Spain digital nomad visa

Key requirements

Income rules are in euros as a multiple of Spain’s minimum wage (SMI) and rise if you have dependents. The USD figures here are only a rough planning guide.

• Income we use for estimates~$3,000 / month (estimate)
• SavingsNot modeled as required
• Accepted income typesRemote salary, Freelance income
• Remote work allowedYes
• Local employment allowedNo
• Health insuranceUsually required
• Criminal record checkUsually required
• Accommodation proofUsually required
• Bank accountUsually required
• Processing (rough)Often a few months; varies by embassy

When to get your Spanish tax number (NIE) varies by embassy. Follow the checklist for the post that covers where you live, not only your passport country.

1. 1

   Check passport and remote-work story

   Confirm passport validity, that you legally live where you will apply, and that your role is genuine remote work for clients or employers abroad.

2. 2

   Show degree or three years experience

   Prepare a recognised diploma or proof of at least three years of professional experience that matches the remote role you will do from Spain.

3. 3

   Prove your job or freelance work

   Employees need a letter showing at least three months with the foreign company plus permission to work remotely. Freelancers need contracts showing remote work and who pays them.

   • •The employer or company often must show it has existed at least one year.
4. 4

   Document income at the SMI level

   Use bank statements, payslips, or invoices to show stable gross income at the published threshold for you and any dependents.

   • •Budget above the minimum if your currency often moves against the euro.
5. 5

   Track Spanish vs foreign income

   If you invoice Spanish clients, stay within the legal share of your total income. Officers may ask for totals across the last year.

6. 6

   Get police records stamped and translated

   Order criminal records from countries the embassy lists, then apostille and translate into Spanish where required.

7. 7

   Buy private health insurance for Spain

   Your policy must cover Spain with no co-pays or deductibles that fail the embassy’s “similar to public healthcare” test unless a treaty applies.

8. 8

   Complete visa forms and Social Security

   Fill in the long-stay application, photos, fees, and the declaration on Spanish Social Security, or A1 paperwork if a treaty exempts you.

9. 9

   Attend your embassy appointment

   Submit originals and copies as instructed. The embassy may keep your passport until the visa is ready. Processing time varies by post.

10. 10

    Enter Spain and get your TIE card

    After entry within visa validity, give fingerprints and apply for your foreigner identity card (TIE) at the office your province uses.

    • •Register your address (empadronamiento) when local rules require it before the TIE appointment.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Spanish rules, minimum wage amounts, and embassy checklists change often. Confirm every figure with your embassy and qualified counsel before you apply.

Pathway last reviewed: 2026-05-15

Citizenship & nationality

This visa is for remote workers who are not EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens. EU citizens can live in Spain under free movement and do not need this visa. In 2026 embassies still disagree on how much of your work must be for clients outside Spain.

• •If you are not an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, you usually apply from the country where you legally live. You may need police certificates from every country you lived in recently, with official stamps and translations.
• •Applicants from the UK, US, Canada, and Latin America are common in 2026. Big cities often have few appointment slots.
• •Sanctions, security concerns, or a past removal from the Schengen area can block approval even with strong income. Tell a lawyer early if any of that applies.
• •You can usually add family members if you show higher income and proof they depend on you.

Check the Spanish embassy for where you live (not only your passport country) for 2026 appointment rules and which documents need translation.

Best for

• •Remote workers looking for a formal digital nomad visa
• •Remote employment or freelance income from outside the host country
• •People planning to stay several years with a clear residence record

Long-term path

• Permanent residence: Yes
• Citizenship: Possible, but depends on your case

To renew, you must still meet income rules. Spain may count you as a tax resident if you stay more than six months, even when you work remotely from Spain.

Practical difficulty

medium

Rough guide only. Your case depends on papers, timing, and rule changes.

Rated medium because embassies interpret rules differently and you need clear contracts, invoices, or employer letters showing most work is outside Spain.