Ready to swap your home office for a sunny terrace in Seville or a coworking space by the beach in Málaga? Spain's Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), officially the International Teleworker Residence Permit, allows non-EU remote workers, freelancers and company owners to live legally in Spain while working for employers or clients abroad.

On paper, the requirements look simple. In practice, most delays and refusals come down to a missing bank stamp, an inconsistent figure or a translation that isn't sworn.

In this guide you'll find every requirement for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa in 2026, updated with the latest income thresholds, plus the pro tips our legal team uses on real applications every day.

What Is the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?

The DNV is designed for non-EU citizens who want to live in Spain while working remotely, using only computers and telecommunication systems. You can apply as:

✅ Employee of a company based outside Spain

✅ Freelancer / self-employed working for foreign clients (up to 20% of your professional activity can come from Spanish clients)

✅ Company owner working through your own foreign company (additional documents apply, see below)

Family members included in your application are also allowed to work in Spain.

Duration and Path to Residency

✅ 3-year residence permit when applying from Spain (or a 1-year visa when applying from a consulate, which is then converted into a residence permit)

✅ Renewable for 2 more years, for a total of 5 years

✅ After 5 years of legal residence, you can apply for long-term residency

✅ Spanish citizenship is possible after 10 years of legal residence, or just 2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal

Key Benefits

✅ Bring your family: spouse or partner, children and even dependent parents

✅ Freedom in the Schengen Area: travel freely across 29 European countries

✅ Quality of life: Mediterranean climate, world-class food and culture, and a lower cost of living than the US or UK

✅ Tax planning opportunities: DNV holders may be eligible for Spain's special tax regime for inbound workers, known as the "Beckham Law". Ask us whether it makes sense in your case.

The Requirements at a Glance

✅ Minimum gross income of €2,849/month for the main applicant

✅ Remote working relationship with your employer or clients for at least 3 months

✅ Employer or client company registered for at least 1 year

✅ University degree or at least 3 years of relevant work experience

✅ Clean criminal record

✅ Social security coverage (employees) or commitment to register in Spain (self-employed)

✅ Private health insurance with no co-payments and no waiting periods

✅ Legal presence in Spain at the time of submission (when applying from Spain)

Now, let's go through each requirement in detail.

Requirement 1: Financial Resources

The income threshold is linked to Spain's minimum wage (SMI). With the 2026 SMI update, these are the minimum gross monthly amounts you need to prove.

Minimum amounts per applicant:

• Main applicant (200% of SMI): €2,849.00
• First family member, usually spouse or partner (75% of SMI): + €1,068.38
• Each additional family member (25% of SMI): + €356.13

Total minimum income by family size:

• Couple: €3,917.38
• Family of three: €4,273.50
• Family of four: €4,629.63

Your income must be consistent across every document: contract, authorization letter, payslips or invoices, and bank statements.

Not quite reaching the threshold? Savings can make up the difference. You'll need to show the monthly shortfall multiplied by the length of the permit. For example:

👉 Missing €200/month on a 3-year permit: €200 × 36 months = €7,200 in savings

👉 Covering one child entirely through savings: €356 × 12 × 3 years = €12,816

Pro Tip: Bank statements must be stamped by your bank or notarized. A simple PDF downloaded from online banking is not enough.

Requirement 2: Your Remote Work (Contract, Company and Authorization)

Work contract or service agreement

✅ Active for at least 3 months before you apply

✅ Minimum duration of 3 years or indefinite (if shorter, your permit will be limited to the length of the contract)

✅ Clearly states your role, services performed, income and authorization to work remotely

✅ Sworn translation into Spanish

Company registration certificate

✅ Proves the company has been legally registered for at least 1 year (for freelancers, this applies to the client companies you work with)

✅ Apostilled and sworn translated into Spanish

✅ Valid for 6 months from the date of issue

Authorization letter

✅ On company letterhead

✅ Details your role, functions, income (in local currency and EUR) and contract dates

✅ Explicitly authorizes you to work remotely from Spain

✅ Standard translation is enough

✅ Can fill any gaps left by the contract

Pro Tip: For employees, the letter shouldn't read like a simple permission slip. It works best when it states that it is the company's intention for you to carry out your work from Spain.

Requirement 3: Qualifications or Work Experience

You must prove your qualifications are relevant to your current job. There are several ways to do this:

👉 Option 1: University degree

Apostilled and sworn translated. The degree should be connected to your current role. If it isn't directly related, your exam transcript can help by highlighting courses linked to the work you do today.

👉 Option 2: Reference letter + official employment record

For countries that issue an official record of your work history (e.g. UK, US, Turkey, Russia, Mexico): reference letter describing your job (sworn translation) or employment contract (standard translation) + company registration (apostilled, sworn translation) + official employment record (apostilled, standard translation).

👉 Option 3: Reference letter + personal tax returns

Reference letter (sworn) or contract (standard translation) + company registration (apostilled, sworn) + personal tax returns covering the same period (standard translation).

👉 Option 4: Reference letter + bank statements

Reference letter (sworn) or contract (standard translation) + company registration (apostilled, sworn) + bank statements showing the income from that job.

👉 Option 5: Company owners

Your experience can be proven through your own company, for example if you've been running it in a specific role since 2015.

Requirement 4: Proof of Income (Bank Statements, Payslips and Invoices)

✅ Personal bank statements (stamped or notarized) showing at least the last 3 months of income consistent with your contract

✅ Payslips for employees: the net amount must match the deposit in your bank statement

✅ Invoices for freelancers: amounts must match your contract and bank statements

✅ Standard translation is enough

MoveWise prepares a Payment Summary that matches every payment in your bank statements to its invoice or payslip, with conversion to EUR, so the authorities can verify your income at a glance.

Pro Tip: Only payments from your employer or clients count. Personal transfers, refunds or money moved between your own accounts should not be presented as work income.

Requirement 5: Criminal Record

Criminal record certificate

✅ Required for every applicant aged 18+

✅ From your country of origin and any country where you lived for more than 6 months in the past 2 years

✅ Apostilled (or double legalized, depending on the country) and sworn translated. Only government-issued apostilles are accepted.

✅ Valid for 6 months from the date of issue

Responsible declaration

✅ A signed declaration in Spanish stating that you have not committed any criminal offenses in the last 5 years (MoveWise provides the form)

Pro Tip: Have an old or minor record? Don't rule yourself out. Some cases can still be managed, so talk to us before you apply.

Requirement 6: Social Security

If you are an employee

✅ Social Security coverage certificate issued in your employer's country, confirming ongoing contributions

✅ Apostilled and sworn translated

✅ Available when there is a social security agreement between Spain and that country, including EU/Schengen countries, the UK, US, Canada, Mexico and Russia. Agreements also exist with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador and Peru.

✅ No agreement? Your employer will need to register in Spain, or your contract can be converted into a service agreement

Pro Tip: If the certificate is issued in an EU/Schengen country or the UK, make sure the word "telework" appears in the request form. And remember: an agreement existing doesn't mean the certificate is quick to obtain. Start early, as this is often the slowest document in the whole application.

If you are self-employed

✅ Proof of self-employed registration in your home country, at least 3 months old: registration certificate (apostilled and sworn translated) or, if your country doesn't issue one, your tax return. In the UK, your Self Assessment showing your UTR number is valid.

✅ Signed declaration committing to register with the Spanish social security system after approval (MoveWise provides the form)

✅ Registration should be done promptly after approval. New self-employed workers usually benefit from a reduced flat rate of around €90/month for the first 12 months. After that, contributions depend on your income.

Requirement 7: Private Health Insurance

✅ Full coverage with a Spanish provider

✅ No co-payments (sin copago) and no waiting periods (sin carencias)

✅ Valid for 1 year and renewable

✅ Must cover all family members included in the application

✅ Alternative: if your country of residence issues the S1 certificate, it can replace private health insurance

We work with GIDEA, a trusted insurance broker that compares fully compliant policies from Spain's main providers and offers English-speaking support throughout the process. You can simulate your health insurance quotation Here.

👉 Not required if you are a Self-Employed applying from Spain

Requirement 8: Passport and Legal Presence in Spain

Passport

✅ Scan of all pages, including the covers

Legal entry (when applying from Spain)

You must be physically in Spain when the application is submitted, and you must prove you entered legally:

✅ Declaration of entry (declaración de entrada): if you entered Spain from another Schengen country, this must be obtained within 72 hours of arrival at the airport police station or, if travelling by land, at the police station nearest to the border (Optional)

✅ Proof of travel: boarding passes, train or bus tickets, fuel receipts, etc.

Important: Since 10 April 2026, the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational and passports are no longer stamped at external Schengen borders: your entry is now recorded digitally. Keep every boarding pass and travel document. When there is no stamp, MoveWise prepares an explanatory note supported by your travel evidence.

Requirement 9: Application Forms and Fees

✅ MI-T form (Solicitud de Autorización Inicial de Residencia Temporal): the official application form, completed by MoveWise and signed by you (wet or digital signature)

✅ Modelo 790, Code 038: visa fee of €73.26 per applicant, payable at a bank counter (usually only in the morning) or at an ATM by cash or card

✅ Curriculum Vitae in Spanish, consistent with your contract and authorization letter (MoveWise provides a template)

✅ Presentation letter summarizing your application (prepared by MoveWise)

Pro Tip: Keep your 790-038 receipt! It contains the NRC code, which is mandatory to submit the application. Paying cash at an ATM? Bring an amount close to the fee (e.g. €75): some ATMs reject large banknotes.

Requirement 10: Extra Documents for Company Owners

If you are a director and/or shareholder with a service contract with your own company, you'll also need:

✅ Latest tax return and proof of shareholding (if the tax return is negative, company bank statements must show the company can afford your salary)

✅ Examples of client contracts, service agreements or purchase orders

✅ Company bank statements for the last 3 months

✅ 2–3 recent invoices issued to clients, aligned with your declared income

✅ Evidence of company expenses and, if you have employees, payroll or social security contributions

✅ Company Presentation Letter (in English) covering your sector and market, products and services, client base, financials and shareholding, operating expenses or investments and, optionally, your management structure

Pro Tip: Spanish authorities consider a pure Director role hard to reconcile with fully remote work. Your contract with your company and your presentation letter should focus on the professional services you actually deliver (e.g. consultant, developer, designer) rather than your directorship.

Requirement 11: Bringing Your Family

Who can join you?

✅ Spouse or registered partner (official certificate required)

✅ Unregistered partner with more than 1 year of cohabitation or shared children (proof required)

✅ Minor children

✅ Adult dependent children, who must show: financial dependency (bank transfers from parent to child), enrollment at a university or official course in Spain (or one that can be followed from Spain), cohabitation (e.g. IDs with the same address) and a certificate of single status (in the UK, a "letter of no trace" from the General Register Office)

✅ Dependent parents, either aged 75+ or with documented financial or medical dependency

Documents for each family member

✅ Passport and proof of legal entry

✅ Marriage or partnership certificate (apostilled and sworn translated)

✅ Birth certificates for children (apostilled and sworn translated)

✅ Criminal record certificate for everyone aged 18+ (apostilled and sworn translated)

✅ Proof of cohabitation for unregistered partners (shared lease, bills, joint documents)

✅ Proof of financial or medical dependency for adult children or parents

✅ Parental consent or custody decision if a child is travelling without the other parent

Healthcare for your family

👉 Self-employed main applicant: once you register with Spanish social security, family members can be added

👉 Employed main applicant: private health insurance is mandatory for all family members

👉 Unregistered partners: private health insurance is always required

Important: Submit all family applications together, and from the same place as the main applicant (all from Spain, or all from your home country). Adding family members later is more complex, as the main applicant must already be registered as self-employed with Spanish social security.

Family members receive a permit with the same duration as the main applicant, can work in Spain and travel freely across the Schengen Area.

👉 Already approved? How to keep your Digital Nomad Visa in Spain

Apostille and Translation Cheat Sheet

Apostille + sworn translation:

• Criminal record certificate (valid for 6 months)
• Company registration certificate (valid for 6 months)
• Social Security certificate (employees)
• Self-employed registration certificate
• University degree
• Marriage and birth certificates

Sworn translation only:

• Work contract
• Reference letter

Standard translation only:

• Authorization letter
• Bank statements (stamped by the bank or notarized)
• Payslips and invoices
• Company owner documents (tax return, client contracts, company bank statements, invoices)

Written directly in Spanish:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Motivational letter
• Payment summary
• All explanatory notes

Documents from countries outside the Hague Convention require double legalization instead of an apostille.

How MoveWise can support you 

Navigating the complexities of the DNV application can be a daunting task. That's where MoveWise steps in. We are dedicated to guiding clients through their DNV applications, offering a range of specialized services:

• Personalized Service: We tailor our services to your specific needs, ensuring a smooth and effortless process.
• Seamless Online Process: Benefit from our fully digital services, ensuring all documentation is managed online for a streamlined and hassle-free experience.
• Efficient Scheduling: We optimize your application timeline to ensure a smooth and timely process.
• Full Ownership of Your Application Process: We provide comprehensive support, handling every aspect of your application from start to finish.
• Tax Implications Assistance: Our experts help you understand the tax implications of your DNV and various application options.
• Meticulous Documentation: We prepare and submit all required documents, ensuring they meet the stringent requirements.
• 100% Money-Back Guarantee: If your application is unsuccessful, we offer a full refund, reflecting our commitment to your success.

Conclusion

The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa opens up a world of opportunities for people that can work remotely. Not only does it offer the chance to experience living in one of the most beautiful and culturally rich countries in the World, but it also provides a clear path to residency and citizenship.

With MoveWise by your side the dream of working and living in Spain can become a reality.

Contact Us

While the requirements for obtaining a Digital Nomad Visa for Spain are straightforward, preparing the necessary documents and navigating the application process can be challenging. Mistakes or incomplete paperwork could put your application at risk. If you have any doubts or questions about the Digital Nomad Visa process, BOOK TODAY a 100% Free Consultation. We’re here to help you every step of the way.