Digital nomad visa
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Last updated: May 2026
Quick Facts
- Duration
- 1 year (renewable up to 5 years total)
- Income Requirement
- €2,852/month (~€34,200/year) — 200% of Spain's minimum wage (2026 SMI)
- Processing Time
- 2–8 weeks (legal term: 10 business days)
- Apply From
- Outside Spain at consulate, or inside Spain while legally present
- Application Fee
- €80 (visa from abroad); €73 (residence permit from within Spain)
Requirements
- 1University degree or 3+ years professional experience
- 2Remote employment or freelance income from outside Spain
- 3At least 3 months with current employer/clients
- 4No more than 20% of income from Spanish companies
- 5Health insurance with €30,000 minimum coverage, no co-pays
- 6Clean criminal record (apostilled, from last 5 years of residency countries)
- 7Valid passport with 1+ year remaining validity
- 8Proof of accommodation in Spain
How to Apply
- 1Gather documents: passport, income proof, employment contract, health insurance, criminal record certificate (apostilled and translated)
- 2Apply for NIE (Spanish tax ID number)
- 3Book appointment at Spanish consulate/embassy (if abroad) or immigration office (if in Spain)
- 4Submit application and pay fee
- 5Wait 2–8 weeks for processing
- 6Receive visa and enter Spain within validity period
- 7Register at local police station and obtain TIE (residence card)
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Visa application fee | €80 |
| Residence permit (if applying from within) | €73 |
| NIE (tax ID number) | €12 |
| TIE (residence card) | €16 |
| Health insurance | €50–€150/month |
| Criminal record apostille | €20–€50 |
| Document translations | €50–€200 |
Schengen Zone Note
Spain is part of the Schengen Area. If you enter on a tourist visa before your digital nomad visa is approved, your time counts toward the 90-day limit within any 180-day period that applies across all 29 Schengen member states.
Once you hold a valid residence permit (like the digital nomad visa), your days in Spain no longer count against the 90/180 Schengen limit. However, travel to other Schengen countries still does.
Calculate your remaining Schengen days →
Track your Schengen days automatically
The 90/180 rolling window is confusing to calculate manually. NomadSync tracks your days across all Schengen countries and alerts you before you overstay.
Living Costs
Spain offers a lower cost of living than most of Western Europe, especially outside Madrid and Barcelona. Expect to spend €1,500–€2,500/month depending on location and lifestyle.
Barcelona
Rent €900–€1,400/month for a 1-bed; coworking €150–€250/month; meals out €10–€15
Madrid
Rent €800–€1,300/month for a 1-bed; coworking €120–€200/month; meals out €10–€14
Valencia
Rent €600–€900/month for a 1-bed; coworking €100–€180/month; meals out €8–€12
Málaga
Rent €700–€1,000/month for a 1-bed; coworking €100–€170/month; meals out €8–€12
Tax Implications
Beckham Law: flat 24% on Spanish income up to €600,000 for first 6 years. Since the 2023 Startups Law, eligibility also covers remote workers/teleworkers (incl. digital nomad visa holders), company directors and certain entrepreneurs — only ordinary self-employed autónomos remain excluded. Standard progressive rates up to 47% otherwise.
Tax rules change frequently. Consult a qualified tax professional before making decisions based on this information.
Get tax threshold alerts before you trigger residency
NomadSync tracks your days in every country and warns you when you're approaching tax residency thresholds — like the 183-day rule.
Also Consider
Other popular digital nomad visa destinations
Portugal
2-year residence permit (renewable for 3-year periods)
Italy
1 year (renewable annually)
France
Up to 4 years (Passeport Talent); 1 year (Profession Libérale)
Greece
1-year visa, convertible to 2-year residence permit (renewable for 2 more years)
Croatia
Up to 18 months (renewable once for total of 36 months; 6-month wait to reapply)
Passport Visa-Free Access
Check if your passport allows visa-free entry to Spain
We review and update this guide regularly. If you spot an error, let us know.
Planning your move?
NomadSync tracks visas, tax residency, and travel days across every country — so you can focus on enjoying Spain.