Spain · remote work residence

Freelancer or remote employee? See if Spain's digital nomad visa fits you

Answer six quick questions for an indicative result based on the 2026 income threshold. A qualified adviser then confirms your route and documents.

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Instant indicative result based on the 2026 income threshold
Official sources and review dates on every key fact
One case officer from first call to residence card

Do you qualify? Check in one minute

Six questions. Your answers stay private and only go to your adviser if you ask us to contact you.

Question 1 of 6

How do you work?

Key facts and requirements (2026)

The main rules for Spain's international teleworker visa and residence authorisation, with the official source for each one.

Key facts and requirements (2026)
Requirement	What it means	Official source
Who it is for	Nationals of countries outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland who work remotely for an employer or clients based outside Spain.Created by Ley 28/2022 (startups law), which added articles 74 bis to 74 quinquies to Ley 14/2013.	Ley 14/2013 (BOE) (opens in a new tab)
Freelancers	Allowed. Work for clients in Spain may not exceed 20% of your total professional activity.	Ley 14/2013 (BOE) (opens in a new tab)
Minimum income (2026)	About €2,849 gross a month for the applicant (200% of the minimum wage, SMI). Add about €1,068 for the first family member (75%) and about €356 for each additional one (25%).The 2026 SMI is €1,221 a month in 14 payments (€17,094 a year). Monthly figures here divide the annual SMI by 12; your adviser confirms the exact basis used for your application.	Real Decreto 126/2026 (BOE) (opens in a new tab)
Work relationship	At least 3 months with your employer or main clients before you apply.	Spanish consulate guidance (opens in a new tab)
Qualification	A university degree or professional qualification, or at least 3 years of professional experience in your field.	Ley 14/2013 (BOE) (opens in a new tab)
Where to apply	At the Spanish consulate for your country of residence (visa for up to 1 year), or online to the UGE-CE if you are already legally in Spain (residence for up to 3 years).The documents are the same in both cases.	Spanish consulate guidance (opens in a new tab)
Decision time	The UGE-CE decides applications made in Spain within 20 days.Consular processing times vary by consulate. We confirm the current time for your consulate.	Spanish consulate guidance (opens in a new tab)
Social security	Employees: Spanish affiliation through the employer, or a certificate of coverage from your country where a social security agreement applies. Freelancers: registration as self-employed (RETA) or a coverage certificate.	Spanish consulate guidance (opens in a new tab)
Health insurance and record	Health insurance valid in Spain and criminal record certificates for the countries where you lived in the last 5 years.Foreign documents usually need legalisation (apostille) and a sworn translation into Spanish.	Spanish consulate guidance (opens in a new tab)
Long-term residence	After 5 years of continuous legal residence you can apply for long-term residence.General rule of the immigration law; time on some permits counts differently.	Ley Orgánica 4/2000, art. 32 (BOE) (opens in a new tab)

Last reviewed: 1 October 2026. Reviewed by: adviser review pending

How it works, step by step

1
Check your eligibility
Answer six questions and get an indicative result straight away.
2
Call with your case officer
We confirm the route (consulate or from inside Spain), your income evidence and your family members.
3
Personalised quote
You receive a quote priced for your case. A deposit from that quote starts the work.
4
Documents and application
Your checklist is in your client portal. We check every document, then prepare and submit the application.
5
Decision and residence card
We follow the application to the decision, then help with your residence card (TIE) appointment and renewals.

What we do, and what you would do on your own

You can apply on your own. This is what changes when we handle it.

What we do, and what you would do on your own
	With CitizenSure	On your own
Choosing the route	We compare applying at the consulate and from inside Spain for your situation	You research the options and the latest guidance yourself
Income evidence	We check your payslips, invoices and contracts against the current threshold	You work out which evidence counts and how to present it
Documents	Personal checklist, document review, legalisation and translation planning	You track each requirement, apostille and translation
Application	Prepared and checked before submission; we answer requests for more information	You complete the forms and reply to any requests
Family members	Included in the same plan, with the extra income worked out	Separate applications for each family member to manage
After approval	Residence card appointment and renewal reminders	You book appointments and track renewal dates

See where you stand in one minute

Answer six questions for an indicative result, then get a plan and quote for your case.

Check my eligibility

How our pricing works

We do not publish fixed fees. Every client is priced individually after a short assessment, so you pay for what your case needs and nothing else.

What affects your price

Who is applying: The main applicant and each family member included in the application.
Complexity: Employee or freelancer, number of clients, income structure, previous refusals.
Documents: How many documents need apostille, legalisation and sworn translation.
Route and timeline: Consulate or application from inside Spain, and how soon you need to move.
Services you add: Tax regime referral, residence card appointment, renewals, relocation help.

What is included

Eligibility review by a qualified adviser
Route recommendation: consulate or UGE-CE
Personal document checklist and review of every document
Application preparation, submission and follow-up
Family members in the same plan
Updates in your secure client portal

Official fees (paid to the authorities)

Residence application in Spain (UGE-CE)Government fee (form 790, code 038), paid to the Spanish authorities; amount confirmed in your plan
Visa at a Spanish consulateConsular fee set by each consulate and nationality; amount confirmed in your plan
Residence card (TIE)Government fee paid at the appointment; amount confirmed in your plan

Government and consular fees are set by the Spanish authorities and are paid separately from our fee. Translation and legalisation costs depend on your documents.

Get your personalised quote

Start with the one-minute check. Your adviser sends your quote after the call.

If you go ahead, a deposit taken from your own quote starts the work. The balance is due as set out in your quote.

Tax in Spain: the special regime for inbound workers

General information, not tax advice. This section is awaiting review by a qualified tax adviser.

People who become tax resident in Spain may be able to opt into the special regime for inbound workers (article 93 of the personal income tax law, often called the Beckham law). Since 2023, Ley 28/2022 has extended it to remote workers who move to Spain to work at a distance. Under the regime you are taxed broadly as a non-resident for the year you move and the following five years. You must not have been tax resident in Spain in the previous five years, and you opt in with form 149 within six months of starting your activity in Spain. Whether you qualify, especially as a freelancer, depends on how you work and is decided case by case. We refer you to a qualified tax adviser before you rely on it.

Legal basis: Article 93, personal income tax law (LIRPF), as amended by Ley 28/2022
Duration: Year of the move plus the following 5 years
How to opt in: Form 149 to the Spanish tax agency, within 6 months
Freelancers: Not automatic; needs individual tax advice

Sources: Spanish tax agency (AEAT): special regime for inbound workers · Ley 28/2022 (BOE)

Bringing your family

General information, not legal advice. This section is awaiting review by a qualified adviser.

Your spouse or registered partner and your children can apply with you, at the same time or later, and receive a residence permit linked to yours. The income you need goes up with each family member: about 75% of the SMI for the first and 25% for each additional one. We include family members in the same plan, work out the income required and prepare each application together with yours.

Partner: Spouse or registered partner
Children: Under 18, or older and financially dependent
Extra income (2026): About €1,068 a month for the first, €356 for each additional
Permit: Linked to the main applicant's residence

Sources: Ley 14/2013 (BOE)

Spain compared with Portugal, Italy and Greece

The main digital nomad routes in southern Europe at a glance. Thresholds change every year; check the source before relying on a figure.

Spain compared with Portugal, Italy and Greece
	Minimum income	Freelancers	First permission	Family members	Source
Spain	About €2,849 a month (200% of SMI, 2026)	Yes, up to 20% Spanish clients	Visa up to 1 year, or 3-year residence if applying in Spain	Yes, with extra income	Source (opens in a new tab)
Portugal (D8)	4 times the Portuguese minimum wage a month	Yes	Temporary stay or residence visa	Yes	Source (opens in a new tab)
Italy	About €28,000 a year (3 times the health-care exemption level)	Yes, highly qualified workers	Visa and permit up to 1 year	Yes	Source (opens in a new tab)
Greece	€3,500 a month	Yes, clients outside Greece	Visa up to 12 months	Yes	Source (opens in a new tab)

Indicative comparison for orientation, not advice. Figures are taken from the official sources linked and can change. Data as of: 1 October 2026.

Document checklist

The documents most applicants need. Get the full checklist with notes on each document, ready to print.

Included in the checklist

Passport
Passport-style photo
Criminal record certificates
Health insurance
Degree or proof of experience
Employer letter (employees)
Client contracts (freelancers)
Proof of the company's activity
Proof of income
Bank statements
Social security evidence
Family documents

Talk to us your way

Choose what suits you. Every request goes to the same case officer.

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Quick questions about the Spain remote work visa.

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Book a consultation

A call with your case officer about your route, documents and quote.

General guidance only. Immigration rules and fees change, so we confirm the current requirements for your situation in your assessment.

Last updated: 2 October 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the Spain digital nomad visa?

It is the popular name for Spain's international teleworker visa and residence authorisation, created by Ley 28/2022. It lets people from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland live in Spain while working remotely for an employer or clients based outside Spain.

Can freelancers apply?

Yes. Freelancers and self-employed professionals can apply if most of their work is for clients outside Spain. Work for Spanish clients may not exceed 20% of total professional activity.

How much do I need to earn in 2026?

The rule is 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) for the main applicant, plus 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each additional one. With the 2026 SMI of €1,221 a month in 14 payments, this is about €2,849 gross a month for one person when the annual SMI is divided by 12. Your adviser confirms the exact figure used for your application.

Should I apply from my country or from inside Spain?

Both are possible. At a Spanish consulate you receive a visa for up to one year. If you are already legally in Spain, for example as a visitor, you can apply online to the UGE-CE for a residence authorisation of up to three years. The best option depends on your timing, your nationality and your plans; we compare them on the call.

How long does it take?

Applications made in Spain to the UGE-CE are decided within 20 days. Consulate times vary by country. Preparing documents, apostilles and translations usually takes longer than the decision itself, so we plan that part with you from day one.

Can my family come with me?

Yes. Your spouse or partner and your children can be included, with the income requirement increased for each family member. They receive residence permits linked to yours.

What happens after three years?

The residence can be renewed while you still meet the requirements. After five years of continuous legal residence you can apply for long-term residence.

What if most of my clients are in Spain?

Then this route is not the right one, because Spanish clients are limited to 20% of your work. Spain has a separate self-employed work residence (cuenta propia), with different requirements including a viable business plan. We can assess it on the call.

Do I pay less tax in Spain?

Possibly. Remote workers who move to Spain may be able to opt into the special regime for inbound workers (Beckham law) if they meet its conditions. It depends on your situation and needs individual tax advice; we refer you to a qualified tax adviser.

Is this the Spanish golden visa?

No. The Spanish investor residence (golden visa) closed to new applications on 3 April 2025. The teleworker route is based on your remote work and income, not on an investment.

How much does your service cost?

We price every client individually after a short assessment, based on who is applying, the complexity of your case, your documents, the route and the services you choose. You receive a written quote before you commit, and a deposit from that quote starts the work.

How do I get started?

Send us your details and an adviser will contact you to discuss your goals and the programmes that fit.

Is the first conversation an obligation?

No. The first conversation is there to help you understand your options.

Is this programme still open?

We only feature live programmes. If rules change, the programme guide is updated and your adviser will tell you before you proceed.

How do I check my eligibility?

Use the eligibility tool or book a consultation and an adviser will review your situation.

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