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Working remotely does not automatically qualify you for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa. This residence permit allows international professionals to live and work from Spain, but eligibility depends on their professional circumstances, income and compliance with Spanish immigration requirements.
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa Requirements
Regulated by Law 14/2013, this residence permit requires applicants to demonstrate:
- Professional relationship: At least three months of employment or professional activity with a foreign company that has been operating for at least one year.
- Remote work: Evidence that the activity can be performed remotely, including employer authorization where applicable.
- Qualifications: A recognized qualification meeting the legal requirements or at least three years of professional experience.
- Sufficient income: At least 200% of Spain’s minimum wage, equivalent to €2,849 per month in 2026 for an individual applicant.
- Other requirements: Compliance with Social Security obligations, criminal record requirements and appropriate healthcare coverage.
Who Can Apply for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa. Three common scenarios
1. Employees of Foreign Companies
If you have worked for at least three months for a US, UK or Canadian company that has been operating for over a year, you may qualify. However, you must demonstrate that your employer authorizes remote work from Spain and that the applicable Social Security requirements are met.
2. Freelancers with International Clients
Independent professionals may also qualify if they can demonstrate at least three months of prior commercial relationships with foreign companies that meet the one-year business activity requirement, alongside the other applicable conditions.
3. Owners of Foreign Companies
Do you own a US LLC, a UK Limited Company (Ltd), or a Canadian Corporation (Inc./Ltd.)?
Owning a foreign company does not automatically make you eligible. It is essential to assess your legal relationship with the company, your role within the business and whether your responsibilities, including management and administrative duties, can genuinely be performed remotely.
How to Apply for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa
There are two main application routes:
Applying for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa from Abroad
Apply through the relevant Spanish consulate. The visa allows you to live and work remotely in Spain for up to one year. You may subsequently apply for a residence authorization of up to three years, provided you meet the applicable requirements.
Applying for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa from Within Spain
The process involves assessing eligibility, preparing international documentation, reviewing Social Security obligations and submitting the application.
Including Your Family in Your Digital Nomad Visa Application
You can include eligible family members in your Digital Nomad Visa application, including your spouse or partner, minor children and financially dependent adult children who have not formed their own family unit. Certain dependent parents may also qualify, provided they meet the applicable legal requirements.
What to Do After Your Digital Nomad Visa Is Approved
Your obligations do not end once your residence permit is granted. Social Security compliance is essential both for obtaining the authorization and for maintaining the conditions required for renewal. Failure to comply may jeopardize your residence status.
Additionally, obtaining a Digital Nomad Visa does not automatically qualify you for Spain’s Beckham Law tax regime, which has separate eligibility requirements.
As immigration lawyers, we understand that this residence permit requires careful legal assessment, extensive international documentation and ongoing compliance with obligations that continue after approval.
We therefore strongly recommend seeking assistance from a qualified immigration lawyer or licensed administrative manager (gestor administrativo) in Spain to ensure your application is properly prepared and to avoid mistakes that could affect future renewals.
At HolaExpat, our Marbella-based legal team specializes in these residence permits, helping remote employees, freelancers and business owners manage their applications and coordinate their relocation to Spain.
Book an appointment with our team to assess your eligibility.
