The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers is an initiative that the Government of Spain intends to incorporate in January 2023 as a new residence permit option that joins the Startup Law project that was recently approved by the Congress of Deputies.
What is a Digital Nomad Visa?
A Digital Nomad Visa applies to people who work remotely. Although this type of visa already existed, in 2020, due to the pandemic, it gained more strength and today, almost three years later, teleworking has positioned itself as one of the most sought-after jobs worldwide.
For this reason, in 2020 several countries proposed the creation of a visa for this type of worker, which would allow them to spend long periods abroad without the time limits of tourist visas.
Note: This visa does not allow applicants to work locally. However, the beneficiaries can obtain up to 20% of their income from Spanish companies.
Although it is still in the approval period, this new visa works as a tool to attract international talent and promote digital entrepreneurship (which is why it is part of the Startup Law reform).
Who may apply for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa?
The new Digital Nomad Visa in Spain is intended for non-European Economic Area citizens to reside legally in the country for an estimated period of six months and one year initially, with an extension of up to five years.
Workers who apply for this visa will not be allowed to work locally (as mentioned before). However, they will have tax advantages, among them:
- To benefit from a special tax regime.
- To be taxed under the Non-Resident Income Tax.
Note: This application may be made once the law enters into force and it is estimated that its applicability will be valid when the remote worker has been in the country for at least 30 days.
Visa Application Requirements
To apply for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa in 2023, you must take into account the following requirements:
- Fill out the visa application form.
- Pay the corresponding fee.
- Demonstrate your income in the last 3 months.
- Demonstrate that you are a remote worker for companies located outside Spain.
With this new Startup Law, applicants must take into account other specific requirements such as:
- Proof of the employment relationship with the foreign company, which should be at least 3 months old, and that the contract is for a minimum period of 1 year.
- Demonstrate work experience of more than 3 years.
- To have a Professional Training Degree, Postgraduate Degree, Business School Degree, etc.
- Have the company’s authorization to work online.
Countries that offer the Digital Nomad Visa
Approximately 40 countries currently offer this type of visa for workers in various parts of the world, although the requirements and conditions vary from country to country.
In Europe, it is available in Germany, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Norway, and Portugal, just to mention a few. On the other hand, in Latin America, it is applied in countries such as Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, and Panama.
One requirement that the visa applications in these countries have in common is the requirement to have health insurance and provide proof of income. As for the fees to be paid in the application, they range from US$100 or less.
Do you want to apply for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa?
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