After you move to Madrid and plan your stay, you can get a Digital Nomad Visa. This residence permit lets you live in Spain while working remotely for companies outside the country.
What is the Digital Nomad Visa?
The official name is the autorización de residencia para teletrabajador de carácter internacional. This translates to residence authorization for international teleworkers.
Most people call it the Digital Nomad Visa. The visa was created under the Spanish Startup Law in late 2022.
It allows non-EU citizens to live in Spain and work remotely. You can work as an employee of a foreign company.
You can also work as a self-employed freelancer with multiple clients. The permit is valid for up to 3 years if you apply from within Spain.
You can renew it for 2 additional years.
How to Apply for a Spanish Residence Permit (TIE)
Who can apply?
You must meet specific professional criteria to qualify for this visa. The government wants to attract qualified professionals.
First, you must work for companies located outside of Spain. You cannot work for Spanish companies as an employee.
If you are a freelancer, you can have Spanish clients. However, your income from Spanish companies must not exceed 20% of your total monthly income.
Second, you must prove your professional background. You need to show that you have the skills to work remotely.
You must meet one of these two criteria:
- You have a university degree or a vocational certificate from a prestigious business school.
- You have at least 3 years of work experience in your professional field.
Finally, your work contract or freelance relationship must have existed for at least 3 months before you apply. The foreign company you work for must also have been active for at least 1 year.
Income and financial requirements
You must prove that you earn enough money to support yourself in Spain. The income requirements are pegged to the Spanish minimum wage.
This wage is called the Salario Mínimo Interprofesional (minimum interprofessional salary, or SMI). The government updates this figure every year.
For 2026, the SMI is €1,221 per month based on 14 payments. The Digital Nomad Visa requires you to earn a specific percentage of this wage.
Main applicant requirement
The main applicant must prove a monthly income of at least 200% of the SMI.
For 2026, this minimum income is €2,849 per month. This amount equals €34,188 per year.
You must prove this income with employment contracts, payslips, or client invoices. You cannot pool your household income to meet this limit.
Family dependent requirements
If you bring family members, you must prove additional income. The requirements are calculated as percentages of the SMI.
- First dependent : You must prove an additional 75% of the SMI. For 2026, this is €1,069 per month.
- Each additional dependent : You must prove an additional 25% of the SMI. For 2026, this is €357 per month.
These dependents can include your spouse, registered civil partner, and dependent children.
Example: You apply with your spouse and one child. You need €2,849 for yourself, €1,069 for your spouse, and €357 for your child. Your total required monthly income is €4,275.
Stage 1: Choose where to apply
You can apply for this visa from two different locations. Your choice affects the duration of your permit.
Applying from your home country
You can submit your application at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence.
If approved, the consulate will issue a 1-year visa. This visa allows you to enter Spain.
After you arrive in Spain, you can exchange this visa for a 3-year residence permit.
Applying from inside Spain
You can travel to Spain on a tourist visa or tourist waiver. You can then submit your application directly from Madrid.
You must submit the application while you are in Spain legally. You cannot apply if your tourist stay has expired.
If approved, you get a 3-year residence permit immediately. This is the preferred route for many nomads.
Stage 2: Prepare your documents
You must collect several official documents before you submit your request. All foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled.
You must also translate all non-Spanish documents. The translation must be done by a traductor jurado (certified translator).
Required document checklist
- Application form : The official application form completed and signed.
- Passport : A complete copy of your passport, including all blank pages.
- Proof of employment : A contract showing you have worked for the company for at least 3 months.
- Company registration : A document showing the foreign company has existed for at least 1 year.
- Letter of authorization : A signed letter from your employer permitting you to work from Spain.
- Proof of income : Your bank statements and payslips from the last 3 months.
- Criminal record certificate : A certified criminal record check from countries where you lived in the last 2 years.
- Private health insurance : A policy with an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain.
- Fee payment receipt : Proof of payment of the administrative fee.
The empadronamiento: How to register your address in Madrid
Stage 3: Submit your application
If you apply from inside Spain, you must submit your application electronically. The process is handled by a specific government department.
This is the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (Large Business and Strategic Groups Unit, or UGE-CE).
You cannot submit this application in person at a local office. You must use the online Mercurio platform.
You need a certificado digital (digital certificate) or a Cl@ve (electronic signature system) to access the platform. Many nomads hire a representative to submit the files for them.
You must pay the application fee before submitting. This fee is paid using the form Tasa 790 Código 038 (fee form 790 code 038).
The fee for the application is €73.26. You can pay it at any bank branch in Madrid.
The UGE-CE has 20 working days to process your application. If you do not receive a reply within 20 days, your application is considered approved by administrative silence.
Stage 4: Apply for your TIE card in Madrid
Once your visa is approved, you must obtain your physical identity card. This card is the TIE.
You must register your local address first. This registration is called the empadronamiento.
You must book a fingerprinting appointment at a local police station. You must do this within 30 days of receiving your approval.
Documents to bring to the police station
- Original passport : Your valid physical passport.
- Approval resolution : The official approval letter from the UGE-CE.
- Empadronamiento certificate : Your proof of address registration.
- Modelo 790 Código 012 : The paid card fee form. The fee is €16.08.
- Passport photo : A recent color photo with a white background.
You will return to the police station 30 days later to collect your card.
How to Apply for a Spanish Residence Permit (TIE)
Social Security and health insurance
You must show that you are covered for health and social security during your stay in Spain.
The Social Security challenge for employees
Under Spanish law, employees must pay social security contributions. This rule applies to remote workers too.
If you are an employee of a foreign company, your country must have a social security agreement with Spain. This agreement must allow you to remain on your home country’s social security.
You must obtain a Certificado de Cobertura (Certificate of Coverage) from your home country. This document proves you continue to pay taxes at home.
If your country has no agreement, your employer must register with the Spanish Social Security system. This process is complex and expensive for foreign companies.
Because of this rule, many remote employees choose to apply as freelancers instead.
Health insurance requirements
You must have private health insurance if you do not pay Spanish social security.
The policy must offer full coverage equivalent to the Spanish public system. It must not have copayments or deductibles.
The insurance company must be authorized to operate in Spain. You must pay the annual premium in advance.
Health insurance in Spain: public vs private
If your application is delayed or rejected
The UGE-CE can request additional documents during the review process. This request is called a requerimiento (request for documents).
You will receive an email notification. You have 10 working days to upload the missing documents to the Mercurio platform.
If your application is rejected, you will receive a letter stating the reasons. Common reasons include insufficient income or incorrect translations.
You can file an administrative appeal within 1 month of the rejection. You can also file a judicial appeal within 2 months.
You should hire a qualified representative or lawyer to handle your appeal.
Questions and answers
Can I travel within the Schengen Zone with this visa?
Yes. The Digital Nomad Visa allows you to travel freely within the Schengen Zone. You can travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Do I have to pay taxes in Spain?
Yes. If you spend more than 183 days per year in Spain, you become a tax resident. You must pay Spanish income tax on your worldwide income. You may qualify for a special tax regime for digital nomads.
Can my spouse work in Spain with this visa?
Yes. Family members who receive a dependent permit are allowed to work in Spain. They can work as employees or freelancers.
Can I apply if I am already in Spain on a tourist visa?
Yes. You can submit your application while you are legally in Spain on a tourist visa. You must submit it before your legal tourist stay expires.
Do I need to speak Spanish to apply?
No. The government does not require any language certificates for this visa. The application documents must be translated into Spanish.
