One year after it quietly launched under Spain’s Startup Law, the country’s Digital Nomad—or “international teleworker”—visa is emerging as a star performer in Europe’s battle for mobile talent. An explainer published on 28 January 2026 by India’s Economic Times underscores why: the scheme lets non-EU nationals live anywhere in Spain for up to five years while working remotely for foreign employers, as long as no more than 20 percent of their revenue comes from Spanish clients.
Eligibility remains deliberately broad. Applicants must show either a university degree or three years of professional experience, a clean criminal record and monthly income of roughly €2,650 (200 percent of the national minimum wage). Family members can piggy-back on the main applicant, and successful “teleworkers” receive a one-year visa that can be converted into a three-year residence card renewable for a further two. Crucially, many qualify for Spain’s revamped “Beckham Law,” paying a flat 24 percent tax on income up to €600,000 for six years—an incentive that rivals Portugal’s NHR scheme.
Prospective applicants who prefer a streamlined, guided process can turn to VisaHQ, an online visa-services platform that stays current with Spain’s evolving digital-nomad requirements. Through its dedicated Spain page (https://www.visahq.com/spain/), VisaHQ walks users through eligibility checks, document preparation and appointment scheduling, acting as a bridge between travellers and Spanish consulates worldwide. This support can save weeks of research and reduce the risk of refusals.
![Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa Gains Traction as Remote-Work Boom Continues]()
According to data from the Ministry of Inclusion, Spain issued more than 7,800 digital-nomad visas in 2025, with U.S., British and Argentine applicants topping the list. Cities such as Valencia, Malaga and Las Palmas have rolled out co-working hubs, English-language schooling and relocation services to capture the growing wave. Landlords in Tier-2 cities report that incoming remote workers are helping to stabilise rental demand outside Madrid and Barcelona.
For global-mobility teams, Spain now offers a mid-cost European base with strong air connectivity and lower living costs than France or Germany. Companies deploying fully remote staff can avoid the compliance headache of creating a Spanish payroll, provided employees stay within the 20 percent local-income cap. Talent managers should, however, monitor permanent-establishment and social-security risks, especially if nomads begin managing local staff or exceeding the revenue threshold.
Looking ahead, the government plans to streamline online filing through a one-stop portal (UGE) and cut consular processing to ten working days. If those efficiencies materialise, Spain could consolidate its position as Europe’s go-to destination for location-independent professionals.
Eligibility remains deliberately broad. Applicants must show either a university degree or three years of professional experience, a clean criminal record and monthly income of roughly €2,650 (200 percent of the national minimum wage). Family members can piggy-back on the main applicant, and successful “teleworkers” receive a one-year visa that can be converted into a three-year residence card renewable for a further two. Crucially, many qualify for Spain’s revamped “Beckham Law,” paying a flat 24 percent tax on income up to €600,000 for six years—an incentive that rivals Portugal’s NHR scheme.
Prospective applicants who prefer a streamlined, guided process can turn to VisaHQ, an online visa-services platform that stays current with Spain’s evolving digital-nomad requirements. Through its dedicated Spain page (https://www.visahq.com/spain/), VisaHQ walks users through eligibility checks, document preparation and appointment scheduling, acting as a bridge between travellers and Spanish consulates worldwide. This support can save weeks of research and reduce the risk of refusals.
According to data from the Ministry of Inclusion, Spain issued more than 7,800 digital-nomad visas in 2025, with U.S., British and Argentine applicants topping the list. Cities such as Valencia, Malaga and Las Palmas have rolled out co-working hubs, English-language schooling and relocation services to capture the growing wave. Landlords in Tier-2 cities report that incoming remote workers are helping to stabilise rental demand outside Madrid and Barcelona.
For global-mobility teams, Spain now offers a mid-cost European base with strong air connectivity and lower living costs than France or Germany. Companies deploying fully remote staff can avoid the compliance headache of creating a Spanish payroll, provided employees stay within the 20 percent local-income cap. Talent managers should, however, monitor permanent-establishment and social-security risks, especially if nomads begin managing local staff or exceeding the revenue threshold.
Looking ahead, the government plans to streamline online filing through a one-stop portal (UGE) and cut consular processing to ten working days. If those efficiencies materialise, Spain could consolidate its position as Europe’s go-to destination for location-independent professionals.
