Located in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula on the Mediterranean coast, Andalusia is one of the most attractive communities in Spain for freelancers and digital nomads. IT specialists working remotely can relocate to the resort region by obtaining a special digital nomad visa. The document gives the right to stay in the country for 3 years and can be extended. To obtain a residence permit, a foreign national will need to register their residency. To do this, you can buy property in Spain or rent housing.
Content:
- Why Andalusia?
- Digital nomad visa
- How to get a digital nomad visa in Spain
- Cost of living in Andalusia
- Buying property in Andalusia
- Selection and purchase of real estate in Andalusia
In Q1 2023, of the total residential real estate transactions in Spain, 14.52% were with overseas buyers. Andalusia ranked among the top 6 regions in the country where foreigners purchased the most property. Most of the overseas nationals investing in real estate in Spain were the British, French, and Germans.
Why Andalusia?
The autonomous community of Andalusia is not only a popular resort region but also a great place to live and work. Here you will find a comfortable Mediterranean climate with warm winters, moderately hot summers, and a large number of sunny days a year. Moreover, the region boasts a picturesque natural landscape with verdant mountains, winding rivers, blue lakes, and stunning sandy beaches on the shores of the purest Mediterranean Sea.
Remote IT workers and digital nomads will appreciate the well-developed infrastructure for comfortable work at the computer. There are many free Wi-Fi hotspots. Freelancers can work not only from home but also in special co-working spaces, numerous cosy cafes, coastal restaurants, well-groomed parks, and even on the beach. Comfortable weather, clean air, mountains, and the sea allow the inhabitants of Andalusia to spend a lot of time outdoors, which has a good effect on their health, productivity, and overall mood.
Digital nomad visa
One of the ways to legally live, work, and use the social infrastructure in Andalusia is to become a holder of a digital nomad visa. This is a residence permit issued to remote workers for 1 year, after which you can get an extendable 3-year permit. After living in Spain for 5 years, you can obtain permanent residency. If you have resided in the country for 10 years, you can apply for citizenship, which entitles you to stay and work in any country in the Eurozone.
Holders of the digital nomad visa enjoy the following benefits:
- The opportunity to obtain a Spanish residence permit for yourself, your spouse, and children.
- Permission to open bank accounts in Spain and a number of other EU countries.
- The opportunity to visit any country that is part of the Schengen Area visa-free.
- Access to a free healthcare system.
- The opportunity to send children to free primary and secondary schools.
How to get a digital nomad visa in Spain
To obtain a digital nomad visa, you must comply with several requirements:
- Be over 18 years of age.
- Have a service or employment contract with a foreign company.
- Prove your qualification with at least 3 years of work experience or a diploma.
- Have an income equal to twice the minimum wage (SMI) in Spain.
- Not have a criminal record.
- Take out Spanish health insurance.
In 2023, the SMI in Spain is €1,080, so in order to obtain a visa, a digital nomad must prove their income of at least €2,160 per month. If you are simultaneously applying for a visa for family members, then you must add to this amount €810 for your spouse and €270 for each child.
Cost of living in Andalusia
Although Andalusia is a popular resort region, prices here are lower than in Barcelona, Madrid, and other major cities in Spain. For example, in Málaga, which is the administrative centre of the namesake province, the average monthly expenditure for one person is approximately €660, excluding the cost of renting an apartment. An inexpensive lunch in a cafe will cost €10, and tickets for city buses and trains range from €1.4 to €2.
Prices for food, transport, and medical and other services in Spanish Andalusia are lower than in France, Germany, Austria, and many other European countries. The rental price is highly dependent on the location of the property. It will cost more to rent real estate within walking distance from the sea or in the very centre of a large city. For example, a 3-bedroom apartment in the resort city of Málaga can be rented for €1,400 per month.
Freelancers and sole proprietors in Spain are required to pay income tax. Depending on the amount of income, the tax rate varies from 19% to 47%. The higher the income, the higher the rate. Proprietors and freelancers can partially reduce mandatory payments by taking advantage of tax deductions if they have the appropriate receipts. Deductions are available for:
- Social security contributions and health insurance premiums.
- Accounting expenses.
- Office expenses.
- Phone and internet costs.
- Work-related travel expenses.
Those who work remotely and have registered their apartment or house as a place of business can take advantage of the tax deduction for the cost of water, electricity, gas, and other utilities.
Buying property in Andalusia
If you are considering buying an apartment or villa in Spain, Andalusia is the perfect place to find a large number of properties for every taste. An important advantage of acquiring a residence for freelancers or digital nomads is that they not only get their own home in a popular resort region, but, if necessary, they can also always sell it for a profit. Property prices in Andalusia are rising every year, and the liquidity of housing is high, as demand exceeds supply.
Another perk of buying a house or apartment in Spain is the opportunity to get a residence permit for investment. To do this, you need to buy a property worth €500,000 or more.
Selection and purchase of real estate in Andalusia
In the real estate market of cities and towns of Andalusia, you can find apartments, penthouses, studios, duplexes, villas, and townhouses. The most sought-after properties are in resort locations such as Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Estepona, Benalmádena, Málaga, Marbella, etc. In the listed cities and towns, you can find both resale and newly built housing. A separate group includes off-plan properties, which are often sold at a discount from the developer and in instalments for several years.
Prices for apartments and houses vary greatly. For example, in the secondary market of Málaga, you can find 1-bedroom apartments priced from €200,000. Meanwhile, a small 116 m² 2-bedroom villa is for sale for €300,000. There are also modern luxury mansions on the market, the cost of which reaches several million euros.
To find out the current cost of houses and apartments, use the catalogue on our website. You can easily search properties by filtering them by location, cost, area, number of bedrooms, and many other parameters. We collect the latest offers from developers and real estate agencies on a single platform. Each listing comes with a detailed description with photos and technical specifications. All of this allows you to quickly find a suitable property for a future purchase.