Visas in Barcelona

Process

No advance application needed for visa-exempt nationals — present a valid passport at an authorized border crossing. Border officers may ask about the purpose of the trip and request supporting documents.

Baseline Rule

Spain applies the standard Schengen 90/180-day rule. Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland face no day limit and can enter with just a national ID card or passport. For most other nomad-relevant nationalities (US, UK, Canada, Australia, most Latin American countries, and other countries on the EU's visa-exempt list), entry is visa-free.

Who Qualifies

Nationals of third countries listed as visa-exempt under EU Regulation 2018/1806 (includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, most of Latin America, and others).

Purpose Covered

Tourism, business, visiting family, medical treatment, short studies/training under 3 months, volunteering, and other non-gainful activities. It does NOT cover paid work in Spain.

Overstay Consequences

Overstaying the 90/180 limit can lead to fines, denied boarding on future flights, deportation, and an entry ban of up to 3 years across the Schengen Area.

Structure

The visa is granted for one year initially and can be renewed for two-year periods, allowing residence for up to five years before eligibility for long-term residency.

Physical Presence

To renew successfully, you must demonstrate that you've spent at least six months of each year in Spain. Absences exceeding six consecutive months may disqualify you from renewal and could affect your long-term residency eligibility.

Path To Permanence

After five years of legal residence you become eligible for long-term residency; after ten years you can apply for Spanish citizenship, though timelines and requirements vary by nationality.

Renewal Documentation

A fresh letter from your employer (or clients) confirming that remote work authorization remains active and indefinite, dated within 30 days of the application.

Uge Application

€73

Tie Residence Card

€16

Note

Fees are modest relative to overall relocation costs.

First Dependent

€916

Each Additional Dependent

€305

Note

The income thresholds increase with dependents – 75% of the SMI for the first dependent and 25% for each additional one.

Documents Required

• Certification of employment for at least three months prior to the visa application — a certificate from your employer detailing contract duration and confirming explicit consent for remote work from Spain (if employed)
• Bank statements consistent with declared income — merely showing your gross salary on a contract is no longer sufficient; bank statements must demonstrate absolute consistency with declared income, as immigration authorities scrutinize the actual flow of funds
• Criminal record certificate from all countries lived in during the past five years, officially translated into Spanish and apostilled
• Private health insurance from a provider authorized to operate in Spain, providing full coverage equivalent to Spain's public healthcare system with no co-payments or deductibles
• NIE (foreigner identification number) application
• Proof of qualifications: degree certificate or evidence of 3+ years professional experience
• Proof of accommodation in Spain

Basis

Pegged to 200% of Spain's Salario Mínimo Interprofesional (SMI); rises automatically whenever the government raises the minimum wage

Single Applicant

€2,849

Note

Spain's digital nomad visa requires minimum income of EUR 2,849/month for a single applicant in 2026 (up from EUR 2,763 in 2025), with at least 80% of income from non-Spanish sources.

Eligibility Requirements

• You are a non-EU national who works remotely for a company or clients established outside Spain.
• If employed, you have worked for the company for at least 3 months before applying, and no more than 20% of your income comes from Spanish clients or employers.
• You have no criminal record in the last 5 years and health insurance with full coverage in Spain and no co-payments.
• W2 employees (full-time employees of foreign companies) are eligible — applications are reviewed individually, but you do not need to be a freelancer or business owner.
• Bachelor's/postgraduate degree from a recognized institution OR at least 3 years of relevant professional experience