to 20% of a freelancer’s income can come from Spanish clients.

Successful applicants will also be eligible to apply for a Spanish residency permit, which will enable them to travel around the European Union. Most visa holders will become tax residents and are eligible to pay a special reduced tax rate of 24% on income up to €600,000 per year. Spain has double taxation agreements with 90 other countries.

Who Can Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain?

Applications for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa are open to non-EU/EEA citizens. Citizens of the European Union and European Economic Area do not need a DNV to work remotely in Spain.

United States citizens and Green Card holders, as well as citizens from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, are all eligible to apply. You can apply at a Spanish embassy in your country or enter Spain as a visa-free tourist and apply well before your 90-day visitation period has expired.

Spain has double taxation agreements with the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all European Union countries, so you will not need to pay tax on your international income twice if you become a Spanish tax resident.

Spain Digital Nomad Visa Requirements

Below is a detailed list of the eligibility requirements for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa, which is open to all remote workers, Freelancers, and self-employed individuals who are not EU/EEA citizens.

Proof of Remote Worker Status

First, you must prove that you are a remote worker who can complete your job in Spain via an internet connection. While there are no specific restrictions when it comes to the type of work that you are engaged in, you must prove that you have specific expertise in your field. This can be demonstrated with a university degree, professional certificate, or proof of three years of work experience.

In addition to demonstrating expertise, you must show that your work is stable and well-established. This means that you must have been employed in the job for at least three months, and remote workers should show that they have a contract for the duration of their proposed stay in Spain. Freelancers can show long-term contracts as evidence of their stability.

Remote workers must also demonstrate that the company that they work for has been in business for at least one year.

Unlike many other DNVs, which require that all of your income comes from sources outside of the country, the Spanish DNV allows freelancers and self-employed individuals to work for Spanish clients as long as it does not make up more than 20% of their overall income.

Proof of Financial Self-Sufficiency

You must be able to demonstrate that your work provides you with sufficient income to support yourself while living in Spain. The minimum rate has currently been set at 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (€1,080). Be aware that Spain is currently revising their minimum wage, so current figures may change.

An individual applying for the Spain DNV visa must show earnings of at least:

• €2,400 per month
• €28,800 per year

There are different minimum wage brackets if you will be accompanied by a partner or children. The income bracket goes up 75% for the first person accompanying you (whether a spouse or child), and an additional 25% for each individual after that.

You should provide bank statements, payslips, and employment contracts as proof of your income.

Full Health Insurance

As a digital nomad or remote worker living in Spain for the long term, you're required to obtain Spanish public health insurance. For the time being, applicants must obtain full health insurance for themselves from a Spain health insurance provider and any family members who accompany them for the full duration of their proposed stay in Spain.

You can find our recommendations for the best travel insurance and health insurance plans for digital nomads here .

Clean Criminal Record

Applicants for the Spanish DNV must be able to show that they have a clean criminal record from all the countries that they have lived in for the last five years. The form of proof that can be provided depends on the type of documentation used in the relevant country.

Remember that your document should be translated into Spanish by an approved body and officialized for international use with an Apostille.

Minimum Stay Requirement

To be eligible for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa you should not have lived in Spain for the last five years. You also cannot apply from Spain if you are currently there illegally.

There is no minimum period for your initial visa application or stay in Spain. However, if you intend to renew your DNV, you must have stayed in Spain for at least six months within 12 months.

How to Apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa – Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Acquire All The Necessary Documents

The first step in putting together your Spanish Digital Nomad Visa application is to gather all the relevant documentation. Some documents must be made official with an Apostille to be used internationally.

Below is a list of the required documents:

• Completed copy of the National Visa Application Form (one for each person)
• Valid passport with one-year validity and two blank pages
• Two passport photos
• Proof of suitable employment (work contract, letter from employer confirming that you can work remotely)
• Proof that your employer/company has been active for at least one year
• Proof of income (payslips, work contract, bank statements)
• Proof of qualifications (university degree, professional certificate, or evidence of at least three years of experience)
• Proof of health insurance authorized to operate in Spain
• Criminal record check certificates for the last five years (with Apostille and copy)
• Proof of familial relationship to other applicants (marriage certificate, birth certificate)

Requirements for Spanish translations of documents may vary depending on where you make your application. Some consulates will accept documents in the local language (e.g. English in the United States), but others require Spanish translations. Translations should be made by an officially recognized translation service. Your local embassy or consulate can provide you with a list of approved providers.

Step 2 – Book an Appointment & Pay the Visa Fee

Applications for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa must be made in person at your local Spanish Embassy or Consulate. How to book an appointment depends on your local embassy , and you should visit their website for specific details.

In most cases, you will probably be asked to make an appointment via email. You will be instructed to include the following information and documents in your email:

• Your full name
• A photo of you holding your passport
• Passport details
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Current contact address (local)
• The type of visa that you are applying for
• Information about any associated applicants

Once you have provided this information, you can expect to receive a link to select your appointment day and time, and information for paying your visa fee. You can expect to get an appointment date roughly two weeks after you get in contact with the embassy.

They will also provide you with information to pay the visa fee, which will probably take the form of a bank deposit. The fee varies between different countries but is usually around €80.

Step 3 – Attend Your Appointment

Attend your appointment at the Spanish embassy or consulate with your full documentation and be prepared to answer any initial questions that the interviewer might have based on a preliminary review of your documents.

You will be required to leave your passport at the embassy or consulate while they are assessing your application. Copies of your documents will likely be taken or confirmed during your appointment so that you can take your original documentation with you.

Step 4 – Wait and Collect Your Visa

You can expect it to take between 15 and 45 days for your visa application to be processed. You may be given a link to track the progress of your application, and you may be asked to submit additional documentation if required.

You will receive a notification via email when your application has been approved.

If your application is approved, you have one month to collect your visa from the embassy or consulate. There is usually a daily time slot when you can “drop in” to the embassy and collect your passport.

If your visa is refused, you will be notified in writing and receive information about why the application was rejected. You have one month to file an appeal with additional documentation following a refusal. The visa fee is non-refundable.

Step 5 – Apply for your NIE and NIF

While in Spain, you will require an NIE, a national identity number, and an NIF, a tax number required to open a bank account and to make significant purchases. You can either apply for these at your local embassy before heading to Spain or after your arrival. It is generally easier to apply once you are in Spain.

In Spain, you can apply for your NIE at the Foreigner’s Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) or Police Station, for which you should make an online appointment. You will need:

• Your valid passport with visa
• Three passport photos
• A completed application form with three copies (in Spanish)
• Proof of address in Spain
• Receipt for payment of the administration fee (usually €10-20)

It can take up to three months for your NIE number and residency card to be issued after your appointment, and you will be advised when you can return to collect your card.

Your NIF can be obtained by visiting the Spanish Tax Agency; there is no need to make an appointment, and there is no fee. When visiting the agency, you should bring:

• Form 030 completed (in Spanish)
• Your passport
• Your tax identification number from your country of residence
• Proof of local residency

You should receive your NIF within five working days of visiting the Spanish Tax Agency. While you will receive a card with your number on it, this is not an official document. However, you will be required to include your NIF on many official documents such as rental agreements, electricity and Wi-Fi contracts, and so on.

Updated: May 6th, 2024

As of the current update, we advise only U.S. nationals who are freelancers or business owners (1099) to apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa (DNV). Unfortunately, we do not recommend that W2 employees apply for the Spain DNV at this time. However, we are available to assist W2 employees in applying for similar visas in many other European countries. Please note that Spain's regulatory environment is subject to frequent changes; we will keep you updated on any new developments.