The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa —   This scheme is primarily designed for freelancers and remote workers whose income comes from foreign sources. You will receive a full residence permit, enabling you to learn the language and travel within the Schengen Area. The Spain Digital Nomad Visa is often the first step towards obtaining permanent residence and citizenship.

Key benefits

The Spanish Digital Nomad visa is a self-sufficient alternative to standard naturalisation routes via employment, marriage or business ownership. It is suitable if you receive income from abroad or carry out private commissions for foreign clients. This format restricts the ability to work for a Spanish employer, but for freelancers and digital nomads this is not particularly important.

Benefits of the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa:

• long-term legal residence in the country;
• permission to receive foreign income;
• freedom of movement within the Schengen area for the entire duration of the visa for freelancers in Spain;
• access to essential services — banking, healthcare, housing, education, etc.;
• the Spanish digital nomad visa allows you to move to the country with your family, provided the minimum income requirements are met;
• there is the possibility of eventually applying for permanent residence and citizenship.

Meeting the requirements for the Spanish Digital Nomad visa does not pose significant difficulties. This type of residence permit imposes few restrictions on your rights and opportunities, particularly in terms of daily life and professional activities.

Who is the Spanish Digital Nomad visa suitable for?

The basic eligibility criterion is income from private services provided to companies and clients abroad. This removes the requirement, common in many cases, to work within Spain itself. The format is hardly universal, but it suits digital nomads and dynamic, active young people accustomed to working outside the office very well.

Who is the Spanish Digital Nomad visa aimed at:

• freelancers working for clients and customers abroad;
• remote employees of foreign companies;
• professionals whose income does not come from Spanish sources;
• representatives of ‘digital’ professions whose work is not tied to an office — IT specialists, designers, marketers, consultants, etc.;
• businesspeople not operating in the Spanish market;
• foreign nationals who can prove a stable income from abroad;
• those who wish to move to Spain with their family and can prove their income level.

Applying for a remote work visa in Spain does not involve meeting specific conditions, excessively high income requirements or mandatory investments. You receive a full residence permit and the opportunity to plan your future in the country, whilst retaining your freedom and mobility.

Obtaining a Spanish Digital Nomad visa

The main requirement is remote work for a foreign company or a private client. The arrangement can take any form — a standard contract, freelance work or a contract. However, your employment must be documented.

Other mandatory requirements for obtaining a Spanish Digital Nomad visa:

• Verified professional activity. You must demonstrate sufficient past work experience in a specific field. Contracts, a portfolio, or registration as a sole trader or self-employed person will suffice.
• Income level. The basic requirement is an income of at least twice the minimum wage in Spain (SMI, Salario Mínimo Interprofesional). For applicants with a family, the amount will be higher, taking into account all dependants – a spouse, or minor or financially dependent children.
• Main source of income outside Spain. A standard visa requirement for freelancers. Receiving income from sources within the country is permitted in principle, but it must not exceed 20%.
• No criminal record. You must obtain the relevant police certificate in advance, before moving.
• Health insurance. It must fully cover medical services in Spain for the entire duration of your stay. It is important that all costs are covered by the insurance company, i.e. a no-excess policy is required.
• Confirmed permanent residence. A tenancy agreement, property purchase contract, or any official document stating your address in Spain will suffice.

Other requirements are standard; these include holding a valid passport and strict compliance with current visa regulations.

Document package, application submission

The most crucial and difficult stage is ensuring you meet all the conditions for the Spanish Digital Nomad visa. You must be as careful as possible when preparing the document pack. This stage is very important, but all official requirements are set out in the relevant laws and administrative guidelines.

Documents required for a Digital Nomad visa in Spain:

• a foreign passport; citizens of certain countries must also provide a national/domestic passport;
• standard application form;
• documents confirming employment and a stable source of income;
• a certificate of no criminal convictions for the last 5 years;
• health insurance;
• proof of actual residence in Spain;
• standard photographs.

If the documents are in a language other than Spanish, they must be translated. Apostille requirements depend on the specific document.

There are two options for submission. The first is the consulate or embassy in your country of residence. This applies if you have not yet arrived in Spain. The alternative is the immigration office. If you are already in Spain legally, the application for a Digital Nomad visa is submitted from there.

Additional documents may be requested if necessary. The standard processing time for an application is several weeks. If your application is approved, you will be issued with a visa or a long-term residence permit. The type of document depends on where the application was submitted. If necessary, a TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) residence card will be issued.

Validity of visas for freelancers in Spain

The main criterion is where the application is submitted. If the document is processed through an embassy or consulate, its validity is usually one year. If you submit your application whilst already in Spain, the residence permit may be for a longer period – up to several years.

There is an option to extend the visa, but a number of conditions must be met. In this case, the duration is usually longer than the initial one. Legally, it is your resident status that is extended, not the visa itself. There are additional requirements regarding the length of permanent residence in the country.

Conditions for extending a Digital Nomad visa in Spain:

• maintaining remote working arrangements;
• maintaining a sufficient level of income;
• valid health insurance with full cover;
• compliance with the requirements and conditions of the immigration regime.

You may be asked to provide valid contracts or agreements, confirm your financial income via a bank statement, and provide proof of your permanent address in Spain.

Fees and charges

Average costs range from €300 to €700. This includes administrative fees for processing the application and issuing a residence card, as well as a number of mandatory costs related to health insurance, bank transfers and the legalisation of documents. Actual costs may be slightly higher, depending on the chosen immigration route and the specifics of your particular situation.

Mandatory costs:

• consular/administrative fee – €60–€100;
• fee for processing a Spanish residence permit — €70–€100;
• Resident card (TIE) — €15–€20;
• health insurance — €40–€150 per month;

Possible additional costs:

• translation and legalisation of documents — €15–€20 each;
• apostille for documents — €20–€50 each;
• Certificates of good conduct and their processing — varies by country.

Rights, restrictions and obligations

The Spanish Digital Nomad visa is a convenient immigration tool designed for a wide range of foreign nationals. You will be able to plan your future with confidence, guided by your personal preferences and habits. The rights granted by the Spanish Digital Nomad visa are inextricably linked to certain restrictions and obligations. If you take these into account, your life in your new country could well be comfortable.

What you need to know:

Costs, average monthly expenses

When planning to move to Spain on a Digital Nomad visa, it is important to understand whether you can afford your usual standard of living. This factor often becomes one of the main considerations when choosing an immigration route, especially if you work remotely and are not bound by a contract with a specific employer.

Spain is not the ‘most expensive’ country in the European Union. It is possible to find affordable options for food, goods and services; prices depend on the city, and in holiday regions, they also depend on the season. Your monthly expenses will be heavily influenced by your habits and your willingness to spend money on your desired lifestyle.

The minimum monthly budget for one person is from €1,000, for a couple from €1,500, and for a family from €2,500, but it is best to base your calculations on the prevailing prices in the specific city where you plan to live. The basic requirement for obtaining a Digital Nomad visa in Spain is twice the SMI. In 2026, the SMI is set at €1,221, so your average expenses should be covered comfortably.

Approximate prices:

• rent in major cities — from €900, in smaller towns — from €600;
• basic shopping basket – from €250;
• public transport: a single journey — €1.5–2.5, a monthly travel pass — €20–60;
• lunch in a café — €10–15, dinner in a restaurant — from €15;
• home internet — €25–50;
• mobile phone — €10–30;
• utility bills (electricity + water, sometimes including gas) — €80–150;
• health insurance — €50–150.

How do I get a Digital Nomad visa in Spain? The most convenient option with minimal risk is to seek assistance from our specialists. Further information on the terms of cooperation is available by phone or via online messaging services.

FAQs about Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa