Eligibility and procedure corrections: 19 October 2026.
Quick Facts
- UGE decision period: 20 working days, subject to lawful suspensions
- Duration: Up to 3 years for residence; up to 1 year for a consular visa
- Apply From: Spain or consulate
- Family: Eligible relatives can apply
- Tax: Separate Beckham eligibility assessment
Overview
Working remotely for a company abroad? Spain now has a visa made exactly for that. It came out of the Startup Law and lets remote workers stay legally while keeping their foreign jobs or international clients.
If you are legally in Spain, you can apply for residence for up to three years. A consular visa lasts up to one year. Continuing afterwards requires a residence application and meeting the conditions.
Requirements
- Your company needs at least one year of operations
- You need three months of work history with them
- Employees must work for businesses outside Spain. Self-employed professionals may carry out up to 20% of their professional activity for businesses in Spain.
- Financial resources of 200% of SMI (approximately EUR2,850/month or EUR34,200/year for 2026), measured before deductions. Documented savings or other liquid income can cover a shortfall for the full permit period.
- An eligible qualification or at least three years of relevant professional experience
- Public healthcare coverage or equivalent private insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain; private policies must meet the UGE coverage rules
Application Process
Option 1: Apply from Spain — Apply while legally present. If approved, residence lasts up to three years, or less for a shorter work period.
Option 2: Apply through a consulate — Apply at the competent Spanish consulate for a visa lasting up to one year. A later residence application is separate.
The UGE residence procedure has a 20-working-day decision period and positive administrative silence. Requests for documents can suspend the clock; check the deadline and evidence of approval before relying on silence.
Tax Benefits
The visa does not automatically grant Beckham Law treatment. If you separately qualify and elect the regime:
- Employment income is taxed at 24% up to €600,000 and 47% above
- Employment income from abroad is also included; savings income follows separate rates
- Applies for the year of tax residence and five further tax years while conditions are met
- Wealth tax only on Spanish assets
- No Model 720 foreign asset reporting required
Family & Long-Term Benefits
Eligible relatives can apply with you or later, subject to their own documents and financial requirements. Long-term residence and citizenship each have separate residence, continuity and other conditions.
Our lawyers handle the full process—document preparation, submission to the UGE (Large Companies and Strategic Sectors Unit), and follow-up until you have your TIE card in hand.
Digital nomad visa review for Spain
Use this review to check whether remote work, income proof, client or employer documents and family residence details are ready before a digital nomad visa filing.
Best fit
For remote workers, founders or employees who need Spanish residence and want the visa route checked before collecting final documents.
Before filing
- Remote work relationship and documents from clients or employer.
- Income proof, health insurance and family documents.
- Where the application should be filed and how timing affects the move.
Send us
Send nationality, current country, work setup, income evidence status, family details and planned filing date.
Read our digital nomad guide and video, try the visa and Beckham eligibility checker, and check the UGE requirements and Ley 14/2013.