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Spain's Digital Nomad Visa:
Requirements, Application and Taxes
Live in Spain, Keep Working for Clients Abroad
Spain’s digital nomad visa allows people from outside the European Union to live in Spain while continuing to work remotely for companies or clients abroad. It was introduced in 2023 by the Startups Law and has become one of the most requested residence routes for professionals who can work from anywhere.
It is also, very often, the first step of a longer story. Many of those who arrive with it end up buying a home within two or three years, and their tax position from day one deserves as much attention as the visa itself.
Who Can Apply
- Citizens of countries outside the EU and EEA. EU citizens do not need a visa to live and work in Spain.
- People who work remotely, using computers and telecommunications, for a company located outside Spain, or self-employed professionals working for clients abroad. Freelancers may also have Spanish clients, provided that work does not exceed 20% of their total activity.
- A working relationship of at least three months with the company or clients before applying, and a company that has been operating for at least one year.
- A university degree or at least three years of professional experience in the field.
- No criminal record in Spain or in the countries of residence over the last five years, and private or public health insurance valid in Spain.
How Much Income You Need
Applying From Your Country or From Spain
From your country
at the Spanish consulate. The visa is valid for one year, after which you apply in Spain for a residence permit.
From Spain
if you are already in the country legally, for example as a visitor, you can apply directly for a three-year residence permit, renewable for a further two. Applications are resolved within 20 working days, and if there is no answer by then, the application is considered approved.
After five years of legal residence, you can apply for long-term residence.
Bringing Your Family
Your spouse or registered partner, your children and, in some cases, dependent parents can apply with you, either at the same time or later. Each of them adds to the income you must prove.
Taxes: the Part People Forget
A residence permit and tax residence are different things. If you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain, you become tax resident and, in principle, are taxed on your worldwide income at Spain’s progressive rates.
Digital nomads, however, can apply for the special regime for people moving to Spain to work, known as the Beckham Law. Under it, employment income is taxed at a flat 24% up to €600,000 a year, for the year of arrival and the following five. It must be requested within six months, so it needs planning before you arrive, not afterwards.
Employees of foreign companies may also need to keep their social security coverage in their home country, with the corresponding certificate.
Buying a Home on a Digital Nomad Visa
Nothing prevents you from buying a property while you hold the visa. You will need a NIE, and the purchase follows the same steps and checks as for any foreign buyer. If you plan to stay, a Spanish will is worth making as soon as you own assets here.
Get Your First Consultation for FREE!
Considering the digital nomad visa? Your first consultation is free. We will look at your tax position before you apply, which is when it matters most.
How We Help
- Coordinating your application with our partner immigration agency.
- Applying for the Beckham regime within the deadline, and your annual tax returns.
- Buying your home, from the first checks to the registration.
- Your Spanish will and the planning of your assets in Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Digital Nomad Visa
Can I work for Spanish clients on a digital nomad visa?
Freelancers can, as long as that work does not exceed 20% of their total activity. Employees must work for a company located outside Spain.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse or partner and your children can apply with you or join you later. Each family member increases the minimum income you need to prove.
Is the digital nomad visa the same as the non-lucrative visa?
No. The non-lucrative visa is for people who live on pensions, savings or investments and does not allow working. The digital nomad visa is for people who will keep working remotely for clients or employers abroad.
Will I pay tax in Spain?
If you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain, yes, you will normally be tax resident. The Beckham regime can reduce the tax on your employment income considerably, but it must be requested within six months.
Do you process the visa?
The application is handled by our partner immigration agency. We coordinate it with your tax planning, your home and your will, so everything moves in the right order.