Relocation guide
Moving from Ηνωμένα Αραβικά Εμιράτα to Ισπανία
Most people moving from the UAE to Spain are expatriates on a UAE residence visa, so the plan depends on two passports at once: the one you hold, and your UAE residence. Spain lets you apply from the UAE if you are legally resident there, and the digital nomad and non-lucrative routes are the usual fits.
Updated 1 Οκτωβρίου 2026
Quick answer
You can move from the UAE to Spain on the digital nomad visa (remote work, 200% of the Spanish minimum wage) or the non-lucrative visa (€28,800 a year in passive means). If you live in the UAE legally, apply at the Spanish consulate there through its visa centre. UAE documents go through attestation, and moving ends the UAE's zero income tax for you once you become Spanish tax resident.
As of 1 Οκτωβρίου 2026
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Short visits | No visa needed for visits of up to 90 days in 180 (ETIAS will apply once it launches)Source · checked 2 Οκτωβρίου 2026 |
| Visa appointments | We confirm this for your case |
| Documents | Full legalisation: your country is not in the Apostille ConventionSource · checked 2 Οκτωβρίου 2026 |
| Double tax treaty | A comprehensive income tax treaty is in forceSource · checked 2 Οκτωβρίου 2026 |
| Dual citizenship | We confirm this for your case |
| Minimum | 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) a month, plus 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each further oneSource |
What is different from Ηνωμένα Αραβικά Εμιράτα
Apply from the UAE as a resident
Spanish consulates accept national visa applications from people legally resident in their district, so a valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID let you apply in the UAE whatever your nationality. If your UAE visa ends before you travel, you may have to apply in your country of nationality instead.
Two police certificates, attested
Expect to provide a UAE police clearance certificate as well as one from your country of nationality (and any other country you lived in recently). UAE documents are normally attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and legalised for Spain; sources disagree on whether an apostille is now accepted, so we confirm the current chain before you order documents.
From zero income tax to Spanish tax residence
Once you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain, or your main interests are there, Spain taxes your worldwide income. Remote workers on the digital nomad route may be able to use the special regime for inbound workers (the "Beckham law"). Plan the timing of bonuses, end-of-service gratuity and investment sales before you move. Sources disagree on the Spain–UAE treaty position, so take tax advice.
Short-stay rules depend on your passport
UAE citizens do not need a visa for short Schengen visits. Many UAE residents hold passports that do, so check the visa for any scouting trip separately from the long-stay application.
Routes open to you
Figures are statutory minimums from official sources. Official fees are estimates and change; our own fees are quoted for your case.
Digital nomad visa (international teleworking)
Remote employees and freelancers working mainly for clients or employers outside Spain.
- Minimum
- 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) a month, plus 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each further one
Non-lucrative residence visa
People with savings or passive income who will not work in Spain.
- Minimum
- €28,800 a year (400% IPREM), plus €7,200 per dependant
Not sure which route fits?
An adviser checks your eligibility from Ηνωμένα Αραβικά Εμιράτα and replies within one working day.
Step by step from Ηνωμένα Αραβικά Εμιράτα
Choose the route
Remote employees and freelancers with foreign clients use the digital nomad visa; people living on savings or passive income use the non-lucrative visa.
Gather documents in the UAE
Passport, UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, proof of income or funds, private health insurance, police certificates (UAE and nationality), and degree or work-experience evidence for the digital nomad route.
Attest and translate
Attest UAE-issued documents through MOFA and legalise them for Spain, then have them translated by a sworn translator.
Apply at the consulate
Book the Spanish visa centre in the UAE and submit the national visa application. Digital nomad applicants already in Spain legally can instead apply online to the UGE.
Arrive and register
Enter Spain within the visa validity, register your address (empadronamiento) and collect your residence card (TIE).
Documents and legalisation
Ηνωμένα Αραβικά Εμιράτα is not in the Apostille Convention, so public documents need the full chain: attestation by the issuing authority and the foreign ministry, then legalisation by the Ισπανία embassy or consulate. Translate them with a sworn translator where required.
You will usually need a police certificate from Ηνωμένα Αραβικά Εμιράτα and from every other country you have lived in recently.
Where to apply
Apply at the Spanish consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or (digital nomad route) online through the UGE from inside Spain while you are there legally.
Tax: what to check before you move
Double tax treaty: A comprehensive income tax treaty is in force Listed on the Spanish Ministry of Finance treaty list (BOE 23/01/2007).
General information, not tax advice. Tax points on this page are awaiting review by a tax specialist.
Advisers who speak your language
Speak to someone who knows the process from Ηνωμένα Αραβικά Εμιράτα.
- William HarringtonHead of Middle East & GCCArabic, English, French
Sources and review
Last updated 1 Οκτωβρίου 2026
- Spain UGE: international teleworkers (digital nomad) residence
- Spain Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visas
- Spain Ministry of Finance: double taxation treaties
- HCCH Apostille Convention status table
Parts of this page are awaiting review by our legal team; we confirm every point for your case before you apply.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a Spanish visa in Dubai if I am not a UAE citizen?
Yes, if you are legally resident in the UAE. The consulate looks at your residence status, so keep your UAE visa valid until the decision.
Do UAE documents need an apostille for Spain?
They are normally attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and legalised. Practice is changing, so we confirm the chain for each document before you order it.
Will I pay tax in Spain on my UAE salary?
If you become Spanish tax resident, Spain taxes worldwide income, including a UAE salary for remote work. The inbound workers regime may reduce this; take tax advice before you move.
How much income do I need for the digital nomad visa?
200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) a month, plus 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each further one.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Spouses or partners and dependent children can apply as family members on both routes, with a higher income or funds requirement.
Which route suits me best?
It depends on your goal: living in the country, a second passport, tax planning or a base for your family. The routes on this page are ranked by fit for people moving from your country.
How long does it take to move?
Timelines depend on the route, the completeness of your file and government processing. Each programme page shows its published processing range.
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