Digital Nomad Visa in Spain 2026: Requirements and How to Apply Step by Step

More and more professionals who work remotely for companies or clients outside Spain are deciding to settle in the country, drawn by its climate, cost of living and quality of life. To do so legally, the main route is the digital nomad visa in Spain (also known as the teleworker residence permit or international teleworking visa), a permit created by the Startup Law that allows you to live in Spain while working for foreign employers or clients.

If you have already decided to take the leap and need to know exactly which documents to submit, how much money you must prove and how long the process takes, this article covers everything in detail, step by step.

Spain Digital Nomad Visa: Quick Summary

Table of Contents

1. What Is the Digital Nomad Visa?
2. Who Can Apply?
3. Minimum Income Requirements
4. Required Documents
5. How and Where to Apply
6. Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for the Digital Nomad Visa
7. Processing Times
8. Initial Duration and Renewal Conditions
9. Associated Tax Benefits
10. Frequently Asked Questions About the Digital Nomad Visa

What Is the Digital Nomad Visa?

The digital nomad visa is a residence and work authorization designed for people who provide services remotely for companies or clients located outside Spain. It was introduced by Law 28/2022 on the promotion of the startup ecosystem, and has since become one of the alternatives to the former investor scheme (the Golden Visa) for those who want to live in Spain without investing in the country, simply by working from here.

Unlike other residence permits, it does not require you to find a job in Spain: the key requirement is that your work is carried out for companies or clients outside the country. If you would like to better understand this profile, we explain it in what is a digital nomad.

Who Can Apply?

Non-EU citizens (from outside the EU/EEA) over the age of 18 can apply for this visa if they meet the following conditions:

1. Work as an employee for a company based outside Spain, or be a freelancer with mostly foreign clients.
2. Have had the employment or collaboration relationship for at least three months before applying.
3. Work for a company that can prove real and continuous activity for at least one year.
4. If you are self-employed, no more than 20% of your professional activity can be carried out with Spanish companies.
5. Prove a professional qualification (a university or postgraduate degree, vocational training or a recognized business school) or at least three years of professional experience that you can demonstrate.

If, in addition to applying for the visa, you want to understand how to combine remote work with daily life in Spain, you may be interested in our guide on remote work in Spain for foreigners, where we cover practical aspects such as working hours, internet connection and time zones.

Minimum Income Requirements

The income requirement is the one that raises the most questions. The main applicant must prove monthly income equivalent to 200% of Spain's minimum wage (SMI). In 2026, the SMI is €1,221 in 14 payments (Royal Decree 126/2026), which, spread over 12 months, comes to about €2,849 per month (around €34,188 per year). It is worth checking the figure every year, since the SMI is updated annually.

In addition, if you apply for the family extension:

1. An additional 75% of the SMI (about €1,068 per month) is added for the first dependent family member (spouse or partner).
2. An additional 25% (about €356 per month) is added for each further family member (children or other dependents).

How Do You Prove Your Income?

It is usually proven with:

1. Employment contract and payslips from recent months, if you are an employee.
2. Service agreements with clients and issued invoices, if you are self-employed.
3. Bank statements showing the regular receipt of that income. If you don't have a bank account in Spain yet, check out the best banks for expats in Spain.

Required Documents

The list of documents may vary slightly depending on the consulate or whether you apply from within Spain, but in general you will need:

1. Passport valid for at least one year.
2. Completed visa application form.
3. Criminal record certificate from the countries where you have lived in the last two years, apostilled or legalized and translated.
4. Health insurance from an insurer authorized in Spain, with no copayments or waiting periods, or Social Security coverage.
5. Company documents proving an employment or business relationship of at least three months, authorization to work remotely and the company's activity for at least one year (contract, company letter or client agreements).
6. Proof of your professional qualification or work experience.
7. Proof of sufficient income.
8. Proof of accommodation in Spain, which some consulates ask for and which you will need on arrival.

Precisely because of this last point, many applicants choose to book their accommodation before moving, so that they already have a valid address in Barcelona or Valencia when submitting the application.

How and Where to Apply

There are two main routes:

The second route is usually faster and, if approved, grants a three-year residence permit directly instead of a one-year visa.

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for the Digital Nomad Visa

1. Check that you meet the requirements: be a non-EU citizen, work for companies or clients outside Spain and reach 200% of the SMI (about €2,849 per month in 2026).
2. Gather your documents: passport, apostilled criminal record certificate, health insurance, contract or invoices, qualifications and proof of income.
3. Sort out accommodation: you will need proof of address, even if temporary.
4. Choose your route: consulate in your country of origin, or UGE-CE if you are already legally in Spain.
5. Submit your application with all documents translated and legalized where required.
6. Wait for the decision: 20 business days at the UGE-CE; at a consulate, the time depends on the office.
7. Formalize your residence: if you are granted the visa at a consulate, collect it within one month of notification and convert it into a residence permit before it expires. In both cases, apply for your residence card (TIE) afterwards.

Processing Times

The processing times are:

1. 20 business days when the application is processed in Spain through the UGE-CE.
2. Variable depending on the consulate when applying abroad.

For applications processed through the UGE-CE, administrative silence is positive: if the administration does not respond within the deadline, the application is deemed approved, which is unusual in immigration procedures and works in the applicant's favor. Even so, you will still need the favorable decision to apply for your TIE, so it is best not to rely on silence.

Initial Duration and Renewal Conditions

1. If you apply from abroad, you are granted a one-year visa, which must be converted into a residence permit before it expires.
2. If you apply from within Spain, you are granted a three-year residence permit directly.
3. Subsequent renewals are granted for two-year periods, as long as the conditions are maintained. After five years of legal and continuous residence, you can apply for long-term residence.

Later on, for renewing your documentation, our guide to NIE renewal in Spain may help.

Associated Tax Benefits

International teleworkers can benefit from the special tax regime popularly known as the Beckham Law, extended by the Startup Law. It allows you to be taxed at a flat rate of 24% on income up to €600,000 (47% on the excess), instead of the progressive personal income tax (IRPF) scale, for six tax years (the year of arrival plus five), provided you have not been a Spanish tax resident in the previous five years. To benefit from it, you must notify the tax authorities (form 149) within six months of starting your activity. It is advisable to analyze each case with a tax advisor before submitting your application.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Digital Nomad Visa

What do I need to get the digital nomad visa in Spain?

You must be a non-EU citizen over 18, work remotely for a company or clients outside Spain (with a relationship of at least three months), prove income of 200% of the SMI, have a qualification or three years of experience, hold health insurance with no copayments or waiting periods, and provide a criminal record certificate covering the last two years.

How much money do you need for the digital nomad visa?

The main applicant must prove monthly income equivalent to 200% of the SMI, that is, about €2,849 per month in 2026. If you include family members, 75% of the SMI (about €1,068) is added for the first dependent and 25% (about €356) for each additional one.

Can I apply for the digital nomad visa if I work remotely for a Spanish company?

No. If you are an employee, the company must be based outside Spain. If you are self-employed, you can carry out only up to 20% of your professional activity with Spanish companies.

Can I include my family in the digital nomad visa application?

Yes, as long as you prove the additional income required for each family member and provide documents proving the relationship (marriage, registered partnership or parentage).

Do I need to be in Spain to apply for the digital nomad visa?

It is not mandatory. Even so, applying from within the country (if you already have legal status, such as a tourist) is usually faster and grants a three-year residence permit directly.

How long does the digital nomad visa take to be processed?

If you apply in Spain through the UGE-CE, the deadline is 20 business days, with positive administrative silence. If you apply at a consulate, the time depends on the office.

Can I work for Spanish clients with the digital nomad visa?

Only if you are self-employed, and in a limited way: a maximum of 20% of your professional activity can be carried out with Spanish clients or companies.

How long does the digital nomad visa last?

If you apply from outside Spain, you are granted a one-year visa. If you apply from within, you directly obtain a three-year residence permit. After that, it is renewed in two-year periods as long as the conditions are maintained.

What happens if my digital nomad visa application is rejected?

You can file an administrative appeal or reapply after correcting the documentation. It is advisable to review each requirement beforehand with an immigration specialist.

Where can I stay while my digital nomad visa is being processed?

Many applicants choose short-term rentals or coliving in cities such as Barcelona or Valencia, which offer flexible contracts suited to those who don't yet have a permanent residence in the country.