Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa Explained (2026 Guide)
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa is one of the most practical ways for non-EU citizens to live in Spain while continuing to work remotely for a company or clients outside Spain. But most confusion comes from the “fine print”: what counts as a valid contract, how income is measured, what documents actually prove experience, and how to avoid getting stuck in Spain without enough time to finish the process.
This guide is based on a Spain visa Q&A session with Sabine Steinberger (Bureaucracy.es) and is written to give you a detailed, implementation-ready understanding of how the Digital Nomad Visa works in 2025.
What is the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
The Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) is a residency permit designed for people who can work 100% remotely and whose income comes from non-Spanish companies or clients.
It can be a strong option if you:
Want to live in Spain while keeping your current job (US, UK, EU company, etc., as long as it’s not Spain)
Work as a contractor/freelancer for foreign clients
Own a company and do B2B work for clients outside Spain (in some cases even using your own company structure, depending on how it’s set up)
A simple way Sabine frames it:
If you need to work, Digital Nomad Visa is usually the right route
If you don’t plan to work, the Non-Lucrative Visa is typically the right route
Who is the Digital Nomad Visa best for?
1) Remote employees (working for a foreign company)
You’re employed by a company outside Spain and can perform your job fully remote.
Example:
You work for a US software company as a product manager. Your employer confirms you can work from Spain, and you can show 3 months of salary deposits.
2) Contractors / freelancers with foreign clients
You invoice clients outside Spain and can show consistent income and professional proof.
Example:
You’re a marketing consultant working with 2 UK clients and 1 US client. You show contracts, bank deposits, and official proof of your work history.
3) Business owners with B2B contracts
You own a company and provide services to other companies (B2B). In some structures, your company can be part of the solution, but it needs to be handled carefully.
Example:
You own a Delaware LLC and provide services to 3 ecommerce brands. You can document the business relationship and income stream.
The biggest advantage: you can apply from Spain
This is one of the most important differences vs. the Non-Lucrative Visa.
Option A: Apply from Spain (commonly the best experience)
You enter Spain as a tourist (US citizens don’t need a Schengen visa for entry)
Ideally you’ve prepared documents before arrival
Your application is submitted online
Typical approval timeframe shared in the webinar: ~20 business days
If your setup allows it, the permit can be granted for up to 3 years
Why this matters: You avoid multiple consulate visits, long consulate processing times, and you may get a longer initial authorization.
Option B: Apply through your consulate
Consulates can take up to 3 months to respond
You may need multiple visits (NIE, submission, pickup)
Initial approval may be for 1 year (as referenced in the session)
Practical rule:
If you can prepare properly, applying from Spain can be dramatically smoother.
Core eligibility requirements (with detailed explanations)
1) Your job must be fully remote and tied to a non-Spanish company/client
The visa is designed for remote work that is not tied to Spanish employment.
What Sabine emphasized: Your company can be US/UK/Europe/etc., but not Spain.
2) Your contract must be real, active, and old enough
This is where many applicants misunderstand the requirement.
Contract age
You must show a contract that is at least 3 months old before you apply
An offer letter is not sufficient because it shows intent, not an active relationship
Spain wants to see you’ve already been working and earning income
Company age
The company you work for must be at least 1 year old
You usually prove this with a “good standing” type document showing registration date
Contract duration affects your visa duration
If your contract has a clear end date, your residency may be granted only until that date.
Example:
Your contract states it ends on December 31, 2026. Even if it’s “renewable,” your authorization may only be granted until December 31, 2026.
Best practice:
If possible, use an open-ended contract or one that aligns with long-term residency plans.
3) You must prove you’re qualified to do the work
Spain expects evidence that your role is credible and you’re not “inventing” remote work to fit the visa.
You can qualify via:
A) A diploma related to your job
If your degree aligns with your role, it can simplify this part.
B) At least 3 years of professional experience (well documented)
This is where people get stuck: it’s not enough to say “I’ve done this for years.”
What the webinar clarified:
Payslips and invoices alone typically do not suffice
You need official proof such as:
Prior contracts
Social security work history
Tax returns (often helpful)
If you can’t provide an official “professional relationship” trail, the application becomes very difficult
Example of a strong experience proof set (contractor):
3-year client contract history (or consecutive contracts)
Tax returns showing the same profession category
Social security record or equivalent employment history documentation (country-specific)
Bank deposits matching the client payments
4) Financial requirements (2025) and how Spain evaluates income
The Digital Nomad Visa income requirement is monthly.
The webinar shared these 2025 minimums:
Single applicant: €2,763/month
Family of three (main applicant + partner + child): €4,144/month
Important clarifications from the session:
It’s not combined income
The main applicant must meet the threshold. You can’t combine salaries with your partner to hit the minimum.
You typically show the last 3 months
Spain usually expects:
3 months of bank statements showing the income landing consistently
Self-employed vs employee treatment differs
If you’re self-employed, the required amount is measured gross (before taxes)
If you’re an employee, the required amount is measured net (after taxes)
Example: employee scenario (net)
Your payslips show €3,200 net per month for the last 3 months
Your bank statements show matching deposits
You meet the €2,763 threshold
Example: freelancer scenario (gross)
Your invoices show €3,500/month billed
Your bank statements show those payments arriving
You meet the requirement based on gross income consistency
5) Criminal record requirement: what people underestimate
The webinar referenced criminal record requirements and the operational reality:
You need criminal record coverage for the required period (Sabine mentioned “past two years” in the session)
It usually needs:
Apostille
Sworn translation
Many documents are only valid for 6 months, and timing mistakes cause costly rework
Practical example (US timing issue Sabine called out):
Apostille processing can take around 2 months
There may be faster private processing routes (Sabine referenced a “10 days” option in some contexts)
This is why planning ahead matters even for the “fast” Spain-from-Spain process
Healthcare and social security: what changes depending on your setup
The session highlighted an important distinction:
If you apply as self-employed in Spain
You may register as self-employed and pay into Spain’s social security system. This can give you access to public benefits, including public healthcare for you and your family.
If you’re a full-time employee
The employee route depends heavily on agreements between Spain and the employer’s country.
Sabine gave a specific operational example:
The UK route can involve an A1 form issued for 1–2 years, and the visa may be linked to that form’s validity
For the US, Sabine described the situation as “blurry” and noted enforcement can be inconsistent over time, which is why many choose a self-employed strategy if it fits their case
Takeaway:
Your “work structure” is not a formality. It changes how clean and renewable your residency path will be.
Family members: what’s possible on the Digital Nomad Visa
This visa is relatively flexible compared to the Non-Lucrative Visa.
Partner
A major advantage mentioned in the webinar:
The main applicant is restricted to working for the foreign company/client
The partner (dependent) can apply for authorization to work in Spain, and may even open a business after completing the right steps
Children, including adult children
Sabine noted adult children can sometimes be included into their early 20s, if they:
Live with you
Are financially dependent
Do not work
Ideally study
Parents
Possible in narrower cases, with conditions such as:
Fully financially dependent
Typically older (Sabine mentioned “older than 80” as a threshold in practice)
A realistic application timeline (what “planning ahead” looks like)
One of the clearest operational insights from the webinar:
Timing is everything. People fail not because they’re ineligible, but because they start too late.
Best-case path (organized applicant)
Start collecting documents before travel
Arrive in Spain with everything ready
Submit online early in your tourist window
Receive approval in ~20 business days (as referenced)
Complete post-approval steps (card/registration steps depending on process)
High-risk path (common mistake)
Arrive in Spain for “3 months”
Decide to apply after arriving
Realize apostilles/translations take time
Run out of tourist days
Need to leave Schengen to remain compliant and restart timing
Common mistakes and how to avoid them (straight from the webinar)
Sabine’s recurring theme: It’s not hard, it’s procedural.
Mistake 1: Arriving in Spain without documents ready
Even if Spain processes quickly, your documents don’t.
Avoid it: Prepare before arrival.
Mistake 2: Getting documents too early
Documents are often valid for about 6 months. If you collect too early, you may need to redo and retranslate.
Avoid it: Work backwards from your intended submission date.
Mistake 3: Weak proof of professional experience
Invoices and payslips often aren’t enough by themselves.
Avoid it: Build a documentation pack that proves your professional relationship through official channels (contracts + tax + work history).
Mistake 4: Misreading online advice
Sabine’s warning: social platforms are full of confident but incorrect interpretations.
Avoid it: Confirm requirements for your exact route and your exact location.
Can you switch from the Non-Lucrative Visa to Digital Nomad?
In the webinar, Sabine made it clear:
There is no official direct switch
These visas are not “compatible”
Switching often requires leaving Spain and meeting the new visa requirements properly
She did mention one nuance:
There may be a path to obtain a work permit later while on a non-lucrative residency in some cases, but it’s complex, location-dependent, and better handled with legal guidance
Frequently Asked Questions About Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa (from the webinar)
Can I apply for the Digital Nomad Visa from inside Spain?
Yes. The Digital Nomad Visa can be submitted online from within Spain while you are legally present as a tourist. In the webinar, Sabine noted approvals can come in around 20 business days, and the permit may be granted for up to three years depending on your case.
Do I need to have worked for my employer for 1–3 years before applying?
No. The requirement discussed in the webinar is typically 3 months of working relationship (your contract must be at least 3 months old). What must be at least one year old is the company, not your employment duration.
Does an offer letter work?
No. Sabine explicitly said offer letters do not work because they don’t prove an active professional relationship. Spain wants to see you’ve worked and earned income already.
Is the income requirement monthly or yearly?
Monthly. The visa requires a minimum monthly amount (for 2025: €2,763 for a single applicant, and €4,144 for a family of three, as shared in the session).
Can I combine my salary with my partner’s to reach the minimum?
No. The income must be met by the main applicant and is not typically assessed as combined household income for the minimum threshold.
How many months of bank statements do I need?
Sabine noted that for the Digital Nomad Visa, it’s generally the last 3 months of bank statements showing consistent incoming payments.
What if my contract has an end date?
Your permit may be issued only until that date, even if the contract says “renewable.” If you want a longer authorization, an open-ended or longer-term contract is safer.
Can my partner work in Spain?
Yes, this was highlighted as a major advantage of the Digital Nomad Visa. The partner can obtain authorization to work in Spain through the appropriate process after residency is granted.
Can I include adult children?
In many cases, yes, especially into the early 20s, if they are financially dependent, living with you, and not working. Proof is required.
Can I include my parents?
Sometimes, but it’s stricter. Sabine noted it can be possible when parents are fully financially dependent and typically above a certain age threshold.
What are the most common mistakes?
The most common issues are timing problems (starting too late, documents expiring) and weak documentation (especially around proof of experience and official records).
Final takeaway: how to decide if this visa is right for you
If you can answer “yes” to these, you’re likely in the right territory:
I work fully remote
My company/clients are outside Spain
I can show a real contract that’s at least 3 months old
I can prove qualifications through degree or 3 years of documented experience
I can meet the monthly income threshold consistently
If you’re unsure, the “right” next step is not guessing. It’s validating your work structure and documentation plan before you start collecting apostilles and translations.
