In January 2023, Spain launched its own visa for digital nomads, which was recognized as one of the most anticipated permits in Europe. Remote workers from different parts of the world are attracted by the Spanish climate, history and moderate cost of living. Find out what the digital nomad visa procedure is in Spain in 2024 and what obstacles expats face

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In 2024, Spain confidently holds the title of the best and most popular country in the world for digital nomads. The country introduced its long-awaited digital nomad visa in January 2023. According to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 300 digital nomads and their families moved to the country in the first 12 months of the permit. Experience shows that the procedure for issuing a visa has certain difficulties.

What are the requirements and procedure for obtaining a digital nomad visa in 2024? What difficulties do expats face and how to solve them? We tell.

Spain Digital Nomad Visa Overview

In 2023, as part of the Startup Law, Spain launched a digital nomad visa designed to encourage entrepreneurs and foreign investment. The new permit aims to attract remote workers from outside the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA) by offering them legal ways to live and work in Spain.

Unlike short-term tourist visas, which do not allow you to work in Spain, the digital nomad visa allows non-EU nationals to live in the country for an extended period of time while working for foreign employers.

Why Spain is the best country for digital nomads, read this article.

Who can apply for a Spanish digital nomad visa?

The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is available to citizens of non-EU/EEA countries, including the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc.

The second condition is that your employer must allow you to work remotely in another country or you work independently with many clients around the world or receive income from various sources from online activities outside of Spain.

Requirements for a digital nomad visa applicant in Spain

A foreigner must meet the following requirements to obtain a Spanish digital nomad visa:

- Work remotely for at least one year.

- Be employed in a company or companies outside of Spain.

- You are allowed to enter Spain and you have not been refused entry before.

- You have a health insurance policy with full coverage in Spain.

- You can confirm your work experience and technical knowledge.

- You have not lived in Spain for the past five years.

- If you work for a company, you must confirm that you have worked there for at least three months.

- If you are a freelancer, you must work for at least one company (outside Spain).

- You must confirm that your income is 2,140 euros per month or 25,680 euros per year.

- Unlike other digital nomad visas, you can work with Spanish clients as long as they only make up 20% of your profits.

You will need health insurance to safely move and find employment in a new country. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.

List of documents for obtaining a digital nomad visa in Spain

To obtain a digital nomad visa in Spain, a foreigner must have the following package of documents:

- Valid passport (at least 3 months old).

- Completed visa application form.

- Two photos (the size of the photo should be 35 mm x 45 mm, on a gray background).

- Employment contract.

- A letter from the employer stating that you can work remotely.

- Confirmation that your company has been operating on the market for at least one year.

- Income certificate (payment information, employment contracts, bank statements, etc.) - minimum monthly income - 2140 euros.

- Qualification confirmation – diploma, professional certificate or any other document that will confirm your work experience for the last three years.

- Confirmation of medical insurance.

- Certificate of no criminal record (for the past five years with copies and an apostille).

The procedure for applying for a digital nomad visa in Spain

Step 1 – Collect the necessary documents

It is important to prepare the documents at the first stage, because it will facilitate the application process.

Step 2 – Make an appointment at the nearest Spanish embassy or consulate in your country of residence

Step 3 – Pay the visa fee

The fee is 80 euros.

Step 4 – Attend a visa appointment

Take your package of documents and go to the visa appointment at the specified time. Be prepared to answer any questions the interviewer may ask.

Step 5 – Wait for a decision

Usually, processing of a visa application lasts from 15 to 45 days.

Read additional requirements for a digital nomad visa in Spain here.

What to do after arriving in Spain?

After obtaining a visa and moving to Spain, you need to take the following steps:

1. Submit an application for a foreigner's identification number (NIE) to the local foreigner's office or the police.

This requires the following documents: your passport with visa, three passport photos, a completed application form, proof of your address in Spain and proof of payment of the administrative fee.

2. Apply for a tax identification number (NIF) at any tax office in Spain without prior registration and payment of a fee.

Package of documents: completed questionnaire, valid passport, proof of residence, tax number of your country.

3. Register in the local municipal registry Padrón Municipal.

Document package: Personal details (first and last name, gender, place of residence, nationality, date and place of birth), place of residence or identity card, your NIE and your qualifications.

Spanish Digital Nomad Visa Expiry Date

The Spanish nomadic visa is valid for 1 year. After that, you can extend your stay for another three years, and then for another two years.

After five years in Spain, you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

Can a digital nomad move to Spain with his family?

A digital nomad can move to Spain together with financially dependent family members – spouse/husband, children up to 18 years old.

In addition, if you want to take children over the age of 18, you must prove that they are financially dependent on you and do not have a family of their own.

If your parents are accompanying you, you must prove that they are under your care.

Tax obligations for digital nomads in Spain

Everyone who stays in Spain longer than 183 days gets the status of tax resident.

Remote workers can pay tax at a reduced rate of 15% instead of the usual 24% for the first four years of their stay if they earn less than €600,000 a year.

In addition, Spain has double taxation agreements with 90 countries. Therefore, if you pay foreign income tax in your home country, you will no longer be taxed in Spain.

What difficulties do expats face when applying for a digital nomad visa in Spain?

The relatively small number of permits issued for 2023 may be related to certain difficulties in the permit issuance procedure.

Some said it was difficult to meet all the visa requirements. Others complained about the endless paperwork involved in the permit process.

Migration lawyers help digital nomads overcome such obstacles. Cooperation with a specialist will simplify the moving procedure for you, because the lawyer is well acquainted with all the intricacies of the Spanish bureaucracy.

Spain offers foreigners a vibrant lifestyle and rich culture. In addition to sunny beaches and night restaurants, you will find here a modern country that respects its own traditions and is able to give a foreigner the perfect balance between work and personal life.

We will remind you! The Spanish city of Malaga has become one of the main IT centers in 2024. It has already captured the hearts of many expats, as it offers digital nomads numerous benefits. We talked about what attracts foreigners here in this article.

Igor Usyk - Head of Legal Department at Visit World

To ensure a safe move to Spain, I advise you to contact a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration abroad.

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