- Digital nomad visa
- Yes
Overall7.5/10Easier visas than about 85% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Your 90-day Schengen allowance is shared across all Schengen countries combined — time spent in France, Italy, etc. before or after Seville counts against the same 90 days.
- Owning property or having strong ties in Spain does not extend the 90-day visa-free limit; you still need a long-stay visa or residency to stay longer.
- From late 2026 visa-exempt nationals will need to register for ETIAS online before traveling — this is a simple pre-travel authorization, not a visa, but it's an extra step nomads should plan for.
- If you need more than 90 days in Spain to work remotely long-term, look into Spain's Digital Nomad Visa or Non-Lucrative Visa rather than trying to stretch tourist entries.
- The visa is a national Spain-wide permit — there's nothing Seville-specific about qualifying, but once approved you register locally in Seville (empadronamiento at the town hall, NIE processing, etc.).
- The income threshold rises each year with Spain's minimum wage (SMI), so budget with a buffer above the current ~€2,850/month figure and re-check the exact number close to your application date.
- The Beckham Law flat tax is genuinely valuable but is not automatic and has a hard, non-extendable 6-month filing deadline from Social Security registration — missing it means losing the benefit for your entire stay.
- Whether freelancers/autónomos on the DNV can access the Beckham Law is a legally contested and shifting area; if your income isn't via a clean foreign employment contract, get a Spanish tax advisor's opinion on your specific structure before assuming eligibility.
- Spanish immigration authorities (UGE-CE) have tightened document scrutiny in 2026, cross-checking bank statements against declared income and clamping down on fraudulent contracts — keep a clean, consistent paper trail.
- Since 2026 tightening, converting from a Non-Lucrative Visa to a Digital Nomad Visa from inside Spain is no longer permitted — plan your visa route from the outset.
Application Paths
Consulate route (from home country)
- Detail
- Apply in person at the Spanish consulate covering your place of residence before moving. Grants an initial visa valid for up to 1 year, renewable afterward from within Spain.
- Processing Time
- Roughly 15–45 days for the visa decision, though total process (documents, appointment, etc.) commonly takes several months.
In-country route (from within Spain)
- Detail
- Enter Spain visa-free as a tourist (where applicable) and apply directly with the UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) within the first 90 days / before your tourist stay expires. Grants a residence authorization valid for up to 3 years, skipping the shorter 1-year initial period.
- Processing Time
- Typically 1-3 months for a decision
Special Tax Regime Beckham Law
- Rate
- 24% flat rate on qualifying Spanish-sourced employment/professional income up to €600,000 per year; income above that threshold is taxed at 47%.
- Duration
- Covers the year you become tax resident plus 5 additional years (6 years total).
- What It Does
- Lets qualifying newcomers be taxed similarly to non-residents: a flat rate instead of Spain's ordinary progressive scale.
- Official Name
- Special Tax Regime for Impatriates (Régimen especial para trabajadores desplazados), Article 93 LIRPF, popularly called the 'Beckham Law'
- Foreign Income
- Most foreign-sourced income (e.g. dividends, rental income, capital gains, interest from outside Spain) is generally exempt from Spanish tax under this regime, and there is no obligation to file the Modelo 720 overseas-asset declaration; the regime also exempts holders from Spanish wealth tax on assets outside Spain.
- Eligibility For DNV Holders
- Digital Nomad Visa holders working as employees of a non-Spanish company are explicitly listed as an eligible category under the Startups Act, and this was further reinforced by 2025 court rulings. Self-employed freelancers/autónomos are generally excluded from the Beckham Law unless they separately qualify as a 'highly qualified professional' or entrepreneur under startup-law exceptions — this is a genuinely contested and evolving area, and outcomes for freelancers vary case by case.
Core Conditions
- Must not have been a Spanish tax resident during the 5 tax years prior to arrival
- Must relocate to Spain due to an employment relationship, remote work for a foreign employer, or qualifying entrepreneurial/research activity
- Must formally opt in by filing Modelo 149 within 6 months of registering with Spanish Social Security or starting work, whichever comes first — this deadline is strict and cannot be extended
- Spouse and dependent children under 25 can also be included and benefit from the same flat rate
Application Steps
- Obtain NIE through consulate or in Spain
- Register with Spanish Social Security and obtain/apply for your residence card
- Submit Modelo 030 to register with the Agencia Tributaria (tax office)
- File Modelo 149 within the 6-month window to opt into the regime
- Once approved, file ongoing annual returns via Modelo 151 for the duration of the regime
Visa Free Entry
- Process
- There is no application process for visa-exempt nationals — no visa, appointment, or fee is required to enter as a tourist for up to 90 days. Travelers simply present a valid passport (and supporting documents if asked) at the border.
- Max Stay
- Up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period, and this allowance is shared across the entire Schengen Area, not per country.
- Baseline Rule
- Spain is a full Schengen Area member. Nationals of the roughly 60 countries with a Schengen visa waiver agreement (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and most Latin American countries) can enter Spain and the wider Schengen Area without a visa for short stays.
- Who Qualifies
- Citizens of non-EU/EEA/Switzerland countries listed in Annex II of EU Regulation 2018/1806 (the visa-exempt list). Citizens of countries on Annex I must obtain a Schengen (Type C) visa in advance instead.
- Beyond 90 Days
- Anyone wanting to stay in Spain longer than 90 days in a 180-day period — including for work, study, or long-term remote work — needs a Spanish national (Type D) long-stay visa or residence permit (e.g. the Non-Lucrative Visa or Spain's Digital Nomad Visa), which is a separate process from the visa-free entry covered here.
- Overstay Consequences
- Overstaying the 90 days can result in fines, an entry ban to the Schengen Area (potentially for years), and in serious cases deportation.
- Upcoming Change ETIAS
- From late 2026, visa-exempt travelers will additionally need to complete an ETIAS online pre-travel authorization (a small fee, valid multiple years) before flying to Spain; this is not yet required as of mid-2026.
- How The 180 Day Window Works
- The 180-day period is a continuously rolling window counted backwards from any given day, not a fixed calendar block. Multiple short trips to Spain or any other Schengen country all draw from the same shared 90-day pool.
- Official Source Note
- Official rules are published by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, and by the EU's Migration and Home Affairs department.
Financial Means Requirement
- Daily Amount
- €100
- Minimum Total
- €900
- Note On Figures
- Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the EU's Handbook on Home Affairs cite slightly different figures, but both point to roughly this range for proof of sufficient funds.
Entry Requirements For Visa Exempt Travelers
- Valid passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date from the Schengen area.
- Proof of purpose and conditions of stay may be requested (return/onward ticket, accommodation proof, sufficient funds).
- Border officers can still refuse entry even to visa-exempt nationals if entry conditions are not met.
Fees
- NIE Fee
- €9.84
- Consular Visa Fee
- €80
- Residence Card Fee
- €73
Visa Name
Visado de Teletrabajo de Carácter Internacional (International Teleworking Visa / Digital Nomad Visa), created under Spain's Ley de Startups (Startup Act)
Who It Is For
Non-EU/EEA nationals who work remotely for employers or clients based mainly outside Spain. EU/EEA citizens do not need this visa to live and work remotely in Seville.
Visa Ease Tier
moderate
Documents Required
Documents Required
- Valid passport
- Proof of remote work relationship: employment certificate or client contracts confirming remote work is authorized, company operating for 1+ year, and 3+ months' prior working relationship
- Proof of qualification: university/postgraduate degree or evidence of 3+ years' relevant professional experience
- Proof of income meeting the threshold: payslips, contracts, and bank statements showing consistent inflows matching declared income (banks increasingly require physically stamped statements, not just PDFs)
- Private health insurance with full coverage in Spain and no co-payments
- Criminal record certificate (apostilled/legalized) covering the last 5 years
- Proof of social security coverage abroad (e.g. a Certificate of Coverage/A1 certificate) or intent to register with Spanish Social Security
- NIE (Foreigner ID Number) application
- Proof of accommodation in Spain
- Completed application forms and consular/NIE/residence card fees
Income Requirement
- Basis
- 200% of Spain's Salario Mínimo Interprofesional (SMI, national minimum wage), recalculated each year when the SMI is updated by Royal Decree
- Main Applicant Annual
- €34,200
- Spouse Add On Monthly
- €1,070
- Main Applicant Monthly
- €2,850
- Per Additional Dependent Monthly
- €357
- Notes
- Reported 2026 figures vary slightly by source (roughly €2,760–€2,860/month) because outlets update at different times after the annual SMI increase; treat ~€2,850/month gross as the working figure and confirm the exact current number with the consulate/UGE before applying. Income can in theory be topped up with savings if slightly under threshold.
Duration And Renewal
- Structure
- Runs in stages toward a maximum of 5 years total residence under the DNV framework before long-term/permanent residency becomes possible.
- Consulate Path
- 1-year initial visa, then renewable residence permits from within Spain (commonly issued in further periods) up to the 5-year cap.
- In Country Path
- 3-year initial residence permit issued directly, which can be extended for an additional period up to the overall 5-year cap.
- Renewal Requirements
- Renewal requires continuing to meet the income threshold (at the then-current, possibly higher, level), continuing to earn primarily from non-Spanish sources, and proof of Social Security contributions; authorities have tightened scrutiny on genuine physical presence in Spain during the permit period.
- Path To Further Status
- After 5 continuous years of residence, holders can generally apply for long-term EU/Spanish residency; Spanish citizenship may become possible after 10 years of legal residence (shorter for nationals of certain Latin American countries).
Tax Residency Trigger
- Rule
- You become a Spanish tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year, or if Spain becomes the base of your main economic/professional interests, regardless of day count.
- Over 183 Days
- Once you cross 183 days and become a tax resident, you're subject to Spain's standard progressive personal income tax (roughly 19%–47%) on worldwide income, unless you successfully opt into the special expat regime below.
- Under 183 Days
- If you spend fewer than 183 days in Spain in a year and are taxed as a non-resident, a flat rate (around 24% on general Spanish-sourced income, 19% on certain savings income) applies instead of residency-based taxation.
Eligibility Core Rules
Eligibility Core Rules
- Must work remotely using digital means for a company or clients established outside Spain.
- No more than 20% of total professional income may come from Spanish clients/companies.
- Employees must show at least 3 months' prior employment with their current company, and that company must have been operating for at least 1 year.
- Freelancers need at least one registered company client (private individuals do not count).
- Applicants need a university/postgraduate degree OR a minimum of 3 years' professional experience in their field.
- Clean criminal record covering the last 5 years and private health insurance with full coverage in Spain (no co-payments).
Visa Ease Tier Rationale
Spain offers a genuine Digital Nomad Visa path up to 5 years with 90-day visa-free entry, but it requires substantial income proof (~€2,850/month), extensive documentation, and involves nuanced tax-residency and social security rules.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
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