Spain's digital nomad visa, created by the 2022 Startups Law, lets non-EU remote workers live in Spain for up to three years initially, with a fast-track authority (the UGE-CE) that often decides in about 20 working days. You can apply from a Spanish consulate abroad or, more powerfully, from inside Spain on a tourist entry.
- Income to prove: roughly €2,650/month (200% of Spain's SMI), more with dependants.
- Work for companies outside Spain; if self-employed, max ~20% of income from Spanish clients.
- Apply at a consulate (1-year visa) or from inside Spain via the UGE-CE (3-year permit) — the in-Spain route is usually better.
- Decisions from the UGE-CE are fast: often ~20 working days, with positive silence if they don't reply.
Who is eligible
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who work remotely.
- Employees of a non-Spanish company, or freelancers whose clients are mostly outside Spain (Spanish-client income capped around 20%).
- A work history: at least 3 months with your current employer/clients, and the company must have existed for at least 1 year.
- A qualification: a relevant university degree or at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
- No irregular stay in Spain at the time of applying (for the in-country route, a legal tourist entry is fine).
The income requirement
Pegged to Spain's minimum wage (SMI), so confirm the current figure:
| Household | Approx. monthly income |
|---|---|
| Main applicant (200% SMI) | ~€2,650 |
| + first family member (+75% SMI) | ~€3,650 total |
| + each additional member (+25% SMI) | +~€330 each |
Show it with contracts, invoices, payslips and bank statements covering at least the last 3 months.
Documents you'll need
- Valid passport (with at least 1 year validity for the in-Spain route).
- Employment contract or client contracts, plus a letter from the employer authorising remote work.
- Proof the company has traded for at least a year (commercial registry extract).
- Proof of income (payslips / invoices / bank statements, 3+ months).
- Proof of qualification (degree, apostilled) or CV + references for the experience route.
- Criminal record certificate(s) for the last 5 years, apostilled and sworn-translated.
- Private health insurance with full coverage in Spain, no co-payments, or proof of social-security coverage (A1 / certificate of coverage).
- Form TA.0521 or registration with the Spanish social security as autónomo, where required.
- Application forms (EX-00 / national visa form) and fee payment (Modelo 790 038).
Valencia, Malaga, Las Palmas or central Barcelona — the cost gap is bigger than people expect. Compare them side by side.
Compare Spanish cities →Two routes: consulate or from Spain
- From a Spanish consulate in your country: you get a 1-year visa, then apply for a TIE card and 3-year permit after arriving.
- From inside Spain on a tourist stamp: you apply directly to the UGE-CE for a 3-year residence authorisation. Faster overall, and you skip the consulate queue — but you must apply while your tourist entry is still valid.
Most people I know who've done this in the last two years applied from inside Spain. The UGE-CE route is simply quicker.
The steps, in order
- Assemble and legalise documents (apostilles + sworn translations take the longest).
- Get a NIE (foreigner ID number) if you don't have one.
- Submit to the UGE-CE online (in-Spain route) or to the consulate (abroad route), and pay the fee.
- Wait ~20 working days for the UGE-CE; silence after the deadline is generally treated as approval.
- Register with social security as autónomo if self-employed, within the deadline.
- Book the TIE appointment, give fingerprints, and collect your residence card.
The Beckham Law angle
Spain's special expat regime (the "Beckham Law") can let qualifying new arrivals be taxed as non-residents — a flat 24% on Spanish-source employment income up to €600,000 — for up to six years, instead of progressive rates on worldwide income. Eligibility for digital-nomad-visa holders depends on your exact setup (employee vs autónomo, where the work is performed). This is worth a paid consultation with a Spanish asesor fiscal before you move, not a decision to wing.
Sources & official references
Always confirm rules and figures on the primary source before you act — these change often. Last reviewed August 2026.
- Spain UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) — digital nomad visa authority
- BOE — Ley 28/2022 (Startups Law), Spain
- Spain Ministry of Foreign Affairs — consular services & visas
- Spain — official electronic HQ for immigration procedures
- OECD — rules governing tax residence, by country
FAQ
How much income do I need for Spain's digital nomad visa?
About €2,650 per month (200% of Spain's minimum wage) for the main applicant, shown over at least three months, with roughly €1,000 more for the first dependant and ~€330 for each additional family member.
Can I apply for the Spain digital nomad visa from within Spain?
Yes. If you enter legally as a tourist, you can apply directly to the UGE-CE for a three-year residence authorisation while your tourist entry is still valid. It is generally faster than the consulate route.
How long does the Spain digital nomad visa take?
The UGE-CE typically decides in around 20 working days, and administrative silence after the legal deadline is generally treated as approval. Gathering apostilles and sworn translations beforehand takes far longer than the decision itself.
Do digital nomad visa holders qualify for the Beckham Law?
Sometimes. The special regime can offer a flat 24% rate on Spanish-source income for up to six years, but eligibility depends on whether you are an employee or autónomo and how the work is structured. Confirm with a Spanish tax adviser before moving.
About the author. I'm Alexandre. I've been running an online business from Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America since I left a desk job, and I write the guides on Start Digital Nomad from wherever I'm based that month. This is what I actually do — not theory — but I'm not a lawyer or a tax adviser, so treat the legal and tax sections as a starting point and confirm your own situation with a professional.
