Applying for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa: Consulate vs. In-Country Guide

If you’re considering moving to Spain as a digital nomad, pay attention: there are two main ways to obtain legal residency. Knowing the advantages and pitfalls of each can save you months of stress, unnecessary flights, and paperwork that goes nowhere. Take notes.

1) 🏠 Applying from Your Home Country (via Consulate)

This is the traditional route: you visit your local Spanish consulate and apply for a national telework visa before setting foot in Spain.

What you need to know:

• Duration: 1 year of initial residency.
• Where to apply: The Spanish consulate responsible for your area. Heads-up: requirements can vary wildly between consulates. Some will ask for documents that seem to appear out of thin air.
• Typical documents: Passport, criminal record certificate, employment contract or letter from your employer, proof of income, health insurance, certified translations, and fees.

Advantages:

• You arrive in Spain with your visa in hand, no last-minute surprises.
• Lower risk of getting “stuck” while applying from inside the country.

Common pitfalls:

• Each consulate has its own “extra document” rules, sometimes requesting things that aren’t strictly necessary, complicating the process.
• Short duration: 1 year, meaning you’ll need to renew or take another step once in Spain.

2) 🇪🇸 ✈️ Applying from Within Spain (Entering as a Tourist)

If you prefer a more flexible approach, you can enter Spain as a tourist and apply for the telework residence permit from within the country.

What you need to know:

• Typical duration: Up to 3 years, meaning less paperwork and more peace of mind while settling in.
• Essential condition: You must be legally present in Spain (not overstaying). Many digital nomads from the US, Canada, or Australia enter on the 90-day Schengen allowance and use that time to prepare their application.

Advantages:

• Longer initial duration: 3 years versus 1 via the consulate.
• Test Spain before committing: During the application process, you can explore different regions, check the climate, cost of living, internet connectivity—get the full digital nomad experience before choosing your base.
• Often faster: In many cases, processing is quicker than at a consulate.

Common pitfalls:

• Limited time: Tourists have just 90 days (if visa-exempt) to submit their application. Once filed, this 90-day clock is paused. If you overstay, you lose the chance to apply from inside Spain.
• Return ticket: Many nomads buy a round-trip ticket to show proof of return. Not officially required, but it prevents border issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Step-by-Step by Route

From the consulate:

1. Check the exact requirements on your consulate’s website.
2. Prepare your documents: passport, criminal record certificate, employment letter/contract, proof of income, social security compliance, translations, and fees.
3. Book an appointment and submit everything. Each consulate has its own “rules of the game.”
4. Wait for approval. Once granted, you can enter Spain with 1-year initial residency.

From Spain:

1. Enter legally (tourist or visa-exempt). Keep proof of entry and, if needed, a return ticket.
2. Before your stay expires, prepare and submit your telework residence application to the competent office.
3. Submit complete documentation: contracts, proof of income, criminal record, and social security compliance documents.
4. Wait for the resolution (usually faster than the consulate route). If all goes well, you can obtain up to 3 years of residency.

Lawyer Tips That Make a Difference

• Use official sources: consulate websites and Spain’s immigration electronic headquarters.
• Submit applications with time to spare—translations, apostilles, and income proofs take time.
• Document your employment clearly: employer letters, contracts, or invoices if freelance.
• Keep a return ticket if entering as a tourist.
• If a consulate asks for an “extra” document, double-check with a lawyer before wasting time or money.