Turkish applicants · Kingdom of Spain
Digital Nomad Visa (Spain) for Turkish 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
Consular processing: Applicable consular post in origin country
Tourist entry vs. this route
Turkish nationals require a visa for any entry into Kingdom of Spain. The Digital Nomad Visa (Spain) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
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 Turkish applicants
Comparable routes in other destinations
Frequently asked questions
Are Turkish 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 Turkish applicants may also have access to the following bilateral or treaty frameworks: Schengen Area. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do Turkish applicants typically file the Digital Nomad Visa (Spain)?+
Applicable consular post in origin country. 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 Turkish applicants need a tourist visa for Kingdom of Spain as well?+
Turkish nationals require a visa for any entry into Kingdom of Spain. The Digital Nomad Visa (Spain) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
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.