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Home » Living and Working Remotely in Spain: Benefits of the Digital Nomad Visa

Living and Working Remotely in Spain: Benefits of the Digital Nomad Visa

The Spain digital nomad Visa is residence card for nomads that want to work and live from Spain. It allows you to relocate to Spain for at least one year, but only with companies outside of the country.

Spain offers the digital nomad Visa (valid for a year) as well as the digital nomad residency permit (valid for three years) for those who work remotely. Both visas serve the exact goal, but you’ll need to get the digital nomad visa within your country, whereas you can only obtain the latter one in Spain.

Additionally, the digital nomad residence permit is valid for another two years. If you wish to work remotely for a long time in Spain think about obtaining permanent residency or becoming an Spanish citizen. Be aware that you are able to apply for a permanent residence visa after five years of living in Spain You can find more information on this later.

Because of that visa, foreigners can remote work in Spain with laptops and be able to experience what it’s like to reside there. Additionally, the visa can be a powerful tool to allow Spain to draw international talent to drive digital entrepreneurship.

You may apply for a digital nomad visa within your home country, or when the time comes to arrive Spain through a tourist visa. Additionally, you can bring your dependents with you via the same application.

Fortunately, the visa application is quick, so you can appeal almost immediately if your application gets rejected. It will take about two weeks for the visa to be processed. Learn more about the Spanish visa in the following article.

Who Can Apply For The Spain Digital Nomad Visa?

The new digital nomad visa that is available in Spain is intended for digital nomads with non-European Economic Area (EEA) citizenship like the UK. On the other hand remote workers or freelancer from the European country can work in Spain for six months by using only their passport.

However, they have to get a resident Foreign Identity Number (NIE) to extend their stay in Spain. The NIE is an individual number that is only available to remote workers or a freelancer who wants to stay in Spain for longer than six months.

The digital nomad visa is a temporary residence visa for remote workers who have any of the following:

An employee at a company outside Spain.
A digital entrepreneur or freelancer who serves clients across the globe.
A worker or freelancer of a foreign company based located in Spain.

To succeed with your application you must meet a minimum income requirement as well as pay the Visa fees in order to complete your application.

What is the validity duration that is included in Digital Nomad Visa? Digital Nomad Visa?

When the time comes to apply for a brand new digital nomad visa in Spain when you are on a tourist visa, you’ll be granted a digital nomad residency permit that is valid for a period of three years.

On the other hand If you are able to apply for your country via a Spanish Consulate, you will receive a new digital nomad permit that will last to one calendar year. You can switch to the digital nomad residence permit at the end of your first calendar year living in Spain.

If you’d like to apply for a permanent residency permit, you should have lived in the country for a minimum of five years.

That is only possible after you’ve received your digital nomad visa and staying there for three years, and then extended it by an additional two years. Also, if you want to become a Spanish citizen it is necessary to have resided in Spain for at least 10 years.

With digital nomad visas non-EU citizens can travel freely across EU countries. However, you’re only able to remain in Spain for at most a year out of the five years to qualify for a permanent residence visa.

What restrictions are there with a digital nomad visa Spain?

There are some restrictions on the new digital nomad visa application in Spain that you must be aware of.

First of all, you’ll need to be able to work remotely for clients or employers that are outside of Spain. This means that your earnings from Spain can be at most 20% of your total revenue.

Spain had restrictions on travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the laws have changed.

The COVID-19 certification is not a requirement to travel to Spain at present. But, it is important to be aware that the law may alter if the virus gets spread again.

It is best to check the current restrictions on travel in Spain before you submit your application or make plans to travel. The information is available at the Spanish Consulate in the country of origin or residence.

What’s the Difference Between the Spain Digital Nomad Visa and Non-lucrative Visa?

In November 2022 in 2022, the Spanish Parliament began to discuss the digital nomad visa. at the end of December, 2022 they finally approved the visa.

Before that, numerous digital nomads applied for other kinds permissions to be employed in Spain such as an unlucrative visa. Because the non-lucrative visa wasn’t a work permit and therefore wasn’t a legal method for digital nomads reside in the country.

The Spanish non-lucrative residence permit is for non-EU citizens who wish to reside in Spain for more than 3 months, but aren’t employed.

The program was designed for people with enough funds to support themselves without working in Spain. For example, expat retirees or those who are interested in studying in Spain.

The non-lucrative resident visa can be used for 90 days, so foreigners are advised in applying for the Foreigner Identity Card at the beginning of their first stay in Spain. You can apply at your closest Police Station or the Foreign Nationals’ Office.

The other side, this digital nomad visa can be a short-term visa designed for people who are remote and freelancers. It is the legal basis which allows them to remotely work Spain.

You can self-employed as well as work for an employer outside of Spain to be eligible.
Proof of Income

To be eligible for an Spain digital nomad permit, it is necessary to prove that you can support yourself and your family members when you relocate to Spain. The proof of your income or employment contract must be valid for at least three months prior the filing date.

However, if you are self-employed, then you must provide evidence of contracts in force that have been in force for at least three months, with an annual income of not less than 2200 euros a month.

You can also demonstrate your earnings by using the following:

A bank statement showing your financial condition and savings.
The tax return’s statement and pay stubs.

The important thing here is to demonstrate that you are able to look after the needs of yourself, your children and other dependents (if appropriate) during your time in Spain.
Health Insurance

If you are applying from your home country you will be granted a digital nomad visa for a year. This means that you’ll need to prove you have Spanish medical insurance that is valid during the first year of your stay in Spain.

On the other hand, if you are applying for a visa in Spain the visa you receive will be an electronic nomad residence permit, valid for three years. This means that your health insurance needs to remain valid until then, or renewed every year.

Another condition for the health insurance requirement is that the policy comes from an insurance company permitted to operate in Spain.

In addition, your health insurance should be complete and cover any medical expenses that may occur while you are there.

Background Check

While applying for digital nomad visas, you will be asked to prove your criminal record and to take your fingerprints.

A certificate of police clearance from your state of residence will suffice. If the consulate is in your country, your passport could require minimum three months old. It should be authenticated.

Formulation Form, Fee and Application

Successful visa applications requires you fill out and sign the visa application form and pay the fee.

The cost for applying varies both within and outside Spain however, you will need to pay the fee after filling your application in and are close to submitting it. When filling out the application form, make sure that the details you fill in are correct.

Once you’re done make sure you translate the document into Spanish.

If you have further questions regarding the digital nomadic visa application fee both within as well as out of Spain do not be reluctant to speak to our immigration lawyer to get fast professional assistance.