Digital nomad visa for Spain
For remote workers with an income from €2,849/month. The preferential Beckham regime (24%).
What Spain's residence permit for remote workers is
Spain created a separate basis for remote workers in Law 28/2022 — the same law that introduced the regime for start-ups. Formally the status is called “residence for international remote work”.
The law describes it as follows: a third-country national obtains the right to stay in Spain and to carry out employed or professional activity remotely for companies outside Spain, using exclusively computer, telematic and telecommunication means.
The key difference from Hungary's White Card is that you may also work for a Spanish client, but for no more than 20% of your total professional activity. This allowance applies to those carrying out professional activity, that is, working for themselves.
How a residence permit differs from citizenship by investment
A residence permit is the right to live in a country lawfully for a limited period, with renewal. It gives no passport, no vote, and is almost always tied to its basis: once the basis is gone, the status is not renewed.
Read moreShow less
For a person that means three things. The status has to be maintained: keep the investment, the income or the home, and file for renewal on time. The status can be lost — for breaching the conditions or for spending too long outside the country. And the status does not convert into citizenship automatically: the naturalisation clock runs separately, and some programmes do not count towards it at all.
In return, a residence permit costs several times less than citizenship by investment and opens up what people most often take it for: lawful residence, a bank account, healthcare, school for the children and travel around the Schengen area.
Visa or permit: how the two routes differ
| A visa from the consulate | A residence permit | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you apply from | From your country of residence | While already in Spain lawfully |
| Term | 1 year, or the length of the work if that is shorter | Up to 3 years |
| Renewal | 60 days before it expires you file for the permit | In periods of 2 years |
| What it leads to | The right to live and work remotely for its period of validity | After 5 years — a route to permanent residence |
The second route gives three times the term, but requires you to be in Spain lawfully at the moment of filing. You cannot be in the country unlawfully when you apply.
Whether the status suits a freelancer or a self-employed person
Yes. The ministry confirms it: a self-employed person counts as an international remote worker if they evidence the professional relationship with a commercial contract with the foreign company they work for, lasting at least three months.
Social security obligations are the ordinary ones: the law introduces no special rules on company registration, registering with the authorities or contributions for this category.
What the service includes
| NIE | |
| Filing the documents | |
| Support throughout | |
| Housing— billed separately |
How the process runs
2–4 months- Шаг 1Определяем путь: виза из консульства или разрешение внутри Испании — от этого зависят сроки и комплект.
- Шаг 2Проверяем основание: договор с иностранной компанией либо коммерческий договор от 3 месяцев для самозанятого.
- Шаг 3Собираем доказательства дохода, стажа отношений с работодателем и работы компании, страховку.
- Шаг 4Подача заявления и оплата пошлин.
- Шаг 5Решение и получение статуса.
- Шаг 6Постановка на учёт по социальному страхованию и налоговые формальности.
- Шаг 7Продление: виза — за 60 дней до окончания подаётся на разрешение; разрешение — периодами по 2 года.
What we need from you
- 1An income from €2,849/month
- 2Remote work outside Spain
- 3A contract of at least a year
Frequently asked questions
Can I work for a Spanish company on this residence permit?
Does the status suit a self-employed person without an employment contract?
How long is the status granted for?
When can permanent residence be obtained?
Can I apply while in Spain unlawfully?
Residence permit: other options
Compare terms in other countries and delivery formats.
Ready to start?
Send an enquiry — we will check your case and help you arrange “Digital nomad visa for Spain” in Spain. No markup on top.