Residence for digital nomads: visa and authorization in Spain

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What you need to know Residence for digital nomads

Spanish law defines international digital nomads or remote workers as individuals who perform work or professional activities exclusively through telematic means for companies located outside Spanish territory.

If this is your case and you have the necessary qualifications or professional experience, you can choose to apply for a visa if you are still in your country of origin, or a residence permit if you are already legally living in Spain.

The visa or authorization is valid for working and residing throughout the national territory, including family members if they meet the age specified in labor regulations.

Who is it for residence for digital nomads?

It is aimed at non-EU citizens who want to reside in Spain to carry out work or professional activities using only computer, telematic, and telecommunication systems.

What is your current situation?

Depending on where you are at the time of application (outside of Spain or legally in Spain), the permit you need to apply for to telecommute from Spain varies.

If you are outside of Spain, you must apply for the international telework visa.
If you are legally in Spain, you must apply for the residence authorization for international teleworkers.

What is a visa for digital nomads?

The visa for digital nomads is a residence permit for foreigners who wish to reside in Spain while working for a foreign company.

This type of residence permit is characterized by being a residence permit of more than 6 months as most are usually for 1 year. Additionally, it is only applicable to individuals who have a foreign company or work remotely in Spain. It is also a visa without the right to work locally.

This new visa is perfect for international teleworkers who take advantage of spending long periods abroad without the time limitations of tourist visas.

What is an international worker?

It is a worker authorized to stay in Spain to carry out work or professional activities remotely for companies located outside the national territory, through the exclusive use of computer, telematic, and telecommunication means.

What requirements must be met for a digital nomad?

Both the visa and the authorization are applied for directly by the digital nomad, i.e., the remote worker or professional who wants to telecommute in Spain. However, certain requirements must be met regarding the person and also the company for which the person works or provides services.

Requirements for the telecommuting person for a digital nomad

Not being irregularly in Spanish territory.
Being over 18 years old. Having no criminal record in Spain and in the countries where you have lived during the last five years prior to the application.
Not being prohibited from entering Spain or being listed as inadmissible in the territorial space of countries with which Spain has signed an agreement to this effect.
Having a degree or postgraduate degree from universities, vocational training, and business schools of recognized prestige. If you do not have this qualification, you must demonstrate a minimum professional experience of three years.
Having a previous and continuous employment or professional relationship of at least three months with one or more of the companies of the group for which you telecommute.
Having public or private health insurance contracted with an insurer authorized to operate in Spain (it will not be necessary in the case of no bilateral agreement with the country of origin and, therefore, it is necessary to register with the Spanish Social Security).
Paying the fee for processing the visa or authorization. Having economic resources for yourself and for your family members according to the following amounts: Holders of visas and residence permits: an amount representing 200% of the Spanish minimum wage per month (currently, for the year 2023, the minimum wage is set at 1,080 euros per month). Family units that include, counting the titular person and the person regrouped, at least 75% of the minimum wage.
If applicable, 25% of the minimum wage per additional member in addition to the two mentioned persons will be required.

Company requirements

Accreditation of real and continuous activity for at least one year by the foreign company or group of companies with which the worker maintains an employment or professional relationship. Authorization, by the company, regarding the possibility of remote work from Spain, accrediting the job profile, terms, and other conditions with which the professional activity will be carried out. Documenting Social Security coverage, including health coverage (if applicable), of the worker, through a coverage certificate (in the event of an agreement with Social Security between Spain and the issuing country) or accreditation of the company’s registration in the Spanish Social Security and the commitment to register the worker.

What is its validity?

The visa has a validity period of 1 year, during which the telecommuter can work from Spain until its expiration.

Within sixty (60) natural days before the expiration of the visa, if the telecommuter is interested in continuing to reside in Spain, they can apply for the residence authorization for international teleworkers, without the need to apply for a new visa and without requiring a minimum previous period of stay.

The authorization is valid for 3 years, unless requested for a shorter period.
The authorization is renewable for periods of 2 years as long as the conditions that generated the right are maintained.

Can I bring my family with me with a digital nomad visa in spain?

Yes. Your family members can accompany you on your trip, and at any time, they can jointly or subsequently apply for the authorization or visa. This condition applies to:

Spouse or common-law partner

Children of the holder, spouse, or partner, under 18 years of age or older, economically dependent on the holder or their spouse or partner, who have not formed their own family unit First-degree dependent ascendants of the holder or their spouse or partner

How should you proceed?

Visa: You can only carry out the procedure in person, by going personally to the diplomatic missions and consular offices of Spain in your country of residence. Check with the corresponding diplomatic mission or consular office for specific operation before starting the application. Authorization: If you are legally in Spain, you can carry out the procedure online at the electronic headquarters of the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE).

What steps should you follow?

IN PERSON. TO APPLY FOR A VISA

Step. Download, fill out, and sign the national visa application form, specifying the reason for your trip. If you are traveling with family members, remember to download, fill out, and sign a national visa application form for each family member and apply for the visa together.
Step. Request an appointment at the diplomatic mission or consular office in your country of residence. The visa must be requested in person. Only exceptionally, and for justified reasons, the consulate may allow the application to be submitted by a duly accredited representative.
Step. Pay the fee associated with the international telecommuting residence visa. The value of the fee is provided below.
Step. Submit the required documentation for the visa application directly to the diplomatic mission or consular office in your country of residence.
Step. Receive or pick up your visa.

Once the documentation has been validated, the fee has been paid, and all the above-mentioned requirements have been met, a resolution will be issued regarding your application for a residence visa for international teleworkers (digital nomads). The diplomatic mission or consular office will notify you of the resolution of your visa application by email. Depending on the country you are in, you may receive it directly at your home or you may have to go to the diplomatic mission or consular office of your country to pick it up in person.

If the visa has been denied, you will receive a notification.

Who can make the request?

In the case of the visa, it must be the interested party themselves. Only exceptionally, and for justified reasons, the diplomatic mission or consular office in your country may allow the application to be submitted by a duly accredited representative.

In the case of the authorization, the foreign person or a representative with proper accreditation may submit the application.

What documentation is necessary in a digital nomad?

DOCUMENTATION FOR VISA AND AUTHORIZATION:

Certificate of criminal record from the country or countries where you have lived for the last 2 years, for crimes provided for in Spanish law.
Additionally, a responsible declaration of no criminal record for the last five years will be submitted. (The above will not apply if you are the holder of a residence or stay authorization in Spain for more than 6 months, and you have already provided it to obtain said authorization).
Public or private health insurance contracted with an entity operating in Spain (it will not be necessary if there is no bilateral agreement with the country of origin and, therefore, it is necessary to prove registration with the Spanish Social Security).
Travel insurance is not accepted. (The above is not necessary in the case of registration with Social Security). Degree or postgraduate diploma from universities, vocational training, and business schools of recognized prestige. If you do not have this degree, a signed letter of experience from the current employer or previous employers proving a minimum professional experience of 3 years in functions similar to those of the position to be held must be provided.
In the case of regulated professions, the homologation of the degree must be accredited. Last three pay slips with the company with which the telecommuter maintains an employment relationship; in the case of being a professional and not a salaried worker, a similar document or certification from the company proving that the professional relationship has lasted more than 3 months must be provided.
Certification of the foreign company (for example, through documentation issued by the corresponding Commercial Registry) confirming real and continuous activity of the company or group of companies for at least one year.
In cases of an employment relationship, a letter from the foreign company authorizing remote work from Spain and proving the job profile, salary to be received, terms, and other conditions under which the professional activity will be exercised must be provided.
In cases of a professional relationship, similar documentation must be provided to prove the terms and conditions under which the professional activity will be carried out (for example, through a signed letter from a client, among other documents).
In cases of an employment relationship, the employment contract or firm job offer must be provided; in cases of a professional activity, the commercial contract corresponding to the activity that motivates the authorization must be provided (however, other similar documents may be used, depending on the case).
If there is an agreement with Social Security between Spain and the issuing country, a certificate of Social Security coverage, as well as a responsible declaration stating the commitment to comply with social security obligations, must be provided, prior to the start of work or professional activity.
If there is no agreement with Social Security between Spain and the issuing country, or if its issuance is unfeasible, proof of registration of the foreign company in the Spanish Social Security must be provided, and a document must be attached committing to registering the worker, in addition to the aforementioned responsible declaration.

SPECIFIC TO THE VISA IN A NOMAD DIGITAL

In general, you must provide the original and a copy of each document.

The documentation presented below is merely indicative, as minimum necessary requirements, as the required documentation may vary depending on your country of residence. Each diplomatic mission or consular office may require any additional documentation it considers necessary for the decision on the visa granting. However, the basic general and specific documentation that you must provide is as follows:

National visa application form (long-term).
Identity document or passport.
Proof of payment of the fee.