Spain is one step closer to officially launching the Digital Nomad Visa program, which aims to attract international talent.
The Digital Nomad Visa of Spain It was endorsed in a plenary session of the Spanish Congress of Deputies in December 2022, and at that time the authorities said that the country would launch the new visa in 2023.
Although the authorities have not made an official statement on further details, it is believed that information will be shared soon and all those planning to apply for the new Spain Digital Nomad Visa are advised to check the eligibility and application rules beforehand.
Who is eligible for the new Spain digital nomad visa?
According to the Washington Post, all nationals of non-European Union countries who are self-employed or work for a non-Spanish company that operates outside of Spain can apply for the Digital Nomad Visa.
In addition, he points out that self-employed people can also apply for the Digital Nomad Visa. However, this group of workers must not have more than 20 percent of their income coming from companies in Spain.
To be eligible for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must also meet the minimum income requirement: between 2,000 and 3,000 euros per month.
The Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration also points out that applicants must also prove that they do not have a criminal record in Spain or in the country in which they have resided in the last five years.
Applicants must also obtain private health insurance, demonstrate that they have secured a place to live in Spain, and have sufficient financial resources to support themselves during their period of residence in Spain. SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Additionally, the Washington Post explains that to be eligible for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must have been working remotely for at least one year, and a minimum of three months at their current company.
Regarding the language requirement, it has been highlighted that applicants are not required to learn the language in order to obtain a visa. However, learning the language is still a huge advantage as it makes it easier for digital nomads to communicate while in Spain.
In addition to the above, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration of Spain points out that the relatives of those who obtain the Digital Nomad Visa may also obtain authorization to reside in Spain.
Regarding absences outside the territory of Spain, the Ministry specified that a person who holds a Digital Nomad Visa may remain outside the country for a maximum of six months a year.
“They may be absent for a maximum of six months per calendar year to continue maintaining the requirements for obtaining authorization.” reads the Ministry’s statement.
Application process, cost and processing time
Those who wish to apply for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa can do so in Spain or at a Spanish embassy or consulate in their country of origin.
When applying for the Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must request an appointment by email and bring their application form, their current passport, a clean criminal record, two passport-sized photographs, proof of insurance, proof of employment, as well as the payment of the application fee.
Although applicants can choose to apply in Spain or from their home country, immigration lawyer Maximiliano Agazzi Paulet has recommended that the application process be carried out from Spain.
Paulet has advised all those planning to apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa to enter Spain with a tourist visa and then submit their application along with the rest of the required documents. During the time the application is being processed, the authorities can extend the legal stay of the applicant and once the application is approved, they will be able to remain in Spain.
The Digital Nomad Visa application in Spain costs around €75, not including the consulate fee. If the application is approved, applicants will have to pay an additional fee of around €15 for the residence card.
Regarding processing time, it has been noted that in general embassies or consulates take around two months to issue a decision on Digital Nomad Visa applications.
At the same time, it has been pointed out that the processing time may be shorter when the application is submitted in Spain. However, the authorities have not yet revealed more information on the matter.
Regarding taxes, with the new Digital Nomad Visa, beneficiaries will pay a lower amount. Spanish authorities said in December 2022 that Corporation Tax for digital nomads will be reduced from 25 percent to 15 percent.
Where to live in Spain?
Spain is one of the most popular destinations in Europe and, regardless of preferences, everyone will be able to find their own “home”. There are many cities where a digital nomad should consider living in Spain, but the technology centers (Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia) are the most recommended.
However, we must not forget that the advantage of the Digital Nomad Visa is that you can work from wherever you want, so the countryside always remains an option for those who do not prefer cities and want to have lower costs of living.
Unlike Spain, which has not yet officially launched the Digital Nomad Visa program, several EU countries already offer this type of visa for foreigners.
The list of EU countries offering digital nomad visas includes Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Malta, Romania, Netherlands and Norway.
