Digital Nomad Visa (Nómada Digital)

The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa (officially: Autorización de Residencia para Teletrabajadores de Carácter Internacional), enacted under the Spanish Startup Act (Ley de Startups), represents one of the most attractive pathways for non-EU citizens to establish their life in Spain.

It is designed for qualified professionals, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and employees who perform their professional activities remotely via digital technologies for employers or clients based outside Spain. Beyond providing an efficient residency route, the visa offers qualifying applicants access to substantial tax advantages through Spain’s Special Expatriate Tax Regime (Beckham Law).

Who Is the Digital Nomad Visa Designed For?

The program is open to two principal categories of remote workers:

  1. Remote Employees (Trabajadores por Cuenta Ajena):You are employed by a company established outside Spain that has formally and officially authorized you in writing to perform your contractual duties remotely from Spain.
  2. Freelancers & Independent Contractors (Trabajadores por Cuenta Propia):You provide services on a contractual basis to international clients located outside Spain.Important distinction: Independent contractors are permitted to derive up to a maximum of 20% of their total gross income from Spanish companies—at least 80% must originate from foreign sources.

Key Advantages at a Glance

  • 3-Year Residence Permit via In-Country Filing: When applying digitally directly from within Spain, applicants are granted an initial 3-year residence permit (compared to a 1-year entry visa when applying through a Spanish consulate abroad).
  • Extension & Permanent Residency: Upon completion of the initial 3-year term, the permit can be renewed for an additional 2 years. After completing 5 years of continuous legal residence, applicants become eligible for Spanish permanent residency (Residencia de Larga Duración).
  • Family Reunification: Spouses, registered civil partners (Parejas de Hecho), and dependent children can obtain derived residence permits concurrently, carrying full authorization to work and reside in Spain.
  • Special Tax Relief (Beckham Law): Eligible teleworkers can apply for the Special Expatriate Tax Regime, allowing employment earnings up to a statutory statutory cap to be taxed at a preferential flat rate (instead of standard progressive personal income tax rates). (Note: Applies primarily to remote employees; for self-employed professionals, the Tax Agency applies strict statutory requirements regarding the innovative nature of the activity).
  • Schengen Area Mobility: Unrestricted, visa-free travel throughout all member states of the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days within any 180-day window.

Statutory Eligibility Requirements

To obtain approval for the Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must substantiate compliance with the following statutory criteria:

  1. Professional Qualifications or Track Record:Possession of a recognized university degree (Bachelor’s/Master’s/Diploma), equivalent accredited vocational qualification, or documentary proof of at least 3 years of verifiable professional experience in the relevant sector.
  2. Minimum Financial Solvency (Indexed to the Statutory Minimum Wage – SMI):Proof of regular, stable income legally tied to the Spanish National Minimum Wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional / SMI) calculated on an annualized basis:
    • Primary Applicant: Regular income equal to at least 200% of the prevailing Spanish National Minimum Wage (SMI).
    • First Accompanying Family Member (e.g., spouse/partner): An additional 75% of the SMI.
    • Each Additional Family Member (e.g., children): An additional 25% of the SMI per dependent.
  3. Company & Employment Longevity:
    • The foreign employer or corporate client must have had genuine, active commercial operations for at least 1 year prior to submission.
    • The employment relationship or service contracts must have been continuously active for at least 3 months prior to filing.
    • The employer must issue a formal corporate certificate explicitly authorizing full-time remote work from Spain.
  4. Social Security & Healthcare Coverage:
    • For Employees: Certificate of continued social security coverage in the home country under an applicable bilateral social security treaty (e.g., Certificate of Coverage / Posting Certificate) or formal registration and social security affiliation of the foreign employer in Spain.
    • For Self-Employed: Registration under the Spanish Self-Employed Social Security Scheme (RETA) or comprehensive private medical insurance policy providing full coverage in Spain without co-payments or waiting periods.
  5. Clean Criminal Background:Police clearance certificate covering the applicant’s jurisdictions of residence over the preceding 2 years (supplemented by a sworn declaration covering the preceding 5 years), legalized with the Hague Apostille and translated by a certified sworn translator in Spain (Traductor Jurado).

Two Distinct Application Pathways

Pathway A: Direct Filing in Spain via UGE-CE (Recommended)

You enter Spain legally (for example, under the 90-day visa-free tourist stay) and submit the residency application directly online to the Large Companies and Strategic Collectives Unit (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos / UGE-CE) in Madrid.

Advantage: You receive a direct 3-year residence permit subject to an expedited statutory processing window of 20 business days, benefiting from statutory positive silence (Silencio Administrativo Positivo) if the authority fails to resolve the application within the prescribed deadline.

Pathway B: Consular Filing in the Country of Origin

Submission of the visa file through the competent Spanish diplomatic mission/consulate in your country of official residence to obtain an initial 1-year National Visa (Visado D), which authorizes entry and initial residence in Spain prior to card processing.

Common Risks and Administrative Pitfalls

  • Social Security Substantiation for Employees: Spanish authorities stringently scrutinize whether an active bilateral social security convention exists between Spain and the employer’s jurisdiction covering telework. In the absence of an applicable treaty, the foreign employer must formally register with the Spanish Social Security Treasury.
  • Corporate Documentation Deficiencies: Omission of foreign commercial register certificates or vaguely formulated employer telework declarations routinely trigger formal administrative deficiency notices (Requerimientos) with strict response windows.
  • Strict Statutory Deadline for the Beckham Law: The formal application for the Special Tax Regime (Modelo 149) must be submitted strictly within 6 months from the date of registration with the Spanish Social Security system or commencement of activity in Spain; missing this cutoff results in the irrevocable forfeiture of the tax advantage.

Our End-to-End Service for Digital Nomad Status

We accompany you throughout the entire procedure, from the initial strategic assessment to the issuance of your physical Spanish residence card (TIE):

  • Profile Assessment & Strategy: Detailed audit of employment contracts, service agreements, income proofs, SMI ratios, and international social security structuring.
  • Document Compilation & Sworn Translations: Review of commercial records, corporate certificates, and management of official sworn translations (Traducción Jurada) with Hague Apostilles.
  • Digital Filing with the UGE-CE: Complete drafting, compiling, and digital submission of the administrative dossier directly to the competent unit in Madrid for the immediate 3-year permit.
  • On-Site TIE Card Issuance: Securing the appointment for biometric fingerprinting (Toma de Huellas), preparing fee payment forms (Tasa 790-012), and providing in-person accompaniment to the National Police station.
  • Tax Structuring Support (Beckham Law): Assessing eligibility criteria and filing the formal election for the Special Expatriate Tax Regime (Modelo 149) before the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT).

Overview of Required Documents

  1. Valid passport (complete certified copy of all pages).
  2. Employment contract or independent contractor framework agreements with international entities/clients.
  3. Official employer letter authorizing remote work from Spain and confirming duration of employment.
  4. Proof of corporate existence and commercial activity of the contracting entity (commercial register extract, Certificate of Good Standing).
  5. Proof of income and solvency (recent monthly payslips and bank account statements).
  6. University degree certificate or detailed documentary evidence of at least 3 years of qualified professional experience.
  7. Official police clearance certificate(s), legalized with the Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
  8. Proof of healthcare coverage (bilateral social security certificate or comprehensive Spanish private health insurance policy).

Apply for Your Spanish Digital Nomad Visa

Take full advantage of the Spanish Startup Act and establish your remote work legally in Spain. Contact us today to receive a sound preliminary assessment of your profile.

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Legal Notice / Disclaimer:

The information provided on this website serves as a general guide and orientation. Because statutory regulations, administrative practices, and official deadlines in Spain are subject to change and each individual situation has unique circumstances, this content does not constitute specific legal, tax, or gestoría advice and cannot replace a personal consultation tailored to your specific situation. We accept no liability for the completeness, accuracy, or up-to-date nature of the information provided.