By: Sarah Stone
From stunning beaches and breathtaking architecture, to world-class cuisine and a fantastic climate year-round, Spain is a must-see destination for travelers of all types.
If you’ve fallen in love with this beautiful country and wish to stay longer-term, consider applying for a Digital Nomad Visa—and then you can spend up to five years immersing yourself in Spanish culture while working remotely and living the life of your dreams.
What is the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
- Photo by Jorge Salvador on Unsplash
The Spain Digital Nomad Visa, which is bundled within its new startup law encouraging tech and innovation growth nationwide, allows non-EU citizens to live and work in the country as a remote worker employed with a foreign company (or a freelancer working with foreign clients) for up to five years.
Under this visa, you will be taxed through a non-resident income tax regime, rather than the resident rate—meaning that you’ll pay a flat tax of 24% on earnings up to €600,000. This is much better than the progressive tax rate, which can get up to 50%.
Important Update for 2025: The Spanish government has announced that the Golden Visa program, which offered residency through real estate investment of €500,000, will be discontinued on April 3, 2025. This makes the Digital Nomad Visa an even more attractive option for those seeking residency in Spain.
Read more detail about the digital nomad tax rates for Spain, and how to navigate the process here.
What Are the Requirements and Application Procedures for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
Qualifications
To qualify for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, you must:
- Be a citizen of a country outside of the EU
- Prove you have a minimum monthly income of at least 200% of Spain’s monthly minimum wage (currently €2,762 per month as of 2025, following a 4.4% increase)
- If you’re bringing family with you (spouse or children), then you must prove that you either have enough in your bank accounts or earn enough to cover:
- 75% of the Spanish monthly minimum wage for your first family member (€1,036 per month)
- 25% of the Spanish monthly minimum wage for each additional family member (€345 per month)
- Be employed remotely by a non-Spanish company for at least three months prior to your application, and the company must have been in existence for at least one year—if you’re a freelancer who’s working remotely, you cannot work for Spanish companies. As a freelancer, you must also show that you’ve been working with your clients for at least three months prior to your application.
- If you do earn any additional income from within Spain, it can’t exceed 20% of your salary
- If you’re employed by a company and working remotely, the company must provide proof that your job is a remote position; if you’re a freelancer, you must show through the terms of your contract with each company you work with that your job can be completed remotely
- Show that you have a relevant college degree or at least three years’ work experience
- Obtain private health insurance for the duration of your stay (must be from a company authorized to operate in Spain)
- Have a clean criminal record going back at least five years
Application Process
There are two main ways to apply for the new digital nomad visa. Either you can enter Spain on a regular tourist visa and apply immediately for a three-year stay as a digital nomad, or you can apply from your home country for a one-year stay, which can later be modified for a three-year stay once you’re in Spain. Your visa can be extended for up to five years’ total.
Important 2025 Update: Digital Nomad Visa holders can now renew their visas every two years instead of annually, making the process more convenient for long-term residents.
Once you’ve submitted all of your required documents, you’ll be fast-tracked toward your digital nomad visa, with approval within 20 days.
If you’d like to become a permanent resident or even a citizen, the years you live in Spain as a digital nomad count toward your application. After 5 years of continuous legal residence (spending at least 183 days per year in Spain), you can apply for permanent residency.
Tax Benefits and Important Considerations
The Beckham Law for Digital Nomads
One of the major advantages of the Spain Digital Nomad Visa is access to the special tax regime known as the “Beckham Law” (if you’re employed by a company – not available to freelancers). To benefit from this:
- You must apply within 6 months of getting your Digital Nomad Visa
- You’ll pay a flat 24% tax rate on income up to €600,000 (instead of progressive rates up to 50%)
- This applies for the first 6 years of residency
- You’ll only be taxed on Spanish-sourced income, not worldwide income
Tax Residency
- If you spend more than 183 days per year in Spain, you become a tax resident
- Spain has double taxation agreements with the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all EU countries
- This means you won’t be taxed twice on the same income
Processing Times and Costs
- Visa application fee: approximately €80
- NIE (tax number) and TIE (residency card) fees: approximately €20 each
- Total estimated cost including document preparation: €200-€400
- Processing time: 20 days for initial approval, plus additional time for residency card processing
- Family regrouping is now permitted after just one year of residence (previously required waiting until first renewal)
Digital Application Process
Spain is introducing fully digital platforms for visa applications and renewals, reducing processing times and eliminating the need for frequent visits to immigration offices.
More Resources
Consular services: Spanish Embassy
Spanish Digital Nomad Visa tax guide
Spanish Digital Nomad Visa application form
About the Author
As the editor in chief of Frayed Passport, my goal is to help you build a lifestyle that lets you travel the world whenever you want and however long you want, and not worry about where your next paycheck will come from. I've been to 20+ countries and five continents, lived for years as a full-time digital nomad, and have worked completely remotely since 2015. If you would like to share your story with our community, or partner with Frayed Passport, get in touch with me at sarah@frayedpassport.com!Featured image by Kristina Spisakova from Pixabay
Frayed Passport is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also may share links to other affiliates and sponsors in articles across our website. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.