Why should a digital nomad choose Spain?

Why should a digital nomad choose Spain?

You do not need to purchase real estate in Spain or find a job in the Kingdom to reside in this country for a long time. If you are a freelancer or a remote worker, you can apply for a digital nomad visa and settle in Spain for 5 years.

Content:

What is a Digital Nomad visa?

A Digital Nomad Visa is a residence permit that can be renewed for 5 years. This visa type allows non-EU nationals to reside in Spain and work remotely from that country.

There are two types of foreign citizens who can apply for this visa:

  1. Employees working remotely who have an employment agreement with the company but are not tied to the workplace and can work from anywhere.
  2. Self-employed receiving income from online activities.

Why should a digital nomad choose Spain?

Requirements for applicants

Applicants for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa must meet the following requirements:

  • They must not be under 18.
  • Applicants must be citizens of an EU country.
  • The organization must be located outside Spain. By the time the application is submitted, the company must have been working for at least 1 year.
  • The employment contract must contain information that the applicants can work remotely.
  • Digital nomads must prove that they work for this company or had a professional relationship with clients at least 3 months before submitting the application.
  • They must provide an employment agreement concluded with the company for at least 1 year.
  • Digital nomads must earn at least 80% of their income outside the Kingdom.
  • They must prove that they have at least 3 years of experience in the field.
  • If they have no 3-year work experience in this field, they need to provide a university certificate/an education certificate obtained at a university or business school.
  • Digital nomads must not have a criminal record and a ban on entering Spain.

Why Spain?

The major benefits of obtaining a Spanish visa for remote staff and freelancers are as follows:

  • The opportunity to issue a 3-year residence permit after 1 year, during which the Spanish Nomad digital visa is valid. After these 3 years, the residence permit can be extended for another 2 years. After 5 years after obtaining a residence permit, you can apply for permanent residence.
  • Spanish citizenship can be granted after 10 years of legal residence in the Kingdom. If you have been living in the country for a long time on a Digital Nomad visa, this fact is important for applying for citizenship. Another advantage is that this visa is issued as quickly as possible, and you can get it within 20 days.
  • During the first 5 years of their stay in the country, digital nomads can pay a tax of 24% if their earnings do not exceed €600,000 per year. If the income is over €600,000, the tax will be 48%. The mild Mediterranean climate allows locals to enjoy outdoor recreation and have a great time. Spain is one of the sunniest places in Europe: the sun shines here for over 3,000 hours a year.
  • A well-developed infrastructure. Living in major Spanish cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona, is favourable for an active lifestyle. However, the infrastructure is also well-developed in smaller cities, for example, in Seville, Malaga, Valencia, Granada, San Sebastian, and Bilbao, so they offer various places to relax in cafes, restaurants, parks, museums, and shopping centres. In addition, there are villages near these cities with a calm atmosphere.
  • An advanced transport network. This allows you to travel comfortably in the country by train, plane, bus or ferry.
  • A stable and fast Internet connection. Spain is one of the leading European countries in the development of fiber-optic networks. Broadband Internet connection is available for 90% of the population in the country. Many public institutions, such as hotels, libraries, cafes, shops, entertainment and cultural centres, offer a free global network.
  • Another advantage of obtaining such a visa in this country is a large selection of low-cost and high-quality housing for sale or rental.

Why should a digital nomad choose Spain?

Here are houses and apartments in Spain for sale:

  • A 90 m2 two-bedroom apartment in Torrevieja, Alicante, for €230,000.
  • A 250 m2 four-bedroom residence in Sitges, Barcelona, for €950,000.
  • A 184 m2 three-bedroom flat in Malaga for €803,000.
  • A 112 m2 three-bedroom apartment in Nou Moles, Valencia, for €393,000.
  • A 58 m2 two-bedroom flat in Russafa, Valencia, for €179,000.
  • A 174 m2 five-bedroom house in Font-rubi, Barcelona, for €290,000.

Here are apartments and houses in Spain for rent:

  • A 150 m2 two-bedroom residence in Competa, Malaga, for €850 per month.
  • A 58 m2 two-bedroom apartment in Sayalonga, Malaga, for €550 per month.
  • A 600 m2 nine-bedroom villa in Seville for €4,000 per month.
  • A 209 m2 seven-bedroom townhouse in Seville for €1,950 per month.
  • A 58 m2 two-bedroom flat in Seville for €950 per month.
  • A 99 m2 two-bedroom apartment in Gracia, Barcelona, for €1,600 per month.

What documents should you prepare for a digital nomad visa?

In addition to an employment contract and a university certificate/an education certificate obtained at a university, you must provide:

  • An international passport.
  • A visa application form in Spanish and English.
  • Medical insurance.
  • A 35 mm x 45 mm photo.
  • The receipt of the visa application fee payment.
  • A certificate of non-criminal record issued no earlier than 90 days before the application is submitted. The certificate must be apostilled.
  • An income statement. The applicant must earn at least €2,332 per month and an additional 75% of this amount if the husband/wife of a digital nomad moves to the country, and another 25% for each child.
  • A bank statement. The account must have at least €25,000 and an additional €9,441 for each family member excluding the main applicant.
  • Birth and marriage certificates if family members move with you.

The application is considered within 3–4 weeks.

Why should a digital nomad choose Spain?

What should you pay attention to before moving to Spain?

Moving abroad for the first time is difficult. Here are some of the situations faced by digital nomads in Spain:

Which city of the Kingdom should they choose?

The list of the 5 best places in Spain for digital nomads includes:

  • Alicante
  • Barcelona
  • Majorca
  • Malaga
  • Murcia

Expats love these places for the beautiful nature and unique architecture of buildings. However, these are tourist areas, so they are a little more expensive than others and less popular with travellers.

What types of housing do digital nomads choose in Spain?

There is a large selection of residential properties in Spain: from small studios to huge villas and comfortable hotels. Digital nomads can rent an apartment for a long time in advance: staying in a hotel room can be expensive due to its higher cost.

If you have some savings, you can buy a villa or apartment in development projects in Spain. If you plan to move from city to city, you can rent out your property. In this case, you should have an additional source of income.

Share
Subscribe to newsletter
Subscribe