🏆 Award-winning expat legal services
Recognised by Legal Insider as
Best Expat Legal Services — Murcia 2026.
Best Expat Legal Services — Murcia 2026.
The Digital Nomad Visa is for remote workers and freelancers who want to live in Spain while earning from non-Spanish clients or employers. Get a 3-year visa via the UGE fast-track (20 working days), manage everything online, and if you qualify, access the Beckham Law tax regime (a flat 24% for up to 6 years). Not everyone qualifies for Beckham Law, so we'll check your position before you rely on it.
3-year residence, work remotely, enjoy Beckham Law tax benefits. Designed for non-Spanish income earners.
The Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) is Spain's residence permit for remote employees and self-employed freelancers working for non-Spanish clients or employers. Unlike the NLV (which prohibits work), the DNV is specifically designed for remote work. You can work full-time, earn from anywhere, and benefit from Spain's Beckham Law: a flat 24% income tax rate for the first 6 years as a resident.
Spain offers two distinct routes: the UGE fast-track (20 working days) if you're in Spain, or the consulate route (1–3 months) if applying from home. Both result in either a 1-year or 3-year visa depending on your route.
Remote employees: Work for a non-Spanish employer, receiving a salary
Freelancers & self-employed: Bill non-Spanish clients (no more than 20% Spanish clients)
Business owners: Run an online business earning from international clients
Digital professionals: Consultants, developers, designers, writers working remotely
If you're already in Spain, apply via UGE (Unidad de Gestión Estratégica). This is the fastest and most valuable route: 20 working days total, 3-year visa, and full access to Beckham Law tax benefits. Approval rate 90%+ with proper documentation. This is the gold standard for DNV applicants.
Income threshold: €2,850 monthly (approximately €34,200 annually). Proven via bank statements, contracts, or tax returns.
Non-Spanish income: Earn from non-Spanish sources only (up to 20% Spanish clients permitted).
Health insurance: Private health insurance (no copayments) for ~€1,000–€1,500/year.
Bank account in Spain: Required to access funds and manage payments.
Clean criminal record: For initial 3-year UGE applications (apostilled, sworn-translated).
Minimum income for DNV eligibility plus Spain's legendary 24% flat tax regime.
Beckham Law (24% flat tax on Spanish-source income) applies for 6 years to individuals new to Spanish tax residency. If you've previously been tax resident in Spain, you may not qualify. Verify with a tax adviser before applying.
Approximately €34,200 annually
Average over 3 months of invoices
| Income Profile | Monthly Minimum | Annual Equivalent | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote employee (non-Spanish employer) | €2,850 | €34,200 | Yes |
| Freelancer (80%+ non-Spanish clients) | €2,850 avg (3 months) | €34,200 avg | Yes |
| Beckham Law (optional tax regime) | Not an income test | Elect within ~6 months | Optional · if eligible |
| Spanish-source income allowed | 20% max of total | €6,840 max annually | Cap applies |
The Digital Nomad Visa is judged on evidence of three things: who you work for, that you're paid enough, and that you're covered for social security and health.
The DNV asks you to prove a genuine, established remote-working relationship — not just that you have income, but that the work is real, ongoing, and legitimately performed from Spain for clients or an employer outside Spain. Two requirements catch applicants out more than any other: the length of the working relationship and social security coverage. Here's the full set.
| Document | What It Proves | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| National visa application form | Your formal request | Completed and signed, one per applicant |
| Valid passport | Identity & travel document | Valid 1 year+, with copies of all used pages |
| Employment / client contracts | A genuine remote-work relationship | Relationship of at least 3 months; company trading at least 1 year |
| Remote-work authorisation letter | You're permitted to work from Spain | Letter from employer (employees) confirming remote work is allowed |
| Proof of income | You meet the €2,850/month minimum | Payslips/invoices + bank statements; non-Spanish source; ≤20% Spanish clients |
| Social security coverage | You're covered for social security | Certificate of coverage (A1/bilateral) or registration in the Spanish system |
| Private health insurance | Full medical cover | Spain-authorised, no co-payments, full year |
| Criminal record certificate | No disqualifying convictions | Apostilled and sworn-translated; issued within ~3 months |
| Qualifications / experience | You're a genuine professional | Degree or 3+ years' relevant experience in the field |
First, the working relationship must be established — you generally need to have worked with your employer or main clients for at least three months, and the company must have been operating for at least a year. A brand-new contract dated last week is a red flag. Second, you must show social security coverage — either a certificate of coverage from your home country (an A1 within the EU, or a bilateral-treaty certificate) or registration with Spanish social security. Missing or wrong social-security paperwork is one of the most common reasons DNV files stall.
Fast-track via UGE if in Spain, or consulate route from home.
The DNV offers two routes depending on your location. If you're already in Spain, the UGE fast-track is far superior: 3-year visa, 20 working days, and full Beckham Law. If applying from home, the consulate route works but takes longer and yields a 1-year visa. Most applicants choose UGE.
Apply from Spain for a 3-year visa. Fastest route to remote work residence.
Visit UGE in Spain with your documents, submit your application, and receive approval in ~20 working days. You'll get a 3-year visa and full Beckham Law tax benefits. This is the gold standard for digital nomads.
Collect 3 months of bank statements showing income, employment contract or recent invoices (if freelance), tax ID, and proof of non-Spanish income source. Bank statements must clearly show deposits from your non-Spanish employer/clients.
Open an account via BBVA, CaixaBank, Santander, or other Spanish bank. Transfer funds to build account history (recommend €5,000+). This demonstrates you're committed to residency and can manage Spanish finances.
Obtain your criminal record from your home country and have it apostilled and sworn-translated. Cost: €80–€150. Timeline: 1–2 weeks. (Required for 3-year UGE applications; some 1-year routes may waive this.)
Contact UGE (Unidad de Gestión Estratégica) for your regional office and book an appointment. Appointments available within 1–2 weeks. Bring all original documents and certified copies.
Present all documents to UGE officer. They'll review bank statements, income proof, criminal record, and health insurance. Interview typically lasts 20–30 minutes. Most approvals happen within 20 working days.
Your visa will be affixed to your passport. Register your empadronamiento at your local town hall, then apply for your TIE card (residence card) at your local Extranjería within 30 days of arrival.
Ready to apply? Our team handles document verification, UGE coordination, and bank setup. You focus on your work—we handle the visa.
The DNV is one of the more document-heavy Spanish visas, and refusals cluster around a predictable set of issues. Knowing them in advance is how you avoid them.
UGE assesses DNV applications strictly against the law. Most refusals aren't about the applicant being unsuitable — they're about evidence that doesn't quite meet the test. These are the issues we see most often:
The single most common avoidable DNV refusal is the social-security requirement. You must show you're covered — either by a certificate of coverage from your home country or by registering with Spanish social security. Many applicants assume their private health insurance covers this; it doesn't. Sorting the right social-security route before you submit is exactly the kind of thing a managed application is built to handle.
A DNV refusal can usually be challenged or corrected — but the deadlines are short, so speed matters.
If your application is refused, the decision will state why. From there you can either correct the issue and reapply, or formally appeal. A missing document is best fixed with a fresh submission; a refusal you believe is wrong on the law is a candidate for appeal.
Because the rules on silence differ by route, getting a refusal — or a non-response — assessed quickly is important. Our team reviews the decision, advises whether to reapply or appeal, and includes a free appeal on applications we handle that are refused or met with administrative silence.
Refused, or stuck waiting? Send us the decision (or the silence). We'll tell you honestly whether to appeal or reapply — and fix what went wrong.
The DNV's standout benefit is access to Spain's special expat tax regime — but only if you elect it correctly and on time.
The "Beckham Law" (the special regime for posted workers) lets qualifying new residents be taxed as non-residents on a flat basis rather than under Spain's progressive scale. For a digital nomad on a good income, the difference can be substantial — but it isn't automatic, and it isn't right for everyone.
Under the regime, your Spanish employment income is taxed at a flat 24% up to €600,000 per year (and 47% on anything above that), instead of the progressive rates that would otherwise apply. Crucially, it generally shields your foreign-source income from Spanish tax for the period of the regime. It runs for the year you become resident plus the following five — a six-year window in total.
Beckham Law sits at the border of immigration and tax. We make sure your DNV is structured so the option stays open to you, and we'll connect you with a specialist tax adviser to run the numbers for your situation. Whether to elect the regime is a tax decision that should be modelled on your actual income — see our full Beckham Law guide.
Beyond our service fee, there are third-party and ongoing costs. Here's the full picture.
The DNV has a one-off application cost and some ongoing costs that depend on how you're set up — particularly social security if you register as autónomo. The figures below are typical ranges for a single applicant.
| Cost Item | Typical Range | Paid To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application / administrative fee | €75–€200 | Spanish state / consulate | Includes the tasa for the residence authorisation |
| Private health insurance | €1,000–€1,500/yr | Insurer | Full cover, no co-payments; per person |
| Criminal record + apostille | €30–€100 | Home authorities | 90-day validity — time it carefully |
| Sworn translations | €80–€250 | Traductor jurado | Covered up to €200 pp within our fee |
| Autónomo social security (if self-employed) | ~€80–€300/mo | Spanish social security | Ongoing; reduced "tarifa plana" rate often applies in year one |
| TIE card & biometrics | €16–€40 | Spanish state | Paid after arrival |
| PLS service fee | €1,899 | Platinum Legal Spain | Split into 3 payments; family discounts apply |
A single applicant should budget roughly €3,000–€3,800 for the first-year setup (service fee + insurance + government and document costs), plus ongoing social security if you register as autónomo. We'll give you an exact, itemised quote once we know whether you're an employee or freelancer — see the deep-dive on the full DNV cost breakdown.
Transparent pricing — split into manageable payments. Family discounts available.
Family discounts · Family applications benefit from reduced per-person fees. Create your free account on the portal to calculate your exact price based on the number of applicants.
We specialize in the UGE fast-track. extensive DNV approval history via UGE and consulate routes.
UGE fast-track has the highest approval rate. We know what they require and how to position your application.
We explain Beckham Law benefits and connect you with tax advisers. We're not tax experts, but we know the DNV implications.
Transparent pricing upfront. 3-payment split available at no extra cost. No hidden fees for renewals.
24/7 access to your application, document uploads, and live chat with our team.
Your entire experience is in English. No translation confusion, no cultural miscommunication.
Approval is the start of your Spanish residency. A few essential steps lock it in.
Once your DNV is granted, there are a handful of tasks to complete — some in your first month, one within your first six months if you want the tax advantage:
Register on the padrón at your local town hall, then book your TIE (foreigner's ID card) appointment at the Extranjería to give fingerprints. The TIE is the physical proof of your residence and is needed for banking, contracts and travel.
If you're self-employed, you'll typically register as autónomo and start paying the monthly social-security cuota (a reduced "tarifa plana" rate often applies in your first year). Employees rely on their certificate of coverage or register as directed. Getting this right keeps your visa compliant.
If the special tax regime makes sense for your income, the election generally has to be made within six months of registering with social security. This is a tax decision — model it with an adviser early, because the window is unforgiving.
Your private health insurance and your social-security coverage both need to stay in force for as long as you hold the DNV. A lapse in either is a common reason renewals run into trouble.
The DNV leads somewhere — five years of residence opens the door to permanent residence and, eventually, citizenship.
The UGE route gives you an initial three-year authorisation; the consulate route gives one year, then renewals. As long as you still meet the income, social-security and insurance requirements, renewing is straightforward and is done inside Spain.
| Stage | Duration | What's Required |
|---|---|---|
| Initial DNV (UGE route) | 3 years | Full application; income, social security, insurance, clean record |
| Renewal | +2 years | Renewed in Spain; re-prove income & cover |
| Permanent residence | After 5 years | Larga duración — long-term residence, no income test |
| Citizenship | After 10 years | By residence; language & civic exams; dual-nationality rules vary |
After five continuous years you can apply for permanent residence, which removes the annual income and cover test. After ten years, citizenship by residence may be available — sooner for nationals of some countries. Note that the Beckham Law window (six years) and the residency milestones run on different clocks, so it's worth planning both together. Every DNV renewal you complete counts toward permanent residence, which is why a clean first application pays off for years.
The DNV is built for people who work remotely. If you don't need to work, another route may be simpler and cheaper.
The DNV's whole purpose is to let you work remotely while living in Spain — and to open the door to the Beckham Law tax regime. If you earn from work, it's almost certainly your route. If your income is entirely passive, a different visa may involve less paperwork and a lower threshold.
| If you… | Best route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Work remotely for a foreign employer or clients | Digital Nomad Visa | Only route that permits remote work; access to Beckham Law |
| Live on pensions or investments, won't work | Non-Lucrative Visa | No work allowed, but simpler and a lower income threshold |
| Are joining a close family member in Spain | Family Reunification | Built around the relationship, not your income type |
Still weighing it up? Compare the two head-to-head on our NLV vs Digital Nomad Visa guide, or take the free eligibility quiz and we'll tell you which one fits.
How the 20-working-day UGE route works and why it's the best option for digital nomads.
Read Guide →How to document €2,850/month income with bank statements, invoices, and employment contracts.
Read Guide →24% flat tax for 6 years, eligibility, and how it applies to employees and freelancers.
Read Guide →Differences between remote employee and self-employed (autónomo) status in Spain.
Read Guide →Spanish tax residency, autónomo registration, and Social Security obligations for DNV holders.
Read Guide →How DNV renewals work and the 6-year Beckham Law cap explained.
Read Guide →Secure your Digital Nomad Visa via the UGE fast-track. Our team handles every step from income documentation to UGE submission. 20 working days to a 3-year visa with Beckham Law tax benefits.
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Digital Nomad Visa requirements, the €2,850+ monthly income threshold, and Beckham Law (24% flat tax for 6 years) are correct as of April 2026 but subject to change. Individual circumstances vary; UGE and consulate discretion apply. No guarantee of visa approval is implied.
The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute formal legal advice. Every situation is different — please contact one of our specialists for advice tailored to your circumstances.