ICYMI, Bea Alonzo bought an apartment in Madrid in 2022. Thanks to her real estate investment, she qualified for a Golden Visa and is now an official Spanish resident. If you've always dreamed of living in Spain (for at least a couple of years), applying for a digital nomad visa might be your best option.
What Is A Digital Nomad Visa?
A digital nomad visa (DNV) is a specialized visa for individuals who wish to work remotely while residing in a foreign country.
Regular visitors to Spain need to apply for a Spain tourist visa, and this short-term visa grants you a maximum stay of 90 days. However due to the rise in popularity of "digital nomads," aka people who can work from almost anywhere (as long as there's stable wifi), the DNV is swiftly becoming an attractive option for those who can meet the requirements.
Digital Nomad Visa for Spain Requirements
Who can apply?
You must be a non-EU/EEA citizen to apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa. Additionally, you should either hold a university degree or have a minimum of three years of professional experience in your field. Your profession and capability to work remotely must be verifiable, whether you’re self-employed or working for a company that allows remote work internationally.
If you are self-employed, you can also work for a company located in Spain, but no more than 20% of your total income should come from a Spanish employer.
The Consulate General of Spain in Manila has compiled the complete list of requirements necessary for the visa application process:
Required documents
- National application form (2 copies)
- One (1) recent passport-size photo with white background (to be pasted on the application form)
- Valid passport (must be valid for at least 1 year and must have at least two blank pages)
- One (1) complete photocopy of the valid passport
- Foreigner Identity Number (NIE)
- 790 tax form (code 052)
- Accreditation of a minimum employment or professional relationship of three months at the date of the application with the foreign company(s) with which said relationship is maintained:
- Employee: tenure (length of contract) and clear permission from the company for the employee to work remotely in Spain.
- Self-employed worker: tenure of the contractual relationship and terms and conditions for the employee to work remotely in Spain.
CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓watch now - Accreditation of a real and continuous activity for at least one year of the company/s with which the worker maintains the employment or professional relationship.
- Certificate from the Business Registry (or similar body in the country) showing the date of creation of the company (or companies) and its nature of business.
- Proof of economic means: (Income statement, duly legalized by the corresponding authorities and apostilled) with a minimum amount of €2,160 (P132,304) monthly income, and €810 (P49,614) additional for first person in charge, and €540 (P33,076) to the others in charge.
- The following means of proof are acceptable: work contract, bank statements, payslips, etc.
- Copy of the degree that accredits a professional experience of at least 3 years. (ex. qualification issued by the university, business school, or vocational training).
- Private Health Insurance Coverage by an insurance company accredited in Spain.
- Medical Certificate (done at any DOH accredited hospital or clinic) indicating the non-existence of diseases that may have a serious effect on public health, according to International Sanitary Regulations of 2005 (authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs) (validity 3 months from date of issuance).
- NBI Clearance authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs (validity is 6 months from date of issuance). Must present Police/NBI Clearance from the places of residence within the last 5 years, authenticated by the corresponding authorities.
Take note: All documents presented in English must be translated to Spanish by a recognized Spanish translator (traductor jurado) accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
How to Apply For A Digital Nomad Visa in Spain
- Apply for an NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero/Foreign Identity Number). You must do this before your application for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa, or you will not be approved. The fee, to be paid by card at the Consular office on the day of the appointment, is £8.45 (P600).
- Prepare all the required documents. Get them all translated and apostilled.
- Book an appointment. All applicants are required to book an appointment online prior to application submission. No walk-ins allowed.
- Attend the visa appointment. It is mandatory to come personally for the enrollment of your biometrics. Make sure you have your passport and complete set of documents. Be prepared to answer any questions the interviewer may ask. You will have to leave your passport at the embassy/consulate as part of the application process.
- Pay the visa application fee. It costs P4,880 to apply for a DNV (same price for an adult and their dependent children), and this needs to be paid in cash. You will also need to pay the BLS International Service charge of P1,030.
- Wait for the embassy/consulate to make a decision. In most cases, you will be informed within 15 calendar days whether your application has been successful. However, it can sometimes take up to 45 days if necessary.
- Collect your passport. Once your visa is approved you can book that flight to Spain! You will need to bring your receipt and acceptance proof with you for collection of your passport.
- If you cannot collect your passport in person, you will need to submit the name of your representative, proof of their identity (photo copy), and an authorization letter.
- The Spain Visa Application Centre can also courier your application to you as long as your address is serviceable by their courier partner, 2Go Express.
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Pros and Cons of Applying for A Digital Nomad Visa In Spain
Pros
- It's a fast-track to EU citizenship. Filipino nationals can apply for the Spanish citizenship after only two years of living and working in Spain.
- Family members may also obtain the visa. The spouse or unmarried partner, dependent children, and dependent relatives in the ascending line who form part of the family unit are all eligible. Take note that there are specific requirements for family members.
- There are employment opportunities for partners. If your spouse or partner is included in the DNV application, they'll also be granted permission to work in Spain.
- Your dependents will have access to education and health services. Children have the right to attend local public schools or private international schools. Meanwhile, dependents will have access to Spain’s healthcare system.
- You have the right to travel within the European Union. Applicants can apply for a residence card such as the TIE, which will allow them to travel freely within the EU.
- Your stay in Spain can extend beyond the initial year. After the first year, you can apply for a residency permit extension which grants you up to three more years, and is renewable for two more years, potentially allowing you a total of up to five years of residency under the Digital Nomad Visa scheme.
Cons
- The majority of your income is limited to remote work outside of Spain. If more than 20% of your income comes from Spanish clients, you aren't eligible to apply for the DNV.
- Your employer must participate in social security. If you're employed by a company and your home country doesn't have a social security agreement with Spain, your employer must register with the Spanish social security system and cover your contributions.
- For self-employed individuals, you are required to register as self-employed (Autónomo). As a self-employed person in Spain, you must register as an autónomo and take responsibility for paying your own social security contributions, which is among the highest in Europe, amounting to over €300 (P18,375) per month in addition to taxes.
- Recent Spanish residents are not eligible. If you have continuously resided in Spain within the last five years prior to your DNV application, you aren't eligible to apply for the visa. Also, if you already have a residence in Spain and want to transfer to the DNV, you don't qualify.
- You must spend at least 183 days per year in Spain to maintain your visa status.
Ready to apply for your Spain digital nomad visa?
Make sure to double check that all your paperwork is up to date and issued within the required validity period. After you submit documents during your appointment, all you have to do is (im)patiently wait and keep your fingers crossed. Good luck!
If you have any questions that need answering, the Spain Visa Application Centre is located at Unit 1903, 19th Floor, Philippine AXA Life Centre, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. in Makati City. It's open from 2-4PM on Mondays to Fridays for passport collection. For visa submissions, it's open from 8-11:30AM and 1-2PM on Mondays to Thursdays, and 8AM-12PM on Fridays. You can also call them via landline at (02) 7902-0001 or email them at info.mnl@blshelpline.com.
