Spain Digital Nomad Visa Requirements 2026: Income, Documents and Eligibility

Spain's Visado para Teletrabajo de Carácter Internacional is the most widely applied-for nomad visa in Europe. This page covers who qualifies and what you need. If you already know you qualify and want the fastest route, see Spain Digital Nomad Visa: The Fastest Route from the US.

Requirements at a glance

Schengen note. Spain is in the Schengen area. If you use the in-country UGE-CE route you apply while present as a tourist, so the 90/180 rule governs your position until the authorisation is granted. Since April 2026 it is tracked automatically by the Entry/Exit System rather than passport stamps. See the 90/180 rule after EES or work out your days.

The income figure is indexed

€2,849/month is 200% of Spain's salario mínimo interprofesional, set by RD 126/2026. Because it is pegged to the minimum wage, it moves whenever the SMI moves — typically each January.

Any guide quoting a figure without a year is unreliable. Figures from 2023 and 2024 are still widely published and are now below the real threshold.

Family calculation example — couple with one child:

Main applicant      €2,849
+ spouse            €1,068
+ child               €356
─────────────────────────
Total             €4,273/month  (€51,276/year)

The 20% rule disqualifies more people than the income floor

No more than 20% of your income may come from Spanish sources.

This is the requirement that catches applicants who otherwise sail through. If you're a freelancer with a healthy client list and one significant Spanish client, run the numbers before applying — a client representing 25% of revenue disqualifies you regardless of how far above €2,849 you are.

It also constrains what you can do after arrival. Taking on Spanish clients that push you past 20% puts your renewal at risk.

The two history requirements

Three months with your employer or client. You must show an existing working relationship of at least three months at the point of application. Someone who just signed a new remote contract has to wait.

One year of company trading history. The company employing or contracting you must have been operating for at least a year. This blocks the obvious workaround of incorporating a shell company to sponsor yourself.

Freelancers need contracts with clients whose businesses meet the one-year test.

Employee or freelancer — the choice has tax consequences

Both can apply, but the routes diverge afterwards.

Employees can opt into the Beckham Law (Article 93 LIRPF): a flat 24% on income up to €600,000, against progressive rates reaching 47%. You must file Modelo 149 within six months of registering with Spanish Social Security. The deadline is not extendable.

Freelancers registering as autónomo generally forfeit Beckham Law eligibility and pay progressive rates plus social security contributions.

For US applicants there is a further wrinkle: the Certificate of Coverage requirement often pushes people toward registering as autónomo, which then costs them the 24% rate. That trade-off should be a deliberate decision made before applying — see the fastest-route guide for how the Certificate of Coverage works.

Documents

• Passport valid well beyond the application period
• Proof of income at €2,849+/month
• Employment contract or client contracts showing 3+ months
• Company incorporation documents showing 1+ year of trading
• Criminal record certificate, apostilled
• Private Spanish health insurance — no co-pays, no waiting periods
• Certificate of Coverage or Spanish Social Security registration
• Completed application and fee (€73.26 via UGE-CE)

The insurance requirement is specific: travel insurance and policies with co-payments or waiting periods are rejected. It must be full health coverage valid in Spain.

Two routes in, and they differ

The in-country route grants three years rather than one and carries positive administrative silence. It also requires you to be in Spain with documents already assembled. Full comparison here.

How Spain compares

Spain offers the longest initial grant of the major European options at a mid-range income bar, plus the 24% tax regime for employees. The 20% rule and the insurance specification are where applications fail.

What the process is actually like

[Author section — first-hand or sourced account. A list of insurers whose policies have been accepted would be the single most useful addition.]

Frequently asked questions

How much income do I need in 2026? €2,849 per month (€34,188 per year), plus €1,068 for the first family member and €356 for each additional one. The figure is 200% of the minimum wage and rises when that does.

What is the 20% rule? No more than 20% of your income may come from Spanish sources. Exceeding it disqualifies you regardless of total income.

How long must I have worked for my employer? At least three months, and the company must have been trading for at least one year.

Can freelancers apply? Yes, with client contracts meeting the same history requirements. Freelancers registering as autónomo generally cannot use the Beckham Law 24% rate.

What health insurance is accepted? Full private health coverage valid in Spain with no co-payments and no waiting periods. Travel insurance is not accepted.

How long is the visa valid? Up to three years if granted in-country through the UGE-CE, renewable. One year if issued by a consulate.

Can I get the 24% tax rate? Only as an employee, and only if you file Modelo 149 within six months of Social Security registration.

Official sources

• Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones
• UGE-CE application portal
• Agencia Tributaria — Modelo 149

Requirements verified 29 July 2026. The income threshold is indexed to Spain's minimum wage and changes annually. This is a reference, not legal advice.