Do you need a Visa to live or work in Spain?
If your dream is to live or work in Spain then firstly you should check to see if you need a visa. Spain offers various visas for short term visits and long term immigration. These options apply to citizens of all non EU, EEA countries including the USA and the United Kingdom. All stays longer than 90 days require a visa and private medical insurance (or S1 if you are receiving a state pension) to live or work in Spain.
If you fall into this category, our Visa Team will ensure you gain the correct Residency Visa for your situation. Our specialist team deal with the most popular Visas: Non Lucrative Visa and the Digital Nomad Visa.
If you are an EU citizen and want to spend more than 90 days in Spain you must apply for residency. Our Visa team will happily arrange this for you together with your NIE application.
Non-Lucrative Visa
The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa is for non EU/EEA CITIZENS who have enough economic means to stay in the country without working. This is also applicable for applicant’s relatives, so you can bring your dependant family with you.
This permit will allow you to stay in Spain for one year. You will then be able to renew every 2 years until you receive the permanent residency, issued after 5 years of living in the country.
For those individuals who wish to stay for one year in Spain without working (to discover and visit the country) to then continue a professional activity, the NON-LUCRATIVE VISA is ideal. It allows you to modify your visa towards a possible work permit after the first year.
To apply for your Non-Lucrative Visa you must arrange it in your country of residence before you enter Spain.
Digital Nomad Visa
In January 2023, Spain launched their Digital Nomad Visa as part of the new Startup Act, a group of measures designed to encourage entrepreneurship and foreign investment. The new Spanish remote work visa allows non-EU/EEA remote workers and freelancers to live and work in Spain for up to 12 months in the first instance (if applied for in their own country of residence), renewable for up to five years.
Applicants must prove that they have a minimum income of €2,762 per month to apply (200% of the Spanish Minimum Wage), with higher income brackets if you will be accompanied by a partner or children.
Remote workers must also show that they have a stable contract, that they have permission from their company to work in Spain, and that their company has been in business for at least one year. Unlike many other Digital Nomad Visas, up to 20% of a freelancer’s income can come from Spanish clients.
Successful applicants will also be eligible to apply for a Spanish residency permit, which will enable them to travel around the European Union. Most visa holders will become tax residents and are eligible to pay a special reduced tax rate of 24% on income up to €600,000 per year. Spain has double taxation agreements with 90 other countries
To apply for your DNV you have two different options, both directed at the UGE:
- Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa from your country of origin. You would get a 1-year visa (that can be modified to residency later on)
- Apply directly in Spain, as a tourist, and obtain a 3-year permit (renewable for 2 more years)
You will enjoy a fast-track application, meaning that you will get a favourable response after just 20 days.