Q&A: What is Spain’s digital nomad visa?

Q: What is Spain’s digital nomad visa? 

A: In recent years the phrase “digital nomad” has been used to describe a certain nomadic lifestyle and the people it relates to work remotely on their laptop or even just a phone as long as there is Wi-Fi.  They travel the world and work wherever they lay their hat.

Spain is opening their doors to those looking for extended stays for work purposes. The Digital Nomad Visa was endorsed in in December 2022, and is in the process of launching a specific visa for the digital nomad is part of its new Startup Law. Anyone from Briton and other non-EU countries (otherwise known as Third Countries) can apply for the opportunity to work there. It is scheduled to be live by the end of March 2023.

Who can apply for the digital nomad visa & how does it work?

Remote workers will be able to apply to work and live in Spain for one year, then can apply for an extension to a total of five years. However, there are conditions.

Successful applicants should:

• Receive up to a maximum of 20 per cent of their income from Spanish-based businesses 
• Must show that they earn enough money to be self-sufficient.
• Must be able to provide an employment contract showing they’ve worked with a company for three months or more
• Self-employed applicants must prove they’ve worked with businesses outside of Spain for over a year.
• Applicants can’t have been Spanish residents within the last five years, or hold a criminal record.

If successful the applicant will be awarded the digital nomad visa for one year and will be allowed to apply for an extension for up to another four years. They will also be entitled to a tax break. The standard tax rate is 25 per cent and visa holders pay 15 per cent in the first four years.

Visa holders will be allowed to bring their immediate family.