Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa, formally the international teleworker residence visa, was introduced by Law 28/2022, the Startups Law. It is designed for non-EU and non-EEA nationals who work remotely from Spain for businesses located outside the country. Depending on where you apply, it can provide an initial visa of up to one year or a residence authorisation of up to three years.
Who can qualify?
You must normally be a non-EU/EEA national with an employment or professional relationship with one or more companies outside Spain. The overseas company or companies should have been operating for at least one year, and your relationship with the relevant business should generally have existed for at least three months before applying. You must also show that the work can genuinely be performed remotely using telecommunications and computer systems.
Applicants need either a university or postgraduate qualification from a recognised institution, a qualification from a reputable business school, or at least three years of relevant professional experience. The work must be performed for companies outside Spain, although freelancers may provide services to Spanish clients if income from Spanish businesses does not exceed 20% of their total professional activity.
You must be an adult, have a clean criminal record for the required period, hold valid health cover or demonstrate access to the Spanish Social Security system, and show sufficient financial resources. Applicants should also meet the usual requirements concerning lawful entry, medical fitness and the absence of an entry ban in Spain or the Schengen area.
Minimum income requirements
The financial threshold is linked to Spain’s legally established minimum interprofessional wage, known as the SMI, so the euro amount can change when the government updates the SMI. The principal applicant must show income equivalent to at least 200% of the current SMI. A spouse or qualifying partner and the first additional family member require a further 75% of the SMI, while each additional family member generally requires 25% more.
For practical planning, calculate the threshold using the current SMI published by the Spanish government and check whether the consulate or the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit, known as UGE-CE, expresses it as monthly or annual income. Bank statements, employment contracts, invoices, payslips and tax returns can help demonstrate regular earnings. Savings may support an application but do not necessarily replace the required recurring income, so confirm the evidence accepted by the authority handling your case.
Remote-work rules
The visa is not a general permission to take a local Spanish job. Employees must normally remain employed by a foreign company, while self-employed applicants must retain their qualifying foreign professional clients. A Spanish company can be part of a freelancer’s portfolio, but Spanish-derived work must stay within the 20% limit.
Your employer may need to register with the Spanish Social Security system and comply with Spanish employment obligations, unless an applicable international social-security arrangement allows another solution. Freelancers generally need to register as self-employed in Spain, known as autónomo, and deal with the relevant Social Security contributions. These issues can be technical, particularly for employers in countries without a suitable agreement, so obtain specialist advice before applying.
How to apply
If you are outside Spain, you can apply through the Spanish consulate responsible for your place of legal residence. A consular visa is generally issued for up to one year. Check the consulate’s appointment system and document checklist because procedures and presentation requirements can vary.
If you are legally in Spain, you may apply online to UGE-CE for an international teleworker residence authorisation. This route can grant up to three years of residence. Applications commonly include a passport, photographs, proof of legal status in Spain, the employment or service contract, evidence of the company’s existence and activity, proof of qualifications or experience, income evidence, health-cover documentation and criminal-record certificates. Foreign public documents usually need an apostille or legalisation and an official Spanish translation.
After approval, applicants using the residence-authorisation route normally apply for a Foreigner Identity Card, or TIE, at the relevant police station. The authorisation can generally be renewed for two-year periods if the qualifying work, income and other conditions continue. Absences from Spain can affect renewals and future long-term residence, so track travel carefully.
Family members
The main applicant can usually include a spouse or unmarried partner, dependent children, and dependent relatives in the ascending line, such as parents. Family applications may be made together or later, subject to documentary evidence of the relationship and financial dependency where relevant. Family members receive residence rights connected to the main applicant’s authorisation; check the specific resolution to confirm whether a particular family member has work rights, especially before starting employment.
Beckham Law and tax for digital nomads
Eligible digital nomads may be able to choose Spain’s special tax regime for inbound workers, commonly called the Beckham Law regime. It can tax qualifying employment income at a flat 24% up to approximately 600,000 euros per tax year, with a higher rate applying above that level. The regime can apply for the arrival year and five following tax years, provided its conditions are met.
It is not automatic with the visa. The applicant must become Spanish tax resident, satisfy the statutory conditions and make the election through the Spanish Tax Agency, Agencia Tributaria, normally using Modelo 149 within the applicable deadline. The regime’s treatment of investment income, property, wealth and family finances differs from ordinary Spanish taxation. Seek advice from a Spanish tax professional before choosing it, particularly if you retain assets or income abroad.
Once you understand the immigration, Social Security and tax consequences, explore local businesses and services in our directory to make settling into life in Spain easier.