Digital Nomad Visa Spain
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa allows eligible non-EU nationals to live in Spain while working remotely for a company or clients established outside the country.
For British citizens and other qualifying UK residents, the application involves more than proving that the work can be done online. The applicant must establish the correct employment or professional relationship, sufficient income, appropriate qualifications or experience, Social Security compliance and a genuine remote-working arrangement.
Díaz & Associates’ Spanish-speaking immigration lawyers advise in English and Spanish from our London office. We can assess whether the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is the correct route, review the UK and Spanish documentation and guide the applicant and, where relevant, the overseas employer through the visa or residence-authorisation process.
Why choose Díaz & Associates for your Spanish Digital Nomad Visa?
A Digital Nomad Visa application connects Spanish immigration law with evidence created in the United Kingdom or another country. The applicant may need documents from an employer, clients, Companies House, HMRC, ACRO, banks, insurers and foreign civil registries, with the correct apostilles and Spanish translations.
As Spanish-qualified, Spanish-speaking lawyers advising in both English and Spanish, Díaz & Associates can coordinate the legal and documentary work across the two jurisdictions. We focus not only on assembling documents, but also on whether the applicant’s working arrangement, income and Social Security position meet the legal test.
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What is the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain?
The Digital Nomad Visa is Spain’s immigration route for an international remote worker who intends to reside in Spain while carrying out employment or professional activity at a distance for a company or clients established outside Spain.
The legal term is international teleworker. Under articles 74 bis to 74 quinquies of Law 14/2013, the work must be capable of being performed remotely through the exclusive use of computer, telecommunications and telematic systems.
| Applicant | Permitted working arrangement |
| Employee | Remote employment for a company established outside Spain. An employee cannot use this route to work for a Spanish company. |
| Professional or self-employed contractor | Remote professional services for one or more clients established outside Spain. Professional activity for Spanish clients may be permitted, but it must remain no more than 20% of the applicant’s total professional activity. |
The 20% rule applies only to professional or self-employed activity. It does not allow a Digital Nomad Visa holder to take Spanish employment.
Legal requirement
An employee may work only for companies established outside Spain. A self-employed professional may undertake limited professional work for Spanish clients, but never Spanish employment, and the Spanish work must not exceed 20% of the total professional activity.
Do UK citizens need a Digital Nomad Visa for Spain?
British citizens are normally treated as third-country nationals for Spanish immigration purposes. A British citizen who wants to move to Spain and continue working remotely will therefore generally need an immigration status that permits both residence and the proposed work.
The Digital Nomad Visa may be suitable when the employer or principal clients are outside Spain and the work is genuinely remote. It will not normally be the correct route for employment by a Spanish company, a transfer to a Spanish branch, a business that must be operated physically in Spain or a person who intends to live in Spain without working.
The position may be different for a British citizen protected by the EU–UK Withdrawal Agreement, a person who already holds a Spanish status that permits the activity, or a qualifying family member of an EU or Spanish citizen.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not normally need the Digital Nomad Visa because they can rely on free-movement rights, subject to the applicable registration formalities.
A visitor stay is not permission to relocate and work remotely
British citizens can normally visit the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without obtaining a short-stay visa. Certain meetings, conferences and other limited business activities may be permitted during a visit, as explained in the UK Government’s guidance on travel to Spain for work.
That visitor permission is not a general authorisation to relocate to Spain and work remotely on an ongoing basis.
A person who enters Spain lawfully may be able to submit an in-country Digital Nomad residence application, but lawful presence does not itself authorise the remote activity before the application is approved.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa key facts
| Key point | General position |
| Main applicant | An adult third-country national carrying out qualifying remote employment or professional activity |
| Employer or clients | Primarily established outside Spain |
| Company history | The relevant foreign company or group must show real and continuous activity for at least one year |
| Prior relationship | The employment or professional relationship must normally have existed for at least three months immediately before the application |
| Qualifications | A qualifying degree, postgraduate qualification, vocational or business-school qualification, or at least three years of relevant professional experience |
| Main income threshold in 2026 | €2,442 gross per month, equal to 200% of the 2026 Spanish minimum wage |
| Application from the UK | Digital Nomad Visa through the competent Spanish consular and BLS procedure; maximum initial validity of one year |
| Application while lawfully in Spain | Residence authorisation through the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit — UGE; maximum initial validity of three years |
| Legal decision period | Ten working days for the visa and 20 days for the in-country residence authorisation, subject to extensions, checks and further-document requests |
| Renewal | The residence authorisation may be renewed for periods of two years if the qualifying conditions continue |
| Family | Eligible family members can apply together or subsequently and their residence authorisations permit work |
| Decision | Made by the competent Spanish authority according to the individual facts and evidence; approval is never guaranteed |
Which Spanish immigration route applies to your remote work?
Not every person who works on a laptop is legally an international teleworker. The correct route depends on where the employer or clients are established, whether the relationship is employment or self-employment, how the work will be carried out and whether there is a Spanish company involved.
Find your potential route
Which situation best describes you?
Select the situation closest to yours to identify the Spanish immigration route that may apply.
You are employed by a UK or overseas company and will work entirely remotely from Spain
Potential routeDigital Nomad Visa or international teleworker residence authorisation
You provide remote professional services to clients outside Spain
Potential routeDigital Nomad Visa, subject to the professional-relationship and Social Security requirements
Your overseas employer is transferring you to a Spanish group company
Potential routeIntra-Company Transfer authorisation may be more appropriate
You will establish and operate an independent business in Spain
Potential routeSelf-employed work authorisation or, for a qualifying innovative project, an entrepreneur route may apply
You will remain in Spain only for a short business visit
Potential routeThe permitted business-visitor activities and Schengen time limit should be assessed
This selector provides general guidance only. The appropriate route depends on each applicant’s circumstances and supporting evidence.
Practical Recommendation
Confirm the immigration route before asking an employer or client to prepare documents. A remote-working letter cannot convert Spanish employment, an intra-company transfer or a locally operated business into a Digital Nomad Visa case.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa requirements
Eligibility is assessed by looking at the applicant, the foreign company or clients, the working relationship and the proposed activity together. A high salary alone is not enough if the contract, Social Security position or remote-working evidence does not satisfy the legal conditions.
You must be a qualifying third-country national
The route is intended for an adult national of a country outside the EU free-movement system. The applicant must hold a valid passport, be lawfully present where the application is made and not fall within relevant immigration, public-order, public-security or public-health grounds for refusal.
A non-British national applying in the United Kingdom must normally demonstrate legal UK residence. The current BLS London Digital Nomad Visa checklist states that holders of a UK C-visit visa are not eligible to lodge a Spanish national-visa application there.
The work must be genuinely remote
The role must be capable of being carried out at a distance through computer and telecommunications systems. The UGE guidance for international teleworkers explains that the activity must not require physical supervision, production work, human-resources management, sales visits or other functions that inherently need an in-person presence.
The authority may examine the job description, company structure, working methods and reporting arrangements. A contract that merely says “remote” will not necessarily be sufficient if the actual duties require the applicant to be physically present outside Spain or at a Spanish workplace.
The foreign company must have operated for at least one year
The overseas company or group with which the applicant has the employment or professional relationship must demonstrate real and continuous activity for at least one year.
For a UK company, a Companies House certificate can help establish incorporation and the nature of the business, but the authority may request additional evidence of genuine activity. The current UGE document guidance identifies further evidence for owner-managed companies, including ownership or control, corporate tax information, productive investment and employment history.
The working relationship must already exist
An employee must normally show at least three months of employment with the foreign company immediately before applying. The company must authorise the employee to work remotely from Spain and state the role, duties, remuneration and other working conditions.
A self-employed professional must normally show a commercial relationship of at least three months with one or more foreign clients. The contracts and client evidence should establish the terms on which the professional activity will continue remotely from Spain.
This is not a job-search visa. A future offer that has not yet created the required three-month relationship will not normally satisfy the test.
You must have a qualification or sufficient professional experience
The applicant must demonstrate a graduate or postgraduate qualification from a recognised university, vocational training or a recognised business school, or at least three years of relevant professional experience.
The qualification or experience must be connected to the work that will be carried out. Where the applicant relies on experience, the evidence should show the dates, duties and appropriate level of responsibility, rather than providing only a short employer reference.
If the activity is a regulated profession, recognition of the qualification may be required. In some cases, the applicant may instead need to confirm formally that the regulated profession will not be exercised in Spain.
You must meet the financial requirement
International teleworkers must have sufficient resources for themselves and any accompanying family members. The threshold is tied to Spain’s monthly minimum wage, so it can change when the SMI changes.
The 2026 Spanish minimum wage is €1,221 per month. Applying the percentages in the official UGE guidance produces the following minimum gross amounts for applications made while that SMI remains in force:
| Family unit | Percentage | Minimum gross monthly resources in 2026 |
| Main applicant | 200% of SMI | €2,442.00 |
| Main applicant and one family member | 200% + 75% of SMI | €3,357.75 |
| Main applicant and two family members | 200% + 75% + 25% of SMI | €3,663.00 |
| Main applicant and three family members | 200% + 75% + 25% + 25% of SMI | €3,968.25 |
| Each further family member | Additional 25% of SMI | Additional €305.25 |
The amounts are gross, before tax, Social Security contributions or other deductions. Current UGE guidance generally expects the applicant to show the previous three months’ payslips or invoices and corresponding bank movements. Where qualifying work income is below the threshold, liquid savings or other income may be used to cover the documented shortfall for the period of the authorisation, subject to the evidence being accepted.
Calculate your Digital Nomad Visa income requirement
Select how many family members will apply with you to calculate the minimum gross monthly resources for your application.
Do not include the main applicant.
Calculated using the 2026 Spanish minimum wage of €1,221 per month . The amounts are gross and may change if the SMI is updated. This calculator provides general guidance and does not confirm visa eligibility.
Legal requirement
For an application assessed against the 2026 SMI, the main applicant must normally demonstrate at least €2,442 gross per month. Family applications require additional resources. The figure should be recalculated if the Spanish minimum wage changes before submission.
You must address Social Security and healthcare
The Social Security analysis depends on whether the applicant is an employee or a self-employed professional and whether an applicable international coordination instrument permits continued coverage in the country of origin.
For an employee, the foreign employer may need to register in Spain as a non-resident employer and arrange the employee’s registration in the Spanish General Social Security Regime. Alternatively, where the applicable coordination rules permit it, an issued certificate of applicable legislation may support continued UK coverage.
HMRC provides the relevant CA3822 process for employees working temporarily abroad.
For self-employed professionals, the current UGE FAQ states that registration in Spain’s Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers , RETA, is normally compulsory and that imported foreign coverage is not accepted for this residence-authorisation route.
The London BLS checklist also refers to the HMRC CA3837 process, so applicants should not assume that a UK certificate alone will resolve the Spanish position without checking the evidence required for their particular application channel.
Health coverage must also be addressed. Depending on the Social Security route, the applicant may rely on qualifying public coverage or may need comprehensive private medical insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain. Travel insurance, reimbursement-only cover, policies with co-payments and policies with waiting periods are not accepted under current UGE guidance.
Practical Recommendation
Resolve the Social Security route before filing. An employer’s willingness to allow remote work does not prove that UK National Insurance can continue, and the published London and UGE instructions should be checked against the applicant’s employed or self-employed status.
You must satisfy the criminal-record and general immigration conditions
Adult applicants must provide criminal-record certificates from the countries where they have lived during the previous two years and a responsible declaration confirming the absence of criminal records during the previous five years.
For UK residence, the London checklist requires an ACRO Police Certificate. It states that a certificate should normally be no more than six months old unless the certificate itself provides a longer validity period. UK public documents will generally need a Hague apostille and, where required, a translation into Spanish by an accepted sworn translator.
Documents required for a Digital Nomad Visa in Spain
The exact file depends on whether the applicant is employed or self-employed, applies from the UK or from Spain, includes family members and relies on UK or Spanish Social Security. The current consular checklist and UGE instructions should therefore be reviewed again immediately before submission.
The application will commonly include:
- The correct national-visa or residence-authorisation application form.
- A valid passport and the required copies, together with a compliant photograph for a consular application.
- Proof of lawful UK residence and consular jurisdiction where applicable.
- The applicant’s NIE where required by the current London checklist.
- An employment contract or professional services agreement showing the required three-month relationship.
- An employer or client letter confirming that the work can continue remotely from Spain and explaining the role, duties, income and conditions.
- Evidence that the foreign company or group has carried out genuine and continuous activity for at least one year.
- Payslips or invoices and corresponding bank evidence establishing the required financial resources.
- A relevant qualification or detailed evidence of at least three years’ professional experience.
- Social Security documentation and the appropriate employer or applicant commitment.
- Evidence of qualifying public healthcare coverage or compliant private medical insurance where required.
- Criminal-record certificates, the five-year responsible declaration and any required apostilles and sworn translations.
- Family-status and dependency evidence for accompanying relatives.
- Proof of payment of the applicable visa, authorisation and application-centre fees.
Passport, UK residence and NIE
For the London route, the current BLS checklist requires a passport valid for at least one year, issued within the previous ten years and containing at least two blank pages. Non-British applicants must provide a UK residence permit, and every applicant must establish that the London consular district is competent.
The checklist also asks for an NIE. This is a Spanish foreigner identity number, not a residence permission. The Spanish Consulate in London publishes a separate NIE procedure, and the timing should be planned before the visa appointment.
Employer or client evidence
The employer or client documents must do more than confirm that the applicant has a job. They should be consistent about the type of relationship, start date, duration, remuneration, duties and permission to work remotely from Spain.
For employees, the foreign employer’s responsibilities can extend to Social Security registration or cooperation with the applicable certificate-of-coverage process. For professionals, the agreements and invoices should demonstrate a genuine commercial relationship and distinguish it from disguised employment.
Financial evidence
The income shown in contracts, letters, payslips or invoices should reconcile with the money received into the applicant’s bank account. Currency conversion should be clear, especially where the income is paid in sterling or another non-euro currency.
Savings can be relevant where official guidance permits them to cover a shortfall, but they should not be presented as a substitute for the required qualifying work relationship. The authority must still be satisfied that the applicant is an international teleworker.
Apostilles and Spanish translations
UK public documents used in the application may need to be legalised through the UK Government’s apostille service.
Documents not written in Spanish may require translation by a translator accepted by the Spanish authorities; the Foreign Ministry maintains an official search tool for sworn translators and interpreters.
The correct sequence depends on the document. Names, dates, company numbers, signatures and untranslated apostille pages should be checked before submission.
Practical Recommendation
Prepare a document map before ordering certificates, apostilles or translations. Some evidence has limited validity, while company and Social Security documents may depend on decisions that must be made earlier in the process.
How to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa for Spain from the UK
How to apply for a Spain Digital Nomad Visa from the UK
Follow these ten stages to assess the correct route, prepare the required evidence, submit the application and complete the formalities in Spain.
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Route assessment Confirm that the Digital Nomad Visa is the correct route
Review the applicant’s nationality and UK residence, the employer or clients, the legal nature of the relationship, the proposed duties, income, qualifications and intended period in Spain.
Outcome: Establish whether the Digital Nomad Visa, a Spanish work permit, an ICT authorisation, a self-employed route or another status is appropriate. -
Application channel Choose the correct application channel
An applicant outside Spain normally applies for the one-year Digital Nomad Visa through the competent Spanish consular procedure. A person already lawfully present in Spain may instead be able to apply to the UGE for a residence authorisation of up to three years.
Outcome: Select the procedure that lawfully matches the applicant’s location, timing and residence plans. -
Social Security position Resolve the employment, professional and Social Security position
The applicant and, where relevant, the employer should confirm how the relationship will continue from Spain, which Social Security system applies and what registrations or certificates will be required.
Outcome: Avoid submitting an immigration case that is inconsistent with the contractual or contribution arrangements. -
Evidence preparation Gather the personal and professional evidence
Obtain the passport, UK residence evidence, NIE where required, contracts, employer or client letters, proof of company activity, financial records, qualifications or experience evidence, healthcare documents and family records.
Outcome: Build a file that addresses each legal requirement with consistent evidence. -
Apostilles and translations Obtain criminal-record documents, apostilles and translations
Request the relevant police certificates and arrange any required legalisation and sworn Spanish translation. The timing should preserve the validity of the documents for the appointment date.
Outcome: Prepare foreign public documents in a form the Spanish authority can accept. -
Forms and fees Complete the forms and pay the current fees
Complete the national-visa application and any declarations required by the current London checklist. Confirm the applicable fee for the applicant’s nationality and the current BLS service charge.
Outcome: Produce a complete submission pack for the appointment. -
UK application appointment Attend the UK application appointment
Submit the application through the BLS London Digital Nomad Visa channel or the competent procedure for the applicant’s consular district. The passport is normally retained during processing.
Outcome: Formally lodge the Digital Nomad Visa application. -
Further evidence Respond to any request or interview
The consulate may ask for further documents, clarification or a personal interview. Any response should address the point raised directly and preserve consistency across the file.
Outcome: Resolve outstanding legal or evidential questions within the period allowed. -
Decision and collection Receive the decision and collect the visa
If the application is approved, the applicant must collect the visa within the period stated by the authority. The current London checklist warns that the application may be closed if the visa is not collected within one month after resolution.
Outcome: Obtain the national visa authorising residence and qualifying remote work in Spain. -
Post-arrival formalities Enter Spain and complete the continuing formalities
After entry, the applicant should implement the Social Security and tax arrangements, complete any local registrations that apply and preserve evidence that the original immigration conditions continue. A holder of the one-year visa does not need a TIE solely because the visa exceeds six months, but a person granted a residence authorisation for more than six months must apply for the card.
Outcome: Maintain lawful residence and prepare for the later residence-authorisation or renewal stage.
Do you need support with your Digital Nomad Visa application?
Our Spanish-speaking lawyers advise British citizens and UK residents throughout the route assessment, document preparation, consular application and post-arrival stages.
Ask our lawyers to guide your Digital Nomad Visa applicationCan you apply for the Digital Nomad Visa from within Spain?
A third-country national who is lawfully present in Spain can apply electronically to the UGE for an international teleworker residence authorisation. The application cannot be made directly from abroad; a person outside Spain uses the consular visa route.
The in-country authorisation can be granted for up to three years, or for the shorter duration of the qualifying work arrangement. The UGE residence application is submitted electronically, normally by the applicant or an authorised representative.
Applying from Spain can offer a longer initial authorisation, but it should not be treated as a shortcut. The applicant must still prove every substantive requirement, remain lawfully present and avoid beginning unauthorised work before approval.
The legal decision period for the residence authorisation is 20 days from electronic submission. Law 14/2013 provides for positive administrative silence if no decision is issued within that period, but obtaining documentary confirmation and dealing with any request for evidence may require further procedural steps.
Digital Nomad Visa Spain processing time
| Stage | Legal or practical position |
| Preparation | Depends on employer cooperation, Social Security evidence, criminal-record certificates, apostilles, translations and appointment availability |
| Consular Digital Nomad Visa | Legal decision period of ten working days, subject to additional documents, an interview or applicable security consultation |
| In-country residence authorisation | Legal maximum of 20 days from electronic filing, with positive silence under Law 14/2013 |
| TIE after a residence authorisation | Appointment and card-production times depend on the local police office |
The legal decision period is not the complete end-to-end timeframe. Document preparation and appointment availability can take longer than the authority’s formal review period.
Applicants should avoid making non-refundable travel, accommodation or employment arrangements that depend on approval by a particular date.
Digital Nomad Visa Spain cost
The cost depends on the applicant’s nationality, application channel, family size and the documents that need to be obtained, legalised or translated.
As at 31 August 2026, the current BLS national-visa fee list publishes a Digital Nomad Visa fee of £719 for each British main applicant and British family applicant. The BLS Digital Nomad Visa page also publishes a compulsory service charge of £14.85 per application. Optional passport delivery and message-notification services are charged separately.
| Potential cost | Current or general position |
| Digital Nomad Visa fee for a British national | £719 per applicant, according to the BLS fee list checked on 31 August 2026 |
| BLS service charge | £14.85 per application |
| Optional BLS passport delivery | £29.99 per application |
| Optional BLS SMS and email notifications | £1.95 per application |
| Initial UGE residence-authorisation fee | The current UGE FAQ publishes €73.26; confirm the amount and payment form before filing |
| ACRO Police Certificate | Depends on the service selected |
| Apostille and sworn translation | Depends on the number, type and length of the documents |
| Private medical insurance | Depends on age, cover and family composition |
| Professional fees | Depend on the agreed scope of legal work |
Practical Recommendation
Fees differ for some nationalities and can change. They are generally non-refundable, including where an application is refused. Every amount should be checked again immediately before payment.
What happens after the Digital Nomad Visa is approved?
The one-year visa is itself sufficient evidence of the holder’s right to reside in Spain and carry out the authorised remote work during its validity. Under Law 14/2013, a separate TIE is not required solely because the visa has been issued for more than six months.
The applicant must nevertheless put the approved Social Security arrangement into effect before beginning the activity where the decision or commitment requires this. A self-employed professional who must register in RETA should do so promptly; the current UGE FAQ warns that failure to complete the required registration can lead to termination of the authorisation and affect dependent family members.
A person granted the in-country residence authorisation for more than six months must apply for a TIE. The card documents the status already granted; it does not create the underlying permission.
Tax registration, municipal registration and other practical steps may also apply according to the individual’s circumstances.
Legal Requirement
Approval does not remove Social Security obligations. The employer or applicant must implement the contribution arrangement accepted in the application before the remote activity begins where required, and a holder of a residence authorisation exceeding six months must obtain a TIE.
How long does the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain last?
The consular Digital Nomad Visa can be issued for a maximum of one year. If the qualifying work arrangement is shorter, the visa may be limited to that period.
During the 60 calendar days before the visa expires, a holder who wants to remain in Spain can apply for the international teleworker residence authorisation if the qualifying conditions continue.
An international teleworker residence authorisation granted in Spain can last for up to three years, or for the shorter duration of the work relationship. It may be renewed for periods of two years while the conditions continue to be satisfied.
Residence must remain genuine and compliant. Changes in employer, clients, income, work duties, Social Security or family circumstances can affect the basis on which the authorisation was granted.
Legal Deadline
A visa holder who intends to continue living in Spain can apply for the residence authorisation during the 60 calendar days before the visa expires. A material change affecting an existing residence authorisation must generally be reported to the UGE within 30 days.
Can you change employer or clients?
A change is not necessarily prohibited, but it must preserve the conditions of the route. The new foreign employer or client relationship may need to satisfy the company-history, prior-relationship, remote-working, income and Social Security requirements.
For an employee, moving to a Spanish employer is not a simple change within the Digital Nomad route. A different work authorisation may be necessary before the new employment begins.
For a self-employed professional, changing the client portfolio may affect the required foreign relationship and the 20% limit on Spanish professional activity. The evidence should be reviewed before the change is implemented, especially where it affects an existing residence authorisation.
Can your family apply with you?
Eligible family members can apply jointly and simultaneously with the main applicant or subsequently. Under article 62.4 of Law 14/2013, the qualifying categories include a spouse or analogous partner, minor children, adult children who remain financially dependent and have not formed their own family unit, and dependent ascendants.
The relationship and, where relevant, dependency must be established with appropriate civil-status and financial evidence. Foreign public documents may need an apostille and sworn Spanish translation.
Additional financial resources are required: 75% of the monthly SMI for the first family member and 25% for each further relative. Each applicant must also satisfy the applicable passport, criminal-record, healthcare and fee requirements.
Family residence authorisations under this part of Law 14/2013 allow work in Spain as an employee or self-employed person without the principal applicant’s Digital Nomad restriction. The family member’s own employment must still comply with Spanish labour, tax and Social Security law.
Does the Digital Nomad Visa make you a Spanish tax resident?
Immigration residence and tax residence are separate legal questions. Holding a Digital Nomad Visa does not by itself decide the applicant’s tax position.
The Spanish Tax Agency explains that an individual may be treated as tax resident in Spain if they spend more than 183 days in Spain during the calendar year or if Spain is the principal centre or base of their economic activities or interests. Family circumstances and the UK–Spain double-tax treaty can also be relevant.
Some qualifying employees who move to Spain to work remotely may be able to elect into the special impatriate tax regime, commonly called the Beckham Law. It is not automatic and it does not apply to every Digital Nomad Visa holder. In particular, a self-employed professional does not qualify merely because they hold this immigration status; they would need to fit a separate eligible category under the tax rules.
The tax, payroll, permanent-establishment and Social Security consequences should be reviewed before relocating. Díaz & Associates can address the immigration procedure and, where necessary, recommend that the applicant obtain specialist cross-border tax advice.
What happens if a Digital Nomad Visa is refused?
A refusal can arise from the consular visa procedure or the in-country UGE residence-authorisation process. The appropriate response depends on the authority, the reasons stated, the evidence already submitted and the deadline in the decision.
Common issues include an unclear employment or professional relationship, insufficient proof that the work is genuinely remote, a company that does not meet the one-year activity requirement, failure to establish the required three-month relationship, inconsistent income evidence, inadequate qualifications or experience, unresolved Social Security arrangements, unsuitable health insurance, or defects in criminal-record and civil-status documents.
A new application is not always the best first step. Refiling the same evidence can reproduce the original problem and may cause an appeal deadline to be missed.
Practical Recommendation
Review the refusal decision together with the complete application before choosing between correction, a new application, an administrative appeal or another immigration route. The deadline and competent authority should be identified immediately.
How our Spanish immigration lawyers can help
Clear legal guidance for British citizens and UK residents throughout the Spain Digital Nomad Visa process.
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Initial consultation
We review your nationality, UK residence, employer or clients, work arrangement, income, qualifications, Social Security position, family circumstances and plans in Spain.
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Route and eligibility assessment
We assess whether the Digital Nomad Visa, in-country international teleworker authorisation or another Spanish immigration route is appropriate.
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Employer, client and document review
We review the contract, remote-working letter, company evidence, financial records, qualification or experience documents, Social Security evidence and family documentation within the agreed scope.
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Application guidance
We explain the forms, fees, NIE, apostilles, sworn translations, consular or UGE procedure and post-approval formalities that apply to the case.
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Ongoing legal advice
We advise on further-document requests, changes of circumstances, decisions, refusals, residence applications and renewals within the agreed scope of work.
Advice in English or Spanish
Our advice is available by prior appointment at our London office and can be provided in English or Spanish.
Please note: We do not guarantee approval. The competent Spanish authorities decide every application according to the applicable law, individual circumstances and evidence.
Why choose Díaz & Associates for your Spanish Digital Nomad Visa?
Díaz & Associates advises British citizens, UK residents, overseas employers and families on Spanish immigration matters from our London office.
For a Digital Nomad Visa application, our role is to connect the legal test with the reality of the applicant’s work. We can identify whether the relationship is employment or professional activity, consider which application channel applies, review the employer and client evidence and explain the Spanish immigration formalities in clear English or Spanish.
Official websites provide general requirements and submission channels. Individual cases can raise different questions involving company ownership, multiple clients, variable income, family dependency, Social Security coverage, regulated professions or previous refusals. Those issues should be resolved before the application is submitted wherever possible.
Contact our Spanish speaking immigration lawyers in London
Address: 53 Davies Street, London, W1K 5JH, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 7429 569661
Email: london@diazyasociados.es
Our Spanish speaking immigration lawyers advise clients in London, across the UK and in Spain on visa, residence and immigration matters between both countries.
Frequently asked questions about the Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Who can apply for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa?
An adult third-country national may qualify if they will live in Spain while carrying out genuinely remote employment or professional activity primarily for a company or clients established outside Spain. The applicant must also meet the company-history, prior-relationship, income, qualification or experience, Social Security, healthcare and general immigration requirements.
Can a British citizen apply for a Digital Nomad Visa in Spain?
Yes. British citizens are normally within the third-country-national category and may apply if they meet the requirements. A person protected by the Withdrawal Agreement or already holding a Spanish status that permits the activity may not need this route.
Can a UK resident who is not British apply from London?
Potentially. The applicant must normally prove legal residence in the relevant UK consular district. The London checklist states that a person holding only a UK C-visit visa is not eligible to apply for a Spanish national visa there.
Can I apply without a job offer?
You do not need a job offer from a Spanish company. However, an employee must normally have an existing employment relationship of at least three months with a foreign employer. A self-employed professional must normally have an existing commercial relationship of at least three months with one or more foreign clients.
Can I work for a Spanish company?
Not as an employee under the Digital Nomad route. An employee may work only for companies established outside Spain. A self-employed professional may carry out professional work for Spanish clients if it does not exceed 20% of the total professional activity and the qualifying foreign relationship continues.
What is the income requirement for the Digital Nomad Visa in Spain?
The main applicant must demonstrate 200% of the monthly Spanish minimum wage. With the 2026 SMI of €1,221, the threshold is €2,442 gross per month. The first family member adds €915.75 and each additional family member adds €305.25. These figures should be recalculated when the SMI changes.
Can savings be used instead of income?
The applicant must still prove the qualifying employment or professional relationship. Current UGE guidance allows liquid savings or other income to cover a documented shortfall between qualifying work income and the minimum resources for the duration of the authorisation. The form and sufficiency of the evidence remain subject to assessment.
Do I need private health insurance?
It depends on the Social Security and healthcare route. The London checklist asks for qualifying public or private coverage, while current UGE guidance says separate insurance evidence is not needed where the applicant will register in Spanish Social Security after approval. Where private insurance is used, it must meet the current Spanish coverage conditions; ordinary travel insurance is not sufficient.
Do UK documents need an apostille and Spanish translation?
UK public documents may need a Hague apostille and a sworn Spanish translation. The exact requirement depends on the document and application channel. Company letters and contracts should also be translated where the authority requires Spanish-language evidence.
Do I need a medical certificate?
The current London Digital Nomad Visa checklist reviewed for this guidance does not list a medical certificate as a standard requirement. The consulate can nevertheless request additional evidence, so the checklist should be checked again before the appointment.
How long does the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa take?
The legal decision period for the consular visa is ten working days. The in-country residence authorisation has a legal maximum of 20 days. Preparation, appointments, security checks, requests for further evidence and interviews can extend the complete timeframe.
How long is the Digital Nomad Visa valid?
The visa is valid for up to one year. A residence authorisation applied for while lawfully in Spain can be valid for up to three years. Qualifying residence renewals are issued for periods of two years.
Do I need a TIE after arriving in Spain?
The one-year Digital Nomad Visa is sufficient evidence of residence and remote-work permission during its validity, and Law 14/2013 says a separate TIE is not required for that visa. A person granted a residence authorisation for more than six months must apply for the TIE.
Can my spouse or partner work in Spain?
Yes. A qualifying family member granted residence under Law 14/2013 may work as an employee or self-employed person. Their employment or business must comply with the applicable Spanish rules.
Does the Digital Nomad Visa give me tax-free status?
No. Immigration approval does not remove Spanish or UK tax obligations. Spanish tax residence may arise under the 183-day test or other connecting factors. Some qualifying applicants may elect into the special impatriate regime, but it is not automatic and individual tax advice may be required.
Can the Digital Nomad Visa lead to permanent residence or Spanish citizenship?
Qualifying periods of lawful and continuous residence may count towards long-term residence, subject to the applicable absence and continuity rules. Spanish nationality is a separate procedure with different residence periods and requirements; the Digital Nomad Visa does not create a direct or accelerated citizenship route for most British citizens.
What should I do if my application is refused?
Obtain the written decision and review the reasons, original application and deadline immediately. The appropriate response may be an administrative appeal, correction and new application, or a different immigration route. The decision should be assessed before the same documents are filed again.
