Brazilian applicants · Kingdom of Spain
Digital Nomad Visa (Spain) for Brazilian citizens
Residence permit for remote workers and international freelancers under the Startup Law (Ley de Startups).
- Processing time
- UGE-CE decisions typically 20 working days; consulate 1–3 months.
- Government fees
- Visa application fee varies by consulate; residence permit and TIE fees additional.
- 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.
- Sponsor required
- No
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Bilateral context
- Schengen Area
- Mercosur
- Spanish ancestry eligibility
Consular processing: São Paulo / Rio de Janeiro
Tourist entry vs. this route
Yes — Brazilian 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).
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.
Other Kingdom of Spain routes covered for Brazilian applicants
Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Residence visa for financially self-sufficient non-EEA nationals not planning to work in Spain.
Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit
Residence permit for highly qualified workers with a Spanish employment contract, processed under the Law 14/2013 regime.
Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013)
Residence permit for founders establishing an innovative business in Spain under the Entrepreneurs' Law.
Family reunification (Spain)
Residence permit for family members of Spanish residents; arreigo (settled-status) routes also available.
Comparable routes in other destinations
Frequently asked questions
Are Brazilian 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 Brazilian applicants may also have access to the following bilateral or treaty frameworks: Schengen Area, Mercosur, Spanish ancestry eligibility. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do Brazilian applicants typically file the Digital Nomad Visa (Spain)?+
São Paulo / Rio de Janeiro. 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 Brazilian applicants need a tourist visa for Kingdom of Spain as well?+
Yes — Brazilian 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 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.