If you are keen to work remotely in Spain, here are the answers to your most pressing questions on the digital nomad visa over there.
Are you already working from home? Then why not work from home from Spain? If you’ve been putting off your plans to live in this beautiful country because you’ve been tied to your UK-based job, now, that no longer need be the case. Spain’s digital nomad visa is designed so that you can live in Spain while working for a foreign company. Here, we run through all the essentials.
This could be your new office view!
At the tail end of 2022, Spain approved their Ley de Start-ups (Start-ups law). It is aimed at making Spain a hub for those wanting to create start-ups and remote workers. Malta, Portugal, and Greece all have some form of digital nomad visa. Hey, you could even do some country hopping on these visas, working and exploring simultaneously.
Find homes in Spain via our property portal.
Can I apply for Spain’s digital nomad?
The digital nomad visa is aimed at non-EU nationals who work remotely for non-Spanish country. So, it will apply perfectly if you are British person working remotely for a company based here. A maximum of 20% of your income can come from a Spanish based firm.
You must be able to demonstrate that you have a contract and that you have been working for the company for three months or more. Plus, the company itself must have been operational for over a year.
Moreover, applicants must not be living illegally in Spain when they apply. Nor can they have lived in Spain five years prior to applying.
Furthermore, applicants must present their qualifications. This can come in the form of three years’ work experience or a university degree or professional certificate.
With a digital nomad visa, you will be able to stay in the country for up to twelve months.
What if I am self-employed?
If you are a freelancer and the majority of your clients are based outside of Spain, this visa will suit you too. Additionally, you will need to show that you have a steady stream of income and that you are regularly employed.
What financial requirements must I meet?
You will need to demonstrate that you will be able to support yourself while living in Spain. At present, you will need a salary of at least €28,000 per year (or €2,334 a month). This is equivalent to 200% of Spain’s monthly minimum wage. This could change if Spain raise the minimum wage. Bank statements, contracts and invoices can be used to show this.
What other requirements are there?
You must prove that you do not have a criminal record in Spain or in the country that you have been residing in for the last five years.
Plus, you will need to obtain and afford private health insurance in Spain.
How long will I be able to stay in Spain with a digital nomad visa?
Currently, without a visa, non-EU nationals can only stay in Spain and the wider Schengen Area for 90 days out of every 180. With a digital nomad visa, you will be able to stay in the country for up to twelve months! Quite the difference, if you’ve ever found yourself begrudgingly on-route to the UK, not ready to leave Spain after your 90 days is up.
From there, you can apply for a three-year residency permit, which can be renewed for two years, adding up to five years. To maintain your visa, you cannot leave Spain for more than six months.
However, if you are contracted to work for less than twelve months, the visa will last for that amount of time.
Can I bring my spouse and dependents?
Your spouse can join you in Spain.
You can! As long as can you prove that you have sufficient funds to support them. For family units of two people, you’ll need an additional 75% of Spain’s monthly minimum wage (€875 a month). For each family member after that, you’ll need another 25% (€292).
Do I need to know Spanish?
The digital nomad visa has no Spanish language requirement. If you don’t have a strong grasp of Spanish, you might want to look to move to areas that have large expat communities such as the Costa Blanca or the major cities, so that you have more people to turn to. If you’d like to know more about the Spanish language, we’ve got this useful article.
What is the cost of a digital nomad visa?
The application costs €75, and €15 for the residency card. This does not include the consulate fee.
What taxes will I have to pay?
Once you have spent over 183 days in Spain, you are eligible to pay tax there. Duri5%ng the first four years of living in Spain, digital nomads will pay 15% tax instead of the standard base of 24%.
How do I apply for a digital nomad visa?
You can apply for a Spain digital nomad visa through the embassy in your own country. Alternatively, you can enter Spain on a tourist visa and apply within the first three months of being there. If your application takes longer than three months to be processed, your stay will be legally extended. Overall, it is thought that applying from Spain results in a shorter processing time.
For a refresher, here’s what you’ll need when you apply:
- Passport. Plus, two passport-sized photos
- Qualifications or three years work experience
- Duly completed application form
- Proof of income and employment
- Proof of professional qualifications
- Further proof of finances if you are bringing a spouse or dependents with you
- Proof the company you are employed by is at least one year old
- A letter from your company authorising you to work in Spain
- Health coverage that covers your entire stay in Spain
- Clear criminal record
So, set your laptop up in a café in one of Spain’s great cites. Picture you in Seville, Madrid, Barcelona, typing away at your emails in the sunshine. Go walking in rural Spain to clear your head. And bookend your days with a dip in the Mediterranean! Okay, maybe you can’t be all over Spain at once, but now you’ve got a visa in mind, here comes the fun part of choosing where you would like to be based. From Gran Alacant to Granada to Cadiz, we’ve got tonnes of articles focused on areas in Spain to help you decide.
