Who qualifies
Non-EU/EEA nationals who work remotely for a company outside Spain, or freelancers whose clients are mostly outside Spain. You need:
- Income: at least 200% of Spain's minimum wage (€2,849/month in 2026)
- Employment: at least 3 months of existing relationship with your employer or clients
- Company: your employer must have been active for at least 1 year
- Education: university degree OR 3+ years of relevant professional experience
- Tax history: not a Spanish tax resident in the previous 5 years
- Freelancers: max 20% of income from Spanish clients
Income thresholds with family
| Who | Monthly minimum | Annual minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | €2,849 | €34,188 |
| + Spouse/partner | €3,917 | €47,009 |
| + Spouse + 1 child | €4,274 | €51,282 |
| + Spouse + 2 children | €4,630 | €55,556 |
Two ways to apply
You can apply from abroad at a Spanish consulate, or from within Spain if you're already here legally (tourist entry or other valid status).
Route A: From abroad (consulate)
- Gather and prepare documents (apostille originals first, then sworn translation)
- Book appointment at your Spanish consulate
- Attend in person with full documentation
- Pay visa fee (~€80)
- Wait for decision (officially 10 working days, realistically 3-6 weeks)
- Collect visa (valid up to 1 year)
- Arrive in Spain, register address (empadronamiento), apply for NIE/TIE within 30 days
Route B: From within Spain (UGE-CE)
- Enter Spain legally on tourist status
- Submit application via the UGE-CE platform
- Wait for resolution (officially 20 working days, realistically 4-8 weeks)
- Receive authorization (valid up to 3 years)
- Apply for TIE card
The in-Spain route gives you a longer initial authorization (3 years vs 1 year). You can stay in Spain while your application is processed.
Required documents
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for 1+ year, 2 blank pages. Original + copy. |
| Criminal record | From all countries you lived in for the past 5 years. Apostilled + sworn translated. Less than 6 months old. |
| Health insurance | Private, full Spanish coverage. No copayments, no deductibles. Must include repatriation. Travel insurance is not accepted. |
| Proof of income | 3-6 months of payslips, bank statements, tax returns. |
| Employment contract or employer letter | Must confirm: remote work authorization, job title, salary, explicit consent to work from Spain. |
| Company registration | Proof your employer has been active for 1+ year. |
| Degree or experience | University degree (apostilled + translated) OR proof of 3+ years professional experience. |
| Accommodation | Rental contract, property deed, or booking in Spain. |
| Passport photo | Recent, color, light background. |
Freelancers also need: proof of 1+ year continuous activity (invoices, contracts, tax filings), client contracts showing 80%+ non-Spanish income, and a declaration to register as autonomo with Social Security upon approval.
Family members: marriage/birth certificates (apostilled + translated), proof of financial dependency for adult children or parents.
All non-Spanish documents must be sworn-translated by a traductor jurado registered with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The order matters: apostille the original first, then translate.
Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Consular visa fee | ~€80 (varies by nationality) |
| NIE fee (Tasa 790-012) | ~€12 |
| TIE card fee (Tasa 790-038) | €16-73 |
| Sworn translations | €50-150 per document |
| Apostilles | €20-80 per document |
| Health insurance | €50-150/month |
| Total estimate (single) | €300-700 (without legal support) |
Processing time
| Route | Official | Realistic |
|---|---|---|
| Consulate (from abroad) | 10 working days | 3-6 weeks |
| UGE-CE (from Spain) | 20 working days | 4-8 weeks |
| TIE card after approval | 30-45 days | 1-3 months |
Duration and renewals
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Initial visa (consulate) | Up to 1 year |
| Initial authorization (UGE, from Spain) | Up to 3 years |
| First renewal | 2 years |
| Second renewal | 2 years |
| Total possible stay | 5 years |
After 5 years of continuous legal residence (183+ days/year), you can apply for permanent residency. Citizenship requires 10 years of legal residence (2 years for Latin Americans, Filipinos, Portuguese, and a few other nationalities).
Renewals require continued remote employment, income above the threshold, Spanish tax compliance, and Social Security registration.
Tax benefits: Beckham Law
Digital Nomad Visa holders qualify for Beckham Law (Article 93 LIRPF). This means:
- Flat 24% income tax on Spanish-source earnings up to €600,000 (vs regular rates up to 47%)
- Foreign income exempt: dividends, interest, capital gains from abroad are not taxed
- No wealth tax on non-Spanish assets
- No Modelo 720 (worldwide asset declaration)
- Lasts 6 tax years (year of arrival + 5)
You apply via Modelo 149 within 6 months of your Social Security registration. Use our Beckham Law Calculator to see your exact savings.
Below ~€35,000/year, standard progressive IRPF may actually be cheaper than the flat 24% because Beckham Law removes all personal allowances and deductions.
Family members
You can include your spouse (or registered partner), minor children, financially dependent adult children, and dependent parents. Key points:
- Only the main applicant's income counts toward the threshold (add 75% SMI for spouse, 25% per child)
- Family members get full work authorization in Spain
- Their residence permits match the primary applicant's duration
- You need apostilled and translated marriage/birth certificates
Freelancers: what to know
The DNV works for freelancers, but with stricter requirements:
- Max 20% of income from Spanish clients. This is the most common rejection reason for freelancers.
- You need proof of 1+ year continuous freelance activity (invoices, contracts, tax filings from your country)
- Clients must be businesses, not individuals. UGE rejects applications where primary clients are individual people.
- You must register as autonomo with Spanish Social Security after approval
DNV vs other visa options
| Feature | Digital Nomad | Non-Lucrative | Autonomo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work in Spain | Yes (remote, non-Spanish) | No work allowed | Yes (any clients) |
| Min income/year | €34,188 | ~€28,800 | Varies |
| Beckham Law | Yes (24% flat tax) | No | No |
| Spanish clients | Max 20% | None | Unlimited |
| Apply from Spain | Yes (UGE) | No | Consulate |
| Initial duration | 1-3 years | 1 year | 1 year |
Spain's Golden Visa (investment-based residency) was abolished in April 2025. Existing holders can renew under transitional provisions.
You cannot switch from a Non-Lucrative Visa to a Digital Nomad Visa. UGE has explicitly closed this conversion path.
Common mistakes
- Health insurance with copayments or deductibles. Must be zero-copay, zero-deductible private coverage. Travel insurance is rejected.
- More than 20% Spanish client income (freelancers). Single most common rejection reason.
- Wrong apostille/translation order. Apostille the original first, then get the sworn translation. Not the other way around.
- Using non-sworn translators. Must be a traductor jurado registered with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Vague employer letter. Must explicitly state: remote authorization, job title, salary, and consent to work from Spain.
- Criminal records older than 6 months. They expire. Time your application carefully.
- Not registering with Social Security after approval. UGE actively monitors post-approval compliance.
After you arrive
- Get your NIE (if not already assigned)
- Register your address at the town hall (empadronamiento)
- Apply for TIE card at your local foreigners' office
- Register with Social Security
- Apply for Beckham Law within 6 months (Modelo 149)
- Open a Spanish bank account
Bottom line
The Digital Nomad Visa is the best option for remote workers who want to live in Spain legally and pay less tax. The income bar is reasonable (€2,849/month), the application is straightforward if your documents are in order, and Beckham Law cuts your tax rate to a flat 24%. The main risks are sloppy paperwork and the 20% Spanish client rule for freelancers. Get your documents apostilled and translated early, use a traductor jurado, and apply through UGE from within Spain if you want the 3-year authorization.