Spain's Digital Nomad Visa,
done right

The benchmark is 200% of Spain's national minimum wage (SMI), with roughly 75% of the SMI added for your first dependent and 25% for each additional one. Because the SMI is revised annually, the exact euro figure changes from year to year — your lawyer confirms the threshold in force when you file, and how your particular income sources are counted toward it.

Yes. There are two routes: applying at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence, or applying from within Spain while legally present. The in-Spain route typically grants a three-year residence permit directly, while the consulate route typically grants a one-year visa that you convert to a residence permit after arrival. Which one is available and sensible depends on your nationality and current status.

Applications filed from inside Spain are handled by a dedicated unit and are usually resolved in a matter of weeks. Consulate applications vary widely by location and season, and can take considerably longer. Preparing apostilles and sworn translations before filing is often what determines the real timeline.

Freelancers can, but only up to a capped share of their total income — the majority of your work must be for companies based outside Spain. If you are employed rather than freelance, your employer must be a non-Spanish company. Getting this balance wrong is a common ground for refusal, so it is worth confirming before you file.

Yes. A spouse or registered partner, dependent children, and in some circumstances dependent parents can be included in the same application. Each dependent increases the income you must evidence and requires their own criminal record certificate, health cover and civil documents.

You need full health cover valid in Spain. That is usually a private policy from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain with no copayments and no waiting periods — or, if you are contributing to Spanish social security, registration there instead. Travel insurance does not qualify.

Digital Nomad Visa holders may be able to apply for Spain's special regime for inbound workers, often called the Beckham Law, which taxes qualifying income at a flat rate for a limited period. Eligibility is separate from the visa itself and has its own conditions and deadlines. This is a tax question, not an immigration one — take it to a Spanish tax adviser.

Legal residence in Spain generally counts toward long-term residency after five continuous years, and toward citizenship on the timeline that applies to your nationality. Renewals and time spent outside Spain both affect that count, so plan renewals with your lawyer rather than at the last minute.