Spain Digital Nomad Visa FAQ

The Ley de Startups (Ley 28/2022) is Spain's Startup Act, enacted in December 2022. Articles 69–72 created the "international teleworking visa" — commonly known as Spain's digital nomad visa. It allows non-EU nationals who work remotely for companies outside Spain (or freelance with limited Spanish clients) to legally reside in Spain.

You must earn at least 200% of Spain's SMI (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional), which is approximately EUR 2,520/month or EUR 30,240/year. If you're bringing dependents, add 75% of the SMI per family member (~EUR 945/month per dependent). The SMI is adjusted annually by the Spanish government.

Yes, but with limits. Freelancers can earn up to 25% of their total revenue from Spanish clients. The remaining 75%+ must come from international clients. This ensures the visa is used for genuinely remote international work, not local employment.

You need private health insurance from an insurer authorized to operate in Spain. The policy must provide full coverage with no co-pays or coverage limits for the entire duration of your stay. Public Spanish providers like Sanitas, Adeslas, or DKV are commonly accepted. International policies may need verification.

The Beckham Law (Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Desplazados) lets qualifying new residents pay a flat 24% tax on Spanish-source income up to EUR 600,000/year for 6 tax years, instead of Spain's progressive rates (up to 47%). Income above EUR 600,000 is taxed at 47%. Foreign-source income (except employment income) is generally exempt. To qualify, you must not have been a Spanish tax resident in the prior 5 years.

The official processing time is 20 business days from submission of a complete application — one of the fastest in Europe. In practice, processing may take slightly longer if additional documents are requested. After arrival in Spain, you must apply for your NIE (tax ID) and TIE (residence card) within 30 days.

Yes. Your spouse or registered partner, dependent children, and in some cases dependent parents can apply alongside you or join later via family reunification. Each dependent requires additional proof of income (75% of SMI per person, ~EUR 945/month). Dependents receive their own residence authorization and may work in Spain.

Yes. After 3 years on the digital nomad visa, you can transition to a standard residence permit. After 5 years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for permanent residence. Spanish citizenship requires 10 years of legal residence, reduced to just 2 years for nationals of Latin American countries, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Andorra, and Portugal.

No. You apply for the D-type visa at the Spanish consulate or embassy in your current country of residence. Once approved, you receive the visa, travel to Spain, and then register for your NIE/TIE locally. You cannot apply from within Spain as a tourist.

If denied, you'll receive a written explanation of the reasons. You can appeal or reapply after addressing the issues. Note that having a prior Spain visa denial within the last year can affect future applications. Common denial reasons include insufficient income documentation, inadequate health insurance, or failure to demonstrate a genuine remote work arrangement.

No. There is no Spanish language proficiency requirement for the digital nomad visa. However, basic Spanish is helpful for daily life and navigating bureaucratic processes. Language proficiency may be required later if you apply for Spanish citizenship.

Remote employees must have an employment contract with a company outside Spain (or where <=25% of work is for a Spanish entity) and at least 3 months of prior employment with that company. Freelancers must demonstrate ongoing client contracts with international clients and earn no more than 25% of revenue from Spanish clients. Both pathways have the same income threshold and processing time.

Yes. The initial visa is valid for 1 year. You can renew for up to 3 years total. After 3 years, you transition to a standard residence permit. Renewal requires demonstrating that you still meet the income, insurance, and remote work requirements.