Spain Digital Nomad Visa Guide

Spain''s Digital Nomad Visa (officially the Visado para Teletrabajadores de Carácter Internacional) launched in 2023 under the Startups Law. It lets non-EU/EEA remote workers and freelancers live in Spain for up to five years while working for companies based outside the country.

This guide covers eligibility, the exact income requirement, health insurance, the criminal record check, taxes, application steps, and what to do once you arrive.

Who the visa is for

You qualify if you:

• Are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen.
• Work remotely for companies based outside Spain (employee), or freelance with mostly non-Spanish clients (up to 20% of your income may come from Spanish clients).
• Have at least 3 years of professional experience in your field, OR a university/postgraduate degree from a recognised institution, OR equivalent professional training.
• Have worked with your current employer/clients for at least 3 months, and your employer has been operating for at least 1 year.
• Have no criminal record in the last 5 years.

Income requirement (2025)

You must earn at least 200% of Spain''s monthly minimum wage (SMI). For 2025, the SMI is €1,184/month × 14 payments = €16,576/year, so the minimum is:

• €2,762 per month (≈ €33,150/year) for the main applicant.
• +75% of SMI (€1,036/month) for the first family member (spouse).
• +25% of SMI (€346/month) for each additional dependant.

Show this with the last 3 months of payslips, your employment contract, or freelance invoices and bank statements.

Health insurance

You need private health insurance with full coverage in Spain from an insurer authorised to operate in the country. The policy must:

• Have no co-payments or deductibles for the covered services.
• Have no waiting periods for the main services.
• Provide coverage equivalent to Spain''s public health system.

Common providers used by applicants include Sanitas, Adeslas, DKV, Cigna Global, and Allianz Care. Travel insurance is not accepted.

Criminal record check

You need a criminal record certificate from every country you''ve lived in for 6 months or more in the last 5 years. The certificate must be:

• Apostilled (Hague Convention) or legalised by the relevant Spanish consulate.
• Translated into Spanish by a sworn translator if it''s not already in Spanish.
• Issued within the last 3 months before submission.

You''ll also sign a sworn statement declaring no criminal record in the last 5 years.

Other documents

• Valid passport (with at least 1 year validity).
• Proof of qualifications (degree certificate or 3+ years of work experience).
• Employment contract or freelance client contracts showing remote work.
• Letter from your employer authorising remote work from Spain, OR proof of freelance activity.
• Proof of Spanish address (rental contract or hotel booking is fine for the initial application).
• Proof of payment of the visa fee.

Taxes — the 24% flat rate

Digital Nomad Visa holders can opt into Spain''s special expat tax regime (often called "Beckham Law"). If approved, you pay a flat 24% on Spanish-source income up to €600,000/year (47% above that) for up to 6 years, instead of the standard progressive rates that reach 47%.

You must apply within 6 months of registering with Spanish Social Security.

You''ll also need to register for Social Security (TGSS). Most non-EU remote workers without a totalisation agreement pay Spanish Social Security contributions; if you''re from the US, UK, or another country with a bilateral agreement, you may stay on your home country''s system using a Certificate of Coverage.

How to apply — two paths

From outside Spain (consulate)

1. Book an appointment at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence.
2. Submit the application with all documents.
3. Decision in up to 10 working days (often faster).
4. Pick up the visa, fly to Spain, and within 30 days register for your TIE (residence card).

This visa is issued for 1 year initially and is converted to a residence permit once you''re in Spain.

From inside Spain (UGE-CE)

If you''re already in Spain legally (e.g. on a tourist visa), you can apply directly to the Large Companies and Strategic Collectives Unit (UGE-CE) for a 3-year residence permit, renewable for 2 more (max 5 years total).

1. Submit your application online via the Mercurio platform.
2. Decision in up to 20 working days — silence is considered approval.
3. Get your fingerprints taken at a police station and collect your TIE.

The in-country route is faster and gets you a longer initial permit, which is why most applicants use it.

Costs

• Visa/permit fee: around €75–€85.
• TIE card fee: around €16.
• Sworn translations: €30–€60 per document.
• Apostille: varies by country (often free or under €50).
• Health insurance: €50–€150/month depending on age and coverage.

Bringing family

Your spouse/partner and dependent children can apply together with you or join later. You''ll need extra income (see above), proof of relationship (marriage/birth certificates, apostilled and translated), and health insurance for each family member.

After approval — what to do in Spain

1. Register your address (empadronamiento) at the local town hall.
2. Get your NIE (foreigner ID number) if you don''t already have one.
3. Register for the TIE (residence card) within 30 days of arrival.
4. Register with Social Security and apply for the Beckham Law regime within 6 months.
5. Open a Spanish bank account (most banks require the TIE).

Renewals

• Consulate route: 1-year visa → renew for 2 years → renew for 2 more years (5 years total).
• UGE-CE route: 3-year permit → renew for 2 years (5 years total).

After 5 years of legal residence, you can apply for long-term residency. After 10 years (2 years for citizens of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, or Sephardic Jews), you can apply for Spanish citizenship.

Common rejection reasons

• Income below the €2,762/month threshold.
• Health insurance with co-payments or limited coverage.
• Criminal record certificate older than 3 months or missing apostille.
• More than 20% of income from Spanish clients (freelancers).
• Employer hasn''t been operating for at least 1 year.

Is the Spain Digital Nomad Visa worth it?

For most remote workers earning over €2,800/month, yes. You get 5 years of residence, a path to permanent residency and citizenship, EU travel access via the Schengen Area, and one of the most affordable lifestyles in Western Europe outside Madrid and Barcelona. The Beckham Law''s 24% flat tax makes it especially attractive for higher earners.

The paperwork is heavy and Spanish bureaucracy can be slow, but the UGE-CE route in particular is one of the fastest digital nomad visa processes in Europe.