How it works

Digital Nomad Visa in Spain

Live in Spain. Work remotely. Stay compliant.

Digital Nomad Visa in Spain

1. What is the procedure?

The Digital Nomad Visa is a residence permit that allows non-EU citizens to live in Spain while working remotely for companies or clients located outside the country.

Introduced under Spain’s Startup Law, this permit was created to attract international talent, entrepreneurs, and remote professionals seeking long-term stability in Spain without giving up their foreign professional activity.

Unlike a tourist visa, the Digital Nomad Visa allows you to legally reside and work remotely from Spain. Depending on where you apply from, it can grant:

  • A 1-year visa if applied from abroad
  • A 3-year residence permit if applied from Spain

The permit is renewable and can lead to long-term residency and even Spanish nationality over time.

2. Benefits

The Digital Nomad Visa offers several key advantages:

  • Legal residence in Spain while working remotely
  • Fast-track approval (resolution within approximately 20 working days)
  • Possibility to include spouse and children in the same application
  • Freedom to travel within the Schengen Area
  • Eligibility for long-term residency after 5 years
  • Years count toward Spanish nationality

In addition, eligible applicants may benefit from a special tax regime that allows taxation at a reduced flat rate under certain conditions.

For remote professionals looking for stability, mobility, and long-term planning, this visa provides a structured and secure pathway.

3. Who can apply?

The Digital Nomad Visa is designed for non-EU citizens who:

  • Work remotely for a company located outside Spain, or
  • Operate as freelancers with international clients

There are two main applicant profiles:

  1. Employees of foreign companies authorized to work remotely
  2. Self-employed professionals working with clients outside Spain

Applicants must maintain that the majority of their income comes from outside Spain. Income generated from Spanish sources cannot exceed 20% of total income.

EU citizens do not require this visa, as they can reside in Spain under different regulations.

4. Requirements

While documentation may vary depending on the applicant’s situation, the main requirements include:

  • Proof of remote work relationship (employment contract or freelance agreements)
  • Demonstration of at least 3 months of prior professional relationship with the company or clients
  • Minimum annual income of approximately €34,188 gross, equivalent to 200% of the Spanish Minimum Interprofessional Salary (SMI).
  • Clean criminal record certificate (legalized/apostilled)
  • Declaration of no criminal record in the last 5 years
  • Valid passport
  • Payment of the administrative fee (Form 790-038)
  • The foreign company for which the applicant works must have been operating for at least one year prior to the application.

All foreign documents must be properly legalized and translated when required.

5. How the procedure works

The application process generally follows these steps:

  1. Choose the application path
    1. Apply from your country of origin (1-year visa), or
    2. Apply from Spain while legally present (3-year permit)
  2. Prepare and legalize all documentation
  3. Submit the application
    1. At the Spanish consulate (if abroad), or
    2. Online through the Spanish immigration authority (UGE) if applying from Spain
  4. Wait for resolution
    The administration has approximately 20 working days to issue a decision. If no response is given within that timeframe, the application is considered approved (positive administrative silence).
  5. Register fingerprints and collect your residence card (TIE) in Spain

The process includes assignment of a NIE number if you do not already have one.

6. FAQ

ExpatPlanner is a relocation coordination platform designed for all people moving to Spain.

Rather than focusing on isolated administrative tasks, it structures the entire relocation process - identifying the correct legal pathway, sequencing the required procedures, and coordinating the professionals who execute them.

In practical terms, it turns a fragmented administrative journey into a clear, manageable roadmap.

ExpatPlanner was developed by a team of professionals with experience in international mobility, legal immigration services, and digital platforms.

The goal was straightforward: simplify Spain's administrative complexity for international professionals, entrepreneurs and remote workers by combining technology with specialized human expertise.

Legal and immigration services are handled by licensed immigration lawyers and regulated professionals in Spain.

ExpatPlanner coordinates these specialists so that the legal strategy, documentation preparation and administrative procedures remain consistent throughout the process.

This ensures that decisions taken early in the relocation do not create legal or tax complications later.

No. ExpatPlanner is not a law firm.

It is a coordination platform that organizes the relocation process and connects clients with the appropriate legal, administrative and tax specialists when needed.

This structure allows clients to access the right expertise while maintaining a single point of coordination.

The process typically follows three stages.

  • First, we analyze your situation - nationality, professional activity, relocation plans and timeline.
  • Second, we design a relocation roadmap that identifies the correct visa pathway and the administrative steps required.
  • Finally, we coordinate the execution of those steps with the appropriate specialists while keeping you informed at each stage.

The objective is simple: clarity and control throughout the relocation.

Moving to Spain is rarely difficult because of a single procedure.

It becomes complicated because multiple procedures must be done in the correct order, often across different institutions.

A misplaced step - for example obtaining the wrong type of NIE or triggering tax residency too early - can create months of delay or unnecessary fiscal consequences.

ExpatPlanner reduces those risks by structuring the process from the beginning.

Costs depend on the services required and the complexity of the relocation.

Some clients use ExpatPlanner primarily for strategic planning and guidance, while others ask us to coordinate the full relocation process including legal filings and administrative procedures.

Pricing is transparent and defined before work begins so that clients understand the scope and expected costs.

Depending on the situation, services may include:

  • Visa and residence strategy
  • Coordination of immigration procedures
  • NIE and administrative registrations
  • Fiscal planning related to relocation
  • Guidance on housing, banking and practical setup
  • Coordination of legal and administrative specialists

The objective is not simply to complete paperwork, but to ensure that each step fits into a coherent relocation strategy.

Quality is ensured through two mechanisms.

First, by working with licensed professionals in each domain - immigration lawyers, tax advisors and administrative specialists.

Second, by coordinating the process through a structured roadmap so that each step is reviewed and executed in the correct order.

This combination of professional expertise and process coordination significantly reduces the likelihood of errors.

Yes.

Many clients arrive after beginning the relocation independently and encountering administrative obstacles.

In these cases, the first step is reviewing the current situation and identifying what has already been completed, what needs correction, and how to realign the process with the appropriate legal pathway.

No.

While many clients are remote professionals relocating under the Digital Nomad Visa, ExpatPlanner also supports:

  • Highly qualified professionals relocating for employment
  • Entrepreneurs establishing businesses in Spain
  • International professionals seeking tax-efficient relocation
  • Families relocating for long-term residence

Yes.

All personal data is handled in accordance with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Documentation is stored securely and shared only with the professionals or institutions necessary to complete each administrative step.