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Home » Spain Launches Digital Nomad Visa to Attract Remote Workers

Spain Launches Digital Nomad Visa to Attract Remote Workers

The Spain digital Nomad visa can be a residency Visa for people who want to work and live remotely from Spain. It implies you can relocate to Spain for at least one year, but only with companies outside the country.

Spain offers the digital nomad Visa (valid for one year) as well as the digital nomad residency permit (valid for three years) for those who work remotely. Both visas serve the same purpose, but you can get the digital nomad permit within your country, whereas you can only obtain the permit in Spain.

Additionally, the digital nomad residency permit can be renewed for two more years. If you wish to remain working remotely long-term in Spain take into consideration obtaining permanent residency or becoming a Spanish citizen. Be aware that you are able to get a permanent residence visa after 5 years of staying in Spain — find more details about this later.

Because of this visa, known as the digital nomad foreigners can work remotely from Spain using laptops and be able to experience what it’s as a resident. Furthermore, the visa provides a great opportunity to allow Spain to draw international talent to help drive digital entrepreneurship.

You can apply for the digital nomad visa inside your country of origin or after you arrive in Spain through an entry visa for tourists. Additionally, you can bring your dependents on the same digital nomad visa application.

Thankfully, the visa application is quick, so you can appeal quickly if the application gets rejected. It takes around 20 days for your application to be processed. Find out more details about the Spanish visa later in this article.

Who Can Apply For The Spain Digital Nomad Visa?

The digital nomad visa in Spain is designed for digital nomads who do not have European Economic Area (EEA) citizenship, such as the UK. However an employee who is remote or a freelancer from a European country can be employed in Spain for a period of 6 months, using the passport of their choice.

They must however obtain a resident Foreign Identity Number (NIE) to extend their stay in Spain. The NIE is an exclusive number for remote workers or a freelancer who wishes to reside in Spain for more than 6 months.

The digital nomad visa a temporary residence visa for remote workers that are or are

An employee at a company outside Spain.
A freelancer or digital entrepreneur who serves clients across the world.
A worker or freelancer for a foreign-owned company in Spain.

If you want to succeed in submitting your application, you must fulfil the minimum income requirement along with paying the required visa fees to succeed with your application.

What Is the Validity Period of the Digital Nomad Visa?

When you apply for a fresh digital nomad visa Spain as a tourist visa, you’ll be granted an electronic nomad residence permit valid for three years.

However should you decide to apply in your country through a Spanish Consulate, you’ll receive a brand new digital nomad visa valid to one calendar year. You may switch to a digital nomad permit at beginning of your one year of living in Spain.

If you want to apply for the permanent residence permit, you must have lived in the country for a minimum of five years.

This can only be done after you’ve received the digital nomad visa, staying within the nation for 3 years, and then extended it for another two years. Likewise, if you plan to become a Spanish citizen and become a citizen of Spain, you must have been in Spain for at the least ten years.

Digital nomad visas allow non-EU citizens can freely travel throughout EU countries. However, you’re only able to stay out of Spain for at most a year in five years in order to be eligible for a permanent residence visa.

What are the restrictions that apply to a Spain Digital Nomad Visa?

There are several restrictions with the new digital nomad visa applications in Spain which you should be aware of.

The first step is to be in a remote location with employers or clients in countries other than Spain. It implies that your income from Spain can be at most 20 percent of your total income.

Spain was previously a country with a travel restriction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the laws have been altered.

The COVID-19 test certificate is no longer a requirement for entry into Spain in the moment. However, it is important to keep in mind that the law may alter if the virus gets spread again.

It is advisable to always find out the current travel restrictions for Spain before you submit planning to travel. The information is available at the Spanish Consulate in the country of origin or where you reside.

What’s the difference between Spain Digital Nomad Visa and Non-lucrative Visa?

In November 2022 in the year 2022, Spanish parliament started deliberating on the digital nomad visa. on December 20, 2022, the Spanish parliament approved it.

Prior to that, lots of digital nomads had applied for different types permissions to be employed in Spain, including a non-lucrative permit. Because the non-lucrative visa was not a permit for work and therefore wasn’t a legal way for digital nomads to reside in the country.

The Spanish non-lucrative residence permit is for non-EU citizens who wish to stay in Spain for longer than three months but aren’t working.

It was founded for people who have enough money to provide for themselves, without having to work in Spain. For example, expat retirees or students who would like to go to school in Spain.

The non-lucrative residency visa is valid for 90 days. So foreigners are encouraged to apply for the Foreigner Identity Card within the first month of their stay in Spain. You can apply at your closest Police Station or the Foreign Nationals’ Office.

On the other hand the digital nomad visa is a short-term visa designed for people who are remote as well as freelancers. It provides a legal structure that allows remote workers to operate in Spain.

You may be self-employed and work with employers outside from Spain to be qualified.
Proof of Income

In order to be eligible for this Spain digital nomad permit, you must show that you can support yourself and your family members when you move to Spain. The proof of your earnings or employment contract has to be valid for at minimum three months before filing.

However, if you are self-employed, you must show proof of your current contracts that have been in force for at least three months, with an income not less than 2200 euros per month.

You can also prove your earnings using the following methods:

A bank statement indicating your financial standing and savings.
Tax return statements and pay stubs.

The main thing to remember is to show that you are able to care for the needs of yourself, your children and other dependents (if appropriate) while in Spain.
Health Insurance

If you are applying within your country of origin, you will be granted a digital nomad visa valid for a year. This means that you’ll need to prove you have Spanish private health insurance valid during your first year within Spain.

On the other hand in the event that you are applying for a visa in Spain and you are granted an electronic nomad residency visa that lasts for three years. That means your health insurance will be valid for that period or renewed every year.

Another requirement for the requirement for health insurance is that the insurance policy is provided by an insurance company allowed to operate in Spain.

Also, your health insurance should be complete and cover any medical expenses that may be incurred in your time of stay.

Background Check

If you apply for a digital nomad visa applicants will be asked to prove your criminal record and also take your fingerprints.

A certificate of police clearance from the state where you reside is sufficient. If the consulate is in your country, the document might need to be at least three months old. It should be certified.

Application Form and Fee

A successful visa application requires you complete and sign the visa application form, and pay a fee.

The application fee varies within and outside of Spain, but you are to pay it after filling your application in and are near to submitting it. When filling out the form, make sure that the information you enter is correct.

Once you’re done check that you have translated the document into Spanish.

If you have additional questions about the digital nomad visa application fee in and out of Spain, don’t be afraid to contact our immigration lawyer for fast, expert advice.