Spain is now the latest country to offer digital nomad visas under its new Startup Law. In a bid to boost the local economy and make the most of the remote-working culture in the post-pandemic world, several countries have been giving such visas.
Eager to not be left behind in this trend, Spain, with its average cost of living, stunning beaches and tasty cuisine, has now introduced this visa for all non-European nationals to live and work remotely for up to one year, which could be renewed to five years. If you are one of those who are interested, then keep reading to find out how you can become a digital nomad, as we tell you everything you need to know about Spain’s digital nomad visa.
Who can apply for a digital nomad visa?
Any person from outside of the European Economic Area, i.e. European Union and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, who works as a freelancer or for a non-Spanish company, can become a digital nomad. All you have to do is provide proof stating your employment has been for more than three months with a client or an organisation and that the firm has been operational for more than one year. Additionally, you also need to prove that your employers or clients don’t have a problem with you working remotely.
Overall, you need a minimum of three years of work experience in addition to university degree.
In case you are working for local Spanish companies, you can draw a maximum of 20 percent of your income from them.
Related Stories
What are the requirements for a digital nomad visa?
By sharing bank statements, contracts and invoices, the applicant must be able to prove that they have enough money to support themselves in the country. The income should be 200% of the country’s minimum wage, which currently is EUR 2,334 (USD 2,471 – at the time of writing) per month or EUR 28,000 (USD 29,644 – at the time of writing) per year. The scheme also requires the applicant to not have any criminal records in Spain or the country they have previously resided in the past five years.
How can you apply for a digital nomad visa?
Applications for the visa can be directly sent through a consulate or the embassy in the home country. Alternatively, you can get a tourist visa for Spain and send in the application within the first three months of your stay. Documents that are required for the digital nomad visa application are:
- A completed application form
- Payment and proof of administrative fee
- A valid passport copy
- Proof of continuous working of at least three months with the current company from the date of application.
- Proof that the organisation has existed for more than one year from the date of application.
- Educational qualification and work experience certificates
- Employment contract and income invoices
- An authorisation letter from your organisation to work in Spain
- A clear criminal record
- Health insurance
(Hero and featured image credit: alizee-baudez/Unsplash)
Related: Henley Passport Index 2023: Japan Scores Top Spot, Followed By Singapore
Written By
Ayushi Anand
A post-graduate in journalism and mass communication, Ayushi is a digital writer who has worked with several Indian media organisations, including Times Internet Limited and Zee Media Corporation Limited, in the news, lifestyle and entertainment space. When she's not on her desk, she can be found dancing, trying new restaurants or packing her bags to ..Read More
