What Is It Requirements Pricing Process FAQ Contact
Start My Application → Contact Us

Saudi Arabia residents

Moving to Spain from Saudi Arabia — the DNV guide for KSA-based expats

This guide is for people currently residing in Saudi Arabia — in Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Dammam, or elsewhere in the Kingdom — who want to apply for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa. Covers the Spanish Embassy in Riyadh, the General Consulate in Jeddah, the UGE route, Saudi apostille, and the tax change from KSA to Spain.

Start my application → UGE vs consulate
€2,849
per month income minimum (200% SMI 2026)
0%
KSA personal income tax — no double tax issue from Saudi side
~20
working days via UGE route (recommended for eligible passports)
2
Spanish diplomatic posts in KSA — Embassy Riyadh + Consulate Jeddah

Saudi Arabia and Spain's DNV

KSA-based expats — well-placed for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa

Saudi Arabia has a large and growing international workforce driven by oil and gas, finance, construction, and Vision 2030 technology projects. Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern Province (Khobar/Dammam) house significant expat communities. Like the wider GCC, KSA has no personal income tax — making the tax shift to Spain the key planning consideration.

Spanish Embassy Riyadh

Serves Riyadh and central/eastern KSA

The Spanish Embassy in Riyadh handles DNV applications for residents of Riyadh and the central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia. An in-person appointment is required for the consulate route. Riyadh to Madrid is approximately 6h 30min; to Barcelona, flights connect via major hubs or directly depending on carrier.

General Consulate Jeddah

Serves Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, and western KSA

The Spanish General Consulate in Jeddah handles DNV applications for residents of Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Taif, and the western and southern regions of Saudi Arabia. Jeddah to Madrid is approximately 5h 30min, making it one of the shorter GCC-to-Spain routes. Both the Embassy and Consulate process DNV applications.

KSA expat profile

Oil and gas, finance, Vision 2030 — sectors that meet the DNV threshold

Saudi Arabia's economy generates high salaries in oil and gas (Aramco and related industries), finance, construction management, and increasingly in technology roles tied to Vision 2030 projects. The €2,849/month income minimum is modest relative to most senior expat packages in KSA. SAR income is accepted and converted using the ECB reference rate.

Application routes from Saudi Arabia

UGE from Spain or via the Spanish Embassy / Consulate in KSA?

Saudi Arabia residents have two routes. The UGE route — flying to Spain and applying from within the country — is significantly faster and is recommended for those who can enter Spain visa-free. Saudi nationals require a Schengen visa and will typically use the Embassy or Consulate route. Western expats (UK, US, Canadian, Australian passport holders) can generally use the UGE route.

Route 1 — Recommended (for visa-free passport holders)

UGE (from within Spain)

Fly to Spain, apply locally — fastest route available

~20
working days typical
3 yr
initial permit
  • ✓ Fastest processing — specialist UGE unit
  • ✓ No in-person Embassy or Consulate appointment in KSA
  • ✓ Government tasas included in our service
  • ✓ 3-year residence permit issued directly
  • – Must be legally present in Spain at submission

UK, US, Canadian, Australian, and many other passport holders can enter Spain visa-free from KSA. Riyadh–Madrid is approximately 6h 30min; Jeddah–Madrid is approximately 5h 30min.

Route 2 — Spanish Embassy Riyadh or Consulate Jeddah

Spanish Embassy Riyadh / Consulate Jeddah

Two Spanish diplomatic posts in KSA

1–3+
months typical
1 yr
initial entry visa
  • ✓ Apply from KSA without travelling to Spain first
  • ✓ Available to all nationalities in KSA, including Saudi nationals
  • – Processing significantly slower than UGE
  • – In-person appointment required in Riyadh or Jeddah
  • – Converts to 3-year permit only after arriving in Spain

Saudi nationals requiring a Schengen visa will typically use this route. The Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah handle DNV applications for their respective regions of KSA.

Saudi documents and apostille

Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Convention in 2012 — apostilles available via MOFA

Unlike Qatar and Bahrain, Saudi Arabia is a Hague Convention member, so Saudi-issued documents can be apostilled. Apostilles are issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). However, in practice, Saudi documents often require notarisation before MOFA attestation — allow additional time for this process. Home country criminal record certificates (apostilled in the home country) are required, not Saudi police clearances.

Saudi apostille

Available via MOFA — but allow extra time

Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Convention in 2012, so apostilles on Saudi-issued documents are available via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, in practice, many Saudi-issued documents require notarisation by a Saudi notary before the MOFA apostille can be applied. The full process can take several weeks. Your case manager will identify at the start of your case which documents require apostille and advise on the process timeline.

Criminal record

Home country certificate — not Saudi police clearance

The required criminal record certificate for Spain's DNV is from your home country — ACRO for UK nationals, FBI for US nationals, RCMP for Canadians, AFP for Australians — apostilled in your home country. A Saudi police clearance is not typically required for the DNV application. Your case manager will confirm exact requirements based on your nationality and chosen route.

💡

Health insurance for KSA-based employed applicants

If you are applying as an employed worker, you need a Spanish private health insurance policy covering Spain with no excess or co-payment and a minimum coverage of €30,000. Your existing KSA health policy does not qualify — it must be a Spain-specific policy. If you are registering as autónomo in Spain, you contribute to RETA and are covered by Spain's public health system. Our partner 247 Expat Insurance can provide a qualifying policy — speak to your case manager.

Tax implications

From 0% in KSA to Spanish IRPF — plan carefully before you move

Saudi Arabia has no personal income tax. Spain has progressive income tax rates up to 47%. This is the most significant financial planning point for KSA-based expats considering Spain's DNV. Beckham Law — a 24% flat rate for qualifying employed workers — is the critical tool. Apply within 6 months of Social Security registration.

Beckham Law for KSA expats

24% flat rate — apply within 6 months of Social Security registration

If you are employed under a contract with a non-Spanish employer and you move to Spain, you may qualify for Beckham Law (Régimen de Impatriados): a flat 24% rate on Spanish-source income up to €600,000 for the first year plus 5 additional years. You must not have been Spanish tax resident in the preceding 5 years. This can represent a very significant saving compared to standard IRPF rates. Beckham Law is a separate service — not included in our DNV package. Consult a Spanish tax adviser.

Standard IRPF

Progressive rates up to 47% if Beckham Law does not apply

If you do not qualify for Beckham Law — for example, if you are a freelancer or autónomo — you will file standard IRPF at progressive rates. For KSA residents used to zero income tax, even the Beckham Law rate of 24% represents a major change, let alone the standard progressive IRPF schedule. This makes pre-move tax planning an essential part of any KSA-to-Spain relocation, not an optional extra.

Questions & answers

Spain DNV for Saudi Arabia residents — FAQ

Yes. Saudi Arabia residents — regardless of nationality — can apply for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa. The income minimum is €2,849/month (200% of Spain's SMI 2026). KSA has no personal income tax, so there is no double taxation issue from the Saudi side. Depending on your nationality, you may be able to use the faster UGE route or apply via the Spanish Embassy in Riyadh or the General Consulate in Jeddah.
It depends on your passport, not your Saudi residency. UK, US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can enter Spain visa-free and use the UGE route. Saudi nationals require a Schengen visa to enter Spain and will generally apply via the Spanish Embassy in Riyadh or Consulate in Jeddah. Indian nationals and many other nationalities also require a Schengen visa. Your case manager will advise on the correct route during onboarding based on your nationality.
Saudi Arabia has two Spanish diplomatic posts: the Spanish Embassy in Riyadh (serving Riyadh and the central and eastern regions) and the Spanish General Consulate in Jeddah (serving the western and southern regions including Mecca, Medina, and Khobar/Dammam area residents). If you apply from within Spain via the UGE route, neither consulate appointment is required.
Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Convention in 2012, so apostilles on Saudi-issued documents are available via the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). However, in practice, Saudi-issued documents often require additional attestation steps beyond a standard apostille — for example, notarisation before MOFA attestation. The process can take several weeks. Your case manager will advise on exactly which documents require apostille and will guide you through the process timelines.
The required criminal record certificate is from your home country — ACRO for UK nationals, FBI for US nationals, RCMP for Canadians, AFP for Australians — apostilled in your home country. A Saudi police clearance is not typically required for Spain's DNV application. Your home country certificate, properly apostilled, is what the Spanish authorities require. Your case manager will confirm exact requirements based on your nationality and application route.
Your SAR bank statements and payslips are submitted as-is. A covering note prepared by your case manager explains the EUR equivalent at the European Central Bank reference rate, demonstrating that your income meets or exceeds the €2,849/month minimum. The SAR is pegged to the USD at a fixed rate (3.75 SAR per USD), making EUR conversion predictable. Submitting 6 months of bank statements rather than 3 provides a stronger evidential base.
Saudi Arabia has no personal income tax, so KSA residents currently pay zero income tax. Moving to Spain means becoming a Spanish tax resident (after 183 days in Spain), at which point Spanish IRPF rates apply — up to 47% on high incomes. Beckham Law (24% flat rate for qualifying employed workers) is the key planning tool. You must apply for Beckham Law within 6 months of Spanish Social Security registration. This is a separate service — not included in our DNV package. Consult a Spanish tax adviser before committing to the move.
Yes. Saudi nationals can apply for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa. Saudi passport holders require a Schengen visa to enter Spain, so they will typically apply via the Spanish Embassy in Riyadh or the General Consulate in Jeddah rather than using the UGE route. The same income, employment, and document requirements apply regardless of nationality — the minimum is €2,849/month from remote work with no more than 20% Spanish-source income.
The Spanish Embassy in Riyadh typically takes 1–3 months or more from submission to decision. The General Consulate in Jeddah has similar timescales. Both are significantly slower than the UGE route, which processes in approximately 20 working days. For KSA residents who hold passports with visa-free Schengen access (UK, US, Canadian, Australian), the UGE route is strongly recommended. Saudi nationals and others requiring a Schengen visa should use the Embassy or Consulate route.
Barcelona and Madrid are the most popular destinations for KSA-based expats on the DNV. Barcelona offers excellent flight connections from both Riyadh and Jeddah, a large international community, and a Mediterranean lifestyle. Madrid suits corporate and finance professionals wanting a major European capital with strong onward rail and air connections. Málaga is popular for those wanting a lower cost of living with strong digital nomad infrastructure. Valencia and Seville are growing choices for those wanting a more relaxed pace. Your choice of Spanish city does not affect your DNV application — the visa is national.

Ready to move from Saudi Arabia to Spain? Start your DNV application today.

Start my application → Check the requirements

Keep reading

UAE guide Dubai guide UGE vs consulate — full comparison Beckham Law explained DNV requirements Fees & pricing Full FAQ