Spain’s long-awaited Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) shot to the top of many relocation short-lists when it debuted in 2023, but applicants now have to show deeper pockets. On 5 December 2025 the specialist firm Nomad Immigration Lawyers confirmed that the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration has updated the financial test to reflect this year’s rise in the minimum wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional, SMI). Because the DNV law pegs eligibility at 200 % of the SMI, the required monthly income jumps from €2,600 to about €2,763—or €33,156 a year—for a single applicant. A spouse or partner adds another 75 % of SMI (≈ €1,036 a month) and each additional dependent 25 % (≈ €345).
The higher bar matters for two reasons. First, demand is booming: according to the Interior Ministry more than 14,000 remote-worker files have been opened since January. Second, Spain positions the DNV as a tool to attract high-value residents who spend, hire and pay taxes locally. Matching income thresholds to the SMI ensures that newcomers contribute at least as much as local employees earn, blunting criticism that the programme fuels gentrification.
![Spain Hikes Digital Nomad Visa Income Threshold to €2,763 a Month]()
Applicants who fall just short can still qualify by topping up with savings equivalent to the missing income for two years, but consulates will scrutinise bank statements and foreign-earnings contracts more closely. Lawyers also remind candidates that at least 80 % of revenue must come from clients outside Spain, and that digital nomads can opt into the so-called “Beckham Law” to enjoy a flat 24 % tax on Spanish-source income up to €600,000.
For HR and global-mobility managers the message is clear: review compensation packages for assignees who plan to use the DNV in 2026. Employers may need to gross-up salaries or offer allowances so that key talent—especially single founders or early-career tech staff—still meet the threshold. Companies that rely on remote-first contracts should update cost-of-living calculators and assignment letters to avoid last-minute visa rejections. Finally, advisers recommend front-loading applications early in Q1 2026, before the next SMI adjustment is negotiated.
The higher bar matters for two reasons. First, demand is booming: according to the Interior Ministry more than 14,000 remote-worker files have been opened since January. Second, Spain positions the DNV as a tool to attract high-value residents who spend, hire and pay taxes locally. Matching income thresholds to the SMI ensures that newcomers contribute at least as much as local employees earn, blunting criticism that the programme fuels gentrification.
Applicants who fall just short can still qualify by topping up with savings equivalent to the missing income for two years, but consulates will scrutinise bank statements and foreign-earnings contracts more closely. Lawyers also remind candidates that at least 80 % of revenue must come from clients outside Spain, and that digital nomads can opt into the so-called “Beckham Law” to enjoy a flat 24 % tax on Spanish-source income up to €600,000.
For HR and global-mobility managers the message is clear: review compensation packages for assignees who plan to use the DNV in 2026. Employers may need to gross-up salaries or offer allowances so that key talent—especially single founders or early-career tech staff—still meet the threshold. Companies that rely on remote-first contracts should update cost-of-living calculators and assignment letters to avoid last-minute visa rejections. Finally, advisers recommend front-loading applications early in Q1 2026, before the next SMI adjustment is negotiated.
