The Digital Nomad Visa in Spain in 2026 has become one of the most popular ways to legalize your stay. It is a special residence permit designed for foreign freelance professionals and entrepreneurs who work remotely and want to live and work legally in the Kingdom. This type of residence permit was created specifically for those who can work remotely while cooperating with companies abroad.
Initially issued for up to three years, the digital nomad residence permit is renewable, allowing you to stay in Spain long-term. The digital nomad residence permit in Spain in 2026 gives you the freedom to work from anywhere in the country—whether it’s a bustling capital, a picturesque coastal city, or a quiet town in northern Spain. A mild climate, rich culture, and excellent infrastructure create ideal conditions for combining a pleasant lifestyle with productive work.
Law regulating remote work
In 2013, the Spanish government adopted the Entrepreneurs Law to attract foreign professionals and investment. However, over time it became clear that this legal act did not fully meet the modern needs of the market.
Therefore, in 2023 the Startups Law came into force, aimed at attracting young innovative companies, talented specialists, and new ideas. This law introduced significant changes to the 2013 Entrepreneurs Law by adding the Digital Nomad residence permit (Nómada Digital) to the list of residence authorizations regulated by it. This type of residence permit is designed for up to 5 years and allows non-EU citizens to live and work legally in Spain while performing remote work.
Those who wish to obtain a digital nomad residence permit in Spain can begin the application process. You can apply in two ways: from your home country via a digital nomad visa, or directly in Spain by requesting the residence permit right away.
Digital nomad residence permit in 2026: Who can apply?
Main applicant:
- Over 18 years old.
- Citizen of a country that is not part of the EU or EEA.
- Has remote work and an income of at least €2,762 per month.
- No criminal record.
- University graduate or has at least 3 years of work experience.
Spouse/partner:
- Officially registered marriage or civil partnership.
Children under 18:
- Based on family relationship.
Children over 18:
- University students.
- Financially dependent on the main applicant.
- Not married.
Parents and grandparents:
- Financially dependent on the main applicant.
Digital Nomad Residence Permit in Spain in 2026: Requirements
It is important to remember that you can submit documents for the digital nomad residence permit only if you are in Spain with legal status. This may be a tourist visa of any Schengen country or visa-free entry (if your country has such an agreement), or you may already hold a student permit or another residence permit in Spain.
To qualify for a digital nomad residence permit in Spain in 2026, applicants must meet certain requirements:
1. Type of professional activity: employment or freelancing
Digital nomads are professionals who work under an employment contract or a service agreement for legal entities or registered sole proprietors. Working for private individuals or for an unlimited number of users is not предусмотрено by the Law as a basis for this residence permit.
Therefore, one of the key documents for the residence permit is an employment contract or a service contract. An employment contract can be only with one company, while you may have several service contracts—provided that the total payments reach the required monthly income.
In addition, the employer or client must provide written consent confirming that the nomad will continue working fully remotely from Spain.
2. Proof of income
You must prove a stable, regular, and sufficient source of income. The source can be employment or a service contract with a legal entity or a registered sole proprietor. In particular, your income must exceed twice the minimum wage (SMI).
Required income:
- 1 person: 34,188 per year (2,849 per month)
- 2 people: 47,004 per year (3,917 per month)
- 3 people: 51,276 per year (4,273 per month)
- 4 people: 55,548 per year (4,629 per month)
You must provide:
- Bank statements for the last three months showing payments from the declared employer or client.
- An employment contract or service contract for at least 3 months.
- Invoices corresponding to payments under the service contract.
3. How long the employer/client company has existed
The company you work for or provide services to must have been registered and operating for at least one year. This must be confirmed by an extract from the commercial register where the company is registered, properly legalized (apostille or consular legalization).
4. Professional qualifications
The nomad must have relevant higher education (university degree) or higher professional education, confirmed by a diploma that must be apostilled.
If you do not have relevant higher education, relevant work experience may be accepted, but it must be officially confirmed (e.g., employment record book, pension fund extract with an apostille). Simple recommendation letters from former employers or clients are currently not sufficient.
5. No criminal record
You must provide a criminal record certificate from the country (or countries) where you have lived during the last 2 years.
Requirements:
- Issued no earlier than 180 days before submitting the application.
- Legalized via apostille or consular legalization, depending on the issuing country.
- Translated into Spanish by a sworn translator if issued in another language.
6. Private health insurance with full coverage in Spain
For nomads working under an employment contract, as well as their spouses/partners, parents and children (and civil partners of nomads working under a service contract), it is necessary to have private health insurance valid from the date of arrival until the end of the planned stay.
The insurance must meet the following requirements:
- Full coverage (including hospitalization, doctor consultations, emergency care, etc.).
- Issued by an insurance company licensed to operate in Spain.
- No significant exclusions or waiting periods.
For nomads working under a service contract (freelancers), and for their spouses and minor children, private health insurance is not mandatory because in this case nomads register with Spain’s social security system, pay social contributions, and receive public health coverage.
IMPORTANT: A digital nomad pays taxes in Spain and in most cases registers as an autónomo and pays social security contributions. Those who do not may lose their residence permit.
Digital nomad residence permit in Spain in 2026: How to obtain it?
The application procedure for a digital nomad residence permit may seem complicated, but if you understand how to submit documents and prepare well, the process becomes quite clear.
It is best to apply with an experienced lawyer, since there are many нюансы that can affect the outcome.
You have two options:
- Apply through the Spanish consulate in your country of residence for a digital nomad visa, come to Spain with it, and 2 months before it expires apply for the digital nomad residence permit;
- If you are legally in Spain (within the allowed 90 days), you can apply directly to the immigration authorities.
Although the legal framework sets a standard list of requirements and documents, in practice there may be case-specific nuances.
Our company Alegria specializes in helping clients obtain a digital nomad residence permit in Spain. We provide qualified legal support and сопровождение throughout the entire application process. We take care of organizing document collection and communication with the authorities to make the procedure as simple and convenient as possible for our clients.
Digital Nomad Residence Permit in Spain in 2026: Apply with Alegria
Our lawyers have been handling digital nomad residence permit applications since the relevant law was adopted and have an excellent understanding of the nuances of Spanish legislation and bureaucratic procedures. We carefully analyze each case and pay close attention to document preparation and submission, minimizing the risk of refusal to nearly zero.
You won’t have to worry about anything: we will manage the entire process. In our practice, we have assisted digital nomads from many different countries working for companies all over the world.
