Spain digital nomad visa
Spain's digital nomad visa, created by the 2023 Startup Law, is one of Europe's most generous: apply from inside Spain as a tourist and receive a three-year residence permit directly, with an optional flat-tax regime for new residents. Big-city energy in Madrid and Barcelona, islands and coast everywhere else, and full Schengen access included.
Digital Nomad Visa (Ley de Startups) at a glance ✓ Verified 2026
- Income requirement: ~$3100/month
- Visa cost: ~$90
- Length of stay: up to 36 months
- Processing time: 15–45 days
- Official source: government site
Requirements
- Remote income of at least 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) per month — higher with family members
- Work for companies outside Spain — Spanish clients may account for at most 20% of your income
- Your employer or main client relationship must be at least three months old, and the company operating for at least one year
- A university degree or at least three years of relevant professional experience
- Social security coverage: a certificate of coverage from your home country, or registering as self-employed (autónomo) in Spain
- Clean criminal record certificate (apostilled) and full private health insurance, or public enrollment via autónomo
How to apply
- Gather documents — income proof, contracts, degree or experience evidence, criminal record with apostille, insurance — with sworn Spanish translations where required
- Choose your route: apply at a Spanish consulate abroad (one-year visa), or enter Spain and apply to the UGE online for the three-year residence permit directly
- Get your NIE (foreigner ID number) — assigned during the process if you don't have one
- Wait for the UGE decision — the law sets short response windows, and silence counts as approval in many cases
- Once approved, book the fingerprint appointment and collect your TIE residence card
Moving abroad means more than the visa — sort your travel insurance (many visa applications require proof of coverage), set up borderless banking, and land with data working.
Frequently asked questions
Spain's special expat regime (the 'Beckham Law') lets qualifying new residents pay a flat 24% tax on Spanish-source employment income up to €600,000 for up to six years, instead of progressive rates. Employees on the nomad visa can often opt in; self-employed applicants usually can't. Apply within six months of registering — and confirm specifics with a Spanish tax advisor.
Yes — that's the unusual part. You can enter as a tourist and apply online to the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) from inside Spain, receiving the full three-year residence permit directly rather than the one-year consulate visa.
Up to 20% of your total income can come from Spanish companies. The core of your work must be remote for employers or clients outside Spain — cross that line and you're in regular work-permit territory.
Yes. The permit renews in two-year blocks, permanent residency is available after five years of continuous legal residence, and citizenship after ten (two years for citizens of Ibero-American countries). Time on the nomad visa counts.
More visas in Europe
Visa rules, income thresholds, and fees change — always confirm the current requirements on the official government source (linked here) before applying. This page is informational, not immigration advice.