Spain's digital nomad visa
- Rolf Silver
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
When Spain introduced its Digital Nomad Visa in early 2023, it promised a simple route for remote professionals to live here while working abroad. Two years later, the reality is clearer: it works, but only if you understand the fine print.
What’s changed by August 2025:
Income thresholds have risen: You now need to show at least €2,760 per month gross (higher if you’re relocating with a partner or children).
Stay longer if you apply in Spain: Apply from your home country = 1-year permit. Apply in Spain = up to 3 years from the outset, renewable to 5.
Simpler rules for regulated professions: Engineers, lawyers, or similar roles no longer need to homologate degrees, just a declaration that they won’t practise locally.
Family applications clarified: Updated guidance this summer finally sets out clearer requirements for dependents, less grey area, more predictability.
For founders and HR teams, the takeaways are simple:
Plan around the higher thresholds if you’re relocating staff with families.
Apply in Spain if possible, it gives you a longer permit and smoother path.
Get paperwork watertight: income proof, contracts, insurance, criminal checks.
Two years in, the Digital Nomad Visa is a useful, but paperwork-heavy, route to attract and retain talent. Those who prepare properly can still unlock five years in Spain and a real path to permanence.