Digital Nomad Visa in Spain

The new visa for digital nomads in Spain has been published and is now available for all foreigners who wish to work remotely in the country. In this article, we present a complete guide on all the necessary requirements for this new residency, the tax benefits that can be obtained, and other important legal tips to keep in mind before applying.

In 2013, the Spanish government published the Entrepreneurship Law, a regulation aimed at attracting foreign talent and capital to Spain. With this law, the entrepreneur visa, golden visa, and many other residency figures emerged.

However, this law was not enough to attract talent from abroad and place Spain among the top leaders in the entrepreneurship sector, which is why the government now publishes a new law focused on startups, talent, and innovation, the Startup Law. Its goal is to make Spain one of the main countries to attract entrepreneurs, investors, and qualified workers, offering ideal conditions for digital nomads and remote workers.

The visa for digital nomads is a residence permit that can be extended up to 5 years and will allow non-EU citizens to live and work remotely in Spain (legally operating as a digital nomad in the country). With this visa, foreigners who wish to move to Spain and continue working for a foreign company or who have clients scattered around the world can do so legally.

One of the great advantages of this residency is the option of a double application. On the one hand, it can be applied for directly from Spain with a tourist visa, obtaining a card for 3 years. On the other hand, it is also possible to obtain a 1-year visa from the country of origin (at the Spanish consulate), and then modify it to obtain a 3-year card. These years count towards nationality and permanent residence.

This visa also includes the spouse and children of the applicant, so beneficiaries of this residence permit can move to Spain with their relatives.

To obtain this visa, there are two profiles of foreigners who can meet the requirements: employees and self-employed workers. In both cases, it must be demonstrated that they have been working for the company or clients for at least 3 months before the application and that the contract with the company lasts at least 1 year.

Among the advantages of this visa is the quick resolution of the application, in just 20 days, freedom of movement in the European Union, and the possibility of including the family in the same application. Additionally, this visa allows foreigners to work legally in Spain and obtain important tax benefits.

Tax benefits

Instead of paying the general income tax that residents must pay, you will pay through a low tax regime under the non-resident income tax optimized. This means that you will pay much less for the income you generate.

If you have not been in Spain for the last 5 years, you will be allowed to pay a fixed tax rate of 24% on your income instead of a progressive rate that can reach up to 48%.

To be considered a non-resident for tax purposes, you must initiate a request process with the Spanish Tax Agency during the 6 months following the acquisition of your residence authorization. It is a process similar to the Beckham Law.

This tax regime will also allow you to save the need to pay wealth tax or file the informative model 720.

Visa holders as digital nomads may request the deferral of IRNR (Non-Resident Income Tax) in the first and second years with a positive taxable base (without interest).

This advantageous tax regime will last for 5 years as long as you maintain your residency as a digital nomad, subsequently moving to the general regime.

Home buying

In addition to the tax advantage you already know as a holder of this visa, you can also buy a house in Spain without going through the usual procedures and bureaucracy. Imagine how easy it would be to have your own property in this sunny and historic country! Save time and worry by obtaining your digital nomad visa and becoming a property owner in Spain in the easiest possible way. Let Valido Home take care of everything for you!