Spain has launched its Digital Nomad Visa as part of the new Startup Act, which aims to encourage entrepreneurship and foreign investment. This new visa allows non-EU/EEA remote workers and freelancers to live and work in Spain for up to 12 months in the first instance, renewable for up to five years. In this article, we’ll guide you through the requirements and benefits of this visa.
Requirements for the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain:
To be eligible for the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a non-EU/EEA citizen
- Prove a minimum income of €2,334 per month
- Have a stable work contract and permission from their company to work in Spain
- The company must have been in business for at least one year
- Show proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay in Spain
- Purchase comprehensive health insurance coverage for their stay in Spain
Income Requirements:
Applicants must prove that they have a minimum income of €2,334 per month to apply for the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain. Higher-income brackets are required if the applicant will be accompanied by a partner or children.
Stable Contract and Company Requirements:
Remote workers must have a stable contract and permission from their company to work in Spain. The company must have been in business for at least one year. Unlike many other Digital Nomad Visas, up to 20% of a freelancer’s income can come from Spanish clients.
Sufficient Funds and Health Insurance:
Applicants must show proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay in Spain and purchase comprehensive health insurance coverage for their stay in Spain.
Benefits of the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain:
Successful applicants will enjoy the following benefits:
- Eligibility to apply for a Spanish residency permit, which will enable them to travel around the European Union
- Reduced tax rate of 15% on income up to €600,000 per year
- Double taxation agreements with 90 other countries
- Opportunity to stay in Spain for up to 12 months, renewable for up to five years
- Opportunity to apply for permanent residence after five years of living in Spain continuously
- Opportunity to apply for citizenship after ten years of residence
Who Can Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain?
Applications for the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain are open to non-EU/EEA citizens. Citizens of the European Union and European Economic Area do not need a DNV to work remotely in Spain. United States citizens and Green Card holders, as well as citizens from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, are all eligible to apply.
Types Of Spain Digital Nomad Visas:
The new Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is the country’s first significant visa for remote workers and freelancers. Prior to this, non-EU/EEA citizens wishing to travel to Spain as a digital nomad were forced to enter Spain on a tourist visa, which only allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days in any six-month period, and does not grant access to a residence permit.
Spain also has a Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), also known as a retirement visa, aimed at non-EU citizens who are no longer working and wish to spend their time in Spain. To be eligible for this visa, you must show that you have a passive income from a retirement fund or similar source, or at least €27,115.20 per year for an individual, with an additional €6,778 per year for any accompanying family member. The visa is granted annually for up to five years, at which point you can apply for permanent residence.
Applying for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa
To apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, you must provide a number of documents, including:
- A valid passport with at least one year of validity remaining
- Proof of health insurance coverage in Spain
- A clean criminal record certificate from your home country or any country where you have resided in the past five years
- Proof of income, such as bank statements or pay slips, showing that you earn at least €2,334 per month
- A signed declaration that you will abide by Spanish laws and customs
You will also need to complete an online application form and pay the visa fee. The exact fee may vary depending on your country of origin and the duration of your stay.
Once your application is approved, you can enter Spain and begin your remote work adventure. Note that you must apply for the visa before arriving in Spain and cannot work until the visa has been issued.
Benefits of the Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Spain Digital Nomad Visa offers a number of benefits to remote workers and freelancers. Some of the key benefits include:
- Access to Spain’s vibrant culture and lifestyle: Spain is known for its rich history, beautiful architecture, delicious food, and vibrant nightlife. With the Digital Nomad Visa, you can experience all that Spain has to offer while working remotely.
- Easy access to the rest of Europe: As a Spanish resident, you will be able to travel freely within the European Union. This makes it easy to explore other countries and cultures during your free time.
- Low cost of living: Spain offers a relatively low cost of living compared to other European countries. This means that you can live comfortably on a modest income, allowing you to save money or enjoy a higher quality of life.
- Reduced tax rate: Digital nomads who obtain the Spain Digital Nomad Visa are eligible for a special reduced tax rate of 15% on income up to €600,000 per year. This can result in significant tax savings compared to other countries.
- Access to a residency permit: Successful applicants for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa are also eligible to apply for a Spanish residency permit, which will allow you to live and work in Spain for longer than the duration of the visa.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa Requirements: Eligibility, Application Process, and More
With the rise of remote work, the number of digital nomads has increased dramatically in recent years. Spain is one of the most popular destinations for digital nomads due to its pleasant climate, affordable living costs, and vibrant culture.
To encourage remote workers to move to Spain, the Spanish government has introduced the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) program. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the eligibility requirements for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, the application process, and some tips to help you make the most of your time in Spain.
Eligibility Requirements for Spain Digital Nomad Visa
To be eligible for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa, you must meet the following requirements:
Proof of Remote Worker Status: You must prove that you are a remote worker that can complete your job from Spain via an internet connection. While there are no specific restrictions on the type of work you are engaged in, you must demonstrate specific expertise in your field. You can demonstrate this with a university degree, professional certificate, or proof of three years of work experience.
Stable and Established Work: You must show that your work is stable and well-established. This means that you must have been employed in the job for at least three months, and remote workers should show that they have a contract for the duration of their proposed stay in Spain. Freelancers can show long-term contracts as evidence of their stability. Remote workers must also demonstrate that the company they work for has been in business for at least one year.
Financial Self-Sufficiency: You must be able to demonstrate that your work provides you with sufficient income to support yourself while living in Spain. The minimum rate has currently been set at 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (€1,167). An individual applying for the Spain DNV visa must show earnings of at least €2,334 per month or €28,000 per year. If you will be accompanied by a partner or children, there are different minimum wage brackets. The income bracket goes up 75% for the first person accompanying you (whether a spouse or child), and an additional 25% for each individual after that.
Full Health Insurance: Applicants must obtain full health insurance for themselves and any family members that accompany them for the full duration of their proposed stay in Spain.
Clean Criminal Record: Applicants must be able to show that they have a clean criminal record from all the countries they have lived in for the last five years. The form of proof that can be provided depends on the type of documentation used in the relevant country.
Minimum Stay Requirement: To be eligible for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa, you should not have lived in Spain for the last five years. You also cannot apply from Spain if you are currently there illegally. There is no minimum period for your initial visa application or stay in Spain. However, if you tend to renew your DNV, you must have stayed in Spain for at least six months within a 12-month period.
Application Process for Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Step 1 – Acquire All The Necessary Documents:
The first step in putting together your Spanish Digital Nomad Visa application is to gather all the relevant documentation. Some documents must be officialized with an Apostille to be used internationally.
The following is a list of the mandatory documents needed:
- A completed copy of the National Visa Application Form for each applicant
- A valid passport with two blank pages and a one-year validity
- Two passport-sized photographs
- Proof of suitable employment such as a work contract or a letter from the employer confirming that you can work remotely
- Evidence that your employer or company has been active for at least one year
- Proof of income such as payslips, work contracts, and bank statements
- Evidence of qualifications such as a university degree, a professional certificate, or evidence of at least three years of experience
- Proof of health insurance authorized to operate in Spain
- Criminal record check certificates for the last five years with an Apostille and copy
- Evidence of familial relationship to other applicants, such as a marriage or birth certificate
The prerequisites for Spanish translations of the documents may vary based on the location where you are applying. Some consulates may accept documents in the local language, while others may require Spanish translations. The translations should be made by an officially recognized translation service. The list of approved providers can be obtained from your local embassy or consulate.
Step 2 – The second step is to book an appointment and pay the visa fee:
The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa applications should be submitted in person at your local Spanish Embassy or Consulate. The process of booking an appointment varies depending on your local embassy, and you should check their website for more information.
In most cases, you may need to make an appointment through email. You will be required to provide your complete details, including your name, passport details, email address, telephone number, current contact address, the type of visa you are applying for, and information about any related applicants. Once you provide this information, you will receive a link to select your appointment day and time, and details for paying your visa fee. You can expect to receive an appointment date approximately two weeks after contacting the embassy. The visa fee varies among countries, but it is usually around €80.
Step 3 – The third step is to attend your appointment at the Spanish embassy:
Consulate them with your complete documentation and be prepared to answer any preliminary questions that the interviewer may have based on a preliminary review of your documents. You will be required to leave your passport at the embassy or consulate while they assess your application. Copies of your documents will most likely be taken or confirmed during your appointment, allowing you to take your original documentation with you.
Step 4 – The fourth step is to wait and collect your visa:
Your visa application will take between 15 and 45 days to be processed. You may receive a link to track the progress of your application, and you may be asked to submit additional documentation if required. Once your application has been approved, you will receive a notification via email. You have one month to collect your visa from the embassy or consulate. There is usually a daily time slot when you can collect your passport from the embassy.
If your application is refused, you will receive a notification in writing and information about why the application was denied. Following a refusal, you have one month to file an appeal with additional documentation, and the visa fee is non-refundable.
Read More: Experience Spain as a Freelancer: Visa Guide
Applying for a Spanish Digital Nomad Visa involves gathering the necessary documentation, booking an appointment, attending the interview, and waiting to collect your visa. Following these steps carefully, you can increase the chances of getting your visa approved, allowing you to work remotely from Spain.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa is an exciting new opportunity for remote workers and freelancers who are looking to experience all that Spain has to offer while working remotely. With a low-income requirement and favorable terms, this visa is one of the most attractive options for digital nomads who want to live and work in Europe. By obtaining the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, you can access a vibrant culture, easy travel to the rest of Europe, a low cost of living, and tax savings making it an ideal destination for digital nomads.
