Spanish immigration · Tenerife
Spain digital nomad visa: 2026 requirements and UGE residence
Spain's digital nomad visa and international telework residence permit are intended for eligible non-EU nationals working remotely for businesses located outside Spain. Employees may work only for businesses outside Spain under this route; qualifying self-employed professionals may have Spanish clients within a 20% limit. The correct application depends on your employment or client contracts, qualifications, lawful location, income and social-security position.
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UK employees and independent professionals
Working remotely from Spain for a UK employer
UK employment does not automatically make a digital nomad visa application eligible. We first assess the foreign employer or contracting arrangement, prior business relationship, professional qualifications, remote-work permission, social-security position and the proper filing route. The Spanish Consulate in London publishes digital nomad visa instructions, including UK-specific employment and insurance evidence.
Do not confuse the UK HMRC A1 or social-security documentation with a universal exemption: applicability depends on the specific worker and legal framework. The non-lucrative visa is not an alternative work visa. If remote work is intended, use this international telework guide and obtain an individual assessment of the appropriate social-security documentation.
Practical questions for international clients
International remote work: questions to resolve before filing
A client working for a US, Canadian or British business should first establish where the work is physically performed, who retains their services, and what documents evidence the arrangement. The phrase 'digital nomad' is not a substitute for analysing the actual employment or professional position.
Before ordering translations or certificates, clarify the work history, employment or service agreements, evidence of income and any accompanying family members. Filing route and competent authority vary with the client's circumstances; one applicant's checklist is not automatically valid for another.
Who can apply for Spain's digital nomad visa?
Article 74 bis of Law 14/2013 covers qualifying third-country nationals who carry out labour or professional activity remotely for businesses based outside Spain, using information and communications technology.
An employee working under an employment contract may only perform work for companies located outside Spain under this residence route. For independent professional activity, up to 20% of the total professional activity may be carried out for Spanish-based companies. The 20% exception is not a general permission for employees to take a Spanish job.
Applicants must demonstrate a recognised qualifying degree or vocational/business-school qualification, or at least three years of relevant professional experience, alongside the general conditions for the permit.
What we review
Core eligibility checks before paying for translations
| Issue | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Foreign company or business | The foreign company or group must have operated with real, continuous activity for at least one year. |
| Contract or client history | Employees need evidence of at least three months of employment with the foreign company plus express permission to work remotely. Independent professionals need a business relationship of at least three months with one or more foreign companies and agreed conditions for remote provision. |
| Remote work and qualifications | Documents must show the duties can be performed through digital systems and demonstrate relevant qualifications or at least three years of suitable professional experience. |
| General immigration conditions | Check the applicable passport, lawful stay, criminal-record documentation, resources, public-health coverage and any translations or legalisation required by the authority. |
| Social security | Establish the applicable social-security system before filing. A foreign certificate of coverage is accepted only when the relevant international coordination arrangements actually apply; it cannot be assumed for every employer, contractor or country. |
Consular visa or UGE residence permit: what is the difference?
| Route | Where to apply | Validity | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital nomad visa | Apply through the competent Spanish consular office when resident abroad and eligible to do so. | Up to 1 year, or less if the qualifying work lasts for a shorter period. | Consulate / Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| International telework residence permit | Eligible applicants lawfully in Spain, including qualifying visa holders, may apply through the special residence procedure. | Up to 3 years initially; renewals may be for 2-year periods if conditions remain satisfied. | Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE) |
The procedure and competent office depend on lawful residence and the applicant's situation. The maximum durations are not guaranteed in every case.
Financial means in 2026: SMI-based threshold
The joint administrative instructions require resources equivalent to 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) for the principal applicant, a further 75% for the first family member and 25% for each additional member. These percentages should be applied using the current administrative calculation and the applicant's evidence, not a figure copied from a previous year.
| Category | Minimum reference |
|---|---|
| Principal applicant | 200% of SMI |
| First accompanying family member | Additional 75% of SMI |
| Each further accompanying family member | Additional 25% of SMI |
Spain's 2026 statutory SMI is €1,221 per month in 14 payments (€17,094 annually), under Royal Decree 126/2026. Because the SMI is published in 14 payments and financial evidence may be assessed monthly or annually, confirm the exact euro figure and period with the consulate or UGE before applying; do not treat €1,221 multiplied by a percentage as a guaranteed threshold. Income, contracts and available lawful funds can require individual assessment.
Social Security and health coverage are not interchangeable
Before filing, determine whether the applicant will enter the Spanish social-security system (which may involve employer registration or self-employment obligations) or can rely on a valid and relevant international social-security agreement and evidence of coverage. A generic letter from a foreign employer is not itself a certificate issued under an applicable agreement.
Health cover must satisfy the applicable requirements. Travel insurance is not a substitute for compliant health cover. Where a valid social-security arrangement provides the required coverage, the evidence and treatment of insurance must be checked for the actual procedure.
Tax residence and eligibility for a special tax regime are separate from immigration approval. Moving to Spain or obtaining this permit does not automatically grant special tax treatment. A coordinated tax review can be needed before relocation.
What to prepare for a consultation
Typical document categories: the checklist changes by case
- Passport and the appropriate visa or residence application, with any consular forms and photographs required.
- Employer letter or contracts showing at least three months of the relevant relationship and express permission to work remotely; for professionals, documentary evidence of client relationships and remote-service terms.
- Evidence that the foreign business has carried on genuine activity for at least one year.
- Qualifications or records of three years of relevant professional experience.
- Financial documents, social-security arrangement and appropriate health-cover evidence.
- Where required, police clearance, family civil-status documents, apostilles or legalisation and sworn translations. Specific periods, exemptions and form requirements depend on the authority and the applicant's position.
Can a spouse, partner or children accompany the applicant?
Certain family members may be eligible, including spouses or partners, qualifying dependent children and dependent ascendants, subject to the statutory conditions and evidence. Their applications and additional financial means need their own documentary assessment.
Parents or adult children do not become eligible automatically: dependency, family circumstances and admissible evidence matter. Where children will attend school, practical planning should be separated from the immigration requirements.
Applying from the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom
The responsible Spanish consular district depends on the applicant's lawful residence. A US, Canadian or UK employer does not necessarily make the applicant eligible: the company history, role, remote-work authorisation, income and social-security position must all be verified.
US-based employees should not assume a standard US employment contract resolves Spanish social-security obligations. Likewise, UK and Canadian applicants must establish which social-security coordination rules and certificates, if any, are applicable.
Tenerife is a possible place to live under a valid nationwide permit, not a separate immigration scheme. Buying a property in Tenerife does not replace the digital nomad permission or determine the competent filing authority.
Frequently asked questions about Spain's digital nomad route
Can I work for Spanish clients?
An employee relying on this route may only work for foreign-based companies. Qualifying self-employed professionals may work for Spanish clients up to 20% of their total professional activity, subject to the actual terms and compliance position.
Is three months with a new foreign client or employer enough?
The relationship must meet the statutory three-month requirement, but that alone is insufficient. The business must also meet the one-year activity test, and all other conditions apply.
Is the digital nomad visa the same as non-lucrative residence?
No. Non-lucrative residence and international telework are legally distinct routes. A person planning to continue professional activity should not assume a non-lucrative permit is an appropriate substitute.
Does every digital nomad receive a three-year permit?
No. The consular visa is generally issued for no more than one year; qualifying UGE residence authorisations may last up to three years, or less where the work period is shorter.
Does the permit automatically give a tax discount?
No. Tax residence and any special tax regime require separate eligibility analysis and, where applicable, formal procedural steps.
Can I send my contracts and bank statements by WhatsApp?
Do not send sensitive records in an unsolicited initial message. First send a short description of your circumstances; ILS will confirm the appropriate channel and the scope of any legal engagement.
How ILS Tenerife approaches your application
- Initial eligibility assessment: identify whether the role is employment or self-employed activity, the foreign company or clients, lawful location and the proper filing authority.
- Document and compliance plan: define evidence for company activity, professional history, income, social security, family links, health coverage and translations.
- Agreed legal engagement: confirm professional scope and fees before preparing or reviewing the application, coordinating submissions or responding to requests for additional evidence. A favourable outcome or fixed processing time cannot be promised.
Start with a short description of your country of residence, employment or client arrangement and intended move date. Do not send identity, banking or medical documents before an appropriate channel has been agreed.
Next step
Start with a short description of your country of residence, employment or client arrangement and intended move date. Do not send identity, banking or medical documents before an appropriate channel has been agreed.
Official sources and legal review
Legal and financial reference checked: 11 November 2026. This general guide does not establish individual eligibility or replace the current consular or UGE checklist.
- Law 14/2013 — international telework, articles 74 bis–quinquies
- Royal Decree 126/2026 — Spanish minimum wage
- UGE — international teleworkers
- Spanish Ministry — electronic residence application
- Government of Spain — digital nomad residence guide
- Joint administrative instructions — income, insurance and social security (PDF)
The authoritative version is the official published law and the instructions of the competent authority. If a rule changes, the law and authority's current checklist take precedence over this guide.
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Spanish-law consultations in New York
Meet in Manhattan through SpainLawNYC
For this Spanish-law procedure, a paid in-person legal consultation in Manhattan, New York may be arranged through SpainLawNYC, strictly by prior appointment and subject to confirmation. There is no walk-in office in Manhattan. Consultations concern Spanish law only, not US law. Remote consultations and appointments in Tenerife are also available.