What the Digital Nomad Visa is
Spain's visa and residence permit for international remote workers have been available since the end of 2022. They allow non-EU nationals to live in Spain while working remotely for a foreign company or providing professional services mainly to clients outside Spain.
The permit grants the right to reside and work, extends to family members, and counts towards long-term residence and, later, citizenship.
Who it suits
- Employees of foreign companies working fully remotely.
- Freelancers and self-employed professionals with clients outside Spain.
- Professionals with a university degree or at least three years of experience in their field.
- Families: a spouse or registered partner and minor children can apply together or join later.
Key requirements
- Genuine remote work for a company or clients established outside Spain.
- An employment or service relationship of at least three months, with a company active for at least one year.
- Evidenced income: around €2,849 per month for the main applicant, plus around €1,069 per month for the first family member and around €357 per month for each additional family member.
- These figures are indicative and depend on the amount in force on the application date. The current financial threshold should be checked before filing.
- For freelancers: no more than 20% of income from Spanish clients.
- A university or business-school degree, or three years of professional experience.
- Social security requirements depend on whether the applicant is employed or works as an independent professional, on the employer's country and on whether cover can be maintained in a foreign system. In some cases registration with the Spanish social security system is required. Whether private health insurance is needed is assessed separately, case by case.
- A criminal record certificate covering the last five years, apostilled and sworn-translated.
Two routes: consulate or the UGE in Spain
From your country of residence you apply at a Spanish consulate: the visa is granted for up to one year and is exchanged for a residence card after arrival.
If you are already in Spain legally (for example as a tourist), you can apply directly to the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE-CE). This route is usually faster and the permit is granted for three years straight away.
Step-by-step process
- Step 1. Profile review: contract, income, education and experience.
- Step 2. Document gathering: apostilles, sworn translations, certificates, statements.
- Step 3. NIE and digital certificate (for UGE applications).
- Step 4. Filing the application and paying the fee (tasa 038 / 790).
- Step 5. Decision: usually within 20 working days, with positive administrative silence.
- Step 6. Town-hall registration (empadronamiento), fingerprint appointment and TIE card.
Family members
The following may apply alongside the main applicant or join later: a spouse; a registered partner; a partner in an evidenced stable relationship; minor children; adult children who are financially dependent on the applicant and have not formed a family of their own; and dependent parents where the established conditions are met.
Not every relative can be included in the application: each case is assessed separately. Each additional family member requires higher income — around €1,069 per month for the first and around €357 per month for each further member.
These figures are indicative and depend on the amount in force on the application date. The current financial threshold should be checked before filing.
Renewal and the path to permanent residence
The initial UGE permit lasts three years and is renewed for two more if the conditions still hold. After five years of continuous legal residence you can apply for long-term residence; for nationals of certain countries the route to citizenship is shorter.
Avoid long absences from Spain if naturalisation is the goal.
Common mistakes
- One-off contracts instead of an ongoing relationship — the three-month rule fails.
- Proving income with bank statements only, without a contract or invoices.
- Freelancers exceeding 20% of turnover from Spanish clients.
- Insurance with co-payments, waiting periods or tourist-only coverage.
- Expired apostilles or translations that are not sworn.