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ESEntry · residence · long-term status

Legal ways to live in Spain.

Spain currently offers 6 active paths relevant to remote workers, including a digital nomad visa (income requirement 2,849 EUR/month). Conditions below come from official immigration sources — filter by your citizenship.

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6 legalization paths · 7 sources · official immigration sources only

passport-specific

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6 legalization paths

01

Choose your route

A compact map of every documented option for Spain. Start with eligibility and duration, then open the full conditions below.

  1. 01Visa-free stay (Schengen 90/180)Getting in · Visa-free stayWho qualifiesUS citizens, UK citizens, Ukrainian citizensDuration3 moNo direct PR path
  2. 02International teleworking authorization (digital nomad visa)Staying long-term · Digital nomad visaWho qualifiesAll except EU citizensDuration1 yr +→ PR path
  3. 03Residence and work authorization — self-employment (cuenta propia)Staying long-term · Freelance permitWho qualifiesAll except EU citizensDuration1 yr +→ PR path
  4. 04Non-lucrative residence visa (passive income)Staying long-term · Temporary residenceWho qualifiesAll except EU citizensDuration1 yr +→ PR path
  5. 05EU Blue Card (highly-qualified employment)Staying long-term · Temporary residenceWho qualifiesAll except EU citizensDuration3 yrs +→ PR path
  6. 06EU/EEA citizens — registration of residenceStaying long-term · Special programWho qualifiesEU citizensDuration10 yrs +→ PR path

02

Getting in

Who can enter Spain and on what terms — visa-free windows and entry visas.

01Getting in
Visa-free stayactive

Visa-free stay (Schengen 90/180)

For: US citizens, UK citizens, Ukrainian citizens

Duration
3 months
Path to PR
No

Requirements (3)

03
  1. 01Passport of an EU visa-exempt (Annex II) country; for Ukraine and other Eastern Partnership states: biometric passports only
  2. 02Sufficient funds, accommodation, valid travel insurance, and no entry ban
  3. 0390 days within any rolling 180-day window, counted across the whole Schengen area

03

Staying long-term

Grounds for residence — business, employment, special programs — with the conditions to qualify.

02Staying long-term
Digital nomad visaactive

International teleworking authorization (digital nomad visa)

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
1 year, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Family
Included
Fee
80 EUR
Processing
20–45 days
Income requirement
2,849 EUR/month

Requirements (5)

05
  1. 01Non-EU national working remotely for companies outside Spain; work for Spanish-based firms may not exceed 20% of total professional activity
  2. 02University/postgraduate degree from a reputable institution, professional training, OR at least 3 years' professional experience
  3. 03Employment or professional relationship existing for at least 3 months before applying; the foreign company must have operated for at least 1 year
  4. 04Prove the work can be performed remotely; income at or above 200% SMI (payslips/invoices + bank certificate)
  5. 05Full private or public health insurance valid in Spain (no significant gaps/high copays), clean criminal record (last 2 years)
03Staying long-term
Freelance permitactive

Residence and work authorization — self-employment (cuenta propia)

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
1 year, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Family
Not included
Income requirement
600 EUR/month

Requirements (4)

04
  1. 01Business plan validated with a positive viability report from a recognized self-employed workers' association (ATA, UPTA, CIAE, etc.)
  2. 02Professional qualifications or licences required to run the intended activity; proof of investment funds and means of subsistence
  3. 03Clean criminal record (last 5 years); comply with all conditions to open the activity (permits, registrations)
  4. 04First authorization is limited by geography and sector; resolution target ~90 days after the reform of the Immigration Regulation
04Staying long-term
Temporary residenceactive

Non-lucrative residence visa (passive income)

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
1 year, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Family
Included
Income requirement
28,800 EUR/year

Requirements (4)

04
  1. 01Prove passive income or sufficient savings ≥ 400% IPREM (pension, rents, dividends, savings) — NOT from working in Spain
  2. 02Private health insurance with full coverage in Spain (no copays), from an insurer authorized in Spain
  3. 03Clean criminal record (last 5 years) and a medical certificate; passport valid ≥ 1 year
  4. 04ABSOLUTE prohibition on work or professional activity in Spain (including, in the authorities' view, remote work) — this is not a work/nomad route
05Staying long-term
Temporary residenceactive

EU Blue Card (highly-qualified employment)

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
3 years, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Income requirement
33,000 EUR/year

Requirements (3)

03
  1. 01Binding job offer / employment contract with a Spanish employer in a highly-qualified role
  2. 02Higher professional qualifications (degree or equivalent documented experience)
  3. 03Salary at or above the Blue Card threshold; clean criminal record
06Staying long-term
Special programactive

EU/EEA citizens — registration of residence

For: EU citizens

Duration
10 years, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Family
Included

Requirements (3)

03
  1. 01No visa or permit needed; full labour-market access and self-employment on the same terms as Spanish nationals
  2. 02For stays over 3 months: register in the Central Register of Foreigners (obtain the certificado de registro / green NIE certificate) at a police station or Oficina de Extranjería
  3. 03Show sufficient means and health cover if not working (for economically inactive EU citizens)

Spain

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