A residence permit for qualified professionals who wish to live in Spain while continuing to work online, with their employer or most of their clients based outside Spain.
It can be requested through a one-year visa from the Spanish consulate in the applicant’s place of residence, or directly from Spain through a residence authorisation of up to 3 years, renewable for 2-year periods.
Consular visa or authorisation from Spain, renewable for 2-year periods
Maximum income a freelancer may earn from Spanish clients
Reference minimum gross income for the main applicant (200% of the SMI)
Employees who carry out their professional activity remotely for companies based outside Spain.
Provide services mainly to clients outside Spain, and may earn up to 20% of their income from Spanish clients.
Spouse or partner, children and dependent ascendants. They may work anywhere in Spain without the 20% limit that applies to the main applicant.
| Legal requirement | Minimum amount* | |
|---|---|---|
| International remote worker | 200% of the SMI | €2,849/month |
| First accompanying family member | 75% of the SMI | €1,068/month |
| Second and subsequent family members | 25% of the SMI | €356/month |
* We recommend allowing for a margin above the legal minimum required.
Your Social Security obligations depend on your employment status.
The required documentation varies depending on whether you apply through a Spanish consulate or from within Spain, as well as your individual circumstances. Generally, it includes a valid passport, an employment contract or professional agreements, a certificate from your employer confirming its business activity, your length of service and authorisation to work remotely, proof of qualifications or professional experience, evidence of sufficient financial resources, health insurance and a criminal record certificate.
Not all documents are subject to the same formal requirements. Official documents issued abroad, such as criminal record certificates or academic qualifications, must be legalised or apostilled, depending on the country of issue, and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator if they are not already in Spanish. We will advise you on the specific formalities required for each document.
Collection of documentation and management of legal formalities.
From outside Spain: through the consulate or BLS. From Spain: electronically through the UGE-CE.
Granting of the visa (1 year) or residence authorization (3 years), depending on the chosen route.
Fingerprinting at the Immigration Office in the province of residence, with the applicant required to attend in person.
The residence authorization holder must attend in person again.
Collection of documentation and management of legal formalities.
From outside Spain: through the consulate or BLS. From Spain: electronically through the UGE-CE.
Granting of the visa (1 year) or residence authorization (3 years), depending on the chosen route.
Fingerprinting at the Immigration Office in the province of residence, with the applicant required to attend in person.
The residence authorization holder must attend in person again.
The digital nomad regime often intersects with tax decisions — such as the special inbound-expatriate regime — and with the status of the foreign employer. We coordinate all of it from the same place.
We coordinate the immigration file with tax planning, including the special inbound-expatriate regime (“Beckham Law”) where applicable.
We support you from preparing the file through to obtaining the TIE in Spain, whether through the consular route or directly from Spain.
Yes. If you are legally present in Spain, you can apply directly for a residence permit valid for up to three years without having to return to your home country. If you are outside Spain, you must apply for a visa at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence. The visa is valid for up to one year.
The legal minimum is equivalent to 200% of Spain’s statutory minimum wage (€2,849 gross per month in 2026), plus an additional 75% of the minimum wage for the first accompanying family member and 25% for each additional family member. These amounts are updated annually. We recommend demonstrating financial resources above the minimum threshold.
Yes, if you are self-employed, provided that most of your clients are based outside Spain. Income from Spanish clients must not exceed 20% of your total professional activity. If you are an employee, you must work for one or more companies established outside Spain.
Yes. Legal residence under this permit counts towards the residence period required to apply for Spanish citizenship. The qualifying period depends on the applicant’s nationality: generally, ten years, reduced to two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal. In all cases, residence must be legal, continuous and immediately precede the application.
Yes. Your spouse or partner, children and dependent parents or other dependent ascendants may obtain residence permits either alongside you or at a later stage. They are also entitled to work in Spain without being subject to the 20% limitation.
Tell us about your situation and we’ll let you know, with no obligation, whether the residence permit for International Remote Workers (Digital Nomads) is the right option for you.
The success of an application depends on a detailed analysis of the particular circumstances of each case. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute individualised legal advice. Requirements, supporting documentation and fees may vary depending on the competent consular office and are subject to any regulatory changes.
