Spain Digital Nomad Visa
The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa allows non-EU citizens to live and work in Spain while working for companies outside of Spain.
For: Remote workers, freelancers, and employees of non-Spanish companies.Estimated Timeline
2-4 months
The Application Process
Step by step, from start to approval.
Initial Assessment
Choose between applying from your home country at a Spanish consulate (a 1-year visa that you swap for a TIE after arrival) or from inside Spain on a tourist stamp through UGE-CE in Madrid (a 3-year residence card issued directly). Then assemble your evidence pack. Most applicants spend 4 to 8 weeks gathering and apostilling documents.
- Apostilled criminal-record certificate covering every country you've lived in for the last 5 years. These are usually valid for 90 days only, so don't request them too early.
- Apostilled university degree, or a signed letter from your employer confirming 3+ years of relevant professional experience.
- Employment contract or self-employment proof showing the working relationship is at least 12 months old, plus your last 3 months of payslips and bank statements.
- A document confirming your employer has been operating for at least 12 months (incorporation certificate or equivalent).
- Sworn translation (traducción jurada) into Spanish for every document not originally in Spanish.
Application Submission
If you're applying from abroad, you book an appointment at the Spanish consulate that covers your area of residence and submit in person. If you're applying from inside Spain, the file is uploaded to UGE-CE in Madrid and reviewed without an interview, which is usually the faster route.
- Government fee is approximately €80 for the consular visa, or €74 for the in-country residence file (Modelo 790-038).
- In-Spain applications are typically resolved within 20 working days, with a positive default if the office misses that deadline.
- Consular timelines vary by country: expect 1 to 3 months from appointment to decision.
- You'll need a Spanish NIE number for the in-country route. A tax representative can request it on your behalf if you're not yet in Spain.
Visa Approval
Approvals from UGE-CE arrive by email and grant a 3-year residence permit covering the main applicant and any family members included on the file. Consular approvals come back as a stamp in your passport that's valid for 1 year and lets you enter Spain to register.
- Spouses, registered partners, and dependent children can be added to the same file, or join later through family reunification.
- If your application is denied, you have 1 month to file an administrative appeal before the courts become the next step.
- Common rejection reasons: income calculated net rather than gross, an employer relationship under 12 months old, or contracts that look like local Spanish employment in disguise.
TIE Application
Once you're in Spain, you have 30 days to attend a fingerprint appointment at a National Police station. Your physical TIE card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is typically ready 30 to 45 days later and you collect it from the same station.
- Register your local address at the town hall (empadronamiento) before booking the police appointment. You'll need a rental contract or property deed.
- Bring your original passport, the €16.08 fee receipt (Modelo 790-012), and a recent passport-style photo to the appointment.
- If you applied from abroad on the 1-year visa, the police step exchanges it for a 3-year TIE that's renewable for another 2 years.
- Once you have the TIE, you can register with social security, enrol in public healthcare if eligible, and apply for the special 24% flat-tax regime within 6 months of arrival.
Core Requirements
What you need to qualify for this visa.
Minimum income of 200% of the Spanish Minimum Wage (SMI), approximately €2,520/month
University degree or at least 3 years of professional experience in your field
Proof of remote work for at least 3 months
Contract with a non-Spanish company (at least 1 year old)
Clean criminal record for the past 5 years
Private health insurance with full coverage in Spain
Do You Qualify?
Answer a few quick questions to see if you meet the key requirements for this visa.
Do you earn at least 200% of the Spanish Minimum Wage (approximately €2,763/month) from remote work?
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