Spain's Digital Nomad Visa
Keep your job or clients abroad and live in Spain legally — income requirements, application routes, taxes, and the fine print, updated for 2026.
Overview
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa (formally the international teleworking visa, created by the Startup Law in January 2023) lets non-EU citizens live in Spain while working remotely for an employer or clients outside Spain. It has become the default route for remote professionals who want the move without changing jobs.
The trade is straightforward: prove stable remote income of roughly twice Spain's minimum wage, show your work genuinely happens abroad, and you get a residence permit of up to three years (renewable), family included, with an optional flat-tax regime that can substantially cut your Spanish income tax.
Two ways to use this guide
If you already have a remote job you can keep, this visa is probably your fastest path to Spain. If you'd rather switch to a Spanish employer, read our visa sponsorship guide and browse sponsored jobs instead — the comparison table at the end shows how the routes differ.
Who qualifies
Two profiles fit the visa:
- Remote employees of a company established outside Spain. The employer must authorise remote work from Spain, and your relationship with it must be at least three months old at application. The company itself must have been operating for at least a year.
- Freelancers / contractors working primarily for non-Spanish clients. Spanish clients are allowed only up to 20% of your total activity.
In both cases you need to show professional standing: a university degree, orat least three years of relevant work experience. You'll also need clean criminal records from the countries you've lived in over the last two years, and private or public health coverage in Spain.
Income requirement
The threshold is set at 200% of the SMI(Spain's minimum wage). With the 2026 SMI at €1,221/month paid in 14 instalments (€17,094/year), that works out to about:
- ~€2,850 gross per month (≈ €34,200/year) for a single applicant
- + ~€1,060/month (75% of SMI) for the first family member
- + ~€360/month (25% of SMI) for each additional family member
Acceptable proof includes your employment contract and recent payslips, bank statements, or — for freelancers — invoices and client contracts. Income can be combined with savings in borderline cases, but steady contractual income is what case officers want to see.
The number moves
Because the requirement is pegged to the SMI, it changes whenever the government raises the minimum wage — check the current SMI before you file. Figures here were last reviewed in July 2026.
How to apply
There are two routes:
- From Spain (recommended): enter as a tourist and apply online to the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas). You apply directly for a three-year residence permit, the legal decision window is about 20 business days, and administrative silence counts as approval.
- From your home country: apply at the Spanish consulate for a one-year visa, then convert it to the three-year permit once you're in Spain.
The document set is the slow part: passport, proof of the employment or client relationship, company registration documents, degree or CV evidence, criminal-record certificates (apostilled, with sworn translations), health coverage, and the income evidence above. Start collecting apostilles early — they routinely take longer than the application itself.
Taxes & the Beckham regime
Living in Spain more than 183 days a year makes you a Spanish tax resident. By default that means progressive income tax up to ~47%. The good news: DNV holders who are employees of a foreign company can usually opt into the Beckham regime — a flat 24% on employment income up to €600,000, for the year you move plus the five following.
Most self-employedfreelancers can't use Beckham and instead pay standard progressive rates as autónomos — see our autónomo guide for what that costs in practice.
Renewals, residency & citizenship clock
The in-Spain permit is granted for three years and renews in two-year blocks while you keep meeting the requirements. Time on the DNV counts toward long-term residency at five years, and toward citizenship (ten years for most nationalities, two for Latin American and some other citizens). You must actually live in Spain — extended absences break the clock.
DNV vs sponsored work visas
| Route | Best for | Key requirement | Decision speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad Visa | Keeping your foreign job or clients while living in Spain | ~€2,850/mo income, remote work for non-Spanish employer/clients | ~20 business days (UGE route) |
| Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) | A job offer from a Spanish company at professional level | Degree or seniority; salary roughly €40,000+ depending on role level | ~20 business days |
| EU Blue Card | Degree-holders with a qualifying Spanish job offer | University degree or 5 years' experience; salary threshold ~€42,000+ | Weeks–months |
| Standard work permit (cuenta ajena) | Non-professional roles with a sponsoring employer | Labour-market test unless the role is on the shortage list | Months |
Rule of thumb: if you can keep your current job, the DNV is usually faster and keeps your (often higher) foreign salary. If you want a Spanish employer — or your employer won't play ball on social security — look at jobs with visa sponsorship through the HQP route.
A note on accuracy
Immigration and tax rules change frequently, and consulates apply them unevenly. This guide was last reviewed in July 2026 — verify thresholds against official sources or a lawyer before acting.
FAQ
How much income do I need for Spain's digital nomad visa?
As of 2026, a single applicant needs around €2,850 gross per month (about €34,200 a year) — 200% of Spain's minimum wage (SMI). Add roughly 75% of the SMI (~€1,060/month) for the first family member and 25% (~€360/month) for each additional one. The threshold moves whenever the SMI is updated, so check the current figure before applying.
Can I work for a Spanish company on the digital nomad visa?
Mostly no. Employees must work for a company outside Spain. Freelancers can serve Spanish clients only up to 20% of their total income — the visa is built for people whose work and income come from abroad. If you want a job with a Spanish employer, the route is a sponsored work permit instead.
Does the digital nomad visa qualify for the Beckham tax regime?
Employees of foreign companies who move on the digital nomad visa can usually opt into the Beckham regime — a flat 24% income tax on Spanish-taxable employment income up to €600,000 for the year of the move plus five more. Most self-employed freelancers do not qualify. The election (Form 149) must be filed within six months of registering with Spanish social security.
How long does the digital nomad visa take to process?
The in-Spain route through the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) has a legal decision window of about 20 business days, and silence counts as approval. Consulate applications from your home country typically take longer and vary by consulate. Gathering apostilled documents usually takes longer than the decision itself.
Can I bring my spouse and children?
Yes. Family members can apply with you or join later. You'll need to show additional income on top of the base requirement — roughly 75% of the SMI for the first dependant and 25% for each additional one — plus civil documents (marriage/birth certificates, apostilled and translated).
Can Americans use Spain's digital nomad visa?
Yes, and W-2 employees are a common case — but social security is the hard part. Spain expects either a certificate of coverage under the US–Spain totalization agreement or the foreign employer registering with Spanish social security. Self-employed Americans can typically register as autónomo in Spain instead. Get advice on this specific point before applying; it is the most common blocker.
Already working remotely?
Browse fully remote roles from companies hiring in Spain — or keep your job and use the visa above.
Social security — the hard part
Income tax gets the attention, but social security is where DNV applications actually stall. Spain expects your work from Spain to be covered, which means one of:
If you're an employee, raise this with your employer before you spend money on apostilles. It is the single most common reason remote employees switch to the freelance structure or abandon the route.