Spain's Digital Nomad Visa opens the door for remote workers to live full time in Spain. Here's a simplified guide to understanding the visa requirements, application process, and the essential documents you'd need to benefit from a Digital Nomad Visa.
Who is the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa aimed at?
The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa program offers remote workers the opportunity to reside in Spain full-time.
Below is a simplified guide outlining the visa requirements, application process, and necessary documents to benefit from the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa
What are the Eligibility Criteria for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa
Educational and Professional Background:
Applicants must hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a reputable institution or have a minimum of three years of relevant work experience.
Self-Employed Individuals:
Can also undertake projects for a Spanish company, provided such engagements do not exceed 20% of their total professional activities.
Income requirements
Financial means must be at least 200% of the monthly Spanish national minimum wage (approximately £2140 per month or £25700 per year).
In the case of family members: For the first family member they must prove additional financial means of at least 75% of the Spanish minimum wage (approximately £800 per month or £9600 per year)
For each additional applicant, 25% of the Spanish national minimum wage is required (approximately £270 per month or £3200 per year).
Can you bring your family with you?
Your immediate family can accompany you. This includes:
- Spouse or unmarried partner.
- Dependent children and other dependent relatives.
The Paperwork
You need to complete a long list of forms and provide paperwork with your application. I've tried to simplify this as much as possible by breaking it all down into the following steps:
NIE Number
Before you apply for the visa, you'll need to obtain an NIE number, which is the Spanish equivalent of a social security number.
Passport Photo
Provide a recent colour photograph, ID size, with a clear background, taken front on. Make sure there are no dark glasses or anything obscuring your face.
Passport
You will need to present your valid passport along with a photocopy of the biometric data pages. The passport must have at least a year remaining before expiration*. If necessary, apply for a replacement. You'll need to leave your passport at the consulate during the visa processing period, complete a form authorizing your passport and documents to be posted to you once your application has been processed, and provide a prepaid special delivery envelope.
*UK replacement passports that are issued before the previous passport has expired will have the time remaining on the old passport added on to the ten-year term of the replacement. The Spanish Authorities will not recognise the "extra" months and only take the ten years from the date of issue into account.
Financial Information
Proof of financial means is crucial. Provide documents proving you have enough funds to cover your living expenses in Spain for the initial year.
There are also requirements to provide evidence of social security registration and tax compliance. You can download a checklist provided by the Spanish Authorities, detailing the required paperwork here:
Health Insurance
Secure a health insurance policy from a company authorized to operate in Spain. Ensure it covers all risks insured by Spain's public health system.
Criminal Record Check
You must present a criminal record certificate, issues within the last 6 months, for all countries that you have lived in the last 5 years. For criminal records from the United Kingdom, present the ACRO certificate.
Provide proof that you live in the correct consular region
This sounds a little confusing however it is really quite simple. Each Spanish Consulate accepts applications from individuals that live in the area that their consulate covers.
A bank statement showing your home address is sufficient
The areas covered by the consulates in the UK can be found in the map below (Click to open full size).
Provide documentation for any dependents
For any dependents who will be travelling to Spain you will need to provide proof of your relationship (birth or marriage certificates). Evidence of Financial dependency documents for adult children and/or care documentation for relatives in the ascending line.
Get all Documents Legalised and Translated
Foreign language documents must be legalised or apostilled and accompanied by a sworn translation into Castellano Spanish.
Click the button below to be taken to the UK Government's website explaining how to go about this.
Payment
Upon submission of your application you will need to pay the consulate fees. The Spanish Government set the fee in Euros and then it is regularly converted to the currency of the country in which the consulate is based, according to the exchange rate at the time, and published via the link below. ('Visado' means Visa)
Submitting Your Application
Applications should either be submitted in person at the consulate or via an agent.
What Happens Once the Application is Submitted?
The Consulate may ask applicants to submit any missing documents or provide additional documents or data. The Consulate may also request a personal interview.
The standard processing time is 10 days, extendable if additional documents or a personal interview is required. Upon approval, visas must be collected within a month from the notification date.
You will be given a link to track the progress of your application
How long is the Visa Valid for?
The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa will be valid for a maximum of 1 year or the same validity as the authorization granted to live and work in Spain. It is not compulsory to obtain a Residence Permit Card once in Spain, as the visa is proof enough of legal residency. However, it is possible to apply for a Residence Permit Card, voluntarily, in the nearest OFICINA DE EXTRANJERIA or COMISARIA DE POLICIA in Spain.
What if your Application is Rejected?
Visa refusals will always be notified in writing.
If the Consulate refuses a visa, applicants may submit an appeal for reconsideration to the same Consular Office within 1 month from the day following the date of notification. They must address the appeal to the Visa Department and post it by Royal Mail or another courier service provider.
A legal appeal to the High Court of Justice of Madrid can be also submitted within the 2-month term beginning the day after the date of notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal by the Consulate
Need Some Help?
There is a huge amount of paperwork and bureaucracy to deal with when applying for a Digital Nomad Visa and it is often far more efficient and effective to employ an agent to check and submit your application.
I recommend Innolegals who provide an comprehensive visa and residency application service with a 97% success rate.