Digital Nomad Visa to Spain: requirements to apply in 2023

Spain has always been a favourite destination for tourists, and even more so for digital nomads. We absolutely love Spain. Not only will you find world-renowned cuisine and tons of amazing places to visit, but it also has a relatively low cost of living.

Spain, eager to grow its economy and take advantage of the global trend towards remote work, has a visa project for digital nomads and remote workers called la Ley de Startups. In other words, a digital nomad visa to Spain!

The Spanish Congress of Deputies finally approved the law in December 2022, and the Government will begin to receive applications from early 2023. At last, digital nomads will be able to live and work in Spain for an extended period of time.

We’re going to provide you with all the new information you’ll need to apply for the long-awaited digital nomad visa to Spain, which was designed specifically for nomadic travellers and remote workers eager to travel and live in Spain. 

What is a digital nomad visa?

Following the pandemic-driven teleworking boom, countries have finally started to offer visas for digital nomads, and now there is a digital nomad visa to Spain.

Although our nomadic lifestyle has been around for a long time, it wasn’t until 2020 that visas for remote workers started to emerge. Estonia was the first country to grant a visa for nomads, and they also offer e-residency for remote digital entrepreneurs.

This type of visa is ideal for remote or self-employed workers who take the opportunity to spend long periods of time abroad, without the time constraints of tourist visas.

The “digital nomad visa” works differently in each country, and can even be called by different names. However, this type of visa is generally characterised by the fact that it is:

• A residence permit for more than 6 months (most of them for 1 year)
• only applicable for persons who have a foreign company or work remotely for companies outside the national territory.
• A visa with no right or permission to work locally.

How to apply for the digital nomad visa to Spain?

If you want to apply for the digital nomad visa to Spain, you have two options. Apply directly through a consulate or embassy in your home country, or you can enter Spain using a tourist visa and apply from inside Spain, but don’t wait more than 3 months. 

The application process requires various documents, including:

• The application form
• Proof of payment of the administrative fee
• A copy of your passport
• Proof of your qualifications or work experience
• Proof of employment and income
• Evidence that the company has been in operation for over a year
• A letter of authorisation from your company to work in Spain
• Proof of a clear criminal record
• Proof of health insurance

It is expected that you will be able to apply for the digital nomad visa to Spain online shortly, although a streamlined online application process is yet to emerge.

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How does the digital nomad visa to Spain work?

Thanks to the Startups Act, digital nomad visas to Spain will be granted to remote workers and digital entrepreneurs. This residence permit was designed to attract international talent and investment, while boosting digital entrepreneurship in Spain.

This visa is only available to non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals. People with a European passport can work remotely for up to 6 months without the need for official registration, thanks to being part of the EEA.

The digital nomad visa to Spain will also bring tax benefits for both companies and employees, as the Startup Act offers measures that are much more favourable than the country’s other permits.

Digital nomads will have to pay the non-resident income tax (IRNR), but not the income tax on non-resident persons (IRPF). Also, the usual foreigner identification number (NIE) will not be expressly required, just the Spanish tax identification number (NIF).

With this law, Spain also appeals to expatriate Spaniards who have not resided in the country for at least 5 years, who are digital nomads or entrepreneurs. In these cases, the same visa benefits will apply.

Duration of the digital nomad visa to Spain

The duration of the digital nomad visa to Spain will be one year, with the opportunity for successful remote workers to extend their visa to up to five years.

After this period, you should be eligible to apply for permanent residency in Spain. Please remember, however, it’s still essential to take out travel insurance!

Advantages of the digital nomad visa to Spain

• Visa applicable without risk of refusal.

• Possibility to live in Spain for up to 5 years.

• Being able to register a company with tax benefits.

• Return opportunities for UK citizens and businesses affected by Brexit.

• The creation of more Co-working and Co-living spaces in Spain.

• The possibility to obtain permanent residence in Spain.

• Spain has the potential to become a hub for digital entrepreneurship.

Disadvantages of the digital nomad visa to Spain

• The requirements may seem demanding.

• Ownership of a digital business is not a sufficient requirement.

• Startups older than 5 years cannot apply for this visa (or 7 years for startups in strategically important sectors). 

• No more than 20% of the total revenue can be generated locally.

• Digital nomads would enter the tax system with payment of tax.

Is travel insurance mandatory for Spain?

For the digital nomad visa to Spain, you do need private health insurance.

For general travel to Spain, there is no requirement to have travel insurance when visiting the country. However, Spain’s official tourism website does highly recommend taking out insurance before arriving, especially for non-EEA citizens. 

It’s worth mentioning here that this website also has a page dedicated to providing information for British passport holders travelling to Spain following Brexit.