Bring your spouse or registered partner to Spain with you on a DNV. We explain the marriage requirements, income rules, work rights, and the complete application process—plus why DNV spouses have a major advantage over NLV partners.
Family Digital Nomad Visa applications: we handle it with you
€500 to get started, €500 before submission and €899 only when your visa is approved.
Health insurance quotes come from our insurance partner. See full DNV pricing.
Applying as a couple or with children? We give each family a personalised quote — speak to our team.
Spain recognizes several types of relationships for visa purposes. Here's what you need to know.
If you're married, your spouse can apply with you on the DNV. You'll need to provide your marriage certificate (apostilled and officially translated into Spanish if not already in Spanish). This is the simplest route and requires no additional proof of relationship.
Spain recognizes registered domestic partnerships (pareja de hecho) as equivalent to marriage for immigration purposes. If you're in a registered partnership in Spain, you're automatically eligible. If your partnership is registered in another country, you'll need:
Important: UK civil partnerships and US domestic partnerships may require additional documentation. If your partnership is from the UK or another common-law country, request a letter from your local registry confirming recognition. Some US states don't maintain domestic partnership registries—in these cases, marriage is the recommended route.
Unmarried couples living together without a registered partnership agreement generally do NOT qualify for spouse benefits on the DNV. Spanish immigration law requires legal recognition of the relationship. If you're in an unmarried partnership, you have two options:
Tip: If you're considering getting married, doing so before you apply for the DNV simplifies the process. You can then include your spouse in your initial application, which is faster and cheaper than adding them later via family reunification.
Adding a spouse increases your required monthly income. Here's the exact calculation.
The DNV income requirement is based on the SMI (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional), Spain's minimum wage:
In 2026 the SMI is €1,221 a month, paid in 14 payments. Over 12 monthly payments, plan on about €3,918 a month for an applicant and spouse (the UGE and consulates cite €3,358, based on the monthly SMI). On the UGE route, the UGE's checklist asks for payslips or invoices for the three months before you apply, with a bank certificate for the same period showing the matching payments; consular checklists can differ, so follow the one for your filing route.
Income can come from multiple sources and doesn't all have to come from one person. You can combine:
You'll need evidence of this income from work and of an employment or professional relationship of at least three months before you apply, shown by your employment contract or professional contracts. On the UGE route, the UGE's checklist asks for payslips or invoices for the three months before you apply, with a bank certificate for the same period showing the matching payments; consular checklists can differ, so follow the one for your filing route. The planning figure rises when family members are included; if you intend to rely on your spouse's earnings, ask us to confirm what income can be counted for your filing route.
Income must be verified: The core documents show an employment relationship of at least three months, with your employer's permission to work remotely, or, if you're self-employed, a professional relationship with clients outside Spain for at least three months. On the UGE route, the UGE's checklist asks for payslips or invoices for the three months before you apply, with a bank certificate for the same period showing the matching payments; consular checklists can differ, so follow the one for your filing route.
This is where the DNV has a major advantage over the NLV—and it's a game-changer for couples.
When your spouse is included on your DNV, they receive an open work permit (autorización de trabajo en régimen general). This means your spouse can:
There are no restrictions on sector, salary level, or employer type. Your spouse's residency and work rights are completely independent once approved—they're not tied to your continued status as a DNV holder.
NLV (Non-Lucrative Visa) spouses do NOT get this benefit. NLV spouses must apply separately for any work permit and face more restrictive procedures. This is one of the biggest advantages of choosing the DNV if you plan to work in Spain as a couple.
Key advantage: Unlike the NLV, the DNV explicitly includes your spouse in the legal framework and automatically grants work rights. No separate bureaucratic hoops. This is why many families choose the DNV even if they don't meet the NLV passive-income test.
Your spouse needs their own private health insurance when they apply. We recommend they obtain it (arranged through Spanish Health Insurance) — premiums depend on age, so ask for a quote that covers you both. See health insurance for the Digital Nomad Visa for what each person’s certificate must show.
Here's the complete checklist for spouse applications.
If you intend to rely on your spouse's earnings, confirm with us first what income can be counted for your filing route. The documents usually involved are:
Translation matters: All documents issued outside Spain must be officially translated into Spanish by a sworn translator (traductor jurado). Self-translations or online translations are not accepted. Budget €50–€100 per document for professional translation.
You can add your spouse to your DNV in two different ways. Here's how they compare.
Both applicants apply together in the same DNV request.
Best for: Couples who are married or have registered partnerships before applying.
You're approved first, then your spouse applies afterward under family reunification (reagrupación familiar).
Best for: Couples not yet married who want to get married after one person is approved in Spain.
If you're already married or have a registered partnership: Always choose Option 1 (include spouse in initial application). It's faster, simpler, and cheaper.
If you're not yet married: You have three choices:
Getting married before, during, or after your DNV application—your options explained.
If you can arrange it, this is the cleanest path. You'll need:
Once married, you submit both passports and your marriage certificate with your DNV application. Clean and straightforward.
You can be approved for the DNV first, then marry in Spain, and bring your spouse over via family reunification once you have your residency card.
This works but requires patience. Some couples do this intentionally—the main applicant moves first to set up housing and employment, then the spouse joins.
If your partner is a remote worker or self-employed with their own income of at least €2,849 a month (2026 planning figure), they can simply apply for their own separate DNV. No marriage or partnership needed—you'd just be two independent DNV holders living together.
This eliminates spousal requirements entirely and gives your partner complete independence.
Timeline tip: Marriage in Spain is straightforward but slow. If you're not yet married and want to minimize delays, strongly consider getting married in your home country before applying. It's usually faster and lets you include your spouse from day one.
Learn from others' experiences. Here's what trips people up.
Marriage certificates, criminal records, and diplomas must be apostilled if issued outside Spain. Getting this wrong delays everything. Always verify with your consulate which documents need apostille.
Spanish immigration requires official translations by sworn translators (traductores jurados). DIY translations will be rejected. Budget €50–€100 per document.
You need the full certified marriage certificate, not just a marriage license. If you lost it, request a certified copy from your local registry. Many couples try to use their marriage license and get rejected.
Applicant + spouse should plan on about €3,918 a month in 2026. The UGE asks for income from work: employment or self-employed professional income from companies outside Spain. On the UGE route, if your qualifying work income is below the required amount, the UGE's checklist allows you to cover that shortfall with savings or other liquid income, shown by bank certificate, for the whole period of the authorisation. Consular applicants should follow their consulate's checklist. If you intend to rely on your spouse's earnings, ask us to confirm what income can be counted for your filing route.
Simply living together is not enough. You must have an official registered partnership or be married. If you're cohabiting without registration, get married or formalize your partnership before applying.
Your spouse must have valid health insurance coverage at the time of application. Don't assume they can get it after approval—have it lined up beforehand.
If your partnership is registered outside Spain, every document must be officially translated. Consulates will reject hastily-translated partnership registrations.
Even for married couples, consulates want proof that the relationship is genuine: joint bank accounts, shared lease, utility bills in both names, photos together. Don't assume marriage certificate is enough.
Both applicant and spouse need criminal record certificates from their country. This takes time to obtain. Start this process early—don't wait until the last minute.
The spouse documents alone are complex. Translation errors, missing apostilles, and procedural mistakes are common with DIY applications. Working with an immigration professional (like MSV) reduces rejection risk dramatically.
We manage the entire spouse documentation process for you.
Our €1,899 service fee covers the main applicant; when your spouse applies with you, we give you a personalised family quote. The service includes:
If you're using family reunification (applying after you're already approved), the reunification fee is additional and depends on your consulate.
Why use a professional: Consulates reject applications with missing documents or translation errors. A single mistake can delay approval by months. We handle the complexity so you don't have to—and our track record speaks for itself.
Get a personalized assessment of your eligibility and find out which application route is right for you.
What you pay, who you pay it to, and the documents your consulate will expect. Final requirements are set by each consulate, so we check your list against yours before you file.
| Our DNV application service | €1,899 for one adult — €500 to get started, €500 before submission and €899 only when your visa is approved |
|---|---|
| Official translations | Included up to €150 per person |
| Spouse, partner and children | Personalised family quote — ask our team |
| Consular visa fee | Paid to the consulate; the amount depends on the consulate and your nationality. We confirm it before you apply |
| Criminal record check and apostille | Paid to the issuing authority in each country |
| Private health insurance | Required for every applicant — priced on a personalised quote |
| Main applicant | €2,849/month €34,188/year |
|---|---|
| Applicant + spouse/partner | €3,918/month €47,009/year |
| Applicant + spouse + 1 child | €4,274/month €51,282/year |
| Applicant + spouse + 2 children | €4,630/month €55,556/year |
Basis: 200% of the 2026 minimum wage for the main applicant, 75% for the first family member and 25% for each further member, applied to the annual minimum wage (€1,221 × 14 payments = €17,094) and spread over 12 months, as the consulate in Buenos Aires describes the annual amount; figures rounded up. The UGE and consulates cite €2,442, €3,358, €3,663 and €3,968 a month for these households, based on the €1,221 monthly minimum wage. Confirm the threshold for your filing route; consulates can ask for more evidence, so we check your figures before you apply.
Health insurance quotes come from our insurance partner.
Everything you need to know about bringing your spouse to Spain on the DNV.
Not unless you're married or have a registered domestic partnership. Spanish immigration law requires legal recognition of the relationship. If you're in an unmarried relationship, you'll need to either get married, register a domestic partnership, or have your partner apply independently if they meet the income requirement. We recommend getting married before applying if possible—it simplifies everything and takes 4–6 weeks in Spain or faster in your home country.
The planning figure rises when family members are included: for 2026, plan on about €3,918 a month for an applicant and spouse (the UGE and consulates cite €3,358). If you intend to rely on your spouse's own earnings to reach that figure, ask us to confirm what income can be counted for your filing route before you apply.
Yes! This is one of the biggest advantages of the DNV over the NLV. Your spouse gets an open work permit (autorización de trabajo en régimen general), which means they can work for any Spanish employer, be self-employed, work remotely, or not work at all—completely unrestricted. Unlike NLV spouses, they don't need to apply for a separate work permit.
You can get married anywhere. The location doesn't matter for DNV purposes. If you get married in your home country before applying, you'll just submit your marriage certificate (apostilled and translated). If you prefer to marry in Spain, you can apply for the DNV first, then marry after establishing Spanish residency, and have your spouse join via family reunification. Getting married in your home country is usually faster (1–4 weeks vs. 4–6 weeks in Spain).
EU citizens can come to Spain under Freedom of Movement rights and don't technically need the DNV. However, if your spouse is a non-EU citizen, they must be included in your DNV or apply separately. If both of you are EU citizens, only the non-EU spouse needs the visa.
Absolutely. If your spouse is a remote worker or self-employed and meets the income requirement (for 2026, plan on at least €2,849 a month), they can apply for their own separate DNV without being tied to your application. Some couples do this intentionally for independence and flexibility. It costs two separate applications (€1,899 each), and each application is assessed on its own income.
Once your spouse is approved for the DNV, their residency and work rights are independent of your status. If you divorce, your spouse's visa doesn't automatically cancel. However, if your spouse's application was specifically tied to their being a dependent (family reunification case), they may need to reapply or transition to a different visa category. For couples applying together under Option 1, the status is typically independent—consult with your lawyer about your specific situation.
Yes, your spouse must have valid health insurance when they apply and when they arrive in Spain. We recommend arranging private health insurance beforehand (arranged through Spanish Health Insurance). Once your spouse is approved and in Spain, they can transition to Spanish public healthcare if desired.
Let our visa specialists handle the complexity. We'll get you and your spouse to Spain quickly and correctly.
