Visas
Digital Nomad Visa for Spain
The requirements and process for Spain's visa for remote workers employed or contracted outside Spain.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-15Applications submitted from within Spain are commonly resolved within around 20 working days; consulate applications from abroad can take longer, sometimes up to a few months. Visas issued from a consulate abroad are generally valid up to a year; residence authorisations granted from within Spain can run up to three years, renewable in further increments.
This guide is not yet verified by Tuchati's editorial review — treat it as a helpful starting point, not a final legal answer.
Overview
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa lets non-EU remote workers live in Spain while working for employers or clients based mainly outside the country. It's one of Spain's newer visa categories, introduced as part of the Startup Law.
Requirements
- Your work must be genuinely remote — fully remote roles qualify, but the requirement generally excludes hybrid arrangements involving significant time in a physical Spanish workplace
- You must work for a company (or have clients) based mainly outside Spain — up to a limited proportion of your income from Spanish clients is generally tolerated, but the bulk must be foreign
- You'll need to demonstrate recurring income above a set monthly threshold, reviewed periodically, with additional amounts required if bringing family members
Step-by-step process
- Confirm your work arrangement genuinely qualifies as remote work for a foreign employer or client base
- Gather proof of recurring income — recent payslips or invoices, not just a one-off bank balance, since the requirement is about ongoing income
- Apply either at your home country's Spanish consulate before travelling, or from within Spain if you're already legally present on another basis
- Arrange private health insurance covering Spain for the duration of the visa
- Submit your application with all supporting documents, and attend any required appointment
Required documents
- Valid passport
- Proof of remote employment or freelance client contracts based mainly outside Spain
- Payslips or invoices from recent months evidencing recurring income above the required threshold
- Private health insurance with no co-payments, covering Spain
- Criminal record certificate
Common mistakes
- Not having enough recurring income evidence — a single large bank balance doesn't substitute for the required proof of ongoing income
- Assuming any remote work qualifies, without checking the specific limits on Spanish-sourced income
- Underestimating the additional income required when including a spouse or children on the same application
Practical tips
- The income threshold is reviewed periodically and tied to a multiple of the national minimum wage — check the current figure before applying, since it changes
- This visa can be a genuinely fast route for eligible applicants, since applications filed from within Spain are often resolved faster than many other categories
How Tuchati can help
If you're not sure whether your specific remote work arrangement qualifies, Tuchati can help you understand the requirements before you apply.