Spain Digital Nomad Visa

Spain - Digital Nomad Visa

The Spain digital nomad visa is a residence visa for digital nomads who want to live and work remotely from Spain. It implies you can relocate to Spain for at least a year but only work with companies outside the country.

Program Overview:

Spain offers the digital nomad visa (valid for a year) and the digital nomad residency permit (valid for three years) for remote workers. Both visas serve the same purpose, but you can get the digital nomad visa in your country, while you can only obtain the latter in Spain.

Additionally, the digital nomad residency permit can be renewed for two more years. However, if you want to continue working remotely long-term in Spain, consider getting a permanent residency visa or becoming a Spanish citizen. Note that you can only apply for a permanent residence visa after five years of your stay in Spain — find more details about this later.

As a result of the digital nomad visa, foreigners can work remotely from Spain on their laptops and still experience what it is like to reside there. In addition, the visa offers an excellent means for Spain to attract international talents to drive digital entrepreneurship.

You can either apply for a digital nomad visa within your home country or when you arrive in Spain via a tourist visa. Also, you can take your dependents along via the same digital nomad visa application.

Program Benefits:

Working in Spain as a digital nomad offers several immigration benefits:

Spain offers a specific visa for remote workers, allowing you to work and live legally in the country for up to one year, with the possibility of extension. This visa simplifies the immigration process.
The Spanish nomad visa doesn’t restrict the type of work you can do, giving you the flexibility to pursue various remote job opportunities and freelance work.
If you’re a digital nomad with a family, Spain’s digital nomad visa allows your dependents to join you, provided you meet the income requirements for each family member.
The digital nomad visa application process is relatively straightforward, requiring proof of income and a clean criminal record. You don’t need to make a significant investment or secure a job offer beforehand to satisfy the Spain digital nomad visa requirements.
Spain is part of the Schengen Area, granting you access to 26 European countries without the need for additional visas or permits during your stay.
While Spanish is the primary language, many Spaniards and expats speak English, and you can immerse yourself in a culture where you can improve your language skills while on the Spain remote work visa.

Requirements & Eligibility:

Proof of Income

To qualify for the Spain digital nomad permit, you must show that you can support yourself and your family when you move to Spain. You must demonstrate a minimum income of €2,160 per month or €25,920 annually, with varying requirements for families and dependents.

The minimum income requirement increases for dependents, with a family of two requiring €2,970 per month, a family of three needing €3,240 per month, and a family of four requiring €3,510 per month.

Your proof of income or employment contract must be for at least three months prior to filing.

However, if you are self-employed, you must show proof of current contracts for at least the last three months with an income of no less than 2,200 euros monthly.

You can also demonstrate your income through the following:

A bank statement showing your financial status and savings.
Your tax return statement or pay stubs.

The important thing here is to prove that you can care for yourself and your dependents (if applicable) while in Spain.

Health Insurance

If you apply in your home country, you will receive a digital nomad visa valid for a year. Therefore, you will need to prove your Spanish private health insurance valid within your first year in Spain.

On the other hand, if you are applying for a visa within Spain, you will receive a digital nomad residence visa, valid for three years, meaning your health insurance should be valid till then or renewed yearly.

Another condition for the health insurance requirement is that the insurance policy comes from an insurance company that is allowed to operate in Spain.

Additionally, your health insurance should be comprehensive and cover every medical expense that may arise during your stay.

Proof of Remote Worker Status

To obtain the Digital Nomad visa as a remote worker you need to prove your ability to work online from Spain, possess expertise in your field, show job stability for at least three months, have a well-established company with a one-year history, and ensure no more than 20% of your income comes from Spanish clients.

Background Check

While applying for digital nomad visas, you will be asked to prove your criminal record and also have your fingerprints taken.

A police clearance certificate from your state of residence should suffice. Depending on the consulate in your country, your document may need to be at most three months old and should be apostilled.

Who can apply?

The new digital nomad visa in Spain is intended for digital nomads with non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationality, such as the UK. On the other hand, a remote worker or freelancer from a European country can work in Spain for six months using only their passport.

However, they must obtain a resident Foreign Identity Number (NIE) to extend their stay in Spain. The NIE is a unique number for remote workers or a freelancer who wishes to reside in Spain for more than six months.

The digital nomad visa is a temporary residence visa for remote workers who are any of the following:

An employee at a company outside Spain.
A digital entrepreneur or freelancer who works with clients spread across the world.
A freelancer or an employee at a foreign company in Spain.

To succeed with your application, you must fulfil a minimum income requirement and pay the visa fee to succeed with your application.

Required Documents:

Applying Alone:

You will usually need to provide the following documents and information at your appointment:

Original and copy of your passport and copies of your family member’s passport.
Copy of employment contract, which must be for at least three months income prior to filing OR, if self-employed, proof of previous agreements, which is for at least three months of wage, no less than 2,200 euros per month.
Authorisation from employers that specifically allows you to work remotely in Spain regardless of one is employed or self-employed.
If self-employed, you must show ongoing or future contracts for at least several months and preferably a year from the filing.
Proof that the company you work for, if an employee, has been incorporated for no less than a year.
Proof that you have at least three years of work experience or have graduated from a renowned university, college or technical school.
Proof that work can be executed remotely.
Proof of health insurance.

You will be asked to provide other information, such as a criminal record certificate and a medical certificate.

The certificate indicates that you do not have a disease that could endanger public health. You will also be required to fill out appropriate administrative forms and pay relevant administrative fees.

Applying for Family

If you would like to take your dependents to Spain, you have to also provide the following for them:

Original and copy of the passport of your family member.
Proof of the familial relationship. For instance, a marriage certificate or equivalent and birth certificate(s).
Evidence that you have the means to support your whole family in Spain at the time of writing is 970 euros per month for the significant other and 330 euros per month per additional dependent.
Proof of health insurance.

Taxes:

Yes, but the tax system is advantageous for foreign digital nomads in Spain. As an expat digital nomad in Spain, you will be taxed through the improved Non-resident Income Tax Regime, which allows you to save tax.

Compared to the regular resident income tax rates (IRPF) in Spain, you will be paying much less on your income through the non–resident income tax (IRNR).

You will only pay 15 to 24% of your income with the non-resident visa, compared to the regular income tax of up to 48% on higher salaries.

Additionally, to be eligible for the non-resident tax, you should apply with the Spanish Tax Agency within the first six months after obtaining your digital nomad visa.