Spain Digital Nomad Visa and Residence Permit

The application must be submitted in person to the Spanish consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. However, booking an appointment at the consulate is available online.

A foreign national may skip the Spanish national visa stage and apply for the residence permit directly from Spain, provided they are legally present in the country. They may enter Spain either visa-free, if permitted by their nationality, or using a valid short-stay Schengen visa, including one issued by another Schengen Area country.

The visa is issued to freelancers, sole proprietors, and company employees. Their income must be at least €2,850 per month, or €34,200 per year.

The income requirement increases if relatives are included in the application: plus €1,070 for a spouse and €360 for each additional family member.

Part of the income may be demonstrated with savings, but the amount must cover the shortfall for the entire three-year residence permit. For example, a digital nomad falls €750 short of the minimum threshold. They multiply this amount by 36 months and show a bank account balance of at least €27,000.

No, the visa can only be obtained at the Spanish consulate in the applicant’s country of citizenship or residence.

However, a digital nomad may skip the visa stage: they can enter Spain on a Schengen visa and apply directly for a residence permit.

Spain is one of the best countries for digital nomads to live and work in. This is confirmed annually by various expat rankings.

The country offers a high quality of life, affordable prices, reliable internet infrastructure for work, pleasant weather, and many opportunities for leisure and socialising.

If a digital nomad spends more than 183 days per year in Spain, they become a tax resident and must pay taxes on global income. The tax base includes salaries, freelance income, investments, and other sources, regardless of origin. The rates range from 19 to 47%.

Applicants must work with legal entities registered at least one year earlier.

Income is confirmed with bank statements for the past three months, contracts, and employment agreements. Freelancers also provide completed work reports.

A digital nomad may work in Spain, but income from local companies must not exceed 20% of total income.

The main expenses include:

1. Rental or purchase of property. Rent costs about €700 per month for a one‑bedroom apartment, according to Numbeo.
2. Government fees: consular fee €90, residence card fee €73.26.
3. Translation services — €1,000+.
4. In some cases, health insurance — €50+ per month.

Additional costs may include travel to Spain and unexpected expenses.

This can happen if documents are collected at the end of one year but submitted at the beginning of the next. The income threshold is tied to Spain’s minimum interprofessional wage, SMI, which is reviewed and slightly increased each year.

A digital nomad’s income must be at least 200% of the SMI. If the applicant’s income falls short, the application may be refused. To avoid this, foreigners are advised to show higher income than required.

The process usually takes about 4 months, from consultation with an immigration agent to receiving the residence card. The timeframe may be shorter or longer depending on how quickly the applicant gathers documents and how fast the authorities process them.

The consulate or immigration office may request additional documents. In such cases, applicants are usually given 30 days to provide the missing certificates or paperwork.

The residence permit is issued for 3 years and may then be renewed for 2 more years. Applicants must submit the request to the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration of Spain. The application is reviewed within 30 days. The new residence card must be collected in person.

Permanent residence is available to foreigners who have lived in Spain for at least five years. During this time, absences of up to six months per year are allowed, but not exceeding ten months in total.

Spanish citizenship is available to foreigners who have lived in the country for over 10 years. Applicants must collect the required documents and pass exams on the Spanish language, laws, and culture.

Spain does not generally allow dual citizenship: applicants must renounce their other passports. Exceptions apply to citizens of France, Portugal, the Philippines, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, and most Latin American countries, excluding Suriname, Bolivia, and Guyana.

No. If the main applicant has moved to long-term or permanent residence, the family member should normally switch to the appropriate family reunification or long-term residence route, depending on their own residence history and eligibility. Spain generally grants long-term residence after 5 years of continuous legal residence.

Yes, it can help, but it does not guarantee a mortgage. A Spain Digital Nomad Visa gives the applicant legal residence in Spain and may make the file stronger than a non-resident application, especially if the applicant has a Spanish address, NIE, bank account, declared income, and a clear tax and residence profile.

Spanish banks still assess the borrower’s solvency case by case. Banco de España explains that before granting a mortgage, a bank checks the borrower’s income, assets, expenses, existing commitments, credit history, and the property appraisal, then decides whether to approve the loan.