- Non-EU/EEA nationality (EU citizens do not need this visa).
- Remote work using computer and telecom systems for foreign companies or clients; no more than 20% of income from Spanish sources.
- A university degree, or at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
- At least 3 months with the current employer (employed track) or an established client relationship (freelancer track).
- Clean criminal record, private health insurance with a Spain-authorised insurer (no co-pays, no waiting periods), and proof the employer allows remote work from Spain.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Spain
Spain's digital nomad visa (officially the telework residence under the Startup Law, Ley 28/2022) lets non-EU remote workers live in Spain while working for companies or clients outside Spain. Spain is a second-wave Fledge guide: no launch city yet, so this page stands alone as the visa reference.
It is one of Europe's most practical remote-work routes: a low government fee, a fast in-country track that grants up to 3 years from a single application, and access to the Beckham Law flat-tax regime. The catch is documentation precision and an income test that moves with Spain's minimum wage.
Eligibility
Key facts
| Income test | At least 200% of Spain's minimum wage (SMI): USD 37,300 a year in 2026 (SMI is USD 1,300 a month across 14 payments, or USD 18,600 a year under Real Decreto 126/2026), roughly USD 3,100 a month averaged over 12 months. Add about 75% of SMI for the first family member and 25% for each additional one. Authorities assess gross income, usually over 3-6 months of payslips or invoices. |
|---|---|
| Fees | Around USD 80 government fee per person on the UGE in-country route, plus consular charges and document costs; solo applicants typically spend USD 330-760 total excluding legal fees. |
| Processing time | UGE in-country applications: 20 working days by law, with positive administrative silence (no answer means approval). Consular applications: 10-45 working days. End to end, most applicants report 3-5 months including document preparation. |
| Path to permanence | Long-term EU residency after 5 years of legal residence; Spanish citizenship after 10 years (2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic-origin applicants). |
| Last checked | Oct 2026 (source) |
How to execute it
- Confirm your income clears 200% of the current SMI and gather 3-6 months of payslips, contracts, and bank statements proving stable recurring income.
- Get a criminal background check from your home country and have it sworn-translated, plus a letter from your employer confirming the remote arrangement.
- Take out private health insurance with a Spain-authorised insurer (no co-pays, no waiting periods).
- Choose your route: apply at a Spanish consulate abroad for a visa of up to 1 year, or enter Spain as a tourist and apply to the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) via the Mercurio portal for an authorisation of up to 3 years.
- On approval, get your TIE foreigner identity card within 30 days of arrival (consulate route) or of the resolution.
- Renew in 2-year periods while conditions hold; track the 5-year mark for long-term residency.
Why applications get rejected
- Income below 200% of the SMI, or income that is sporadic rather than stable and recurring. Savings alone do not count.
- More than 20% of income from Spanish clients or a Spanish employer.
- Missing or untranslated criminal record, or a health insurance policy with co-pays or waiting periods.
- Applying while in Spain in an irregular immigration situation.
Want a lawyer to file it?
Have a Spanish immigration lawyer verify your income math against the current SMI and review your document pack before you file: most rejections are paperwork, not eligibility.
Check if you qualify
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Frequently asked questions
Can digital nomad visa holders use the Beckham Law?
Yes, for employed holders who were not tax resident in Spain in the previous 5 years: a flat 24% rate on Spanish-source income up to USD 654,000 for the year of arrival plus the following 5 tax years, versus progressive rates up to 47%. You must opt in within 6 months of registering with Social Security. Freelancers on the autónomo track generally cannot use it.
Should I apply at a consulate or inside Spain?
The consulate route gives a visa of up to 1 year. The in-country UGE route (enter as a tourist, apply via the Mercurio portal) can grant up to 3 years from one application and has a 20-working-day legal decision term with positive silence. Most applicants who can manage the in-country route prefer it.
Can my family come with me?
Yes: spouse or partner and dependants apply alongside you, with the income threshold rising by about 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each additional one.
What is the exact 2026 income figure?
The binding figure is annual: USD 37,300 (200% of the USD 18,600 annual SMI). That is USD 2,700 a month across Spain's 14 pay periods, or about USD 3,100 a month averaged over 12. Use the annual figure when preparing evidence, and recheck the SMI before filing since the government revises it periodically.