Last reviewed 17 October 2026 by the My Spanish Visa team
The Spain Digital Nomad Visa is the legal route for remote workers and freelancers who want to live in Spain while working for employers or clients outside the country. Expert immigration help — managed online from start to finish.
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The official visa for remote workers and freelancers relocating to Spain, also called the telework or international teleworker visa
The Digital Nomad Visa — officially the Visado para Teletrabajadores de Carácter Internacional — is a long-stay residency visa that allows non-EU nationals to live in Spain while working remotely for companies or clients based outside the country. It was created by Spain's Startups Law (Ley 28/2022), which added it to Ley 14/2013 from late December 2022, and is one of the most structured and practical remote work visas in Europe.
After the initial visa, you can apply for a three-year Digital Nomad Residency Permit, renewable for further two-year periods. After five years of continuous legal residence, you become eligible for long-term EU residency — and after ten years, you can apply for Spanish nationality.
The DNV allows you to work for Spanish companies and clients — but no more than 20% of your total income can come from Spanish sources. The remaining 80%+ must come from non-Spanish employers or clients.
Not sure which route applies to you? Take our free eligibility check and we'll assess your situation.
Start My DNV ApplicationTwo distinct routes — employed by a foreign company, or self-employed / freelance
If you are employed under a contract with a company based outside Spain and your role can be performed remotely, you are likely a strong candidate. You must have been in your current role for at least three months before applying, and your employer must confirm the remote arrangement will continue in Spain.
If you work independently with clients primarily based outside Spain, you may also qualify. You need to demonstrate an established professional relationship with foreign clients for at least three months, a commercial contract or equivalent, and regular income meeting the threshold.
The DNV is well-suited for: remote workers employed by UK, US, EU, Canadian, or Australian companies; freelancers and consultants working for international clients; digital professionals — developers, designers, marketers, writers, analysts; online business owners whose revenue comes from outside Spain; and those relocating to Spain with a remote work arrangement already in place.
How much you need to earn — and how to prove it
The income requirement for the DNV is 200% of Spain's minimum wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional — SMI) for the main applicant, plus 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each further member. For 2026 the SMI is €1,221 a month, paid in 14 payments (Royal Decree 126/2026), or €17,094 a year. The UGE (FAQ, April 2026) and the Spanish consulates we checked state the requirement on the monthly figure: €2,442 a month for the main applicant, €916 for the first family member and €305 for each further member. The Spanish consulate in Buenos Aires describes this as €2,442 a month over 14 payments, which is €34,188 a year; spread over 12 monthly payments, that is €2,849 a month. We use €2,849 as our 2026 planning figure for a single applicant. Not every filing authority describes an annual calculation, so confirm the threshold that applies to your filing route before you apply.
| Applicant | Cited by the UGE and consulates (2026) | To plan for, 12 monthly payments (2026) | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | €2,442 / month | €2,849 / month | 200% SMI |
| Applicant + 1 dependant | €3,358 / month | €3,918 / month | 200% SMI + 75% SMI |
| Applicant + 2 dependants | €3,663 / month | €4,274 / month | 200% SMI + 75% SMI + 25% SMI |
Want us to assess your income situation before you commit to applying?
Start My DNV ApplicationThe full eligibility criteria — beyond income
| Requirement | Detail | |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Non-EU/EEA nationals only. EU citizens have the right to live and work in Spain without a visa. | Mandatory |
| Remote work arrangement | You must demonstrate your work is performed remotely and can continue from Spain. | Mandatory |
| Employer / client tenure | Employees: minimum 3 months with current employer. Self-employed: established professional relationship with foreign client(s) for at least 3 months. | Mandatory |
| Income threshold | For 2026, plan on at least €2,849 a month for one applicant, with a higher amount if family members apply with you. (200% of the minimum wage, plus 75% for the first family member and 25% for each further one.) | Mandatory |
| Spanish income limit | No more than 20% of your total income can come from Spanish sources. | Mandatory |
| Health insurance | Full private health insurance covering all medical treatment in Spain, with no copayment clause. | Mandatory |
| Criminal record certificate | From every country where you have lived in the past five years. Must be officially translated into Spanish. | Mandatory |
| No prior Spanish visa violations | No previous refusals, overstays, or residency violations in Spain. | Mandatory |
The checklist varies depending on whether you apply in Spain or at a consulate abroad
The DNV has two distinct application routes, each with its own forms and document stack. Getting the right documents for the right route — with correct apostilles and sworn translations — is one of the most common areas where applications run into problems.
Electronic submission through the Ministry platform. We handle the entire filing on your behalf — you do not attend any office or submit anything yourself. You need to be in Spain with a valid entry stamp. Result: 3-year residency permit in ~20 working days.
Standard route for applicants in the UK, US, and elsewhere. Processing is longer; results in a 1-year visa. Consulate requirements can vary — the consulate's own guidance is always the final authority.
Get a personalised document checklist built around your route — UGE in Spain or consulate abroad.
Get Your Document ChecklistFully online. No consulate queue. 3-year permit from day one.
Five minutes. Tells you immediately whether you are likely to qualify — employed or freelance — and confirms whether the UGE in-Spain route is available to you. No commitment, no cost.
Speak one-to-one with a DNV specialist. For most clients, the recommendation is straightforward: enter Spain and we'll handle everything online. We confirm your optimal route, build your personalised roadmap, and tell you exactly what to prepare.
You travel to Spain on a standard tourist entry — no advance appointment, no separate visa needed. Once you're in Spain legally with a valid passport stamp, we open your UGE application through your client portal. You don't need to visit any office.
Through your secure online portal, we guide you through every document — income proof, employer letter or client contracts, criminal record, health insurance certificate, accommodation. We check and review everything before submission.
We submit your MI-T application through the UGE electronic platform under Ley 14/2013. You don't attend any appointment. The UGE typically returns a decision — or a request for further information — within 20 working days.
Your 3-year Digital Nomad Residency Permit is issued. We then support your TIE card appointment, padrón registration, and early-life admin in Spain — so you start your new chapter with everything properly in order.
UGE in Spain vs consulate abroad — a significant difference
Applications submitted electronically through the UGE under Ley 14/2013 typically receive a decision or request for further information within 20 days. Approval results in a 3-year residency permit. You must be in Spain with a valid entry stamp in your passport when the application is submitted. This is the fastest route and gives you the longest initial permit.
Processing times vary significantly by consulate. UK consulates typically take 4–8 weeks; US consulates 6–10 weeks; others vary from 4 to 12+ weeks. Approval results in a 1-year visa. Once in Spain, you can then apply for the 3-year residency permit. Thorough document preparation is the most effective way to avoid delays.
What you need to know — and why specialist tax advice matters
Once you spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year, you generally become a Spanish tax resident. Under the standard regime, this means your worldwide income is subject to Spain's progressive income tax rates — which rise as high as 47% for higher earners.
There is a separate special tax regime for people relocating to Spain for work — commonly referred to as the Beckham Law (Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Desplazados). Where it applies, it allows qualifying individuals to be taxed only on Spanish-source income at a flat rate of 24% rather than on worldwide income at standard rates. This can represent a significant saving, particularly for higher earners.
What happens after your initial DNV is approved
The initial DNV is valid for one year (consulate route) or three years (UGE in-Spain route). Before expiry, you can renew for a further two-year period. Renewals are submitted in Spain through the relevant immigration authority. You must continue to meet the income requirements and maintain qualifying health insurance.
Your spouse or civil partner and dependent children can be included in your DNV application or join you via family reunification. The first family member adds 75% of the Spanish minimum wage to the income you need, and each further member adds 25%: for 2026, plan on about €1,068 a month more for the first and €356 for each further member (the UGE and consulates cite €916 and €305, based on the monthly minimum wage).
After five years of continuous legal residence — including initial visa and renewals — you become eligible to apply for long-term EU residency. After ten years, and meeting language and integration requirements, you can apply for Spanish nationality.
Third-party costs billed directly · our fees shown separately below
| Consulate / government fees | €80–€200 |
| Apostille of documents | €30–€80 each |
| Sworn translations | €30–€80 each |
| Private health insurance (1 yr) | €700–€2,500 |
| Criminal record check | €20–€60 |
| DNV — New Application | €1,899 |
| DNV — Renewal | €999 |
All our fees split into manageable payments. Family discounts available. Health insurance is paid directly to the insurer. Government fees and official translations are included only where shown in each package below.
Transparent pricing — split into manageable payments. Family discounts available.
What you get with expert end-to-end immigration management
The DNV has real complexity — the employed-versus-freelance distinction, income documentation requirements, the difference between UGE and consulate routes, form requirements that differ between routes, and the need for apostilled and sworn-translated documents. These are the areas where DIY applications most commonly run into problems.
My Spanish Visa, powered by PLS Platinum Legal Spain, manages the entire immigration process through a modern online portal. Our team has handled DNV applications from multiple nationalities and consulates — and we know exactly what each route requires.
Set up your free account and calculate your exact price. No commitment required.
Start My DNV Application Speak to a SpecialistDNV health insurance: the UGE does not accept travel insurance, refund-only policies, co-payments or waiting periods. Get a compliant quote before you apply.
The most common questions about the Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Every aspect of the Digital Nomad Visa covered in detail — written by our specialists and kept current
Spain offers one of the best quality-of-life environments in the world for remote workers — outstanding climate, a growing expat community, and a visa framework specifically designed to welcome you. Whether you are an employee or freelancer, applying in Spain or from abroad, our team knows exactly what your application needs.
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