Spain digital nomad visa: Complete guide for UK expats

Dreaming of working remotely in another country? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to live in a particular country, or you want to travel the world.

If you’ve got your heart set on becoming a digital nomad, there’s arguably no better place to do it than sunny Spain. From tasty tapas to beautiful beaches, this popular holiday destination has it all.

But before you can jet off on your Spanish adventure, you’ll need to get your paperwork sorted.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to get a digital nomad visa for Spain. This includes info on how much this visa costs, eligibility requirements, the documents you’ll need and how long you can stay.

Spain digital nomad visa: requirements and eligibility

Spain is one of many countries which offers a digital nomad visa. Known as a Visado de Trabajar a Distancia, it was introduced in 2023 with the aim of attracting international and national talent, by helping remote workers get set up in Spain.

With this visa, eligible foreign nationals can legally live in Spain and work remotely for an overseas employer. If you’re self-employed, you can work for both Spanish and overseas clients, but the percentage of work you do for Spanish clients can’t exceed 20% of your total work.¹

The Spanish digital nomad visa lasts for 1 year, but can be renewed by applying for a 3-year residence permit.

You can bring close family members with you on this visa, including your spouse/partner and dependent children.¹

To meet the Spain digital nomad visa requirements, you’ll need to have a minimum monthly income of at least double the Spanish national minimum wage.¹ At present, this is €1,184 EUR a month.³

You’ll also need to have been working for your employer for at least 3 months, or be able to show a contract of the same length if you’re self-employed. Private health insurance cover is another key requirement.¹

How much does it cost?

The Spain digital nomad visa costs €74.65 EUR (approx. £65.95 GBP) in application fees.⁴ There may also be an additional service charge of £14.55 to pay to the visa application centre.⁵

Aside from the upfront application fees, there may be other costs to factor in. For example, the cost of getting travel/health insurance, or having documents translated.

What documents do you need?

You’ll need the following documents to apply for a digital nomad visa for Spain:¹

• A completed application form
• Your passport (original and copies) with validity for at least 1 year and 2 blank pages
• If you’re not a UK national, a valid residence permit for the UK
• A recent passport-size colour photograph of yourself
• An ACRO police/criminal record certificate
• Proof of address in the consular district - you can find more info on this here
• Evidence of sufficient health insurance cover
• If employed, a copy of your employment contract and a statement from your employer that you are authorised to work remotely in Spain.
• If self-employed, proof of previous client contracts showing at least 3 months of paid work.
• Proof of ongoing or future contracts for several months to a year, if self-employed.
• A certificate from Companies House proving that the company you work for has been incorporated for at least a year (if employed)
• Proof of an Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) - this is a Foreigner's Identification Number, and you must apply for this before starting your visa application
• Proof that you have at least 3 years or work experience, or a relevant undergraduate or postgraduate degree qualification
• Documents confirming that you will pay either UK National Insurance, or confirmation of registration with the Spanish Social Security System
• Proof of income - such as work contracts, pay slips and/or bank statements.

If you’re bringing family members with you, you’ll also need relevant supporting documents for them too.

How to apply for the digital nomad visa for Spain

You can apply for the digital nomad visa for Spain here in the UK, via the BLS Spain Visa Application Centre.¹ This is the official partner of the Embassy of Spain in London.

Here’s how to apply, step-by-step:

1. Check your eligibility - in particular, that you’re able to meet the minimum income requirement
2. Get your documents together - this will mean requesting a police certificate, having a passport photo taken, taking out health insurance, applying for your NIE number and getting documents from your employer
3. Go to the Spanish Consulate General London website and download the application form
4. Print and complete the application form
5. Go to the BLS Spain Visa Application Centre website and book an appointment
6. Attend your appointment, taking your application form and supporting documents along with you
7. On the day of your appointment, you’ll also need to arrange to pay your visa fee. You should be able to do this by cash or credit/debit card.
8. Wait for your application to be processed
9. If your visa is approved, you’ll need to collect it from the Consulate or arrange for it to be posted to you.

While you’re waiting for your visa to be issued, you can get on with other important pre-move preparations.

For example, starting an application to open a Spanish bank account, getting a suitable SIM card for your phone and finding somewhere to live - whether you’re planning to rent a property in Spain or buy.

📚Buying property in Spain

How long can you stay in Spain as a digital nomad?

The digital nomad visa for Spain lets you stay in the country for up to 1 year. Once you’re there though, you can apply for a 3-year residence permit. This can be extended for another 2 years.²

So, this could mean a total stay of up to 5 years.

📚Can you keep UK bank account when moving abroad?

Taxes for digital nomads in Spain

While you’re living and working in Spain as a digital nomad, you may need to pay taxes on your income.

There’s no specific Spain digital nomad visa tax, just income tax rules that apply to anyone considered a tax resident of the country.

If you stay in Spain for more than 183 days, you may be deemed to be a tax resident. This means that your worldwide income can be subject to income tax.⁶ It’s likely that this will happen if you take advantage of the full 5 year stay the digital nomad visa offers.

There’s also something known as Beckham’s Law, which offers preferential tax rates to eligible foreign workers for the first 6 years of their stay.

You may be eligible if you’re working for a Spanish company or you’re working for an international company and have been posted to Spain. If you qualify, you could pay a flat rate of 24% - and this is only on income earned in Spain.⁶

There’s also the issue of what income taxes are due in the UK, and the need to avoid paying tax twice on the same income.

Tax between countries can be really complicated, so it’s best to get professional advice to make sure you understand your obligations.

Save on your relocation costs with Wise

That’s everything you need to know about the digital nomad visa in Spain. Make sure you check for any updates to the application process or the requirements ahead of applying.

Before moving to Spain, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders and can get expensive because of the transfer fees and exchange rate markups.

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FAQs

Is it possible to extend the Spain digital nomad visa?

Yes, you can extend the Spain digital nomad visa, by applying for a 3-year residence permit once you arrive in the country.¹

Does a Spain digital nomad visa lead to citizenship?

There isn’t a direct route to citizenship with the Spanish digital nomad visa but it could be the first step.

After applying for and renewing your residency permit, you may be able to stay for up to 5 years. And after this time, you can apply for permanent residency - and then apply for citizenship after you’ve been in the country 10 years.²

This could be a good route for those who want to move to Spain permanently or set down roots there, such as starting a business.

How long does it take to get a digital nomad visa for Spain?

The processing time for visa applications is around 10 working days,¹ but be aware that you may not be able to get an appointment right away. There may also be delays if more information/documents or further interviews are required.

Sources used:

1. Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación - eligibility, minimum income and requirements, documents, where to apply and processing time
2. Immigrant Invest - visa duration and renewal
3. L&E Global - minimum monthly wage in Spain 2025
4. Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación - visa fee
5. BLS International - visa application centre service fee
6. Holafly - tax residency and Beckham law

Sources last checked on date: 14-Nov-2025