Updated 21 May 2026Digital Nomad Visa for Spain
Spain offers a residence route for remote employees and self-employed professionals without a property purchase or non-refundable contribution. The permit allows the holder to live and work remotely from Spain and can count towards long-term residence, subject to the programme rules. The legal basis is the Start-ups Act (Ley 28/2022).
Alesya Razinkevich
Prepared byAuthor of materials on property and residence programmes
Mikhail Bulanov
Reviewed byCo-founder and managing partner at Tranio, property investment expert
from €2,849 per month
Minimum income for one applicant in 2026
No qualifying investment
No property purchase or government contribution is required
5 years to permanent residence
Time with Digital Nomad status counts towards the residence requirement
Who may qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa
- relevant higher education or documented professional experience of at least three years
- The employer or principal client has operated for at least one year
- At least three months of continuous work with the current employer or client
- No more than 20% of declared income from Spanish sources
- An employer that is not registered or primarily active in Spain
Eligibility depends on the working arrangement
The source of income, contract structure and length of the relationship with the employer or client all matter. We review these points before an application is prepared.
Minimum income for a family in 2026
The minimum income is linked to Spain’s statutory minimum wage, the Salario Mínimo Interprofesional (SMI). Under Real Decreto 126/2026, the 2026 SMI is €1,221 across 14 payments or €1,424.50 across 12 payments, equivalent to €17,094 a year. The main applicant must show 200% of SMI, or €2,849 a month. The first dependant adds 75% of SMI and each additional dependant adds 25%.
Source: Real Decreto 126/2026 and the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy; calculations use the 12-payment formula. These figures are the statutory minimum. Applicants normally document income through three to six months of bank statements, and regular receipts are more useful than a one-off balance.
How to document the remote nature of your work
An employee needs an employment contract that expressly permits remote work from Spain. Without this provision, UGE-CE may not accept the contract as evidence of a qualifying arrangement.
A self-employed applicant provides current service agreements with foreign clients and invoices for the previous three to six months. The invoiced amounts should match the payments shown in the bank statements.
Spanish law sets a strict limit: income from Spanish sources may not exceed 20% of total declared earnings.
Bank statements must support the contract
UGE-CE may request three to six months of statements showing regular income. A mismatch between the contractual income and actual receipts can lead to a requerimiento, an official request for additional evidence, and delay the process.
Consulate or UGE-CE: two lawful routes
The law provides two application options. The difference lies not only in the duration of the resulting status but also in the logistics of the process.
Apply before the permitted stay expires
The application must be submitted before the permitted Schengen-visa stay expires. Once submitted, the law allows you to remain in Spain until a decision is made.
Comparison of application routes
The UGE-CE route results in a three-year TIE residence card, whereas a consular application initially provides a one-year visa.
| Parameter | Route 1 — consulate | Route 2 — UGE-CE from Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Where you apply | Spanish consulate in your country of residence | online through UGE-CE while in Spain |
| Basis for entry | — | lawful entry into Spain, for example under a short-stay Schengen visa |
| Resulting status | one-year nomad visa | three-year TIE residence card |
| Statutory processing time | — | 20 working days; positive administrative silence may apply if the authority does not decide within the statutory period |
| Actual timing (2026) | — | up to 45 calendar days because of authority workload |
| Expiry of the Schengen visa | — | the application must be filed during lawful stay; after submission, the applicant may remain until a decision |
A three-year TIE avoids the need to convert a one-year consular visa after arrival and is later renewed under the applicable residence rules.
Expert view
The Digital Nomad route does not require a property purchase or non-refundable contribution. It provides a legal basis for living and working remotely from Spain, supports travel within the Schengen rules and can count towards long-term residence. For people relying on short-stay visas, it may provide a more stable basis for living in Spain.
Kseniya Nass
Lead Tranio expert in migration programmes
Mandatory application package
Core package for both routes
Passport valid beyond the planned residence-permit period
Employment contract or service agreement expressly allowing remote work from Spain
Bank statements for three to six months showing regular income
Criminal-record certificate from every country of residence in the past two years, apostilled and valid for six months
Higher-education diploma or evidence of at least three years’ professional experience
Commercial register extract for the employer or client, showing at least one year of existence
Private health insurance with full cover in Spain and no co-payments (sin copagos)
All documents translated only by a Traductor Jurado registered with MAEC
Translations must meet the Spanish requirements
Documents generally need to be translated by a sworn translator authorised in Spain. Apostille or legalisation requirements, the competent issuing authority and the validity period depend on the country where the document was issued.
The employer or client is based in a restricted jurisdiction
A working relationship involving a sanctioned or high-risk jurisdiction may require additional evidence and can affect both the application and payment route. Any restructuring must reflect a genuine working arrangement and should be reviewed before filing.
The Beckham tax regime for digital nomads
Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Desplazados (RETD), known as the Beckham regime, is a preferential tax status for new residents. The Start-ups Act extended it to Digital Nomad Visa holders.
Standard IRPF is progressive, from 19% to 47%. The Beckham regime replaces the scale with a flat 24% rate on income up to €600,000 a year. The benefit lasts six years.
You must file Modelo 149 with AEAT within six months of registering with social security or starting work in Spain. Missing the deadline entirely removes eligibility.
Eligibility may be more complex for self-employed applicants
The Beckham regime can be more difficult to apply to self-employed activity, particularly where the work does not meet the relevant statutory category. Employees are usually easier to assess, but eligibility is not automatic.
Compare the standard and special tax regimes
A tax adviser can compare standard IRPF with the special regime based on the applicant’s income and working structure.
If you are self-employed: registering as an autónomo
The social-security position depends on the working arrangement and any applicable international agreement. Self-employed applicants generally register with Seguridad Social as an autónomo under RETA.
Contributions have been calculated from actual net income since 2023. Under the Tarifa Plana introductory period, the first 12 months cost about €80–85 a month.
Each quarter, Modelo 130 must be filed as an IRPF advance payment. Missing it creates a debt to Seguridad Social.
Social-security debt can affect renewal
UGE-CE may request confirmation that no social-security debt is outstanding. Late or unpaid contributions should be resolved before renewal.
Path to permanent residence and Spanish citizenship
183 days a year
A key threshold for physical presence and Spanish tax residence
5 years — permanent residence
Qualifying residence time may count towards long-term residence
10 years — citizenship
The standard naturalisation period, subject to language, integration and other requirements
Who the programme does not suit
01
The employer or main client is based in a jurisdiction that creates unresolved sanctions or payment issues
02
Income is irregular, undocumented or inconsistent with the contracts and bank statements
03
You want to keep a residence card without spending substantial time in Spain
Frequently asked questions
A permit holder may apply for an account, but each bank makes its own decision after compliance checks. Banks commonly request a TIE or NIE, evidence of the working arrangement and documents supporting the source of funds.
An employee’s qualifying employer must be outside Spain. A self-employed applicant may receive income from Spanish clients, but it must not exceed 20% of total declared earnings.
No. Eligible children can be included as dependants and receive their own TIE cards. They can access education in Spain under the rules that apply to resident children.
The working rule stated in this guide is at least 183 days in each calendar year. The same threshold is relevant to Spanish tax residence, although tax status can also depend on other factors. Keep reliable evidence of physical presence.
Yes. Standard limit: no more than 90 days in any 180-day period in other Schengen countries (except Spain as the country of residence). The card is presented at the border along with the passport.
Popular residence programmes
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The Tranio ecosystem
Residence or citizenship is only one stage. With Tranio, these goals can be addressed by one team.
We select and arrange residence, permanent residence and second citizenship around your goals and long-term plans.
We help you choose and buy overseas property with full transaction support.
We advise on international investments, ownership structures and substantial private wealth.