If you work online the digital nomad visa for Spain can open the doors to a life full of new opportunities and enriching experiences. Because of its good climate, safety, language and cultural ties, Spain has always been one of the preferred destinations for digital nomads. In addition, the country has one of the lowest living costs in Western Europe. Below, we explain the advantages and requirements to obtain the digital nomad visa in Spain.
Advantages of the Digital Nomad Visa
- The deadline for a response to your visa application is only 20 working days. And if at the end of that period you have no response, it means that your visa has been approved. This is called favorable administrative silence. In the other types of visas, the lack of response means that it has not been approved and you have to start over.
- You can apply for it from Spain if you are a tourist or student. In this case the residency is granted for 3 years.
- You can apply for it from your country of residence, at the Spanish consulate closest to your home. In this case the visa is given to you for one year, and then you renew it for 3 years when you are in Spain.
- Upon completion of the first 3 years of the visa, it can be renewed for 2 more years. After which permanent residency is granted.
- Time spent in Spain on the digital nomad visa computes for Spanish nationality. We remind you that Hispanic Americans can apply for Spanish citizenship when they have been living in Spain for 2 years.
- As for the family, this visa has great advantages. It allows you to be accompanied to Spain by your spouse, minor and adult children who depend on you, and your parents if they are in your care. Not only that, but it also authorizes them to work, either as self-employed or in a dependent relationship.
- It is possible to register for Social Security in Spain only with a passport, during the first six months.
- It allows you to be absent from Spain for six months of the year.
- It allows free travel within the Schengen Area (the European Union, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) without the need for additional visas, facilitating both business and vacation travel.
Tax benefits for digital nomads in Spain
If a digital nomad arrives in Spain with an employment contract, they can apply for the Beckham Law. This means they will pay the non-resident tax rate, which is 24% of their income. This is a significant advantage compared to the taxes paid by residents, which range from 30% to 47%.
Other advantages include:
- Income obtained outside Spain is not taxable in Spain. This does not exempt from paying taxes in the countries where such income was produced, if applicable.
- Assets held abroad are not taxed in Spain.
- Assets held abroad exceeding €50,000 do not need to be declared. This means that Form 720 does not need to be filed.
It's clear that digital nomads receive preferential treatment under the Spanish tax system. This option to pay less tax is only valid for the first six years. After that, taxes are paid according to the standard tax brackets for residents.
More information in this post of our blog: Beckham Law: tax benefits, requirements and how to apply
What is required to obtain a visa?
In a nutshell, to obtain a visa you must have income of at least €34,188 per year, to demonstrate that your work can be done remotely, to have studies or work experience of three years or more. There are other requirements, which are detailed below, but these are the most important ones.
This visa is for people who work remotely for companies located outside of Spain. They can be employees or self-employed and must not be citizens of the European Union. But what jobs does a digital nomad do? Spanish regulations do not specify jobs or professions, only that they must be done online.
List of the main requirements
- Demonstrate a working relationship with your customers or company of at least three months of seniority.The company will be able to provide the documents that accredit the terms and conditions of the distance activity.
- The company or clients you work for must have at least one year of existence performing real and continuous activity.
- Demonstrate an income of at least €34,188 per year. If you are moving to Spain with family, this amounts to €12,820 for the first family member and €4,274 for each additional member. Therefore, a family of four must have an income of €55,555 per year.
- In the case of the self-employed, invoicing to Spanish companies cannot represent more than 20% of their income.
- A graduate or postgraduate degree from prestigious universities, vocational training and business schools of recognized prestige, or a minimum of three years of professional experience.
- To have a private health insurance policy with full coverage in Spain.
- Not to be irregularly in Spain.
- Lack a criminal record in Spain and in the country where you have resided the five years prior to the application.
How to apply for a digital nomad visa in Spain
If you look for information in the websites of the Spanish government, please note that the official name is "visa and residence authorization for international teleworking". If you are in your country, you have to apply for the visa at the Spanish consulate nearest to your home. The visa lasts for one year, during which time you must apply for the residence authorization, which is granted for three years.
If you are already in Spain, no need to apply for a visa. You directly apply for the residence authorization at the Large Companies and Strategic Collectives Unit, which is an agency of the Spanish government. We recommend you to apply directly in Spain. It is simpler, more direct and you will save time.
Do you need help with your application?
As a law firm in Barcelona, we offer expert legal advice to foreigners on visas, tax optimization, investments, and strategic asset relocation. We provide personalized advice through 45- or 60-minute appointments. The fees are €115 and €150 respectively. If you then contract our comprehensive visa management service, the initial fee will be deducted from the total cost. To schedule an appointment, please contact us by Whatsapp or email.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Digital Nomad Visa for Spain
- Can I apply for the Digital Nomad Visa while in Spain as a tourist?
Yes, you can apply from Spain with a tourist or student visa. - What is the validity of the Digital Nomad Visa?
Up to 3 years if you apply from Spain or 1 year if you apply from abroad (renewable thereafter). - Can my family join me on this visa?
Yes, your spouse, dependent children and even your parents can come with you and can also work in Spain. - Do I have to pay taxes in Spain as a digital nomad?
Yes, but you can apply for a special tax regime - called the Beckham Law - and pay a flat rate of 24% on income for the first 6 years. - Can freelancers apply for the Digital Nomad Visa?
Yes, as long as no more than 20% of your income comes from Spanish customers. - Is it necessary to have private health insurance?
Yes, you must have private medical insurance with full coverage in Spain.