A Japanese CEO had been given advice before he ever spoke to us: to obtain a Digital Nomad Visa for a company director like him, he should stop being a company director and become a freelancer. On 6 October 2026, Spain approved his residence without a single change to his company.
Company director approved without restructuring
A Japanese CEO who controls his company indirectly, through his own holding, applied from Spain and obtained a three-year residence authorisation as an international remote worker.
Why the Digital Nomad Visa for a Company Director Is Different
Our client is a Japanese national and the Representative Director and CEO of a Tokyo technology company. He does not hold its shares personally: he owns 100% of a holding company, which holds a majority stake in the operating company.
On paper, he is neither a classic employee nor a classic freelancer, and that is exactly where many company owners get stuck:
- He is the company’s highest executive, not a subordinate employee.
- His ownership is indirect, through a holding company.
- His income is director remuneration, not invoices to clients.
- He wanted to apply from inside Spain, where he was staying as a visitor.
Why “Become a Freelancer” Was the Wrong Fix
The Digital Nomad Visa requires a relationship with the company of at least three months and a company that has been operating for at least one year, under article 74 bis of Law 14/2013.
A brand-new freelance setup would have reset that history to zero, and restructuring also carries corporate and tax consequences in Japan. So we kept his structure and built the evidence around it. If your situation looks similar, you can start your Digital Nomad Visa application with the same approach.
How We Proved a Director’s Relationship With His Own Company
We presented him as a professional providing executive services to the company, supported by:
- Shareholder registers of both companies, showing the full chain of control.
- The corporate register certificate of the operating company, listing its board.
- Appointment and remuneration resolutions, three months of remuneration statements and matching bank statements.
- Every Japanese document apostilled and sworn-translated into Spanish.
The strategy for owners and directors depends on how control and pay are structured, as we explain in our article for company owners and directors.
The Requirement, and the Signature That Solved It
On 24 September 2026, the UGE-CE issued a requirement: a contract between the remote worker and the company, signed by both parties on every page, stating remuneration, duration and the signature of the person responsible for hiring.
The question was who should sign on behalf of the company, since he is the person who would normally sign for it.
When a company has a single director, that same director can sign on its behalf. Here the company had several board members, so we made a strategic choice: another member of the board signed for the company, with his authority already shown in the apostilled corporate certificate, to demonstrate the objectivity of the relationship.
We filed this bilingual executive professional services agreement on 5 October. The favourable resolution arrived the next day.
Own a Foreign Company and Considering a Move to Spain?
Your corporate structure may be more compatible with Spanish residency than you think. Have our legal team assess your options before making unnecessary changes.
Explore Our Digital Nomad Visa Services →Want to know more about how to comply with Social Security in Spain? Read here:
Why Company Owner Applications Get Stuck
- Restructuring into a freelancer and resetting the three-month relationship.
- Not documenting who signs for the company, and with what authority.
- Proving direct ownership only when control runs through a holding.
- Submitting foreign documents without apostille and sworn translation.
- Treating a requirement as a refusal instead of answering it on time.
This Japanese CEO did not need a new business model to live in Spain. He needed a file that explained the one he already had. If your structure does not look like the checklist, have it reviewed before you change anything.
Talk to a Lawyer Before You Restructure
At MigratioLex, we review your specific case, not a generic checklist, and tell you whether your current structure can support your application. We respond within 24 hours, in English, French or Spanish.
Book Your Initial ConsultationThis article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is assessed individually, and client details have been limited to protect his privacy. Based on Law 14/2013 (articles 74 bis and 74 ter), Royal Decree 1155/2024 and the favourable resolution of the UGE-CE dated 6 October 2026.
