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Eligibility guide

Spain's Digital Nomad Visa requirements — do you qualify?

Four core criteria stand between you and Spanish residency. This page covers every eligibility requirement — income, employment, criminal record, and health insurance — and links to detailed guides for each.

Start my application → Full document checklist
€2,849
per month income minimum — 200% of Spain's SMI 2026
≤20%
maximum Spanish-source income for self-employed applicants
Clean
criminal record required — no serious convictions in home country or Spain
Private
health insurance required for employed-route applicants

Core eligibility — 4 requirements every applicant must meet

The four pillars of DNV eligibility

Spain's Digital Nomad Visa is governed by Law 28/2022 (the Startups Act). Every applicant — regardless of nationality, profession, or application route — must satisfy four core requirements. Meeting all four does not guarantee approval, but failing any one of them will result in refusal.

Requirement 1

Income: at least €2,849 per month

Your monthly income from remote work or self-employment must equal or exceed €2,849 — the 2026 threshold set at 200% of Spain's Salario Mínimo Interprofesional (SMI). This figure applies to the primary applicant. Each additional adult family member increases the threshold by approximately €1,069/month (75% of SMI). Income can be in any currency — the EUR equivalent must be demonstrated at the time of application using the European Central Bank reference rate.

Requirement 2

Remote work for a non-Spanish employer or clients

The DNV is specifically designed for workers whose income comes from outside Spain. Employed applicants must have a contract with a non-Spanish employer who permits fully remote working. Self-employed applicants must work predominantly for non-Spanish clients — no more than 20% of total income may come from Spanish sources. If your current employer is Spanish, the DNV is not the appropriate route.

Requirement 3

Clean criminal record

You must have no serious criminal convictions in your home country or in Spain. You will need to provide an official police clearance certificate from your country of citizenship — apostilled (or legalised if your country is not a Hague Convention member). If you have lived in other countries for extended periods, certificates from those countries may also be required. Minor traffic offences typically do not affect eligibility — the threshold relates to serious convictions.

Requirement 4

Valid passport and residency documentation

You must hold a passport that is valid throughout your intended stay in Spain, typically valid for at least 1 year beyond the application date. If you are applying from outside your home country (e.g., you are a UK national residing in the UAE), you may also need to demonstrate legal residency in the country from which you are applying. Your passport must not be expired or due to expire within the near term — renew it before starting your application if in doubt.

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Health insurance — the fifth requirement for employed applicants

Employed remote workers must also hold a Spanish private health insurance policy with no co-payment and minimum €30,000 coverage. Self-employed applicants who register as autónomo gain access to Spain's public health system through RETA contributions and do not need a separate private policy. See our health insurance guide for full detail.

Two applicant types

Employed remote workers vs self-employed and freelancers

Spain's DNV covers two distinct applicant types. The income threshold and core criteria are the same — but the required evidence differs significantly between employed workers and self-employed or freelance applicants.

Applicant type 1

Employed remote workers

Working under a contract with a non-Spanish employer who permits fully remote working

  • ✓ Employment contract with a non-Spanish employer
  • ✓ Employer letter confirming remote working arrangement
  • ✓ Last 3–6 months payslips showing ≥€2,849/month equivalent
  • ✓ Private Spanish health insurance (no excess, ≥€30,000 cover)
  • ✓ Employer HR registration or company documents

Your employer does not need to be based in any particular country — simply not Spanish. UK companies, US companies, Australian companies, and companies in any other non-Spanish jurisdiction all qualify. The key test: your income comes from outside Spain.

Applicant type 2

Self-employed and freelancers

Working independently for non-Spanish clients — autónomos and company directors

  • ✓ Client contracts or signed agreements showing non-Spanish clients
  • ✓ Last 3–6 months invoices demonstrating ≥€2,849/month average
  • ✓ Bank statements corroborating invoice income
  • ✓ Evidence that ≤20% of income is from Spanish sources
  • ✓ Business registration documents where applicable

Freelancers, consultants, company directors, and shareholders can all apply through the self-employed route. The 20% Spanish-source rule is critical — if your Spanish client income approaches or exceeds 20% of total income, your eligibility is at risk. See our detailed self-employed guide for how to document your client base correctly.

Income evidence

How to evidence your income for the DNV application

Your income documentation is the most scrutinised part of the DNV application. The Spanish authorities need to be clearly satisfied that your income meets the threshold — and that it comes from non-Spanish sources. Here is what each applicant type needs to provide.

Employed workers

Payslips, employment contract, employer letter

Provide your current employment contract — it must show your employer's name and registered country, your role, and your salary. Include your last 3–6 months of payslips, showing your gross monthly pay. Your employer must also provide a letter on headed paper confirming your remote working arrangement and your salary. If your income includes bonuses or commissions, include an explanation of these so the total is clearly above €2,849/month on a consistent basis.

Self-employed / freelancers

Invoices, bank statements, client agreements

Provide client invoices for the last 3–6 months — these should show the client's name and country, the services provided, and the amount. Match each invoice to a corresponding bank receipt in your statements. Where you have ongoing client relationships, include the client contract or agreement. If clients are in different countries, this naturally supports your case that income is non-Spanish. A summary schedule of your client income split by country can help if the authorities want a quick overview of your Spanish vs non-Spanish income ratio.

Documents not in Spanish must be sworn-translated

Any income document in a language other than Spanish — payslips, employment contracts, bank statements, client agreements — must be accompanied by a sworn (jurada) translation into Spanish, carried out by an official sworn translator. Do not submit untranslated documents. Your case manager will coordinate sworn translations as part of the service.

Requirements hub

Detailed guides for every requirement

Each requirement has its own detailed page. Select the guide most relevant to your situation.

Income

Income Requirements

€2,849/month explained in full — how it's calculated, family uplifts, and what counts as qualifying income.

Read the income guide → Documents

Document Checklist

The full list of documents required for your DNV application — employed and self-employed versions.

View document checklist → Criminal record

Criminal Record Certificate

Country-by-country guide to obtaining and apostilling your police clearance certificate.

Read criminal record guide → Health insurance

Health Insurance Requirement

What qualifies as acceptable health insurance, which providers meet Spanish requirements, and how autónomos are covered differently.

Read health insurance guide → Self-employed

Self-Employed and Autónomo

Freelancers, consultants, and autónomos — the RETA registration, the 20% Spanish income rule, and how to structure your client documentation.

Self-employed guide → Company owners

Company Owner / Director

Directors, shareholders, and business owners — when you qualify, what income counts, and how operating companies are assessed.

Company owner guide → Employed

Remote Employee

Employed workers on a contract with a non-Spanish company — the employer letter, Social Security registration, and payslip requirements.

Remote employee guide →

Questions & answers

Spain DNV requirements — FAQ

The income minimum for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa in 2026 is €2,849 per month. This figure is set at 200% of Spain's Salario Mínimo Interprofesional (SMI) for 2026. The threshold applies to the primary applicant. If you are bringing a spouse or partner, add approximately €1,069/month per additional adult family member (75% of SMI). Income can be in any currency — you must demonstrate the EUR equivalent at the time of application.
Yes. Spain's Digital Nomad Visa explicitly covers self-employed workers and freelancers — not just employed remote workers. As a self-employed applicant, you must demonstrate that your clients are non-Spanish (or that no more than 20% of your total income comes from Spanish clients). You will need to provide client invoices, contracts, and bank statements showing consistent income of at least €2,849/month. Our self-employed guide at myspanishdnv.com/self-employed-autonomo.html covers the full process.
Yes, in most cases. Company directors and shareholders can apply if the company operates outside Spain (or predominantly outside Spain), if the director's work is genuinely remote, and if the income drawn — salary, dividends, or a combination — meets the €2,849/month threshold. The Spanish authorities assess the substance of the arrangement. If you own a UK limited company, a US LLC, or a similar non-Spanish entity and draw qualifying income from it, you are likely eligible. See our company owner guide at myspanishdnv.com/requirements/company-owner/ for full detail.
Not directly. The DNV is specifically designed for workers whose income comes from non-Spanish employers or non-Spanish clients. If your employer is a Spanish company, you generally do not qualify. For self-employed applicants, up to 20% of total income may come from Spanish sources — but the majority must be from non-Spanish clients. If your current employer is Spanish, you would need to consider other Spanish visa routes.
Employed workers: provide your employment contract, the last 3–6 months of payslips, and a letter from your employer confirming your remote working arrangement. Self-employed workers: provide client contracts or agreements, the last 3–6 months of invoices and corresponding bank statements, and evidence that clients are non-Spanish. In both cases, documents in languages other than Spanish must be accompanied by a sworn (jurada) translation into Spanish. Your case manager will advise on exactly which documents are needed for your specific situation.
If you are applying as an employed remote worker, yes — you must have a Spanish private health insurance policy with no co-payment (no excess) and a minimum coverage of €30,000. The policy must be from an insurer recognised by the Spanish authorities and must cover Spain specifically. If you are applying as a self-employed worker who will register as autónomo in Spain, you will pay into Spain's Social Security (RETA) and gain access to the public health system — a separate private policy is not required in that case. Our partner 247 Expat Insurance can provide qualifying policies.
You need a police clearance certificate from your country of citizenship (or any country where you have resided for more than the last 5 years). The certificate must be apostilled (or legalised, if your country is not a member of the Hague Convention). For UK nationals: ACRO Police Certificate, apostilled. For US nationals: FBI Identity History Summary, apostilled. For other nationalities: see our criminal record guide at myspanishdnv.com/requirements/clean-criminal-record/ for country-specific instructions.
Yes. Prior visits to Spain on a tourist or short-stay Schengen visa do not affect your DNV eligibility. Spain's Digital Nomad Visa is based on your current employment and income situation, not your travel history. Even multiple previous visits to Spain are not a barrier to applying.
Yes, in most cases. Previous Spanish residency does not disqualify you from applying for the DNV. However, if you previously held a Spanish visa and it was revoked, or if you have any unresolved issues with the Spanish immigration authorities, these could affect your application. If you have been resident in Spain within the last 5 years, your Beckham Law eligibility (a separate tax benefit) may be affected — consult a Spanish tax adviser.
Non-EUR income is fully accepted. You must demonstrate the EUR equivalent of at least €2,849/month at the time of application, using the European Central Bank reference rate. Your bank statements in USD, GBP, AED, INR, BRL, or any other currency are submitted as-is — your case manager will prepare a covering note showing the EUR equivalent. If you are close to the threshold, it is advisable to submit 6 months of statements rather than 3, to show consistent income even accounting for exchange rate fluctuation.
No. The DNV is specifically for workers who earn income from remote employment or self-employment. Retirement income (pensions) does not qualify. Retirees who wish to live in Spain have other options — most notably the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), which requires passive income of at least €2,400/month and does not permit working in Spain. See myspanishnlv.com for the NLV option.
Month-to-month income fluctuation is common for freelancers and self-employed applicants. The Spanish authorities look at your average income over the preceding 3–6 months — the average should comfortably exceed €2,849/month. If your income is volatile, submitting 6 months of statements rather than 3 gives a more complete picture. We recommend that your average over the assessment period clearly exceeds the threshold, rather than scraping past it — this reduces the risk of a request for additional documentation.

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