What is the UGE and why is it faster for Spain's DNV?

The UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos) is a specialist Spanish immigration unit that processes Digital Nomad Visa applications submitted from within Spain. Because it handles a defined set of visa types with a dedicated team, processing times are typically around 20 working days — significantly faster than most Spanish consulates abroad, which can take 1–3 months or more.

Can I apply for the Spain DNV from within Spain?

Yes. If you are legally present in Spain (for example, on a tourist visa or visa-free entry), you can apply for the Digital Nomad Visa via the UGE without returning to your home country. This is the most popular route for people who are already travelling or living temporarily in Spain.

Do I need to be in Spain to use the UGE route?

Yes. The UGE application is submitted from within Spain and you must be legally present in Spain at the time of submission. If you are not yet in Spain, you would need to apply via a Spanish consulate in your home country first, or enter Spain legally and then apply via UGE.

Which application route does My Spanish DNV recommend?

For most applicants, the UGE route is faster, simpler, and better supported. We handle the full UGE process on your behalf — document preparation, submission, and case management — with a typical processing time of around 20 working days. The consulate route is used where UGE is not available, for example when the applicant cannot be present in Spain during the application process.

Application routes

Two ways to apply — one is significantly faster

Spain's Digital Nomad Visa can be applied for from within Spain via the UGE, or from abroad via your Spanish consulate. For most people, the UGE route is faster, simpler, and the one we recommend.

Start via UGE → See how it works

Route 1 — Recommended

UGE (from within Spain)

Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos

~20

working days typical

3 yr

initial permit

✓ Apply without leaving Spain
✓ Fastest processing — specialist unit
✓ Online submission — no queuing at a consulate
✓ Government tasas (fees) included in our package
✓ We handle the full submission on your behalf

Route 2 — When UGE isn't available

Consulate (from your home country)

Via the Spanish consulate in your country of residence

1–3+

months typical

1 yr

initial visa

✓ Apply from your home country
✓ No need to be in Spain first
– Processing varies widely by consulate
– In-person appointment often required
– Government tasas paid separately by client

How each route works

Step by step

UGE route — from within Spain

Enter Spain legally

Arrive on a tourist entry or existing visa. Most non-EU applicants can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. You do not need a special visa to begin the process.

Open your case with My Spanish DNV

Pay Stage 1 and your case manager is assigned. We begin document collection immediately — checking, translating, and apostilling everything required.

Stage 1 — €500

Documents reviewed and submission prepared

We review your full document pack, prepare the EX-20 application form and all supporting materials, and confirm everything is submission-ready.

Stage 2 — €500

Application submitted to UGE

Your completed case is submitted electronically to the UGE. The UGE acknowledges receipt and begins review. Government tasas are included — no separate payment needed.

Decision received (~20 working days)

The UGE typically issues a decision within 20 working days of submission. We notify you immediately and handle any follow-up queries from the authority.

Stage 3 — €899 on approval only

Collect your TIE at a local police station

Once approved, you book a TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) appointment at your local police station within 30 days of arrival. This is done directly by you — we guide you through it.

Consulate route — from your home country

Prepare your full document pack

Gather all required documents — income evidence, employment contract or client agreements, criminal record certificate (apostilled), health insurance policy, and completed EX-20 form.

Book a consulate appointment

Contact your nearest Spanish consulate to book an in-person appointment. Waiting times vary significantly — from a few weeks in some cities to months in others. Some consulates are better resourced than others for DNV applications.

Variable — can take 1–3 months just for appointment

Attend in person and pay tasas

Attend your consulate appointment, submit your documents in person, and pay the government application fee (tasa) directly. This is not included in our service fee for the consulate route.

Tasas paid separately by client

Wait for consulate decision

Processing time varies by consulate and volume. It can range from 4 weeks to 3 months or more. You remain in your home country during this period.

Receive your entry visa (1 year)

On approval, you are issued a 1-year entry visa. You must enter Spain within the validity period. This entry visa grants the right to live and work in Spain for the first year.

Convert to a 3-year residence permit in Spain

After arriving in Spain, you apply at a local immigration office (Extranjería) to convert the 1-year visa to a full 3-year residence permit. This is an additional step not required on the UGE route.

Additional conversion step required

Which route is right for you?

Use UGE if you can — consulate if you must

The UGE route is faster, requires no in-person consulate appointment, and results directly in a 3-year residence permit. The consulate route exists for people who cannot be in Spain during the application process.

Choose the UGE route if you…

UGE — from within Spain

Are already in Spain (or can travel there)
Want the fastest possible processing time
Want to avoid an in-person consulate appointment
Want government tasas included in your service fee
Want a 3-year permit directly, not a 1-year entry visa
Are planning to stay in Spain while the application is processed

Choose the consulate route if you…

Consulate — from home

Cannot travel to Spain before your application is submitted
Are comfortable with a longer, variable processing timeline
Your nearest Spanish consulate has a good DNV track record
Prefer to complete the process without entering Spain first
Are applying from a country with an efficient Spanish consulate

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A note on government tasas (fees)

When we submit via UGE, the government application fee (tasa) is included in our Stage 2 payment — you do not pay it separately. For consulate route applications, the tasa is paid directly by the client at the consulate appointment and is not included in our service fee. Tasa amounts are set by the Spanish government and vary slightly year to year — your case manager will confirm the current figure when you open your case.

Questions & answers

UGE vs consulate FAQ

Can I apply via UGE if I'm only in Spain on holiday?

Yes. You do not need an existing Spanish visa or residence permit to apply via UGE — you just need to be legally present in Spain at the time of submission. Most non-EU nationals can enter Spain visa-free for up to 90 days under the Schengen area rules, and you can submit a UGE application during that period. Your case manager will advise on timing to ensure submission happens while you are still in Spain.

What happens if my 90-day tourist entry expires before the UGE decides?

Once a DNV application is submitted and acknowledged by the UGE, you are in a period of legal tolerance (situación de tolerancia). You can remain in Spain while the application is pending, even if your original 90-day entry has expired. This is standard practice for in-country applications. We account for this timing carefully in how we manage your case.

Which consulates process DNV applications most efficiently?

Processing efficiency varies considerably. Generally, Spanish consulates in London, Dublin, New York, Miami, and Sydney have processed DNV applications, though wait times fluctuate. Some smaller consulates have less experience with the DNV specifically. If you are applying via consulate, your case manager will share any current intelligence on the relevant office. This is one of several reasons the UGE route is preferred where possible.

Does My Spanish DNV handle both routes?

Yes. We handle applications via both the UGE and the consulate route. The UGE is our default recommendation, but if you are applying from outside Spain and cannot travel, we will manage the consulate route for you. The service fee structure is the same — the difference is that government tasas are paid separately by the client on the consulate route.

Is the UGE route only for employed applicants?

No. Both employed remote workers and freelancers (autónomos) can apply via the UGE route, provided they meet the DNV eligibility criteria. The documents required differ between employment types — employed applicants need employer documentation, while freelancers need client contracts and invoices — but the UGE processes both. Company directors can also apply via UGE.

How long do I have to collect my TIE after the UGE approves my application?

You must book your TIE appointment within 30 days of your arrival date in Spain (or within 30 days of approval if you are already in Spain). The TIE appointment is made directly by you at your local police station — we provide a guide and checklist. Do not delay this step: failing to collect your TIE within the window can create complications with your status.