Visa for digital nomads

​This visa is for any foreigner planning to live in Spain as a resident, working remotely for a company or an employer  located outside of the Spanish national territory, and using exclusively computer, telematics and telecommunication media and systems.

When the applicant is self-employed, they can also work for a company located in Spain, as long as the percentage of this particular work does not exceed 20% of the total amount of their professional activity.

The applicant must have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a University, College or Business School of prestige, or have at least 3 years of work experience in their current field of activity.

The following family members may also obtain the visa:

• The spouse or registered partner.
• Dependent children and dependent relatives in the ascending line who form part of the family unit.

The applicant must apply for a NIE number prior to visa application.  Please click here to get the information about how obtain a NIE number.

Required documents for the worker and their family members

1. National visa applicatio​​n form​​. Each applicant, or their representative, must fill and sign a visa application form.
2. Photography. A recent, passport-size, colour photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face.
3. Valid passport. Original and a photocopy of the page or pages with the biometric data. The passport must be valid for at least 1 year and must have at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted. Non-Australians residents must also provide a valid residence permit in Australia.
   
4. Criminal record certificate. Applicants of legal age who apply for a visa must submit the original and a copy of the criminal record certificate(s) issued by his/her country or countries of residence for the past 2 years. Additionally, the applicant will submit a responsible declaration confirming the absence of criminal records for the last five years. The criminal record certificate cannot be older than 6 months, unless the certificate itself specifies a longer validity. The certificate will need to be apostilled and translated.
5. Proof of residence in the consular district. The applicant must provide proof of their legal residence in the consular district. 
   
6. Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the ID card or passport of the representative and a copy of the power of attorney or official document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown at the time of the application. Foreign documents must apostilled and must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
7. Payment of the visa fee. Visa fee payment is compulsory and has to be made at the same time when submitting a visa application. The fee has to be paid in local currency and in cash. Please contact the Consular Office to verify the current visa fee.
   
8. Health insurance. Original and a copy of the certificate accrediting the public or private health insurance contracted with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance policy must cover all the risks insured by Spain's public health system. If you are convered by Spain's public health system, it is not necessary to contract a health insurance. If there is an international Social Security agreement between Spain and the country where the worker is covered, and such agreement covers health insurance, the applicant may present a certificate of right to coverage issued by the competent institution of the State in whose Security system Social is assured.
   

Specific requirements for international workers

1) Certification of working for at least 3 months (before the visa application) for a foreign company. To this end, the applicant will submit a certificate, issued by the company and declaring:

• If the applicant is an employee: Length of the contract, and explicit consent to work remotely in Spain.
• If the applicant is self-employed: Length of the contract, and the terms and conditions to work remotely in Spain

2) Certificate issued by the Australian Business Register, declaring the date of creation of the company (or companies) and its nature of business. The certificate will have to be apostilled and translated.

3) Responsible declaration by the company (if the applicant is an employee) or the applicant (if he/she is self-employed), stating their commitment to comply with the Spanish social security obligations before starting any work-related activity.     

4) Registration with the Spanish Social Security

• For employees: A certificate proving the company and employee's registration with the Spanish Social Security. If your company has a branch in Spain, you should verify whether your case qualifies as an intra-company transfer​.
  
• For self-employed applicants: A certificate of registration with RETA (Régimen de Trabajadores Autónomos de la Seguridad Social española).​
  
• Exception: The Social Security registration requirement may be exempted or applicants that work in a country that has an international Social Security agreement with Spain. In this case, the Social Security authorities of the country of origin must issue a certificate of applicable legislation for digital nomads, based on said agreement, which provides temporary coverage in Spain. This circumstance will be included in the responsible declaration mentioned in point 3. There is an Social Security Agreement between Australia and Spain. To determine whether this Agreement is applicable to your case, you should contact the competent Australian authorities. You can find further information in the following link.
  

5) Documents proving financial means.

Financial means must be at least 200% of the monthly Spanish national minimum wage. In 2024, the Spanish minimum wage is 1,134 euros, paid in 14 payments. In 12 payments, the Spanish minimum wage is 1,323 euros. Therefore, the applicant must prove they have financial means of, at least, 2,646 euros per month.

In the case of family members:

• For the first family member they must prove additional financial means of at least 75% of the Spanish minimum wage. Therefore, the applicant must prove additional financial means of, at least, 993 euros.
  
• For each additional applicant, 25% of the Spanish national minimum wage is required. Therefore, the applicant must prove additional financial means of, at least, 331 euros.
  

confirming that the applicant has at least 3 years of experience in their business activity. To practice a regulated profession, your ​foreign qualifications may need to be officialy recognized. In the following link, you can find information about the procedure to homologate your foreing qualifications.

Specific requirements for family members 

• Documents proving family relationship with the worker: birth or marriage certificates issued by the local civil registry, certificate of registration as an unmarried couple, or any other document proving that the relationship is an unregistered partnership. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
• In the case of adult children, documents proving their financial dependence and civil status. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
• In the case of relatives in the ascending line, documents proving they are in the investor's care. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.

Procedure

This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from applicants residing in the consular district.

Who can apply for a visa: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor. They may also be submitted through a duly accredited representative.

Submission by a representative: If the visa application is submitted through a representative, a copy of the ID card or passport of the representative and a copy of the power of attorney or official document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown at the time of the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, when necessary, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

Place of submission: ​Embassy of Spain in Australia, 15 Arkana Street, Yarralumla 2600 ACT. It is required to have an appointment. The applicant may ask for an appointment at emb.canberra.sc@maec.es. 

​Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicants with proof of receipt of the application with a code enabling them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Home.aspx

Completing the application: The Consulate may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data. The Consulate may also request a personal interview.

Decision deadline: The legal term for reaching a decision is 10 days, but this term may be extended when an interview or additional documents are requested.

Collecting the visa: Visas must be collected in person by the applicant or by their representative within 1 month, counted from the day after the date of notification. The Consular Office will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation.  

Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing.

Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month from the day following the date of notification. 

A legal appeal to the High Court of Justice of Madrid can be also submitted within the 2-month term beginning the day after the date of notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal by the Consulate.

Validity of the visa: This visa will be valid for a maximum of 1 year or the same validity as the authorization granted to live and work in Spain.  It is not compulsory to obtain a Residence Permit Card once in Spain, as the visa is proof enough of legal residency. However, it is possible to apply for a Residence Permit Card, voluntarily, in the nearest OFICINA DE EXTRANJERIA or COMISARIA DE POLICIA in Spain.

Sworn translations and legalisations/apostille

Please visit the relevant web section of this Consulate for the list of sworn translators-interpreters.​

All foreign documents must be legalized by the consulates of the issuing country or, in the case of signatory countries to the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, hold the Hague Apostille. Official documents issued by a Member State of the European Union, do not require legalization.
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