Everything Spain asks for under the Startups Law (Ley 28/2022): who qualifies, the exact document checklist, the 2026 income threshold, and the two ways to apply. Updated for 2026.
Every foreign public document needs an apostille and a sworn Spanish translation. Missing or expired paperwork is the single most common reason files get held up.
Passport valid at least 1 year with two blank pages, plus recent passport-format photos on a light background. Full colour copies of every page are usually requested too.
The national visa form (consulate route) or form EX-01 plus tasa Modelo 790 código 038 (in-Spain residence permit route), with proof the government fee is paid.
Employment contract or service agreements showing at least 3 months of continuous work, plus a letter from each employer or client authorising fully remote work from Spain and confirming the role can be performed remotely.
Company registration certificate or equivalent showing the business has been active for at least 1 year and is registered outside Spain.
Payslips, invoices, bank statements and/or tax returns evidencing at least €2,849 per month (2026), increased for each family member you include.
Issued in every country you've lived in during the last 5 years, generally no older than 3 months, legalised with an apostille and accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation. Some consulates also ask for a signed declaration of no criminal record for the last 5 years.
A policy from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain with full coverage, no co-payments, no deductible and no waiting period — travel insurance is not accepted. Public cover works instead only if you're registered with Spanish social security.
Either an A1/bilateral social security certificate from your home country, or a commitment from your employer to register with Spanish social security. Self-employed applicants normally register as autónomo in Spain.
Degree, diploma or professional certificate — apostilled and sworn-translated — or documented proof of 3+ years of relevant professional experience.
Marriage or civil partnership certificate, children's birth certificates, and proof of dependency where relevant — all apostilled and sworn-translated into Spanish.
A 1-year digital nomad visa from the Spanish consulate where you legally reside. You then travel to Spain and, before it expires, exchange it for a 3-year residence permit and a TIE card.
Consulate decisions are typically issued within around 10 working days, though this varies by consulate.
If you're already legally in Spain (for example on a tourist stamp with time left), you can apply directly to the UGE-CE for a 3-year residence permit without leaving.
The legal target for a decision is 20 working days, with silence generally treated as approval.
The eligibility check is free. We review your income, contracts and documents against the list above and tell you honestly whether you qualify — before you spend anything. The full application and onboarding is a €2,000 one-time fee.
This page is general information about Spain's digital nomad residence route, not legal advice. Requirements and thresholds change — confirm your own case with us or with the relevant Spanish authority before acting.