Spain digital nomad visa: Complete guide 2026

What Is the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?

Spain's Digital Nomad Visa, officially known as the Visado de Teletrabajador de Carácter Internacional, was introduced in January 2023 under Spain's Startup Act. It is a long-stay visa that allows non-EU and non-EEA remote workers and freelancers to live legally in Spain while continuing to work for employers or clients based outside the country.

This guide covers who is eligible, what the visa allows, how to apply, and what to expect throughout the process.

Visa Requirements

Remote work: You must work remotely as an employee of a foreign company or as a self-employed freelancer with clients outside Spain. If you are self-employed, no more than 20% of your total professional income may come from Spanish clients. Your employer or company must have been in operation for at least one year, and you must have worked in your current role or maintained a professional relationship with your current clients for at least three months before applying.

Income: You must earn at least 200% of Spain's Minimum Wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional, or SMI), approximately €2,850 per month as of 2026. If you are bringing dependents, the requirement increases by 75% of the SMI for the first accompanying family member, and by 25% of the SMI for each additional member.

Qualifications: You must hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a recognized university or a business school, or have at least three years of professional experience in your field.

Criminal record: You must have a clean criminal record and must not have been in Spain illegally or been a resident there in the past five years.

What the Digital Nomad Visa Allows

Length of stay: The visa grants a three-year residence permit, renewable for a maximum total stay of five years.

Work: You can work remotely for foreign employers or international clients for the duration of your stay. As a self-employed holder, you may also take on Spanish clients as long as they account for no more than 20% of your total income.

Dependents: Your spouse or registered partner, dependent children, and dependent parents living with you can accompany you and receive residence permits for the same duration as yours.

Long-term residency: After five years of continuous legal residence in Spain, you may apply for long-term EU residency. After ten years, you may be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship.

Banking: Visa holders can open a bank account in Spain.

Travel: Visa holders can travel freely within the Schengen Area.

Documents You'll Need to Prepare

Have all documents ready before beginning your application. All foreign documents must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator (traductor jurado) and, unless issued by an EU member state, must carry the Hague Apostille or be legalized by the Spanish consulate in the issuing country.

Passport: A valid passport with at least one year of remaining validity and at least two blank pages, plus a photocopy of the biographical page.

Photograph: A recent passport-sized photograph.

Proof of fee payment: A receipt confirming payment of the visa fee.

Criminal record certificate: From every country in which you have resided in the past two years. Must be issued within the last six months, apostilled, and translated into Spanish.

Proof of income: Employment contract, recent payslips, and bank statements showing consistent income for employees. For self-employed applicants, client contracts, invoices, and bank statements are accepted. Income documentation must cover at least the past three months.

Proof of remote work authorization: For employees, a letter from your employer confirming your role, salary, and authorization to work remotely from Spain, along with proof that the company has been in operation for at least one year.

Qualifications: A copy of your university degree or professional certificate, or documentation confirming at least three years of relevant work experience.

Health insurance: A certificate from a provider authorized to operate in Spain, confirming coverage equivalent to Spain's public health system with no co-payments or deductibles.

Proof of residence in your consular district: Required if applying from abroad. Each consulate only accepts applications from people living within its jurisdiction, so you must prove you actually reside in the area it covers. A utility bill, rental contract, or government-issued ID showing your address is typically accepted.

For each dependent: A completed application form, a valid passport and photograph, documentary proof of the family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, or registered partnership certificate) apostilled and translated into Spanish, and a criminal record certificate for any dependent aged 18 or over.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Applications can be submitted in person at a Spanish consulate or embassy abroad, or electronically through the UGE-CE if you are already legally present in Spain.

Step 1: Determine which route applies to you

If you are outside Spain, you must apply at the Spanish consulate or embassy with jurisdiction over your place of residence.

If you are currently in Spain on a tourist stay, apply electronically through the UGE-CE. You will receive a three-year residence permit. Most applicants will need to submit through an authorized legal representative, such as an immigration lawyer.

Step 2: Obtain your NIE

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is an identification number assigned to foreigners for all legal, financial, and professional activity in Spain. If applying from abroad, it is typically assigned during the consulate process. If applying from within Spain, you obtain it at the foreigners' office or local police station.

For the full breakdown of the process, see our guide on how to get a Spanish NIE.

Step 3: Gather and prepare your documents

Collect all required documents as listed above.

Step 4: Submit your application and pay the fee

If applying from abroad, book an appointment at your local Spanish consulate or embassy. Attend in person, submit your full documentation, and pay the consular fee at the time of submission. Your passport will be retained during processing. Processing typically takes between 15 and 45 days, though appointment wait times vary by consulate. Once approved, you must collect your passport with the visa sticker in person, or through an authorized representative, within one month of notification.

If applying from within Spain, submit electronically through the UGE-CE platform. The UGE-CE is required to issue a decision within 20 working days.

Step 5: Enter Spain and obtain your TIE

If you applied from abroad, enter Spain within the validity period of your visa. Once in Spain, apply for your TIE (residence permit) at the local Policía Nacional station within 30 days of arrival. You will attend an appointment in person to provide biometric data. The TIE card typically takes 30 to 45 days to be issued after that appointment.

If you applied from within Spain, follow the same TIE process at the police station after your UGE-CE application is approved.

Renewing the Digital Nomad Visa

The initial one-year visa can be converted to a three-year residence permit upon arrival in Spain. That permit can then be renewed for a further two years, for a maximum total authorized stay of five years, after which you may apply for long-term EU residency.

To be eligible for renewal, you must continue to meet the original requirements, including income, health insurance, and remote working status. You must also demonstrate that you have been effectively residing in Spain. There is no officially defined minimum stay in the law, but in practice, immigration offices expect evidence of residence, and absences of more than six consecutive months may affect your renewal and your right to count time toward long-term residency.

The renewal application can be submitted from 60 days before your permit expires. Once submitted, you receive a proof of application that protects your right to remain and work in Spain while the renewal is being processed. You may also apply up to 90 days after expiry, but it is strongly advisable to submit before your permit runs out. Renewal is submitted online through the UGE-CE, and once approved, you must attend a police station in person to renew your TIE card.

Costs and Fees to Expect

Regardless of which route you take, obtaining your TIE costs €89.34 (€73.26 for the UGE-CE authorization plus €16.08 for the card itself), and €97.97 to renew (€78.67 plus €19.30). If applying from abroad, you also pay a consular fee of approximately €80 at the time of your consulate appointment. The NIE carries a separate fee of €9.84.

Budget separately for health insurance for the duration of your stay, your criminal record certificate and its apostille, and document translation and notarization costs, all of which vary depending on your country of origin and the number of documents required.

Taxes

 If you spend fewer than 183 days per year in Spain, you are not a tax resident and owe no Spanish tax on your income.

If you spend more than 183 days, you become a tax resident and are subject to Spanish income tax on your worldwide income. Employed holders who become tax residents may be eligible for Spain's Special Expat Tax Regime, commonly known as the Beckham Law, which exempts foreign-sourced income from Spanish tax entirely and applies a flat rate of 24% to Spanish-sourced income, rather than the standard progressive rates of up to 47%. This regime is generally available to employees rather than self-employed individuals, and must be applied for within six months of registering with Spanish Social Security. Tax rules are complex, and professional advice is strongly recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be employed by a company, or can I freelance?

Both are permitted. You can qualify as an employee of a foreign company or as a self-employed freelancer. If you are self-employed, no more than 20% of your total income may come from Spanish clients, and you must demonstrate an established professional relationship with your foreign clients for at least three months before applying.

Can I apply if I am already in Spain?

Yes. If you are legally present in Spain, for example, on a Schengen tourist visa, you can apply directly through the UGE-CE without first obtaining a consulate visa. This route results in a three-year residence permit and has a processing time of around 20 working days.

How long does processing take?

From abroad, processing typically takes between 15 and 45 days once the application is submitted. It should be noted that appointment wait times at some consulates can add weeks or even months to the overall timeline. From within Spain, the legal deadline for a decision is 20 working days.

What counts as proof of income?

For employees, a combination of your employment contract, recent payslips, and bank statements showing consistent deposits is typically accepted. For self-employed applicants, client contracts, invoices, and bank statements demonstrating regular income are the standard. The key is showing consistent income at or above the required threshold, not a one-off payment.

What health insurance do I need?

Your policy must be from a provider authorized to operate in Spain and cover all risks, with no co-payments or deductibles. Travel insurance does not qualify. The policy must cover you and any dependents for the full duration of your stay.

Does this visa lead to permanent residency?

Yes. After five years of continuous legal residence in Spain, you may apply for long-term EU residency. After ten years, you may be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship.

Do I need to speak Spanish to apply?

Spanish language ability is not an official requirement. However, much of the administrative process in Spain is conducted in Spanish.

Can I bring my family?

Yes. Your spouse or registered partner, dependent children, and dependent parents living with you can apply alongside you. For each additional dependent, the minimum income requirement increases. You will need an extra 75% of the SMI for your first dependent and an extra 25% for every dependent after that.