What is the Digital Nomad Visa Spain?
The Digital Nomad Visa Spain (officially: autorización de residencia para trabajadores a distancia de carácter internacional) was introduced by Ley de Startups 28/2022 and came into force in January 2023. It allows employees of foreign companies and independent professionals with non-Spanish clients to live and work legally in Spain for up to 3 years, with the option to renew.
It was designed to attract international remote workers and is one of the most accessible remote work visas in Europe — with a relatively low income threshold and a fast UGE processing time of 20 business days.
Route A vs Route B — Which Applies to You?
There are two routes under the Digital Nomad Visa:
- Route A — Employee: You are employed by a foreign company (not Spanish) and your employer permits you to work remotely. You need an HR letter confirming remote work authorisation. You cannot work for Spanish companies.
- Route B — Self-employed: You work as a freelancer or independent professional, and all your clients are based outside Spain. You cannot have Spanish clients on this visa. If you want to work with Spanish clients, you need the Cuenta Propia permit instead.
Both routes use the same application form and are processed by UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas), but the supporting documents differ.
Income Requirements 2025
The minimum income threshold is 200% of Spain's minimum wage (SMI), calculated monthly. For 2024–2025, this is approximately:
- Solo applicant: €2,849/month
- +1 dependent (spouse or partner): add 75% of the IPREM per dependent
- +1 dependent child: add 25% of the IPREM per child
Required Documents
The exact document list depends on whether you're applying as an employee (Route A) or self-employed (Route B), and whether you're applying from Spain (residence permit) or from abroad (visa). Here is the core list:
- Valid passport (minimum 1 year remaining validity)
- Completed application form (official Extranjería/UGE forms)
- Proof of income for the last 12 months (bank statements, payslips or invoices)
- Employment contract or client contracts (non-Spanish clients only)
- HR authorisation letter confirming remote work (Route A only)
- Health insurance with full coverage in Spain (no co-payments, no minimum stay requirement)
- Criminal record certificate from country of residence (last 5 years, apostilled and translated)
- Proof of accommodation in Spain
Application Process — From Spain vs From Abroad
Applying from Spain (already legally present): You submit directly to UGE for the residence permit. Processing time: 20 business days. This is the faster and generally simpler route.
Applying from abroad: You first apply for the visa at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence, then enter Spain and apply for the TIE (physical residence card). Consulate timelines vary significantly — from 4 weeks to 3 months depending on the consulate.
How Long Does It Take?
- From Spain (UGE): 20 business days from complete submission
- From abroad (consulate): 4–12 weeks depending on consulate workload
- TIE appointment (after arrival): 2–8 weeks depending on province
Common Refusal Reasons
The most frequent reasons for refusal or deficiency notice (requerimiento) are:
- Income insufficient or unverified: Bank statements must show the income clearly and consistently. One-off payments or irregular income creates complications.
- Spanish clients for self-employed applicants: Any evidence of Spanish clients triggers ineligibility under Route B. Even a single Spanish invoice can cause refusal.
- Health insurance not compliant: Many travel insurance policies are rejected. The insurance must explicitly cover Spain, have no co-payments and no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
- HR letter not specific enough: A vague "permission to work remotely" letter is often insufficient. The letter must confirm the remote work arrangement, the salary and that the role is being performed from Spain.
- Criminal record not apostilled or translated: Documents from non-Schengen countries must be apostilled. All documents must be accompanied by a certified Spanish translation by a sworn translator.
Can My Family Join Me?
Yes. Spouse or registered partner and dependent children under 18 can be included in the same application. For family members, you need:
- Marriage certificate or proof of registered partnership (apostilled and translated)
- Birth certificates for children (apostilled and translated)
- Increased income evidence (approximately €3,300–€3,600/month for a couple)
Taxes on the Digital Nomad Visa — The Beckham Law
Digital Nomad Visa holders may be eligible for the Beckham Law (régimen especial para trabajadores desplazados, Art. 93 LIRPF) — a special tax regime that allows you to pay a flat 24% tax rate on Spanish-sourced income (instead of the progressive rate of up to 47%) for up to 6 years. Application must be made within 6 months of registering as a tax resident in Spain.
Ready to Apply?
The Digital Nomad Visa is one of the more straightforward Spanish permits — but the documentation requirements are specific and the margin for error is small. A complete, correct file submitted to UGE is processed in 20 business days. An incomplete file gets a requerimiento that adds weeks.