Spain Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Funds, Documents, Duration

Who it is for and family members

Spain's Law 14/2013 describes international telework as remote work or professional activity for companies located outside Spain, done through the exclusive use of computer, telematic and telecommunication systems, by a third-country national authorized to stay in Spain. The Washington consular page says the visa does not apply to citizens of the European Union or to those to whom European Union law applies. It says qualified professionals may apply if they accredit being graduates or postgraduates from universities of recognized prestige, professional training and business schools of recognized prestige, or have a minimum of 3 years of professional experience. The Ministry of Inclusion's FAQ says the teleworker must be a third-country national of legal age. The Washington page lists as family members who may obtain an accompanying visa the spouse or unmarried partner, children and adult children who are financially dependent on the worker and have not created a family unit of their own, and relatives in the ascending line, such as parents, under the worker's care.

boe.es: Ley 14/2013, de 27 de septiembre, de apoyo a los emprendedores y su internacionalización (texto consolidado) exteriores.gob.es: Telework (Digital nomad) Visa - Consular Section, Embassy of Spain in Washington DC inclusion.gob.es: Frequently Asked Questions - Residence and Work Authorisations for International Teleworkers (Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit, Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration)

Work and employer conditions

Under the statute, in an employment activity the holder may only work for companies located outside Spain. In a professional activity, work for a company located in Spain is allowed as long as it is no more than 20 % of the total professional activity. The Washington page, which serves only its own district, adds that the visa does not allow work for individuals, international organizations, government agencies, universities, foundations, NGOs, or other non-profit entities. The statute also asks for real and continuous activity of the company or group of companies for at least one year, documents showing the work can be done remotely, and an employment or commercial relationship with a company outside Spain for at least the last three months. The Ministry of Inclusion's FAQ says family members can work in Spain: residence authorizations allow residence and work without restrictions, both as employees and as self-employed workers. Both consular pages say a telework visa cannot be granted when the application's conditions match those of an intra-company transfer visa.

boe.es: Ley 14/2013, de 27 de septiembre, de apoyo a los emprendedores y su internacionalización (texto consolidado) exteriores.gob.es: Telework (Digital nomad) Visa - Consular Section, Embassy of Spain in Washington DC exteriores.gob.es: Telework visa - Consular Section, Consulate General of Spain in New York inclusion.gob.es: Frequently Asked Questions - Residence and Work Authorisations for International Teleworkers (Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit, Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration)

Income, funds and visa fees

Spain's Law 14/2013 says income thresholds are set by reference to the minimum wage (SMI). The Washington page says the required monthly amount varies each year and gives the 2026 SMI as €1,221. For an applicant alone it lists 200% of it, €2,442/mo, with €916/mo (75%) added for the first accompanying family member and €306 (25%) for each additional one. The Ministry of Inclusion's FAQ applies the same 200% of the SMI to holders of visas and of residence authorizations. The New York page adds that the ownership, legality and availability of the funds used as evidence must be accredited. For applications at the Washington consular section, the Washington page lists visa fees from January 1, 2026 that depend on nationality: $190 for U.S. citizens, $963 for UK citizens, $1566 for Canadian citizens, $3020 for Australian citizens, $546 for Ethiopian citizens, $282 for Mauritanian citizens and $106 for all other citizens. It says the fees are revised quarterly according to exchange rates.

boe.es: Ley 14/2013, de 27 de septiembre, de apoyo a los emprendedores y su internacionalización (texto consolidado) exteriores.gob.es: Telework (Digital nomad) Visa - Consular Section, Embassy of Spain in Washington DC exteriores.gob.es: Telework visa - Consular Section, Consulate General of Spain in New York inclusion.gob.es: Frequently Asked Questions - Residence and Work Authorisations for International Teleworkers (Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit, Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration)

Insurance and Social Security

The Washington page asks for proof of public or private health insurance with an insurer authorized to operate in Spain, covering all risks insured by Spain's public health system for the entire duration of the authorization, with no waiting period (the page's English text says 'deficiency'), copayment or coverage limit. Travel insurance is not accepted; proof of coverage by Spain's public Social Security system replaces the insurance certificate. It also asks for proof of Spanish Social Security registration of the company, or of the teleworker as self-employed (or a registration request), and a declaration (called a 'responsible declaration') committing to comply with Social Security obligations before the activity starts. The New York page says this registration may be replaced when there is an international Social Security agreement with Spain and the country of origin's Social Security issues a certificate of applicable legislation for teleworkers, noting that only some countries issue it. The Ministry of Inclusion's FAQ says this replacement is possible only for employed workers, not self-employed workers.

exteriores.gob.es: Telework (Digital nomad) Visa - Consular Section, Embassy of Spain in Washington DC exteriores.gob.es: Telework visa - Consular Section, Consulate General of Spain in New York inclusion.gob.es: Frequently Asked Questions - Residence and Work Authorisations for International Teleworkers (Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit, Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration)

Other documents

For applicants in its consular district, the Washington page says a foreigner identity number (NIE) must be obtained before applying for the visa. It asks for a passport valid for at least the requested time of stay with at least two blank visa pages; for applicants of legal age, criminal background check certificates from the country or countries of residence for the past 2 years, plus a declaration (called a 'responsible declaration') of no criminal records in the countries where the applicant resided during the previous 5 years; and the degree or documents proving a minimum of 3 years' professional experience, with foreign official documents apostilled or legalized and officially translated into Spanish. Both consular pages say that anyone who will practise a regulated profession must accredit the approval or recognition of the qualification needed for it. For its own district, the New York page words some items differently, for example a passport valid for at least 1 year.

exteriores.gob.es: Telework (Digital nomad) Visa - Consular Section, Embassy of Spain in Washington DC exteriores.gob.es: Telework visa - Consular Section, Consulate General of Spain in New York

Visa, residence authorization and renewal

The statute says foreigners not resident in Spain who plan to reside there to telework for a company not located in Spain apply for the visa. It has a maximum validity of one year, or that of a shorter work period, and is sufficient title to reside and work remotely in Spain during its validity. Foreigners regularly in Spain, or who entered with that visa, may apply for a residence authorization to telework for a company abroad, valid for a maximum of three years unless a shorter work period is requested. Renewals are for periods of two years while the conditions that gave the right are maintained. Visa holders who want to keep living in Spain may apply for the authorization within the sixty calendar days before the visa expires, provided the conditions that gave the right are maintained. For residence authorizations, the statute says the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit processes them electronically, with a maximum resolution time of twenty days from electronic submission.

boe.es: Ley 14/2013, de 27 de septiembre, de apoyo a los emprendedores y su internacionalización (texto consolidado)

How to apply, decision time and fees

Each consular page serves its own district: the Washington page accepts applications only from legal residents of its consular jurisdiction (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina), and the New York page only from people residing in its consular district. The statute says visa applications are resolved and notified within 10 working days, except in some cases where the general time limit of the EU Visa Code applies instead. The Washington page gives 10 days from the day the Consular Section forwards the documents, extendable when an interview or additional documents are requested, and says that from September 1, 2026 applications at the Washington consular section are submitted in person by appointment at the BLS Spain Visa Application Center. For residence authorizations, the Ministry of Inclusion's FAQ gives a fee of €73.26 for initial applications, both for the main applicant and any family members, paid online in advance.

boe.es: Ley 14/2013, de 27 de septiembre, de apoyo a los emprendedores y su internacionalización (texto consolidado) exteriores.gob.es: Telework (Digital nomad) Visa - Consular Section, Embassy of Spain in Washington DC exteriores.gob.es: Telework visa - Consular Section, Consulate General of Spain in New York inclusion.gob.es: Frequently Asked Questions - Residence and Work Authorisations for International Teleworkers (Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit, Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration)

What this page does not cover

This page does not cover tax rules, Social Security contribution amounts, what happens if a self-employed teleworker does not register with Social Security, the full list of documents for applying for the residence authorization inside Spain, whether holders of other permits, such as a non-lucrative residence authorization, can apply, or what comes after approval, such as the foreigner identity card, what happens if an authorization is not decided on time, and notifying changes in conditions. Check the official pages for them.