American applicants · Kingdom of Spain
Digital Nomad Visa (Spain) for American citizens
Residence permit for remote workers and international freelancers under the Startup Law (Ley de Startups).
This page covers the Digital Nomad Visa (Spain) specifically for American applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to United States. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- 3 weeks – 6 weeks
- Government fees
- €1,007.02
- Typical duration
- Initial 1-year consular visa, extendable to 3-year residence permit, then renewable for further 2 years; counts toward permanent residence after 5 years.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
- Schengen Area
Consular processing: Madrid
Tourist entry vs. this route
Yes — American nationals can enter Kingdom of Spain without a visa for short tourism (typically up to 90 days), but tourist entry does not authorise the activity covered by the Digital Nomad Visa (Spain).
Key figures for American applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Government cost
€1,007.02
Single applicant, applying from abroad
Each family member pays their own €80 consular fee, €10.94 UGE-CE tasa (Tasa 038; the old €73.26 line was repealed by Orden PJC/617/2025), and €16.08 TIE. Income threshold scales: +75% of SMI for first dependant, +25% per additional.
Verified 1 June 2026 · BOE — Orden PJC/617/2025 (immigration fees) →
How long it takes
3 weeks – 6 weeks
The 2022 Startup Law gives UGE-CE a 20-working-day decision target for in-country Digital Nomad applications. Consular applications from abroad commonly run 4–8 weeks.
Verified 1 June 2026 · UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) — Startup Law visas →
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship (10 years for most nationalities; 2 for Latin American).
Leads to Residencia de Larga Duración, then Spanish citizenship.
Visa overview
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa (Visado de teletrabajador de carácter internacional) was introduced by the Startup Law in December 2022. It allows non-EEA nationals to live in Spain while working remotely for companies outside Spain, or as freelancers with predominantly non-Spanish clients (typically 80%+ non-Spanish income).
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Remote work for a company based outside Spain, or freelance activity where at most 20% of income derives from Spanish clients.
- ✓Employment relationship or professional contract of at least 3 months' standing with the foreign company.
- ✓University degree or at least 3 years of relevant experience.
- ✓Minimum income at roughly 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI); higher uplifts for family.
- ✓Private health insurance covering Spain.
Common blockers
- !Too high a share of Spanish-client income (above 20%).
- !Qualifications not matching degree-or-experience requirement.
- !Income below 200% SMI for principal applicant, or insufficient for dependants.
Typical evidence
- ·Employment contract or freelance contracts.
- ·Letter from employer confirming remote-work authorisation.
- ·Recent payslips and tax records.
- ·Degree certificate or evidence of 3+ years experience.
- ·NIE and health insurance.
Application pathway
Decide consular vs. in-country route
Apply at a Spanish consulate for a 1-year visa then extend; or enter on tourist status and apply to UGE-CE for the 3-year residence permit directly (faster in practice).
Prepare evidence package
Employer letter, contract, qualifications, income, insurance, clean criminal record.
Submit application
To Spanish consulate or, in-country, to UGE-CE via the online Mercurio system.
Receive approval and obtain TIE
Book TIE appointment (fingerprints) at a Spanish police station.
Renew and progress to long-term residence
After 5 years of lawful residence, apply for permanent residence.
Not sure Kingdom of Spain is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer digital nomad routes that American nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are American citizens eligible for the Digital Nomad Visa (Spain)?+
Eligibility for the Digital Nomad Visa (Spain) is set by Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations and is not nationality-restricted beyond the general criteria, though American applicants may also have access to the following bilateral or treaty frameworks: Schengen Area. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do American applicants typically file the Digital Nomad Visa (Spain)?+
Madrid. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do American applicants need a tourist visa for Kingdom of Spain as well?+
Yes — American nationals can enter Kingdom of Spain without a visa for short tourism (typically up to 90 days), but tourist entry does not authorise the activity covered by the Digital Nomad Visa (Spain).
How much does the Digital Nomad Visa (Spain) cost for a American applicant?+
Government fees for the worked example (Single applicant, applying from abroad) total about €1,007.02. Each family member pays their own €80 consular fee, €10.94 UGE-CE tasa (Tasa 038; the old €73.26 line was repealed by Orden PJC/617/2025), and €16.08 TIE. Income threshold scales: +75% of SMI for first dependant, +25% per additional. Figures from BOE — Orden PJC/617/2025 (immigration fees), verified 1 June 2026. Treat these as indicative — confirm the current schedule on the official source before budgeting.
How long does the Digital Nomad Visa (Spain) take to process from United States?+
The typical published decision window is 3 weeks – 6 weeks. American applicants usually file via Madrid, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) — Startup Law visas, verified 1 June 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Kingdom of Spain?+
Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship (10 years for most nationalities; 2 for Latin American). The route leads to Residencia de Larga Duración, then Spanish citizenship. See Ministerio de Justicia — Nacionalidad española for the qualifying-residence rules.
How much income do I need for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa?+
Roughly 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) for the principal applicant, with uplifts of approximately 75% for a spouse/first dependant and smaller uplifts for further dependants. Exact figures update annually with the SMI.
Is the Spain DNV tax-favourable?+
Qualifying applicants can apply for the Beckham-style special expats regime (Régimen especial aplicable a trabajadores desplazados a territorio español under Article 93 LIRPF), which flat-taxes non-Spanish-source income at 24% for the first €600k and exempts most overseas income for 6 years. Tax advice from a Spanish asesor fiscal is essential.