Digital Nomad Visa in Spain in 2026

The Spain Digital Nomad Visa is an immigration pathway for non-EU nationals who work remotely for a foreign employer or provide professional services to clients based outside Spain. Introduced under Spain’s Startup Act, it has become one of the main legal routes to relocate to Spain without investing in real estate.

What Is Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa and Who Is It For?

Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa is a residence permit introduced in 2023 for remote professionals who work for overseas companies or provide freelance services to clients outside Spain. It allows eligible applicants to live in Spain while continuing to work remotely without being tied primarily to the Spanish labour market.

The scheme was introduced under Spain’s Startup Act and is aimed mainly at professionals working in the digital economy.

How Does It Differ from Other Spanish Visa Routes

Who Is Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa Designed For?

Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa is suitable for:

• employees of foreign companies who work remotely, including software developers, designers and digital marketing specialists;
• freelancers with regular contracts and clients based outside Spain;
• entrepreneurs who own a company registered abroad and continue to manage it remotely;
• non-EU nationals who wish to live in Spain without investing in local property or establishing a business in the country.

Eligible applicants may also bring qualifying family members, including a spouse or unmarried partner, minor children, financially dependent adult children who have not formed their own family, and dependent parents. Additional financial means must be demonstrated for each accompanying family member.

The Spain Digital Nomad Visa advantages

The Digital Nomad Visa allows you to live in Spain for an unlimited amount of time. The main condition is to have a valid work contract in another country, which guarantees a high level of income. Among the main advantages, the following can be distinguished:

1. Permanent residence in Spain. The residence permit allows the applicant and their family members to live legally in the Kingdom of Spain. The Digital Nomad Visa may also be granted to a spouse, a partner in an equivalent relationship, minor children, financially dependent adult children who have not formed their own family, and dependent parents. An additional 75% of the required income must be demonstrated for the first family member and 25% for each subsequent family member.
2. Travelling around the Schengen area. A resident of Spain can move freely within the Eurozone.
3. Getting income in Spain. The applicant can receive up to 20% of the total income from individuals and legal entities in Spain.
4. Opening an account with an EU bank. A resident has the right to open accounts in banks of Spain and other EU countries.
5. The possibility of obtaining Spanish citizenship after 10 years of stay in Spain.
6. Treatment. «Cuadro medico sin copago» health insurance provides free doctor visits, ambulance calls, hospitalisation, treatment and operations.
7. EU driver’s licence. The visa holder can buy and register a car.
8. You do not need to take exams for knowledge of the Spanish language and the history of the country.

Spain Digital Nomad Visa requirements

Main Requirements for Applicants

• The applicant must be over 18 years of age.
• The applicant must not be a citizen of the EU, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, or a family member entitled to residence under the EU freedom of movement rules.
• The applicant must demonstrate that their work can be performed remotely and does not require their physical presence at the employer’s or client’s premises.
• The applicant must have worked for their current employer or provided services to their clients for at least three months before submitting the visa application.
• The applicant must demonstrate that the company they work for, or the clients they provide services to, have been operating for at least one year.
• The applicant must not be subject to EU sanctions.
• The applicant must not have previously been deported from an EU country and must have no record of immigration or visa violations.
• The applicant must have no criminal record in their country of nationality or in any country where they have resided.
• The applicant must own or have long-term rented accommodation in Spain.
• The applicant must obtain private medical insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain.
• The applicant must not have any infectious disease that could pose a serious threat to public health. A medical certificate must be provided.

Financial Requirements and Income

To obtain Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must meet financial requirements that depend on the number of accompanying family members and the method of application.

Example calculation for a family with two children:

• €2,849 for the main applicant;
• €1,068 for the spouse or partner;
• €356 × 2 for two children.

Total: €4,629 per month.

To demonstrate compliance with the financial requirements for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must provide the following documents:

• Employment contract: valid for at least three months before the application date and stating the applicant’s income and permission to work remotely from Spain.
• Bank statements: showing regular income payments during the previous three months.
• Proof of income: such as tax returns or certificates issued by the employer.
• Company registration certificate: self-employed applicants must provide documents confirming that the company has been operating for at least 12 months.
• Self-employed applicants may receive no more than 20% of their professional income from clients registered in Spain.

Documents Required for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa

The main applicant and accompanying family members must provide the general documents required for the selected application route. The main applicant must additionally submit evidence of their employment or professional activity, qualifications, income and social security coverage. Family members must provide documents confirming their relationship to and, where applicable, financial dependence on the main applicant.

Mandatory Document Package

• a valid passport and copies of the pages required by the relevant Spanish consulate or immigration authority;
• a recent passport-size colour photograph that meets the requirements of the relevant consulate;
• a completed and signed national visa application form when applying through a Spanish consulate, or the relevant residence permit application form when applying from Spain;
• evidence of professional qualifications relevant to the applicant’s position, such as a university degree, professional certificates or proof of at least three years of professional experience;
• a CV describing the applicant’s education and professional experience;
• documents confirming the applicant’s employment or contractual relationship with a foreign employer or clients, including the remuneration payable;
• a letter from the employer or client confirming that the relationship has existed for at least three months and that the applicant is authorised to work remotely from Spain;
• evidence that the foreign company or client has been operating continuously for at least one year;
• evidence of sufficient financial means, such as employment or service contracts, payslips, bank statements and tax returns;
• public or private health insurance valid in Spain, unless the applicant is covered by the Spanish public healthcare system under the applicable social security arrangements;
• a criminal record certificate issued by the relevant authorities in the applicant’s country or countries of residence, where required;
• a signed declaration confirming the absence of criminal convictions during the period specified by the Spanish authorities;
• a medical certificate confirming that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could have serious public health implications under the International Health Regulations, when applying for a national visa through a Spanish consulate;
• proof of payment of the applicable visa or residence permit fee;
• proof of legal entry or legal stay in Spain when applying for a residence permit from within Spain;
• a NIE, the Spanish foreign national identification number, where required by the relevant consulate or for the residence permit procedure.

Foreign public documents must generally be legalised or apostilled, unless an exemption applies under an international agreement, and accompanied by an official translation into Spanish where required.

Applicant’s Social Security Coverage

The application must also include documents confirming the applicant’s social security position:

• an employee must provide a certificate confirming continued coverage under the social security system of the country in which the employer is established, provided that this country has a social security agreement with Spain that covers the applicant’s circumstances. Where continued foreign coverage is not available, the foreign employer must register with the Spanish Social Security system and register the employee before work begins in Spain;
• a self-employed applicant must provide evidence of continued coverage under an applicable international social security agreement or undertake to register with the Spanish Social Security system as a self-employed worker.

The exact certificate depends on the country in which the applicant is insured and the applicable bilateral or multilateral social security agreement.

Documents for Family Members

When applying for accompanying family members, the following documents must also be provided:

• a completed and signed national visa application form for each family member when applying through a Spanish consulate, or the relevant family residence permit form when applying from Spain;
• a valid passport and copies of the pages required by the relevant Spanish authority;
• a recent passport-size colour photograph;
• a marriage certificate or evidence of a registered or durable partnership;
• birth certificates for children;
• documents confirming that an adult child is financially dependent on the main applicant and has not formed a family unit of their own;
• documents confirming that a parent or other eligible relative in the ascending line is financially dependent on the main applicant;
• evidence of sufficient additional financial means for each accompanying family member;
• health insurance valid in Spain for each family member, unless they are covered by the Spanish public healthcare system;
• a criminal record certificate for each family member of criminal responsibility age, where required;
• a medical certificate for each family member when required for a consular visa application;
• a NIE for each family member, where required by the relevant consulate or residence permit procedure.

Civil-status documents and criminal record certificates issued abroad must generally be apostilled or legalised, unless an exemption applies, and officially translated into Spanish where required.

How to Obtain Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa

Stage 1 — Preparing the Documents

At this stage, the applicant collects all the documents required for the Digital Nomad Visa, obtains an apostille or legalisation where necessary, arranges official translations into Spanish, takes out medical insurance, obtains a Spanish foreign national identification number (NIE), where required, and submits the application.

Total Preparation Costs

Individual applicant: approximately €800—€1,200.

Family of three or four: approximately €2,000—€2,500, including additional costs for translations, insurance and government fees for each family member.

Total Preparation Time

The full document preparation process usually takes four to six weeks, depending on how quickly the required documents are collected, the NIE is obtained and the translations are completed.

Stage 2 — Submitting the Application

The Digital Nomad Visa application stage includes booking an appointment with the Spanish consulate, submitting the documents in person, paying the required fees and providing biometric data. This stage determines whether the applicant receives authorisation to enter and reside in Spain.

The application stage usually takes between three and six weeks, including the time required to secure an appointment and submit the documents.

Stage 3 — Receiving the Visa and Entering Spain

At this stage, the applicant receives the issued visa and enters Spain. If the applicant enters the Schengen Area through another country rather than Spain, they may need to submit a declaration of entry at a Spanish police station within 72 hours of arrival. This document may be required for the subsequent residence permit procedure.

Total Time Required for Receiving the Visa

The visa approval, collection and entry process usually takes approximately six weeks, although the exact timeframe depends on the relevant consulate and the applicant’s travel arrangements.

Spain Digital Nomad Residence Permit

How to Obtain a Residence Permit After Receiving the Visa

A Digital Nomad Visa issued by a Spanish consulate is generally valid for up to one year and already authorises the holder to live and work in Spain during this period. To obtain a longer-term residence permit, the applicant must submit an electronic application while legally residing in Spain. The application may be filed personally using a digital certificate or by an authorised representative.

Applications are submitted electronically to the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE). The statutory decision period is 20 working days. Notifications and requests for additional documents can be accessed through the electronic portal used to submit the application.

Individual applicant: approximately €20—€100, excluding professional representation, document translation and other optional services.

Family of three or four: approximately €60—€300, including separate residence card fees for each family member and possible related expenses.

The entire process, from preparing the initial visa documents to receiving the residence card, may take several months. However, it is inaccurate to state that obtaining the Digital Nomad residence permit always takes up to six months: the actual timeframe depends on the application route, the completeness of the documents, the relevant consulate and local appointment availability.

Renewal of the Digital Nomad Residence Permit

In 2026, Spain’s Digital Nomad Residence Permit may be granted for an initial period of up to three years. Once this period expires, the permit may be renewed for a further two years. This means that the total period of legal residence under the programme may reach five years. After five years of continuous legal residence, the applicant may qualify for long-term residence, provided that all applicable residence requirements are met.

Renewal Requirements

The residence permit may be renewed provided that the applicant continues to meet the conditions under which it was originally granted.

First, the applicant must continue to comply with the applicable residence requirements. Spending at least 183 days per year in Spain generally determines Spanish tax residence, but it is not a separate statutory requirement for renewing the Digital Nomad Residence Permit.

Second, the applicant must demonstrate that they continue to work remotely for foreign employers or clients and that their income remains stable and sufficient. In 2026, the required minimum for the main applicant is €2,849 per month.

The renewal application may be submitted during the 60 calendar days preceding the expiry of the current residence permit. Applicants are advised to apply within this period to avoid complications or a lapse in their legal residence status.

Renewal Procedure

The renewal application is submitted electronically to the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE), either by the applicant using a Certificado Digital or by an authorised representative. The applicant must provide updated documents confirming that all eligibility requirements continue to be met and pay the applicable government fee.

Once the renewal has been approved, the applicant must book an appointment at the relevant police station, provide fingerprints and apply for a new Foreigner Identity Card (TIE). The TIE fee is paid using Form 790, Code 012.

Taxes for Digital Nomads in Spain

Holding Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa or Residence Permit does not automatically require the applicant to become a Spanish tax resident. However, a person will generally be treated as a tax resident in Spain if they spend more than 183 days in the country during a calendar year or if Spain is the main centre of their economic activities or interests.

Ordinary Spanish tax residents are generally subject to Spanish tax on their worldwide income, including income earned both in Spain and abroad. The applicable double taxation treaty may affect where particular income is taxed and whether a foreign tax credit is available.

Tax Residence and Rates

Spain applies a progressive personal income tax system under which the rate depends on the taxpayer’s annual income and autonomous community of residence. Digital nomads who do not apply for the special expatriate tax regime, do not qualify for it or have reached the end of its validity period are normally taxed under the standard Personal Income Tax regime, known as IRPF.

These are indicative combined rates. The final tax burden may vary depending on the autonomous community, the type of income, available allowances and the taxpayer’s personal circumstances.

Digital nomads who become tax resident in Spain and qualify for the special expatriate tax regime, commonly known as the Beckham Law regime, may instead be taxed under special rules based on the Non-Resident Income Tax framework.

The Beckham Law Regime: Tax Benefits

The Beckham Law regime, officially known as the régimen fiscal especial aplicable a los trabajadores, profesionales, emprendedores e inversores desplazados a territorio español, was extended under Spain’s Startup Act to include certain remote workers, professionals, entrepreneurs and their qualifying family members.

It may allow qualifying taxpayers to:

• pay tax at a fixed rate of 24% on qualifying employment income of up to €600,000 per year and 47% on the excess;
• be taxed primarily on Spanish-source income, although employment income is generally treated as taxable in Spain under the special rules;
• avoid certain reporting obligations that apply to taxpayers under the ordinary worldwide-income regime, depending on their assets and individual circumstances;
• be subject to Spanish wealth taxation generally only in respect of assets and rights located in Spain;
• use the regime during the tax year in which Spanish tax residence is acquired and the following five tax years.

The regime is not granted automatically. The taxpayer must meet the statutory eligibility conditions and submit Form 149 to the Spanish Tax Agency within six months of the date on which the professional activity begins, as shown by the Spanish Social Security registration or the relevant document confirming continued foreign social security coverage.

Legal Framework: Spain’s Digital Nomad Law

Law 28/2022 of 21 December 2022, commonly known as the Startup Act (Ley de Startups), is the principal legislation governing Spain’s support for innovative entrepreneurship. It establishes a favourable legal and tax framework for start-ups, investors and digital nomads.

Key Provisions of the Law

Law 28/2022 establishes a framework for supporting the creation and growth of start-ups and attracting international talent and investment.

Definition of a start-up: a company established no more than five years ago, or seven years ago in certain sectors, which has not distributed dividends, is not listed on a regulated market and operates an innovative and scalable business model. At least 60% of its workforce must be employed in Spain. The company must also obtain start-up certification from ENISA.

Tax incentives:

• a reduction in the corporate income tax rate from 25% to 15% during the first four tax periods in which the company records a positive taxable result;
• an increase in the annual tax exemption for employee share options from €12,000 to €50,000;
• an increase in the personal income tax deduction for investments in newly established companies from 30% to 50%, with the maximum annual investment base rising to €100,000.

Simplified administrative procedures: Spain allows limited liability companies to be incorporated with share capital of €1 and provides electronic company formation procedures through the CIRCE system. The exact registration time depends on the documents, corporate structure and authorities involved.

Support for digital nomads: the law introduced a dedicated immigration route for remote employees and self-employed professionals, allowing eligible non-EU nationals to live and work legally in Spain.

Law 28/2022 complements and expands the existing legal framework, including Law 18/2022 on the creation and growth of companies, by introducing specific support measures for start-ups and innovative businesses. It also aims to reduce administrative barriers and compliance costs for newly established companies.

Future Development

Since the law entered into force, Spain has continued to develop its start-up certification system and related support programmes. Further development of the start-up ecosystem may include new financing instruments, public support schemes and initiatives designed to attract entrepreneurs, investors, digital nomads and other international professionals.

Best Cities in Spain for Digital Nomads

In 2026, Spain remains one of the most attractive countries for digital nomads. Its developed infrastructure, mild climate and wide variety of destinations allow remote workers to choose between major business centres, coastal cities and islands. However, rental costs in Spain’s largest cities have increased considerably, particularly in central districts.

Rental prices are indicative and vary depending on the district, property condition, lease term and whether the property is offered as a long-term or seasonal rental. Current listings show a wide range of prices in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Málaga, while Málaga’s rental market continued to rise in 2026.

The Tranio team provides professional advice on obtaining a Spanish residence permit through the purchase of property. We will consider your application as soon as possible.

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Alternatives to Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa

The Digital Nomad Visa is only one of several immigration routes available to those wishing to relocate to Spain. Depending on the applicant’s circumstances and objectives, other residence permits may be more appropriate. These include the Non-Lucrative Residence Permit, work permits, student visas and family reunification.

Non-Lucrative Residence Permit (Residencia No Lucrativa)

This residence permit is intended for individuals with sufficient independent financial means who do not intend to work in Spain. Applicants must demonstrate that they have adequate financial resources to support themselves and any accompanying family members throughout their stay.

The permit does not authorise employment or self-employment in Spain, although it allows long-term residence. It is commonly chosen by retirees and financially independent individuals.

Work Permit (Permiso de Trabajo por Cuenta Ajena)

This residence permit is available to applicants who have received a job offer from a Spanish employer. In most cases, the employer must obtain prior authorisation before the employee applies for the visa.

The procedure is generally more restrictive than other residence routes because it depends on the position offered, labour market conditions and the applicable immigration rules.

Student Visa

A student visa is issued for the duration of studies at a recognised Spanish educational institution, including universities and eligible language schools.

The permit allows students to reside in Spain and, subject to the applicable conditions, work for up to 30 hours per week. It may also provide a pathway to another residence status after completing the course of study.

Family Reunification

Family reunification allows eligible family members to join a person who is already legally resident in Spain.

Applicants must demonstrate the relevant family relationship, while the sponsoring resident must meet the applicable accommodation and financial requirements. The route is commonly used by spouses, partners, children and, in certain circumstances, dependent parents.

Comparison of Spanish Residence Permit Types