Spain's Digital Nomad Visa Explained: What Employers Need to Know

The global workforce has changed. Top talent increasingly expects location flexibility, and Spain's Digital Nomad Visa brings real advantages for employers willing to embrace flexible work policies. This program can act as a strategic tool to attract top talent and improve retention by giving companies a structured way to meet demand for flexibility while keeping employees legally compliant.

For employers, supporting the Digital Nomad Visa means:

• Holding onto valued team members who want to relocate
• Attracting professionals who prioritize work-life balance
• Expanding your talent pool without physical office requirements
• Reducing relocation costs as employees cover their own move through the Digital Nomad Visa
• Test new markets and get local insights for business expansion.

How Does Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa Work?

The International Teleworking Permit, also known as the Digital Nomad Visa, allows foreign employees and freelancers to live in Spain while working remotely for non-Spanish companies.

‍Who Qualifies?

• Employees with a remote job at a non-Spanish company (must have been employed for at least 3 months).
• Freelancers with clients mostly outside Spain (only 20% of income can come from Spanish businesses).
• Applicants must prove professional qualifications - be a graduate or postgraduate from a recognized university or business school, or have more than three years of professional experience.

Financial and Legal Requirements

• Minimum income: €2,268/month (200% of Spain’s minimum wage).
• Health insurance: Private coverage with no co-payments.
• Social Security: Depending on existing agreements between Spain and your country, the employer may need to continue home country social security payments or register with Spain's Social Security system.
  Freelancers need to register under the Spanish Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA).

Visa Validity & Renewal

• Initial permit: Up to 3 years.
• Renewal: 2-year extensions (if conditions are still met).

Family Considerations

The visa allows employees to bring:

• Spouses or unmarried partners
• Children of any age if financially dependent
• Other dependent relatives in special cases

Family members apply together with the main applicant, using the same documentation process.

What’s the Application Process Like?

The entire application process happens electronically, with some important variations depending on where the employee applies from:

Applying From Outside Spain

1. Employee submits the residence permit application online
2. Once approved (typically within 20 days), they must:
   
   • Visit a Spanish consulate in their home country for the visa
   • Pay the visa fee (varies by nationality, generally €80-190)
3. After receiving the visa, they can move to Spain

Applying From Within Spain

Employees already in Spain legally (as tourists or under other permits) can:

1. Apply directly for the residence permit online
2. Skip the consulate visit entirely
3. Begin working remotely immediately after approval

In both cases, if the permit lasts more than six months, employees will need to obtain a Foreign Identity Card (TIE) for €16.08 after arrival.

What Employers Should Prepare

While the employee handles most of the application, companies need to provide:

• A letter confirming the remote work arrangement
• Proof the employment relationship existed for at least three months
• Details about the employee's role and compensation

The entire process from document gathering to approval typically takes:

• 1-2 weeks to prepare documents (including background checks)
• Up to 20 days for the Spanish authorities to decide
• Additional 2-3 weeks for consular processing if applying from abroad

How Employers Can Support Digital Nomad Employees

Balancing structure with flexibility is one of the most important aspects of successfully managing a remote team. If your company allows remote work, here’s how to support your employees’ transition to working from Spain.

1. Clear Remote Work Policies
   
   • Document expectations around availability, communication, and performance for location-flexible roles.
   • Establish communication protocols for team collaboration
   • Provide data security requirements for international work
2. Essential Application Support
   
   • Provide employment verification letters (required for the visa)
   • Understand and guide employees through Social Security Rules
3. Relocation Support
   
   • Assist in finding health insurance that meets visa requirements
   • Guide employees on Spanish tax obligations
   • Offer stipends for initial setup costs
4. Ongoing Support
   
   • Offer flexibility around work hours when needed
   • Connect employees with other company nomads in Spain
   • Consider covering a co-working space membership

How Jobbatical Can Support Your Team

As more professionals look for location flexibility, Spain's Digital Nomad Visa is a practical solution for employers wanting to retain their best talent. 

At Jobbatical, we work with companies to manage the visa process while keeping everything aligned with their existing remote work structures. Our local experts can walk you and your employees through each step of the Digital Nomada Visa application to make sure everything stays simple and compliant. 

To explore how this could work for your team, book a free consultation.