Get your 3-year residency permit in approximately 20 working days. Apply directly while in Spain—no consulate appointment, no waiting months. Fully managed by our authorized representatives.
The fastest path to your 3-year Spanish Digital Nomad residency permit.
UGE stands for Unidad de Grandes Empresas (Large Companies Unit)—a specialized Spanish immigration pathway for eligible applications processed by authorized representatives.
Under Spanish law (Ley 14/2013), if you're already legally in Spain, you can apply directly for the 3-year Digital Nomad Residency Permit without going through your country's consulate. Here's what that means:
This is why the UGE route is our strongest selling point: it's faster, longer, simpler, and requires zero in-person government office visits.
Legal eligibility: The UGE route is available to anyone legally in Spain with a valid passport stamp (tourist entry counts). You don't need prior residency status or a previous visa.
Speed, length, and simplicity—all in one pathway.
Financially: While MSV's service fee is €1,899 (€500 + €500 + €899 in instalments), the value is enormous. The UGE route saves you months of waiting and grants a 3-year permit instead of 1 year. That security is worth far more than the fee.
Psychologically: Thousands of remote workers have felt stuck waiting for consulate appointments—some for over a year. The UGE route removes that anxiety. You're in Spain, you're legal, and approval comes within weeks.
See why the UGE pathway is the clear winner.
Note: Consulate processing times vary widely depending on your country and current workload. Some consulates experience backlogs of 6+ months. The 1-year visa from consulates must be renewed within Spain after expiry, requiring additional applications and fees.
From first call to approved residency in seven straightforward steps.
Schedule a quick 15-minute call or complete our online form. We verify you meet the core requirements: remote work, valid passport, and legal status in Spain (or willingness to enter).
One of our Digital Nomad Visa specialists walks you through the entire UGE process. We discuss your employment setup, income documentation, and timeline. We answer every question.
You travel to Spain and enter on a standard tourist visa (usually 90 days visa-free for most nationalities). You don't need any special visa beforehand. Once in Spain and settled, we move to the next step.
You upload all required documents to your secure MSV portal: passport scans, proof of remote work, employer contracts or client invoices, criminal record, income statements, health insurance, and social security documentation. We provide detailed checklists.
Our authorized representatives review all documents, prepare the official MI-T form (the Digital Nomad Residency application), and submit everything electronically to the UGE via our secure credentials. You e-sign documents remotely.
The UGE processes your application and issues a resolution. We monitor the status and notify you the moment a decision arrives. Most approvals come within 15–25 working days from submission.
Your approval is official. We guide you through the final steps: booking a TIE (residency card) appointment at your local police station, registering on the padrón (municipal register), and collecting your physical card. Full 3-year residency begins.
Timeline estimate: From first contact to TIE card in hand is typically 6–8 weeks (includes time to gather documents, travel to Spain, await decision, and book TIE appointment).
The eligibility criteria are straightforward.
You can apply for the UGE Digital Nomad Residency Permit if you:
Common scenario: You're currently outside Spain on a tourist visa, working remotely. You buy a plane ticket, enter Spain as a tourist, and then apply via UGE from inside the country. This is perfectly legal and encouraged.
You do NOT need:
We provide comprehensive checklists; here's an overview.
Our Documents Checklist (linked at the bottom) provides exact requirements and examples for each document. Upon signing up, you'll receive a fillable checklist and can upload documents one by one to your portal.
From decision to TIE card in your hand.
The UGE issues a formal resolución (resolution) approving your Digital Nomad Residency Permit. This is an official document granting you residency rights for 3 years. We notify you immediately and provide a copy.
The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is your official residency card. You must book an appointment at the Policía Nacional office in your province. We provide guidance on how to book (usually online through the Spanish police website). Wait times vary from 1–6 weeks depending on your location.
You visit the police station with your passport, the official approval letter, and any requested documentation. The appointment is brief (5–10 minutes). Your biometric data is recorded, and your temporary TIE receipt is issued.
The padrón municipal is the municipal population register. You register at your local town hall (ayuntamiento) with proof of address (rental contract, Airbnb booking, or letter of accommodation). This is essential for accessing healthcare, opening bank accounts, and official status. Registration is free and can usually be done alongside your residency process.
Within 1–2 weeks, your physical TIE card is ready for pickup at the police station. Once you have it, you're officially registered as a 3-year resident of Spain. Congratulations!
What's included post-approval: MSV provides full guidance through TIE appointment scheduling, padrón registration, and collection of your card. While we don't attend the appointment with you, our support ensures the process is smooth and stress-free.
Answers to the most common questions about the UGE route.
The UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) route allows you to apply for the 3-year Digital Nomad Residency Permit directly while in Spain. There's no consulate appointment needed. You simply need to be legally in Spain (even on a tourist stamp), and MSV files your application electronically via our authorized representative credentials. You'll receive a decision in approximately 20 working days.
Yes. As long as you're legally in Spain with a valid passport stamp (tourist entry is sufficient), you can apply for the UGE route. You don't need any prior visa or residency status. Simply enter Spain as a tourist and then apply. This is one of the route's greatest advantages.
Approximately 20 working days from the date MSV submits your complete application to the UGE. Once submitted, you'll typically see a decision within 15–25 working days. This is significantly faster than the consulate route, which takes 1–3 months or longer depending on your country.
Denials are rare if you meet the core criteria (remote work, valid passport, legal entry to Spain, sufficient income). If denied, we review the reason with you and discuss next steps. Depending on the reason for denial, we may submit a corrected application or explore alternative routes (e.g., consulate pathway). MSV's fees are structured so you only pay in full once your application is submitted; if you withdraw beforehand, no final payment is due.
No. The entire UGE process happens while you're in Spain. You don't need to exit the country for any step. The only requirement is that you enter Spain legally (tourist entry counts) before we submit your application. Once approved, you attend a local police station for your TIE card appointment—also within Spain.
MSV's service fee is €1,899, payable in three instalments: €500 upfront, €500 when your application is submitted, and €899 upon approval. This covers the entire process: eligibility review, document preparation, authorized representative filing, and support through TIE collection. Government fees (minimal) are separate and typically under €100.
You'll need your passport, proof of remote work (contract or engagement letters), employer or client evidence, a criminal record certificate, income proof (payslips or bank statements), health insurance documentation, and proof of address in Spain. We provide a comprehensive Documents Checklist upon sign-up. The exact requirements depend on your employment type (employee vs. self-employed), and we guide you through everything.
Once approved, you'll book a TIE card appointment at your local Policía Nacional office. We provide guidance on booking and what to bring. You attend the appointment (brief, 5–10 minutes), biometric data is recorded, and your temporary receipt is issued. Within 1–2 weeks, your physical TIE card is ready for pickup. You'll also register on the padrón municipal (municipal register) to officially establish residency. We support you through all post-approval steps.
Yes. You must be in Spain legally — whether on a tourist visa, Schengen visa-free stay, or existing residence permit — to apply for the DNV from within Spain. You cannot be in irregular immigration status when submitting.
The main advantages are: a 3-year initial residence permit (versus 1 year from abroad), no need for an apostilled criminal record or notarised translations in some cases, faster practical access since you're already in Spain, and ability to get your TIE card more quickly after approval.
The legal maximum processing time for an in-Spain DNV application is 20 business days. In practice, processing often takes 1-3 months. During this time, your legal status in Spain is maintained by the application receipt (resguardo) you receive upon submission.
Applications are submitted to the Unidad de Grandes Empresas (UGE) — the Large Business Unit of Spain's immigration authority — regardless of where in Spain you live. The UGE handles special regime applications including the DNV. Applications can be submitted in person in Madrid or, in some cases, online.
You are in a 'pending' legal status during processing. Strictly speaking, you should not begin working until your DNV is approved and your TIE card issued. In practice, many applicants who are already working remotely for foreign employers continue to do so, but the legal position during processing is ambiguous.
For in-country DNV applications, you receive a residence authorisation rather than a visa sticker in your passport. You apply for and receive your TIE card in Spain directly. There is no need to leave Spain and collect a visa from your home country consulate.
Start your journey to a 3-year Spanish residency permit. Secure your future in Spain in just 20 working days.
Dive deeper into the Digital Nomad Visa process.