Indian nationals
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa for Indian nationals — a growing opportunity for India's tech workforce
India has one of the world's largest pools of remote-capable tech professionals. Millions of Indian software engineers, data scientists, product managers, and consultants work for US, UK, EU, and Australian companies — and many already earn well above Spain's DNV income threshold. This guide covers everything Indian nationals need to know.
India and Spain's DNV
Why India's tech workforce is increasingly drawn to Spain's DNV
India produces more software engineers, data scientists, and tech professionals than almost any other country on earth. A significant and growing proportion of that talent works remotely for employers and clients outside India — in the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia. Spain's DNV is well-suited to this cohort.
Millions of qualifying Indian remote workers
India's IT sector employs over 5 million professionals directly, with millions more working independently. Those employed by or contracted to non-Indian (and non-Spanish) companies represent the core DNV-eligible cohort. If you work for a US tech company, a UK financial institution, an Australian firm, or any other non-Spanish employer from India, you are working in a structure the DNV was designed for.
Senior roles and MNC salaries clear the threshold
India's IT salary range is wide. Entry and mid-level roles at large IT services firms (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL) may fall below €2,849/month at current INR/EUR rates. However, senior engineers, architects, and managers at multinational companies, FAANG firms, and high-paying startups routinely earn INR 60–120 lakh/year — €60,000–120,000/year, or €5,000–10,000/month — well above the DNV threshold.
Spain's DNV offers Schengen-wide mobility
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa grants legal residency in Spain — a Schengen member state. As a Spanish resident, you can travel freely within the Schengen area. For Indian professionals, this is a significant benefit: EU residency, access to Spain's public services, and the ability to travel across 26 European countries without visa friction. After 5 years of legal residence, permanent residency becomes available.
Critical step — Schengen visa
Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa — here is what that means for your DNV
Unlike UK, US, Australian, and some other passport holders who can enter Spain visa-free, Indian nationals require a Schengen tourist visa to enter Spain. This is the single most important logistical difference for Indian applicants compared to many other nationalities.
Schengen tourist visa → enter Spain → apply via UGE
Fastest overall route once you are in Spain — but requires a Schengen tourist visa first
- ✓ Fastest DNV processing once in Spain — specialist UGE unit
- ✓ 3-year residence permit issued directly
- ✓ Government tasas included in our service
- – Requires Schengen tourist visa first — adds 2–8 weeks
- – Must be in Spain at DNV submission
Apply directly at Spanish Embassy or Consulate in India
No Schengen tourist visa needed — apply from India without travelling to Spain
- ✓ No need for a Schengen tourist visa first
- ✓ Apply from India without travelling to Spain
- ✓ Available at Spanish Embassy New Delhi or Consulate Mumbai
- – Processing significantly slower than UGE
- – In-person appointment required at the diplomatic post
- – Converts to 3-year permit only after arriving in Spain
Schengen tourist visa for India — what you need
To apply for a Schengen tourist visa at a Spanish Embassy or VFS Global centre in India, you will typically need: your passport, passport photographs, travel insurance (covering the Schengen area), confirmed hotel or accommodation booking, a flight itinerary, 3–6 months of bank statements demonstrating sufficient funds, and a completed application form. The Schengen tourist visa fee is €80. Processing typically takes 2–6 weeks. VFS Global has centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and other Indian cities.
Income and salaries
Indian IT salaries and the €2,849/month DNV threshold
India's IT sector spans an enormous salary range. Whether you clear the DNV income threshold depends heavily on your role, employer type, and client base — not simply on being in the Indian tech industry.
TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL — salary considerations
Professionals at large Indian IT services companies typically earn INR 8–25 lakh/year (approximately €8,500–27,000/year or €700–2,250/month) in junior and mid-level roles. Many of these salaries fall below the €2,849/month threshold. However, senior engineers, architects, delivery managers, and technical leads at these firms can earn INR 30–60 lakh/year (€32,000–65,000/year or €2,700–5,400/month) — some clearing the threshold, others not. Check your actual monthly income against the EUR equivalent at the current ECB rate.
FAANG, product companies, and international clients
Indian engineers employed directly by US tech giants (Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple), high-growth startups, UK financial institutions, or Australian professional services firms commonly earn INR 40–120+ lakh/year (€43,000–130,000/year or €3,600–10,800/month). These professionals clear the DNV income threshold comfortably. Freelancers and consultants working directly for international clients often fall into this band as well — particularly those with 5+ years of specialist experience in high-demand fields such as cloud architecture, data science, or product management.
INR to EUR conversion — the approximate rate
At the time of writing, approximately €1 = INR 90–95. The DNV threshold of €2,849/month therefore equates to approximately INR 256,000–270,000 per month (INR 30–32 lakh per year). Check the current ECB reference rate when you apply — rates fluctuate. Your INR bank statements are accepted as-is; your case manager will calculate and document the EUR equivalent for the Spanish authorities.
Documents
Indian Police Clearance Certificate — how to obtain and apostille it
The Indian Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is the key criminal record document for Indian nationals applying for Spain's DNV. Here is the step-by-step process to obtain and apostille it.
Apply via Passport Seva Portal or in person
The PCC is issued by the Regional Passport Office (RPO) of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Apply online via the Passport Seva Portal (passportindia.gov.in) — select "Police Clearance Certificate" as the service type. Alternatively, apply in person at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra. The fee is approximately INR 500. Processing typically takes 5–10 working days, though times vary by city. The PCC is issued in English — sworn Spanish translation is generally not required unless any text appears in Hindi or a regional language.
MEA apostille via eMigrate or eProcurement portal
India is a member of the Hague Convention, so apostilles are available for Indian-issued documents including the PCC. The apostille is applied by the MEA. Apply online via the MEA eMigrate portal or the MEA eProcurement portal (mea.gov.in). Processing typically takes 3–7 working days. Once apostilled, the PCC is accepted by the Spanish authorities without further legalisation. Allow a total of 2–3 weeks to obtain and apostille your PCC, building in buffer for any delays at the RPO stage.
Indian employment contracts — employer eligibility check
Many Indian IT professionals are employed by Indian companies (TCS, Infosys, HCL, Wipro, etc.) but seconded or contracted to deliver work for foreign clients. The critical question for DNV eligibility is: who is your employer — Spanish or non-Spanish? Most major Indian IT services companies are not Spanish, so their employees generally satisfy the non-Spanish employer requirement. However, if your projects are delivered primarily or substantially for a Spanish end-client, the 20% Spanish-source income rule for self-employed applicants becomes relevant. Your case manager will advise based on your specific contract structure.
Questions & answers