In this Spain Digital Nomad Visa guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to get started, including the eligibility criteria that you’ll need to satisfy, the supporting documentation that you’ll need to prepare, and the process you’ll need to follow in order to submit your application.

Spain Digital Nomad Visa Overview

In order to obtain a Spanish digital nomad visa, there are six key steps you’ll need to complete, including:

1. Ensuring You Meet the Eligibility Criteria
2. Preparing The Necessary Documents
3. Getting Sworn Translations and Apostilles
4. Applying for a Foreign Identity Number (NIE)
5. Submitting Your Visa Application
6. Collecting Your Digital Nomad Visa

In the sections below, we’ve explored each of these steps in greater detail.

Step 1: Ensure You Meet The Eligibility Criteria

Before getting started with the application process, it’s important to first confirm you’re eligible to obtain the Spanish digital nomad visa.

In particular, this will involve ensuring that you satisfy all of the following criteria:

• Qualifying Citizenship: You must be a non-EU/EAA citizen in order to qualify for this visa. If you’re already a citizen in a European country you won’t need to apply for this (or any type of) visa as you’re already free to live or work in Spain.
• Educational or Professional Experience: You’ll need to demonstrate that you have sufficient expertise in your field with either (a) an undergraduate degree from a prestigious university; or (b) at least three years work experience in your field.
• Financial Stability: You must earn at least 200% of the monthly minimum wage in Spain (which currently means you’ll need to bring in more than around €2,849 per month) and show a working relationship of at least three months with a company that has been operating for over a year.
• Spanish Income Limit: If you’re a contracted employee, you will need to show that you work for companies that are located outside of Spain. If you’re self-employed, you’ll need to show that any earnings from Spanish sources only represent up to a maximum of 20% of your gross income.
• Clean Criminal Record: You’ll need to be able to demonstrate proof of clean criminal records in all the countries you’ve resided in over the past two years, as well as present a declaration of no criminal record for the last five years.
• Health Insurance: You’ll need to either (a) contract private health insurance with a provider listed in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism’s General Directorate of Insurance and Pension Funds; or (b) sign up for coverage by the Spanish Social Security public system.

Note: For a more detailed look into these requirements, be sure to refer to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s website.

Step 2: Prepare The Necessary Documents

After confirming that you qualify for the Spanish digital nomad visa, you’ll be ready to begin preparing the necessary documentation for your visa application.

Due to the number of documents you’ll need to obtain — and the amount of formalities you’ll need to abide by — we always recommend starting this step as far in advance of your planned move date as possible.

In particular, you’ll be required to obtain all of the following:

• Bank Statements
• Completed Application Form
• Criminal Record Certificate & Declaration Letter
• CV
• Employer Letter Authorizing Remote Work
• Proof of Company Running Longer Than a Year
• Proof of Coverage in the Social Security System
• Proof of Legal Residence
• Proof of Qualifications

In the sections below, we’ve explored each of these documents in more detail, as well as what to expect when trying to obtain them.

1. Bank Statements

One of the central aspects of applying for this visa is your ability to demonstrate that you would be financially self-sufficient during your time in Spain. As mentioned above, financial stability is equated to earning at least 200% of the monthly Spanish national minimum wage.

However, this requirement increases if you’re married or plan to bring any dependents (e.g., children or elderly parents) to Spain with you. You’ll need to add 75% of the minimum wage for the first family member and 25% for each additional one. In 2026 that means a couple must demonstrate an income of at least around €3,917 per month, with a further €356 being added for each dependent.

To prove that you’re earning the financial resources outlined above, you’ll be required to provide at least three months worth of bank statements, payslips, or work contracts.

2. Completed Application Form

You’ll also be required to fill out and sign a National Visa Application Form, which can either be done electronically on your computer or by hand using block capitals only.

One of these forms should be filled out for each applicant tied to this visa. For example, if you’re planning to move with your spouse and children, an individual application form would need to be filled out for each additional person.

Note: Minors are not permitted to sign these forms; this must instead be done by one of their parents or a “duly accredited representative” on their behalf.

3. Criminal Record Certificate & Declaration

Next up, you’ll need to obtain a clear criminal background check certificate for each country you’ve resided in the last two years. If you’ve only lived in the US over this period, this step is relatively straightforward as you’ll only need to request a federal check issued by the FBI.

However, if you’ve also resided in any country (or countries) outside of the US over the last two years, the situation gets a little more complicated. This is because each country has its own specific regulations regarding which types of background checks are considered valid for this visa, and which aren’t.

For the sake of this requirement, you’ll be considered to have “resided” in a country (other than the USA or Spain) if you’ve spent more than 180 days there (six months) during the last two years.

It can take up to four months to receive this document, though processing times may increase during periods of high demand. For this reason, we typically recommend looking to obtain this document before any other on this list.

Also, be sure to look after this criminal background check certificate once you’ve received it — this document won’t be accepted if it’s been damaged or altered at all. The Washington embassy states that this even applies to damage caused by the removal of staples.

Alongside this certificate, you’ll also need to include a Responsible Declaration stating the absence of criminal records in all countries you’ve resided in over the past five years.

Note: You can find out the specific background check regulations for your jurisdiction by selecting an embassy or consulate from the list of countries provided on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s website.

4. CV

In order to support your application for the Spanish digital nomad visa, you’ll need to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing your professional experience, skills, and qualifications.

This document, which is used to help the Spanish authorities verify that you’re a legitimate remote worker with established skills and experience in your field, is particularly important if you don’t have a relevant degree.

Your CV should corroborate that you have at least three years of experience in your industry (if you don’t have a relevant degree) and have been working in your current position for at least a year.

5. Employer Letter Authorizing Remote Work

The next document you’ll need to obtain is a letter from your employer (or primary client, if you’re self-employed) that certifies you’ve been working together for a minimum of three months before the date of application.

In particular, this document should contain three main features in order to satisfy the Spanish government’s criteria:

• The length of the contract (if there’s no stipulated end date, include this and state that either you or your client can end it at any time)
• An explicit consent to work remotely in Spain
• The signatures of you and your employer/client

This is one area where a good lawyer can help, as they can provide you with templates in both English and Spanish and ensure that you’ll have peace of mind when it comes to satisfying this requirement.

Note: If you have a formal contract with an employer or client, you’re encouraged to provide it as well in order to support this letter.

6. Proof of Company Running Longer Than a Year

Another fundamental aspect of demonstrating your financial stability is the requirement to prove that the company you’re being paid by has been engaged in real and continuous activity for at least a year prior to the date of your application.

Depending on where the company is based, there are a number of different documents you may need to use in order to prove this. If it’s a US company, for example, this can be done with either a Certificate of Good Standing or the Articles of Organization — both of which can be obtained from the Secretary of State in the jurisdiction it’s registered.

Below we’ve included links to where to obtain these certificates in some of the most popular states:

• Texas: Certificate of Fact
• Florida: Certificate of Status
• New York: Certificate of Status
• Delaware: Certificate of Status
• Michigan: Certificate of Good Standing

Outside of these, you’ll need to find the specific website for the department of the Secretary of State that handles these sorts of corporate filings in your company’s jurisdiction.

Note: Don’t worry if the names of these certificates don’t look familiar, as they can vary slightly depending on the state in question. For example in New York the Certificate of Good Standing is also commonly referred to as a Certificate of Status/Existence.

7. Proof of Coverage in the Social Security System

Next up, you’ll need to provide documentation that proves you are covered by the Social Security system in Spain. In theory, this can be done in one of two ways:

• Certificate of Coverage: This is a document that can be issued if your government shares an international Social Security system coordination agreement with Spain (e.g., the UK–Spain Agreement) and you meet its eligibility criteria, which can vary.
• Proof of Spanish Social Security Registration: This can be either be done by (a) your employer registering in the Spanish Social Security System; or (b) you registering as a self-employed worker in the Spanish Social Security System.

On April 8, 2024 a new totalization agreement on social security was signed between the U.S. and Spain, and it has now entered into force. This means U.S. remote workers, including W-2 employees, can request a Certificate of Coverage from the U.S. Social Security Administration to satisfy this requirement, without their employer having to register in Spain.

If your country does not have an agreement of this kind with Spain, you will need to provide proof of registration in the Spanish Social Security system instead, either through your employer or by registering as self-employed (“autónomo”). For this, you can substitute a letter indicating your intent to register as an autónomo pending visa approval.

If you would rather have this handled for you, you can check out our Digital Nomad Visa application service, which covers the Social Security paperwork as part of the application.

8. Proof of Legal Residence

As part of your application for the Spanish digital nomad visa, there are two types of legal residence you’ll be required to prove, including:

• In Your Home Country: If you’re a citizen of the country you’re applying in, this is as simple as showing your passport, otherwise you’ll need to provide proof of your permanent residence (e.g., Non-US citizens could use a notarized copy of a valid long-term visa or green card).
• In the Consular District: This refers to residence in the area surrounding the consulate/embassy in which you’ll submit your application. It can be satisfied with a copy of either your driver’s license, State ID, or University Student ID (given the institution is in the consular district).

Note: If you’ll be applying for this visa from Spain instead of your home country (more on this discussed below), you’ll be required to demonstrate proof of legal residence in the consular district with a lease agreement or utility bill for a Spanish address.

9. Proof of Qualifications

The next thing you’ll be required to provide as part of your application for this visa is proof that you’re qualified for the position that you’re currently working remotely in.

This requirement can be satisfied in one of two ways, including with:

• An original or copy of an undergraduate/postgraduate degree from an institution or “school of recognized prestige”
• Documents demonstrating that you have at least three years of professional experience in the roles similar to the position you’ll hold when living in Spain

One of the simplest documents you can use to prove your professional experience is a letter from an employer detailing your role and responsibilities and how long you’ve been working with them. Make sure to request this letter on company letterhead and ensure it has both your and your employer’s wet signatures.

10. Passport-Style Photos

Your application should also be accompanied with a recent passport-style photograph of you (and any other people linked to your application e.g., partners and children).

When including this picture, it’s vital to ensure it meets the following requirements if you want it to be accepted:

• Passport-size
• Color photograph
• Taken within the last six months (i.e., it reflects how you look currently)
• Printed on matte or glossy paper
• Taken against a white, uniform background where you’re facing forward
• No dark/reflective glasses, or any garments concealing your face, are permitted

While the specific requirements will vary slightly depending on the embassy or consulate you’ll be applying to, many will ask for you to glue or clip the photos onto your visa application form — DO NOT staple it on.

Note: For more information on the requirements these photos must meet, as well as some acceptable examples, you can refer to the ICAO document.

11. Valid Passport

Finally, you’ll be required to provide color photocopies of certain pages of your passport — primarily the biometric pages and those with your entry stamp(s) into Spain on them.

It’s important at this time to check how long your passport will last, as the Spanish government requires it to be valid for at least the duration of your requested stay. This will normally be around a year, but may be less if your work contract has a stipulated end date that’s earlier than this.

Additionally, your passport should contain a minimum of two empty pages so that there’s enough space for your visa.

It’s much easier and far less stressful to send all documents correctly the first time round in order to avoid interruptions to your application and potential rejections. In the case that you fail to submit a specific document, or submit it incorrectly, you may be required to resubmit your application within a short timeframe or face rejection.

Note: You’ll need to file your visa application promptly after obtaining all of these documents as some are only valid for a limited period of time. For example, most criminal record certificates will expire after six months.

Step 3: Get Sworn Translations and Apostilles

Now that you’ve collected all the necessary documents, the next step you’ll need to take toward getting your digital nomad visa is to prepare this documentation so that it’s ready to be submitted.

In particular, this will involve doing two things:

• Getting Apostilles
• Obtaining Sworn Translations

Apostilles

In order to be accepted by the Spanish government, official documents will require an apostille — this is an internationally-recognized verification of the legitimacy of foreign documents.

For the Spanish digital nomad visa, you’ll generally need to obtain apostilles for the following documents:

• Proof of company running for one year
• University Diploma Certificate
• Criminal Record Certificate (unless issued by an EU member state)
• Marriage or Birth Certificates

US citizens and residents may need to get both state and federal apostilles depending on the body that issued their documents. For example, a Certificate of Good Standing must be apostilled by the relevant government department at a state level, while a criminal background check would require a federal apostille from the Department of State.

Note: You can find step-by-step instructions on how to obtain federal-level apostilles on the Department of State’s website. However for similar information on state level apostilles, you’ll need to refer to the respective government website in your state.

Sworn Translations

In addition to apostilles, you may need to translate certain documents to Spanish depending on where you apply. This is because while your documents may be accepted in English at some consulates, others require them to be translated into Spanish.

The following documents will commonly need sworn translations:

• Letter from Employer Authorizing Remote Work
• Work Contract
• Proof of company running for one year
• University Diploma Certificate
• Criminal Record Certificate
• Responsible Declaration for Spanish Social Security

As a general rule, if you apply in Spain, you’ll need to have all foreign documents (i.e., those not originating from Spain) professionally translated. However, outside of this, you’ll need to refer to the requirements of the consulate or embassy you plan to apply for this visa at.

Note: Sworn translations can only be carried out by specific, licensed professionals. You can find a list of these approved sworn translators through the American Translators Association website.

Step 4: Apply for a Foreign Identity Number (NIE)

With all your documents ready to go, there’s only one more thing you’ll be required to do before you can schedule an embassy appointment and submit your visa application: obtain your Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE).

In order to obtain a NIE, which means Foreigner Identity Number in English, you’ll need to obtain all of the following:

• EX-15 Application Form
• Form 790-012
• Original and copy of a valid passport
• Proof you reside in the Consular district (see above)

If you’re applying from your home country, you’ll submit these to your local consulate or embassy, which will require an appointment; the NIE is normally issued within a few weeks.

If you’re planning to apply from Spain, you’ll instead submit your NIE application at the closest Foreigner’s Office or Police Station, which will require an appointment. Appointments are scarce in 2026 and slots in the larger cities are taken within minutes, so book as early as you can.

Either way, you should receive your NIE via the email you include on the application form above, so keep an eye out for that!

Note: If you would rather skip the appointment entirely, you can check out our remote NIE service, which obtains the NIE through a Power of Attorney with no need to travel or attend an appointment.

Step 5: Submit Your Visa Application

After receiving your NIE, as well as translations and apostilles for all the required documents, you’ll finally be ready to submit your visa application.

There are two main ways to apply for a digital nomad visa:

• Submitting Outside of Spain: This will involve submitting your application at a Spanish embassy or consulate (e.g., in your home country). While more convenient, this method can only grant you a visa with a maximum term of one year before it needs to be renewed.
• Submitting From Within Spain: If you’re able to enter the Schengen area without the need for a visa (e.g., citizens from the US, UK, Canada, or Australia), you can apply for your digital nomad visa and a residency permit while in Spain. This means you can enter the country as a tourist and be granted residency for the next three years.

While we encourage submitting your visa from within Spain because of the potential to receive the right to stay for up to triple the time, many people will find it more convenient to apply from their home country (i.e., at a Spanish embassy or consulate).

If this is the case for you, it’s important to be aware that you’ll be required to make a visa appointment. Since this can take some time (depending on how busy your nearest consulate is), we typically recommend scheduling this appointment as soon as possible.

While you need to refer to the embassy/consulate you plan to apply to for specifics, you’ll generally schedule this appointment by email, accompanied by the following documents and pieces of information:

• All the documentation outlined in Step 2
• Documents proving a family relationship (if moving with a partner/dependents)
• Your legal name
• Your contact number and email address
• Proof of address (for where you currently reside)
• Proof you paid the visa fee ($88 for most nationalities but $190 for US applicants)

If you’re a US citizen and plan to apply for this visa outside of Spain, you’ll be able to do so by emailing whichever of the following Spanish Consulates is closest to you:

• Boston: cog.boston@maec.es
• Chicago: cog.chicago.cit@maec.es
• Houston: cog.houston.vis@maec.es
• Los Angeles: cog.losangeles@maec.es
• Miami: cog.miami.vis@maec.es
• New York: cog.nuevayork.vis@maec.es
• San Francisco: cog.sanfrancisco.vis@maec.es
• Washington: cog.washington.vis@maec.es

Be sure to check your consulate’s website for more information on their specific application procedure, as some can have quite unique requirements.

For example, if you’re applying to the Spanish Consulate in Washington, your visa appointment email must have the following subject: “APPOINTMENT REQUEST. TELEWORK VISA. [GIVEN NAME] [FAMILY NAME]. [Email Number]”.

During your appointment, you’ll be required to bring hard copies of all the documents you’ve prepared and may be subjected to an interview as well (e.g., your reason for coming to Spain, where to plan to stay, etc.).

Step 6: Collect Your Digital Nomad Visa

And that’s it! After gathering all the required documentation and attending your appointment at the local Consular Office or Embassy, all that you’ll have to do now is wait.

According to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the legal period for reaching a decision after an application has been submitted is 10 days, though it may take slightly longer than this if you’re asked to provide any additional documents or attend another interview.

In any case, you’ll be sent an email containing a receipt and a tracking code that can be used to monitor your application’s process on the Spanish Government’s SuTRAMITE platform — so keep an eye out for that!

After receiving confirmation that your visa has been approved, you’ll be required to collect it from the Consular Office that you applied to within a month. This approval notification should also contain more detailed instructions on the process for collecting your visa.

Some consulates (e.g., Washington) offer an option for applicants to collect their visa by mail, though you’ll need to check with the specific regulations of the one you applied through to see if this is available.

In the event that your visa application is denied, you’ll also have a month (from the date you were notified) to submit an appeal to the Consulate Office. If you miss this deadline but still want to appeal, you’ll have another month to submit an application for judicial review directly to the High Court of Justice of Madrid instead.

Note: If you don’t receive any sort of response from your Consulate or Embassy within 20 days of submitting your application, it will be automatically approved through a process known as positive administrative silence (“silencio administrativo positivo”).

Next Steps After Obtaining Your Visa

First off — Congratulations on your new visa! Obtaining the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa isn’t easy, in fact it can be a very grueling and arduous journey for many.

Despite this, the process of kickstarting your new life as a digital nomad in Spain isn’t over yet, as there are still a few additional logistical and bureaucratic requirements you’ll be required to satisfy.

To help you with this, we’ve summarized and broken down each of the steps you’ll need to take after obtaining your visa in the sections below.

Find Your Accommodation

With your new visa in hand, one of the first things to start thinking about is arranging accommodation in your city of choice.

In order to ensure a smooth transition, we typically recommend renting an Airbnb for the first month or so to allow you to find your footing in the country. This helps to remove the guesswork associated with finding a place in Spain entirely online (and from an entirely different country) in two key ways:

• It allows you to experience the city first-hand and get an idea of both the areas you’d like to live in and those that would be best to avoid
• Since you can go and see properties in-person, it lets you avoid scam listings on real estate websites, which are increasingly common in Spain in particular

We strongly recommend using a more flexible housing option like Airbnb in the short-term, as diving straight into finding a place in Spain entirely online from another continent can be a recipe for disaster.

Once in Spain, you can make use of Idealista and Fotocasa (two of the most popular real estate websites) to browse through a wide range of listings, from apartments to shared housing options.

Submit Your Padrón Application

Once you’ve selected the city in which you want to live and have sorted out your accommodation, the next step you’ll need to take is to obtain a certificado de empadronamiento or “padrón”.

This document, which registers exactly where in Spain you live, is a legal requirement under Spanish law for all nationals and expats planning on living in the country for more than six months.

To obtain it, you’ll need to register at the local town hall (Padrón Municipal de Habitantes) in the city you plan to move to.

While each city will have its own guidelines and requirements, this will generally involve bringing the following documents to an appointment:

• A filled out application form (“Solicitud de Empadronamiento”)
• Original and copy of your passport
• Proof of a Spanish address (e.g., a rental agreement signed for at least the next six months)

You’ll be shown the details of your padrón appointment after confirming it through the official website of the city you relocate to.

Note: It’s completely free to obtain this certificate!

Obtain Authorization for Residence in Spain (TIE)

As a non-EU national planning on locating to Spain, the next bureaucratic requirement you’ll need to satisfy is obtaining a foreigner ID card (“tarjeta de identidad de extranjero” or TIE) as proof of your legal residence in Spain.

In order to submit an application for the TIE, you’ll need to attend an in-person appointment at your closest immigration office (“oficina de extranjería”) or police station with the following documents:

• Original and copy of your passport
• A completed and signed EX-17 Application Form
• Three recent passport-style photos
• Payment confirmation of the relevant fee
• Proof of your registration with Spanish Social Security

In order to schedule this appointment, you’ll need to head over to the Spanish Government’s cita previa portal and pick a date and time that suit you.

Spain vs Other Destinations

On balance, Spain’s visa offers an excellent option for digital nomads — especially in comparison to similar programs that are currently available in other countries.

One of the key advantages of this visa over its alternatives is its accessibility — with a minimum income requirement of only €2,849 per month, it’s far more viable for many people than other options, such as Portugal (€3,680 per month), and Japan (€4934 per month).

Additionally, unlike a number of alternatives for digital nomads (such as Japan and Canada), the Spain digital nomad visa actually offers a clear route to permanent residence, and eventually, citizenship — which makes it far more attractive if you’re looking for a permanent move.

With that said, there are some notable downsides to this option, including Spain’s infamous bureaucracy and inefficient public services. This, combined with the Spanish digital nomad visa’s meticulous requirements, can make the application process very tedious and difficult.

It’s for this reason that we tend to recommend our readers work alongside reputable lawyers based in Spain if they’re thinking about applying for this visa.

Spain Digital Nomad Visa FAQ

Does Spain offer a digital nomad visa?

Yes, the Spain Digital Nomad Visa came into effect in January 2023 as part of the new Startup Act. This visa was introduced in order to allow remote workers and freelancers the chance to live and work in the country for up to three years, with the option to extend up to as many as five.

What is the minimum income for a digital nomad visa in Spain?

In order to qualify for the Spanish digital nomad visa, you’ll need to demonstrate that you earn a monthly income of at least €2,849, or the current equivalent to 200% of the Spanish monthly minimum wage. However, if you’re planning on bringing a partner or dependents on the same visa, this minimum income will increase.

Do digital nomads pay tax in Spain?

Digital nomads residing in Spain will need to pay tax on their gross income if they spend more than 183 days in the country within a calendar year. If you qualify for the special expat tax regime (the “Beckham Law”), you’ll pay a flat rate of 24% on income up to €600,000 and 47% on income above it; otherwise the standard progressive rates apply. Unless your country has a social security agreement with Spain that covers you, you’ll also need to register with Spanish Social Security.

How much does it cost to live in Spain as a digital nomad?

The cost of living in Spain varies depending on factors like location and lifestyle. On average, digital nomads can expect to spend between €1,200 and €2,500 per month, covering accommodation, food, transportation, and other expenses.