Moving to Spain from Australia — the DNV guide for Australian citizens

Yes. Australian citizens are eligible for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa. The minimum income requirement is €2,849 per month (200% of Spain's SMI 2026). Australians can enter Spain visa-free for up to 90 days and apply via the UGE from within Spain (approximately 20 working days), or apply through the Spanish Consulate General in Sydney or the Consulate in Melbourne.

Australian applicants need a National Police Check from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), applied for online at afp.gov.au. Allow 2–4 weeks for processing. The AFP check must be apostilled — Australia is party to the Hague Convention, and apostilles are obtained from the relevant state or territory attorney-general's department.

The AFP National Police Check is applied for online at afp.gov.au. You create an account, submit your personal details, and pay the fee. Identity verification is completed online (or in person at certain Australia Post locations for higher-assurance checks). Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks, though some checks are returned faster. The result is a certificate — this is the document that must subsequently be apostilled. Importantly, once you have your certificate, do not delay the apostille step — there is no fixed expiry on the AFP certificate itself for Spanish immigration purposes, but authorities prefer recent documentation.

The AFP certificate is apostilled by the attorney-general's department of the state or territory where you reside at the time of application — not where the AFP is based. For example, New South Wales applicants use the NSW Department of Justice; Victorian applicants use the Victorian Government's public legalisation service; Queensland applicants use the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General. Accredited legalisation agents can also handle the apostille if you have already left Australia. Allow 1–3 weeks for apostille processing by the relevant authority, though times vary.

Australia taxes its residents on worldwide income. When you leave Australia and become non-resident for tax purposes (generally once you are no longer ordinarily resident and have established a permanent home elsewhere), you cease to be taxed by the ATO on overseas income. However, you remain taxed on Australian-source income (e.g., Australian rental income or dividends). Once Spanish tax resident (183+ days in Spain), you file IRPF (Spanish income tax) returns in Spain. The Spain-Australia tax treaty prevents double taxation. You should notify the ATO of your departure and update your tax file number records — specialist Australian cross-border tax advice is strongly recommended.

Your existing Australian superannuation fund remains in Australia — you cannot access it simply by moving abroad (preservation age typically applies). You do not need to withdraw or transfer your super when you move to Spain, and doing so early would be subject to Australian tax at high rates. Your super continues to accumulate earnings while you are abroad, subject to fund fees. You can make voluntary contributions to your Australian super from Spain, but compulsory employer super contributions only apply to Australian employment. Once you reach preservation age (currently 60) you can access your super regardless of where you live. Seek specialist Australian financial advice before making any decisions about your super when emigrating.

AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) is UTC+10, while Spain is UTC+1 in winter (CET) or UTC+2 in summer (CEST). This means Spain is 8–9 hours behind Sydney. To cover Australian business hours from Spain, you would typically work approximately 7am–3pm Spain time to align with a 3pm–11pm Sydney day (standard hours) — or adjust to working afternoons in Spain when Australia is in the morning. Many Australian DNV holders resolve this by shifting their client base toward European or US companies over time. The DNV has no restrictions on where your employer or clients are based.

Yes, in most cases you can keep Australian bank accounts after moving to Spain. Major Australian banks (Commonwealth, ANZ, Westpac, NAB) generally allow non-resident account holders, though you should notify your bank of your change in residency and tax status. Once Spanish tax resident, you must declare Australian financial accounts exceeding €50,000 in total value on Spain's Modelo 720 annual declaration. A Spanish bank account is also needed for local expenses, rental contracts, and direct debits. Many Australians in Spain maintain both accounts.

Yes. Australian dollar bank statements and payslips are accepted as income evidence. You must demonstrate the equivalent of at least €2,849 per month at the current EUR/AUD exchange rate. Australian tech and professional salaries are generally high — most senior remote workers easily clear the threshold.

Barcelona is the most popular destination for Australian DNV holders, valued for its outdoor beach lifestyle (familiar to Sydney and Melbourne residents), international tech community, and English-friendly networks. Málaga is a close second for Australians seeking the outdoor lifestyle at lower cost. Madrid suits Australian professionals in finance or consulting who need frequent European travel. Valencia is growing in popularity for its beach-and-city combination at lower cost than Barcelona. The DNV is a national permit — your choice of city does not affect your application.