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Digital Nomad Visa in Spain

Digital Nomad Visa in Spain

The pandemic has led to the reorganization of many companies, especially from an employment point of view. Considering that many employers still need a workforce, even if this means that people will work from home, governments from all over Europe have created mechanisms meant to help businesses.

In Spain, the Startup Law comes with a new type of visa: the digital or remote work nomad visa. However, the details are still to be established for those interested in remote working in Spain.

Below, our immigration lawyers explain the main conditions associated with working here based on a Spain digital nomad visa. We also offer assistance if you want to move here under one of the traditional residence permits.

Quick Facts  
  Types of persons addressed  Freelancers, remote workers, entrepreneurs

Availability for foreign professionals (YES/NO)

YES, foreign professionals may apply for
digital nomad visas in Spain

Activities permitted

Activities that can be completed remotely
Eligibility conditions for applicants

There are no special eligibility requirements to obtain a Spanish digital nomad visa

Special requirements for foreigners (YES/NO) The visa is available for non-EU citizens only
Residence permit requisites for foreigners (YES/NO)

The digital nomad visa enables a person to live in Spain

Minimum income requirements

Between EUR 1,000 and 3,000

Restrictions (YES/NO) No, the digital nomad can also take up
employment in Spain
Possibility to relocate with family (YES/NO) Yes, the spouse/civil partner, minor children and dependent relatives can move to Spain
with the digital nomad
Sponsorship requirements (YES/NO)  NO, there is no need for a sponsor if you want to obtain a digital nomad visa in Spain
Registration with local authorities (YES/NO) YES, within 30 days from arrival
Validity period One year
Timeframe to obtain a digital nomad visa for Spain (approx.) 15 – 30 days
Advantages of a digital nomad visa It allows for temporary relocation, the applicant may be allowed to renew it for another year (details are still to be determined)
Digital nomad visa application services (YES/NO) YES, we can help you apply for a digital nomad visa for Spain
 Documents required to obtain the visa

 

– application form,

– recent photograph,

– valid passport,

– clean criminal record,

– proof of address in the country of origin,

– visa fee payment receipt,

– proof of employment (where applicable).

 Special conditions for taking up employment in Spain (if any)

The income generated in Spain must not exceed 20% of the nomad’s total income. 

 Special qualification requirements (if any)

 The Spanish digital nomad visa holder must have graduated university studies or have a minimum work experience of 3 years.

 Requirement to obtain a NIE number (YES/NO)  Yes, the number must be obtained prior to entering Spain.
 Special requirements when moving to Spain as a dependent (if any)

 No, foreign citizens moving as dependents do not need to meet any special requirements.

 Specific income for nomads moving with the family (if any)

 Proof of minimum income to support the entire family must be submitted.

 Special relocation conditions for family members (YES/NO)

 No, there are no specific requirements for them to meet.

 Other requirements for the digital nomad

Yes, he/she must have been employed by the foreign company for at least 3 months before obtaining the digital nomad visa for Spain. 

 Requirements for the foreign employer (if any)

The foreign company must have been registered for at least one year. 

 Health insurance requirement (YES/NO)  Yes, the foreign resident must secure full coverage health insurance before moving to Spain.
Tax benefits 

 Lower income tax is applied at a flat rate.

 Renewal possibility

Yes, for another 2 years 

 Possibility to apply for the digital nomad visa while in Spain (YES/NO)

 Yes, for foreign citizens who have entered Spain as tourists.

 Access to permanent residency based on this visa

 Not directly, as Spanish permanent residency can be obtained only by living in the country for at least 5 years.

 Support in renewing a Spanish digital nomad visa (YES/NO)  Yes, we can assist with the renewal of the visa for the other 2 years.
 Specific law applicable  The digital nomad visa is covered by the Spanish Startup Act.

 Possibility to work as a self-employed individual in Spain (YES/NO)

 Yes, self-employment is also available for remote workers.

 Possibility to render services to Spanish clients as a digital nomad (YES/NO)

Yes. 

 Work experience requirements (if any)  Yes, the remote worker must have at least 3 years of experience in the field he/she works in.
 Dependents that can join the digital nomad in Spain

 Spouse/civil partners, dependent children, and relatives not having a place to stay.

 Additional requirements when moving with dependents (if any)

Yes, the main applicant will need a higher income when moving with relatives. 

 Special requirements for international employees

 International workers must submit details about the duration of the contract, the salary, and a consent form for remote employment.

 Special requirements for foreign self-employed people

 – duration of stay (contract),

– details about the remote work conditions in Spain.

 Possibility to apply for the visa from Spain (YES/NO)

 Yes, people who are in Spain can apply while in the country.

Do remote workers become Spanish tax residents? (YES/NO)  Yes, remote workers will pay their taxes in Spain for the duration of the visa.
 Special tax considerations (if any)

 Digital nomads will benefit from a special income tax applied at a rate of 24% on income of a maximum of EUR 600,000 per year.

 Access to double tax treaties (YES/NO)

Yes. 

 Alternatives to a Spanish digital nomad visa

– the non-lucrative visa,

– the golden visa. 

 Possibility to exit Spain while having a digital nomad visa (YES/NO)

Yes, however, the holder must stay in Spain for at least 6 months during the 12-month validity period of the visa. 

 Special conditions to meet before relocation (if any)  The applicant must have not lived in Spain in the previous 5 years before relocation.

The remote work visa in Spain – provisions of the Startup Act

The Startup Law is one of the most recent acts enabled by the government and one of its novelties provides for the Spain nomad visa or remote worker visa, as it targets people who work for foreign companies while living here.

In fact, this is a visa that enables foreign citizens to live and work from Spain for foreign businesses without having to apply for a full work permit. The visa is available for citizens of non-EEA (European Economic Area) countries.

The full conditions of the nomad visa for Spain have not been established yet, however, details like its duration, the eligibility criteria, and the requirements for those interested in obtaining are contoured.

Our immigration lawyers in Spain can keep you updated on the progress of the program. You can rely on our regional immigration experts if you currently reside outside of the European Union and wish to apply for a resident permit in Spain. You can obtain the desired sort of document through tailored consulting services that are based on your nation of residence. Please feel free to contact us for any information you may need.

Who can be considered eligible for remote work in Spain?

Even if digital nomads have been around for a while, there were no special conditions these had to meet in order to be categorized under special programs. In most cases, digital nomads were persons who had the flexibility to work from wherever they wanted for the time they wanted. However, this implied careful planning and adjusting to the visa system of each country. Now, remote work in Spain will become possible under specific conditions.

Under the Startup Law, remote working in Spain is possible for the following categories of applicants:

  1. can work independently;
  2. can use technology to complete his/her activities;
  3. can run a business that is registered in another country.

According to more recent information, the minimum income a foreign citizen should have in order to apply for Spain’s remote work visa could range between 1,000 and 3,000 euros.

There are several advantages linked to this program, among which is the fact that the visa offers specific conditions under which foreign workers can complete their activities from abroad. Furthermore, it is easier to obtain a visa for this purpose instead of renewing tourism visas every few months.

If you are interested in moving here from another EU country, you do not need a remote work visa in Spain, however, you can rely on our immigration lawyer for assistance in applying for a residence permit and for citizenship. If you meet the requirements, you can also become a Spanish citizen if your parents were residents of the nation. You or your children must be less than 18. This method of obtaining citizenship in Spain has advantages because it calls for fewer paperwork. However, we still recommend using our services to make sure you don’t encounter any difficulties.

Here is also an infographic on the Spanish nomad visa:

Who can apply for Spain’s digital nomad visa?

Under the current legal framework, the remote worker visa for Spain is available for non-EEA citizens who want to work in this country.

The Spain nomad visa for non-EU workers implies for applicants to meet the following criteria:

  • they are employed by non-Spanish enterprises or,
  • their income is 20% lower than that they would obtain from a Spanish company.

So, if you are a citizen from the European Economic Area and want to move to Spain through a digital nomad visa, you can ask for support from our experienced lawyers.

What should be noted is that non-EU and non-EEA citizens who have already obtained EU residency can live and work from Spain for periods not exceeding 6 months without meeting any additional requirements.

How to apply for a nomad visa in Spain

The procedure for obtaining a remote worker visa in Spain is quite simple, as it can be obtained as any other type of short-term permit. As things in this direction have not been yet determined, the process might imply a visit to the Spanish Consulate or Embassy in one’s home country for obtaining permission to work from Spain.

Once these aspects are set in place, you can ask for support from our immigration law firm which can confirm the procedures for obtaining a digital nomad visa. If you want to work remotely from Spain, you can rely on us for details on the program to be enabled soon.

Documents required for remote working in Spain

Spain’s non-lucrative visa for remote work has not been determined yet, which could imply further changes, the same applies to the documents to be procured for this visa. However, here is the minimum set of papers expected to be requested by Spanish authorities:

  • the valid passport, because as you know this visa addresses non-EU citizens;
  • an employment contract or other documents indicating the activity is completed for employers or clients abroad;
  • proof of self-sustenance under the form of a bank statement;
  • proof of accommodation – a rental contract is the most common document that can be employed.

Other documents, such as health insurance, may also be required.

If you plan on applying for Spain’s remote work visa, the main difference between this country and other countries’ programs resides in the fact that here the visa is issued under the Startup Law. The act targets to provide a modern approach to the business and labor environments that are going through important changes.

With respect to taxation, it is expected for digital nomads to pay taxes here, however, the draft legislation provides for reduced rates for non-residents who obtain income from business or employment activities.

Our immigration law firm in Spain is also at the service of those interested in more traditional ways of relocating here. If you want to work remotely from Spain, get in touch with us.

When can digital nomad visas be obtained in Spain?

Currently, the law is pending approval, which could be obtained by the end of 2022. Until then, there are other visas a digital nomad can resort to if he or she wants to work remotely from Spain. Among these, the 3 most common options are:

  • the Schengen visa;
  • the Golden visa.

Each type of visa has its own requirements and application procedure which can be explained by our local immigration consultants.

Until Spain’s non-lucrative visa for remote work becomes available, you can rely on our local specialists who can help you apply for any of the other visas mentioned above.

We remind you that if you want to move to Spain from another EU country, you do not need such a visa, however, if you stay here long enough you can qualify for permanent residency which opens the pathway for citizenship.

We are also at your disposal if you need support in finding a place to stay in the city you want to establish yourself based on working remotely from Spain.

Facts and figures on the nomad visa for Spain

Here are the things that are known for sure about the nomad digital visa for Spain:

  1. once the visa is obtained, the employee must register with the local authorities within 30 days;
  2. the validity of the visa is one year at first;
  3. those who obtain residency can renew it for another 2 years if they meet the conditions associated with it;
  4. the entire program is expected to be defined in the next 6 months (June 2022).

If you are interested in relocating and working remotely from Spain for companies in other countries, the nomad visa is one of the most suitable options. If you decide to stay here, you can apply for a residence permit the ordinary way.

Also, if you want to immigrate to Spain from USA, the digital nomad visa can be an option to see if this country is a good match for your plans. Below, we invite you to watch a video on this topic:

Benefits of the Spain digital nomad visa

Spain is one of the many countries all over the world trying to fight the lack of labor force, which is why having people working from here was on the government’s agenda for a long time. Alongside the Startup Visa and Golden Visa scheme that targets entrepreneurs, respectively high net worth individuals, the digital worker visa aims directly at employees.

The digital nomad visa also addresses self-employed persons, so, if you are a non-EU or non-EEA citizen and want to offer your services to clients outside Spain while living here, this may be a great option for you.

The fact that the procedure to obtain it is quite simple and allows one to experience what living in Spain implies is also a great way of acknowledging if this remote work is an option.

If you want to apply for a Spain digital nomad visa and need support, our lawyers are at your service. We are an immigration law firm meant to help foreign citizens from all over the world relocate to one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. Contact us right now for guidance!