To qualify for Spain’s digital nomad visa, you must be a non-EU/EEA remote worker employed by, or freelancing for, companies outside Spain. You also need to show stable income of at least 200% of Spain’s minimum wage, which is about €2,849 a month in 2026. Beyond that, you must prove an established working relationship, hold no recent Spanish residency, and be ready to handle Spanish social security after you arrive. This guide explains each requirement, the documents behind it, and where applicants usually stumble.
TL;DR
-
The visa is for non-EU/EEA citizens who work remotely for non-Spanish companies, as employees or self-employed.
-
Income must reach 200% of the minimum interprofessional wage (SMI): about €2,849 a month for one person in 2026, with more for dependents.
-
Your company must have existed for at least one year, and you need at least three months of professional relationship with it.
-
The consulate visa lasts one year. You then convert it to a three-year residence authorization from inside Spain.
-
Register with Spanish social security after approval, or you risk losing your permit.
Who can apply
The visa was created by Law 28/2022, the Startup Act, which added migration measures for foreign talent. It is aimed at “international teleworkers”: people who do their job through computer and telecommunications systems for companies located outside Spain.
In practice, you qualify if you:
-
are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen and have not been a Spanish resident in the past five years;
-
work remotely as an employee of a foreign company, or as a freelancer whose clients are mostly foreign;
-
can show qualifications or professional experience suited to the work (consulates ask for a degree or a documented track record; check your consulate’s checklist for the exact standard);
-
have no criminal record and can pass the standard background checks.
EU and EEA citizens do not need this visa because they already have free movement rights. If you are unsure whether you need any visa at all for short stays, our guide on whether you need a visa to work remotely abroad covers where tourist status ends.
The income requirement
The official Ministry of Inclusion guidance sets the main applicant’s minimum monthly income at 200% of the SMI. For family members, it adds 75% of the SMI for the first dependent and 25% for each further one.
The government set the 2026 SMI at €1,221 a month in 14 payments, or €17,094 a year. Spread over 12 months, that is about €1,424.50, so the thresholds work out roughly like this:
| Household | Share of SMI | Approx. monthly income (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Main applicant | 200% | €2,849 |
| First dependent | +75% | +€916 |
| Each additional dependent | +25% | +€305 |
A couple would therefore need roughly €3,765 a month, and a family of three about €4,070. These figures are our own arithmetic from the published percentages, so confirm the current amount with your consulate before you apply.
If your income falls short, the same guidance allows you to cover the gap with bank certificates showing liquid savings or other income, enough for the entire validity of the permit. That makes the threshold flexible for people with lumpy freelance earnings, provided the paperwork is clear.
Proving your remote work
This is the part that most often decides a file. The guidance requires evidence that the company you work for has existed for at least one year, and that you have had a professional relationship with it for at least three months. The rule exists to separate settled remote careers from speculative or short-term arrangements.
If you are an employee
You need an employment contract or equivalent proof showing you work for a company outside Spain, plus documents showing the company’s age and activity. Your employer must also allow remote work from Spain. Employees are restricted to non-Spanish employers.
If you are self-employed
You need client contracts or service agreements, invoices and proof of payment. Freelancers have one extra flexibility, often called the 20% rule: you may earn up to 20% of your total income from Spanish companies, as long as most of your work is for foreign clients. Employees do not get this allowance.
A clear, well-organized professional history helps you assemble this evidence. If your CV does not yet show your remote experience in a form a consulate or employer can read quickly, a specialist such as a professional resume writing service can help you present it, even though that guide is written with the Canadian market in mind.
Documents to prepare
Exact lists vary by consulate, so treat this as a working checklist and then compare it with the page of the consulate you will use:
-
Valid passport.
-
Completed national visa application form.
-
Proof of qualifications or professional experience.
-
Employment contract or client contracts, with proof of the one-year company and three-month relationship rules.
-
Evidence of income, such as payslips, invoices and bank statements, plus savings certificates if you are covering a shortfall.
-
Criminal record certificate, usually apostilled or legalized and translated into Spanish.
-
Health insurance valid in Spain. Check your consulate’s standard on coverage.
-
A responsible declaration about your social security obligations.
-
Your NIE (foreign identification number), where your consulate expects it.
On that last point, practitioners advise requesting the NIE early. Missing it is a common reason files stall at the consulate.
Timeline: visa first, residence permit second
Many applicants assume the visa gives them a long stay. It does not. The visa issued at a consulate is valid for one year. To stay longer, you convert it after arriving into a three-year residence authorization through the UGE, Spain’s large companies and strategic groups unit.
If you are already in Spain legally, for example on a standard 90-day Schengen tourist stay, you can apply directly for the residence authorization from inside the country. Check current guidance on that route before relying on it.
On timing, official Spanish foreign ministry information puts consulate visa processing at typically 20 to 45 working days, and incomplete files can extend it significantly. Applications handled inside Spain through the UGE target 20 days. Build in extra time for apostilles, translations and appointment waits.
Obligations after you arrive
The visa grants residency, not an exemption from Spanish rules. You must register with the proper social security regime: the General Regime for employees, or RETA for the self-employed. Failing to do so can lead to the termination of your permit.
Tax is a separate question. Your days in Spain may make you a Spanish tax resident, which has consequences for your global income. The Spanish Tax Agency publishes information for people living temporarily in Spain, and a licensed Spanish tax adviser can tell you how your specific situation is treated. Our Spain digital nomad visa guide covers tax and the application in more depth.
Common mistakes
-
Applying with a company that is too new. A firm under one year old fails the stability test, however good your contract.
-
Counting on the visa alone for long-term stay. Plan the conversion into the three-year authorization from day one.
-
Mixing up the 20% rule. It benefits freelancers only.
-
Skipping the NIE. Request it before the consulate appointment.
-
Ignoring social security. Registration is a condition for keeping your status.
Find remote work that fits the visa
The visa depends on having a genuine employer or clients outside Spain. Our verified work-from-anywhere jobs board lists roles that we check manually, so you can see hiring details before you apply. Nomad Pro is available at $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year, and there is also a free plan.
If Spain does not suit your income or timeline, compare it with the Portugal D8 visa or the Andorra visa.
FAQ
What is the minimum income for a digital nomad visa in Spain?
The main applicant needs 200% of the SMI. With the 2026 SMI at €1,221 in 14 payments, that is about €2,849 a month. Dependents add 75% of the SMI for the first and 25% for each additional one.
How long does it take for the visa to be approved?
Consulate applications typically take 20 to 45 working days, according to Spanish foreign ministry information. Missing documents can lengthen that considerably. Applications inside Spain through the UGE aim for 20 days.
Can I cover the income requirement with savings?
Yes, partly. If your monthly earnings fall below the threshold, you can show bank certificates of liquid savings or other income that cover the difference for the whole validity of the permit.
Can I work for Spanish clients on this visa?
Only in limited cases. Freelancers may earn up to 20% of total income from Spanish companies. Employees must work for non-Spanish employers.