Spain Digital Nomad Visa Requirements 2025: Income, Health Insurance, Taxes, Documents, and How to Apply

Ever dreamed of working remotely from a sunny apartment in Barcelona, a vibrant coworking space in Madrid, or a quiet beach in Valencia — all while keeping your job abroad?
Now it’s possible: Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa lets you live and work in Spain without leaving your career behind.

But before you start packing your laptop and sandals, you need to understand the fine print — because Spain’s bureaucracy is beautiful… until it isn’t. 🙃

This guide will explain exactly what the Spain Digital Nomad Visa requires in 2025, including income rules, health insurance, documentation, and whether you need to register as self-employed (autónomo) or pay into Spanish Social Security.

🧭 What Is the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?

The Spain Digital Nomad Visa (Visado de Nómada Digital) is a residence permit created in 2023 for non-EU citizens who work remotely — either as employees of foreign companies or as freelancers with international clients.

It’s designed for remote professionals who want to live legally in Spain while continuing to earn income from abroad.

Once approved, the visa allows you to live and work in Spain for up to one year if you apply from your home country, or up to three years if you apply from within Spain. After that, you can renew your residence card for two-year periods, multiple times. Once you reach five years of residence, you become eligible for permanent residence.

💰 Income Requirements for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa (2025)

Let’s start with the money — because that’s one of the main conditions.

To qualify, you must show stable and sufficient income to support yourself (and your family, if applicable) without relying on Spain’s social system.

As of 2025, the minimum income requirement is set at:

• 200% of the Spanish Minimum Wage (SMI) → around €2,760 per month for a single applicant.

• If you’re bringing dependents:

  • Add +75% of SMI (€1,035) for your first dependent (spouse or partner).

  • Add +25% of SMI (€345) for each additional dependent (child, etc.).

How to Prove It

You can show:

• Payslips or employment contracts from your remote job.

• Bank statements for the last 3–6 months showing regular deposits.

• Tax declarations or invoices if you’re self-employed.

• Letters from employers or clients confirming your relationship and remote status.

MigratioLex usually helps applicants prepare clean, verifiable financial documentation so the consulate doesn’t reject your file for inconsistencies.

🩺 Health Insurance Requirements: Private vs. Public

This part confuses almost everyone — and rightly so. Here’s the truth, simply explained.

✅ You don’t need to have private health insurance

In practice, Spanish authorities often approve the visa without full private health coverage from a Spanish or EU-authorized insurer. Since you will already be contributing to the Spanish Social Security system — either as an employee or self-employed (autónomo) — you are entitled to public healthcare coverage. (Note: your visa’s validity depends on maintaining these contributions.)

Note: Public healthcare in Spain is generally good, but delays can occur. If you prefer private insurance, it’s a smart choice — and we can help you find the best plan for you and your family. Contact us to get started!

 

🧾 Document Checklist for 2025

When you apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, you’ll need to present:

✅	Requirement	Details / Notes
☐	Completed visa application form	Fill out the official Spain Digital Nomad Visa application form.
☐	Valid passport	Must have at least one year of validity remaining.
☐	Proof of income	Show sufficient income according to Spain’s visa requirements.
☐	Proof of remote work	Provide one of the following: • Employment contract with a foreign company (minimum 3 months relationship). • Freelance contracts with foreign clients.
☐	Professional background	Provide a university degree or proof of at least 3 years of relevant experience.
☐	Clean criminal record certificate	Must be apostilled and translated into Spanish.
☐	Government fees	74€ if the application is submitted within Spain; fees vary depending on the consulate if submitted abroad.
☐	Translations and apostilles	All foreign-language documents must be translated into Spanish and apostilled.

 

👩‍💻 Do You Need to Register as “Autónomo”?

This depends on how you work:

If you’re an employee for a foreign company:

You don’t need to register as autónomo in Spain — your contract remains abroad.
However, you may eventually become liable for Spanish income tax if you stay over 183 days per year, as you’ll be considered a tax resident.

If you’re a freelancer or business owner:

You’ll likely need to register as autónomo once in Spain, especially if:

• You’re invoicing clients regularly.

• You open a Spanish bank account or business.

• You plan to stay long-term.

MigratioLex usually guides clients through this step — helping them register correctly with the RETA (self-employed regime) and Seguridad Social, avoiding tax penalties or overpayment.

👩‍💻 Working as a Freelancer or Remote Employee: Obligations in Spain

Many people get confused about whether they need to register as self-employed (autónomo) in Spain when applying for the Digital Nomad Visa. Let’s clarify this.

1. Remote Employee for a Foreign Company

If you work remotely for a company outside Spain, in most cases your employer must register as a foreign company in the Spanish Social Security system, creating a contribution account to pay salaries and social security contributions in Spain.

There are some exceptions, but they are rare. They only apply if there is a bilateral agreement between Spain and your home country that allows you to continue paying into your country’s system through a certificate of posting. Even then, these agreements are usually temporary and subject to strict conditions.

Spain’s rules focus on ensuring you can support yourself and have health coverage, rather than forcing you to join the Spanish system if you are already legally employed abroad.

2. Freelancers or Business Owners (e.g., LLC)

If you are a freelancer or have a foreign business (for example, a US LLC) and you operate your business from Spain, the rules are slightly different:

• Spain may consider your business activity effectively located in Spain, even if all your clients are foreign.

• This typically requires registering as autónomo in Spain and paying Social Security contributions under the RETA (Special Self-Employed Regime).

• You would also need to register with the Spanish Tax Agency (Hacienda) and declare your income. Depending on your situation, you might benefit from the Beckham Law, paying a flat tax rate (around 24%) for up to 5 years.

 3. Residency and Tax Implications

Even if you don’t register as autónomo, if you stay more than 183 days a year in Spain, you may become a Spanish tax resident. This means:

• You must declare your worldwide income to Spanish tax authorities.

• You can often deduct taxes already paid in your home country thanks to a double taxation treaty.

This does not mean double Social Security contributions. Tax residence is separate from Social Security obligations.

 4. Why This Matters for the Digital Nomad Visa

The visa differentiates between:

• Remote employees: Only need to prove the foreign contract and remote status. No autónomo registration required.

• Freelancers or business owners: Must show at least 80% of income comes from outside Spain. They only register as autónomo if they operate the business actively in Spain.

Even with the visa, your tax and social security obligations depend on your actual work location and duration of stay.

 5. Professional Advice

Navigating this distinction is tricky. Consulates may interpret rules differently, and mistakes can be costly. A legal team like MigratioLex can:

• Analyze your case country by country,

• Advise whether you need to register as autónomo,

• Optimize your tax situation under Spanish law,

• Ensure compliance with both Spanish authorities and your home country.

In short, it avoids missteps that could lead to penalties, unnecessary contributions, or double taxation.

 

Application Process Step by Step

1. Collect all documents (translated, apostilled, certified).

2. Apply at your nearest Spanish Consulate (or in Spain if already legally here).

3. Pay the visa fee.

4. Wait for resolution (usually 10–30 days).

5. Once approved, travel to Spain and apply for your residence card (TIE) within 30 days.

6. Register your address and open a Spanish bank account.

7. Optional: Register as autónomo if applicable.

 

🤔 Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting to apostille or translate foreign documents.

• Not proving the remote work relationship properly (freelancers need clear contracts).

• Underestimating tax obligations once living in Spain.

• Trying to “DIY” everything without knowing local legal nuances.

  
  

💡 Why Hiring MigratioLex Is a Smart Investment

Let’s be honest: Spanish bureaucracy can turn your dream into a nightmare.
Between translations, apostilles, different consulate rules, and the dreaded paperwork maze, it’s easy to lose time (and patience).

That’s where MigratioLex makes all the difference.

With their legal and immigration expertise, they:

• Review your case personally and confirm you qualify.

• Help prepare your documents exactly as consulates expect them.

• Advise you on the right insurance and income documentation.

• Guide you on whether to register as autónomo and handle tax compliance.

• Save you hours of frustration and potentially hundreds of euros in mistakes.

  
  

🧳 Final Thoughts

The Spain Digital Nomad Visa is one of the best opportunities in Europe to live legally in a vibrant, affordable, and sunny country while working remotely.
But like every good thing in Spain — from tapas to paperwork — it comes with rules.

If you meet the income threshold, and prepare your documentation correctly, your chances of approval are high.

And if you’d rather not get lost between legal jargon and government forms, MigratioLex can handle the process for you — so you can focus on what really matters: living your best Mediterranean life.