Spanish Remote Worker Visa

Spains Digital Nomad Visa 

It’s incredible to see the world opening up more for Digital Nomads! The ‘grey area’ I do business in always makes me anxious when I travel around. The visas I take on whilst travelling the world rarely allow me to work in places legitimately, and this causes a whole range of issues with invoicing to taxes. Luckily, many countries have started to change their policies and made it much easier for Nomad’s to travel and work within them. Digital nomad visas are the hot new topic. In January 2023, Spain has announced the implementation of a Spanish remote worker Visa, open to foreign employees outside the EEA. 

Not only will it last for up to five years but also acts as a legitimate path to residency. If you’ve got an EU passport, you can work in Spain for between six months to a year before applying for a special permit!

In terms of requirements, you’ll need to earn around $1000 – $3000 per month, provide a background check and have evidence of medical insurance, alongside the usual ID documents. 

The upsides? An affordable life within one of the hottest Nomad spots, with the ability to work and pay a low ‘non-resident’ flat tax rate of only 24% on the first €600,000 of gross annual earnings over a five-year period.

Now let’s break it down and look at some of the key points in more detail. 

Who is it aimed at?

The ‘Spanish Visa for Remote Workers’ has been created for foreign employees from Non-European Economic Area (EEA Countries, now including the UK), particularly those who are working remotely as freelancers or entrepreneurs. It can also benefit Remote Workers for foreign companies. 

People with EU passports or arriving from Schengen countries can already work remotely in the country for under 6 months of the year without needing to register officially. After this time period they too can benefit from the Spanish Visa for Remote Workers. 

Benefits for Remote Workers

• An online application process is likely to be launched soon. However currently the only way to apply would be within a consulate.
• The permit will make the process of applying for residency on arrival much easier.
• The visa lasts for up to five years.
• Tax breaks for the employee (DNV applicant). Applies a privileged non-domiciled tax scheme to teleworkers. It allows them to pay a flat tax rate of only 24% on the first €600,000 of gross annual earnings over a five-year period.

Qualifications and Requirements 

• You can apply for this visa as long as you’re employed by any non-Spanish companies or have an income of less than 20% of it earned from Spanish companies.

• Proof of income.You can expect to have to prove a monthly income of between €1,000 – €3,000.
• Personal information. It is expected that you will need to provide background checks. Those who have resided in one particular country for a while may have to submit a police check from there. For others who have moved around, a check from their home country should be sufficient.
• Formal academic qualifications i.e. a university degree, business school or professional qualification.
• You need to prove you have at least 3 years of work experience.
• Proof that you have not resided in Spain during the previous 5 years.
• Prepare all required documents. Expect to provide an application form, your passport, health insurance documentation, a CV, and/or a cover letter. SafetyWings travel medical insurance should meet the criteria required. Click the link above for quick and easy Digital Nomad health insurance. 

Concerns

While Digital nomad visas are starting to become more popular, the process is not always as straight forward as we would hope. There are of course concerns with every new form of Nomad Visa. Let’s hit some of those talking points. 

• Will this ‘Digital Nomad Visa’ be the real deal? Many critics believe the use of the ‘Digital nomad Visa’ to be a marketing ploy. Often the visa presented doesn’t meet the needs of that demographic. As many Digital nomads know, not all visas are created equal. Only time will tell how the Spanish Remote Workers Visa will play out. 
• Is the application process simple? While an online application process has been mentioned, information on it can be hard to find. It does not yet seem to be an available option. This means you would still need to visit a consulate to apply for the time being. This could mean a slower process and having to stay in one location while you await the decision. 
• Will the successful implementation of this visa have a knock-on effect? It seems more and more countries are starting to follow the trend of creating visas for remote workers and digital nomads. Of course this is a great step forward for those in our line of work. However, it also means the possibility of dealing with completely new and untried visas.

While we are excited for this new opportunity in one of the best countries for digital nomads, I think it is important to maintain some realistic expectations and move forward one step at a time. Do you think the number of countries offering digital nomad visas will continue to increase?  

If so, which countries would you love to see implement these kinds of visas in the future? 

Leave a comment and let’s discuss! 

Disclaimer

Please note the information provided in this post is of general interest only and is not to be construed or intended as a substitute for professional legal advice.

Key sources:

Spain Visa

Mondaq

Legal Notes

Update to Visa laws and critique [in Spanish] (2023)