spanish digital nomad visa
spanish digital nomad visa

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Guide: Spain’s digital nomad visa

Guide: Spain’s digital nomad visa

Living in Spain has many advantages and people from all over the world make their way here due to its magnificent climate and natural landscapes, amazing cuisine and vibrant culture. The Spanish people make this a welcoming country, an attractive place to live and work. If you are thinking about starting your new life in Spain, at Breezom we can guide you through the best options to get a visa. In this article we shall discuss a new type of visa that has recently become available: the Spanish digital nomad visa.  This type of visa has become popular in many European countries due to the boom in teleworking around the world. These give people the opportunity to travel while working. 

In Spain, at the end of 2022, new start-up legislation was approved. In the spirit of expanding the national economy and attracting entrepreneurial talent, Spain is now receiving applications from people wanting to live and work in this country. This goes hand in hand with the rise in the new remote-work trends that are taking over from office-based working in many sectors. 

With a vibrant expat community all over the country, a relatively low cost of living and great quality of life, many nomad workers have already started applying for this visa. The extensive Spanish coast is a favourite destination for these visa applicants, due to the incredible climate and closeness to nature that places like Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca or the Balearic Islands have to offer. 

Requirements

Mainly, anyone wanting to apply for this visa will need to prove that they are either qualified or have enough professional experience in their line of work. Although bureaucratic procedures can be tedious, the Spanish government has streamlined an online visa application process adequate for remote workers. Now, let us go over the main requirements needed for this scheme. 

  • Prove that you have remote worker status: You will have to show proof that you can do your work remotely with an internet connection. This can be either as a freelance worker or as an employee of a foreign company. You may need to provide any contracts and client invoices you have available. 
  • Prove you are financially sustainable: documents such as payslips or bank statements. The legislation states that you must earn at least 200% of the Spanish minimum monthly income which currently stands at around €2,400 per month or €28,800 per year. If the applicant is moving with a spouse or children, the expected income will rise by 75%. Bear in mind that these amounts may increase as the country anticipates regular raises in the minimum wage in the short and medium term.
  • Cover your health insurance: you will be expected to pay for private health insurance for yourself and any family members that accompany you during your stay. 

Additionally, you will have to fill out the application form, pay the administrative fee and provide valid proof of ID, ideally a passport. 

How to apply for Spain’s digital nomad visa?

Once you have gathered all the paperwork and made sure to have the documents you need for your application, you are ready to move forward. You can start your application process by contacting your local consulate or embassy. Otherwise, you can also enter the country as a tourist, and start the process during your 90-day tourist period. To cater to remote workers, most of the application process will be available online.

As an applicant, you will have to have a clear criminal record in Spain and the country you are applying from. If you are successful, in time you will also be able to apply for a residency permit that will allow you to travel freely throughout the European Union. 

Who can apply for it?

Now that you know what a digital nomad visa is and how it works, let’s revise who can apply for it. This visa is open to all non-EU citizens who work remotely as self-employed freelancers or sole traders or as employees of any foreign company – the company should not be based in Spain. 

Applicants have to be from outside the European Economic Area and cannot have lived in Spain five years before their application. For freelancers, proof of working with clients for over three months will be required; similarly, those who are employed by a foreign firm will also have to show they have been working there for over three months, and the company will have to have been in operation for more than one year. 

In addition, you will have to prove you are a qualified and/or experienced worker in your field with at least three years of experience in your line of work; qualifications like a university degree, training or professional certificate may also be required. People with jobs in the tech industry are especially welcome as part of this scheme. 

When will Spain’s digital nomad visa be available?

You can already start the application process! 

The Spanish digital nomad visa can give you excellent advantages because it allows the holder to work remotely and travel throughout the country with just a few requirements compared to other types of visas or similar schemes from other European countries. This visa is usually given for a year but can be extended up to five years and after that, you may even be eligible for a more permanent residency status. 

TOWNHOUSES

/ Costa Blanca

TOWNHOUSES

/ Costa del Sol

TOWNHOUSES

/ The Balearic Islands

VILLAS

/ Costa Blanca

VILLAS

/ Costa del Sol

VILLAS

/ The Balearic Islands

PENTHOUSES

/ Costa Blanca

PENTHOUSES

/ Costa del Sol

PENTHOUSES

/ The Balearic Islands

APARTMENTS

/ The Balearic Islands

APARTMENTS

/ Costa del Sol

APARTMENTS

/ Costa Blanca