Spain Digital Nomad Visa: Requirements, Income and How to Apply

Spain’s digital nomad visa lets non-EU remote workers live in Spain while working for employers or clients based outside the country. In 2026, a single applicant generally needs to show income of at least 200% of Spain’s minimum wage, about €2,849 a month before tax, along with qualifications or experience, health insurance and a clean criminal record. This guide explains who qualifies, how the income rules work, how to apply from the US, Canada or elsewhere, and the tax implications to understand before you move.

Immigration rules change and are applied by individual consulates, so always check the latest requirements with the Spanish consulate that serves your area, or with an immigration lawyer, before you apply.

What Is Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa?

The visa was created by Spain’s Startups Law (Law 28/2022), which took effect in early 2023. Officially it is a visa and residence permit for “international teleworking”. It is designed for people who can do their job remotely, using computers and telecommunications, for companies located outside Spain, or for freelancers whose clients are mainly abroad.

It is popular because it gives legal residence in a European Union country with a lower cost of living than many US and Canadian cities, a good public healthcare system once you are resident, and access to travel across the Schengen area. It is not a tourist visa: Americans and Canadians can already visit Spain visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but they cannot live there long-term without a residence permit.

Who Qualifies for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?

According to Spain’s official guidance, applicants generally need to meet these conditions:

• Non-EU nationality. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need this visa because they already have the right to live and work in Spain.
• Remote work for foreign companies. Employees must work for a company based outside Spain. Freelancers can also work for Spanish clients, as long as that work does not exceed 20% of their total professional activity.
• An established working relationship. Employees typically need to have worked for their employer for at least three months before applying, and the company must usually have been operating for at least a year. Freelancers need to show a track record with their clients.
• Qualifications or experience. A university degree or professional qualification, or at least three years of relevant work experience.
• A clean criminal record in Spain and in the countries where you have lived in the previous five years.
• Health insurance from a provider authorised to operate in Spain, with full cover and no co-payments, unless you are covered by a Social Security agreement.

How Much Income Do You Need in 2026?

The income rule is linked to Spain’s minimum interprofessional wage (salario mínimo interprofesional, or SMI). For 2026, the government set the SMI at €1,221 a month paid in 14 instalments, or €17,094 a year, in Royal Decree 126/2026, published in Spain’s official gazette, the BOE.

The digital nomad visa requires at least 200% of the SMI. Spreading the annual minimum wage over 12 months gives about €1,424.50 a month, so the threshold works out at roughly:

• Main applicant: about €2,849 a month, or €34,188 a year, before tax.
• First family member (such as a spouse or partner): an extra 75% of the SMI, about €1,068 a month.
• Each additional family member: an extra 25% of the SMI, about €356 a month.

A couple with one child would therefore need roughly €4,273 a month. Consulates may calculate the figure slightly differently, so check the exact amount with yours. At recent exchange rates, the single-applicant threshold is roughly $3,000 to $3,400 a month, depending on the euro’s value against the dollar.

How Do You Apply for the Visa?

There are two main routes:

• From outside Spain: apply for the visa at the Spanish consulate that covers your place of residence. If approved, the visa is usually valid for up to one year, and you can then apply for a residence permit in Spain to stay longer.
• From inside Spain: if you are legally in Spain, for example as a visa-free visitor, you can apply directly for a residence permit through the government’s Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE). This permit can be granted for up to three years and can then be renewed.

After five years of legal residence, you may be able to apply for long-term residence, and after ten years most nationalities can apply for citizenship. Citizens of Latin American countries, as well as Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and people of Sephardic origin, can apply for Spanish nationality after just two years of legal residence, a significant advantage for many applicants from the Americas.

What Documents Will You Need?

Exact lists vary by consulate, but most applications include:

• A valid passport and the completed national visa application form.
• A letter from your employer confirming remote work, your role and authorisation to work from Spain, or contracts with your clients if you are self-employed.
• Proof of the company’s activity for at least one year.
• Proof of income, such as payslips, contracts and bank statements.
• Your degree certificate or evidence of three years’ experience.
• A criminal record certificate (for US applicants, usually an FBI Identity History Summary) with an apostille.
• Private health insurance documents.
• Evidence that you are registered with a social security system, or that your employer will register you in Spain.

Documents not in Spanish generally need an official translation by a sworn translator. Allow time for apostilles, translations and background checks, which can take several weeks.

How Are Digital Nomads Taxed in Spain?

Tax is one of the most important parts of planning. People who spend more than 183 days a year in Spain are generally considered tax resident, which means Spain can tax their worldwide income at progressive rates that can exceed 45% in some regions.

However, the Startups Law extended Spain’s special regime for people moving to the country, often called the “Beckham Law”, to digital nomads. Eligible newcomers who have not been Spanish tax residents in the previous five years can choose to pay a flat 24% on Spanish-source employment income up to €600,000 a year for the year they arrive and the following five years. The rules are complex, so take advice from a tax professional familiar with both Spanish and US or Canadian tax.

US citizens remain subject to US tax on their worldwide income wherever they live, although the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and foreign tax credits can reduce double taxation. Check social security obligations too: the US and Canada both have social security agreements with Spain.

Where Do Digital Nomads Live in Spain?

Popular choices include Madrid and Barcelona for their international communities and connections, Valencia for its beaches, climate and futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, Málaga and the Costa del Sol for sunshine and a growing tech scene, and the Canary Islands for year-round warmth. Smaller cities such as Seville, Alicante and Granada offer lower rents. Our guide to how to compare cost of living can help you compare cities before choosing.

Is Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa Right for You?

The visa suits remote employees and established freelancers with steady, documented income who want to live in Spain for more than a few months. It is less suitable for people with irregular income, new businesses without a track record, or those who mainly want to work for Spanish clients, who would need a different work permit.

Before you go, consider whether travel insurance is worth it for the move itself, and read our guide to studying abroad if you are relocating with students in the family.

Featured image: Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias1-edit, by Elemaki, modifications by Alvaro qc / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped, colour-graded and combined with MediaPavilion branding.

Sources

• Boletín Oficial del Estado — Ley 28/2022, de fomento del ecosistema de las empresas emergentes (21 December 2022).
• Boletín Oficial del Estado — Real Decreto 126/2026, salario mínimo interprofesional para 2026 (2026).
• Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration — Teletrabajo de carácter internacional (accessed 26 October 2026).
• Barcelona City Council — International teleworkers (digital nomads) (accessed 26 October 2026).