Digital Nomad Visa Spain 2026: Requirements, Application and Where to Live on the Costa del Sol

The Spain digital nomad visa, officially called the visa for international teleworking, lets a non-EU citizen live in Spain while working remotely for companies based abroad. In 2026 the main applicant must show income of at least €2,442 a month (200% of the Spanish minimum wage), a working or professional relationship of at least three months and a university degree or three years of experience.

This guide sums up the requirements as set out in Law 14/2013 and by the Ministry of Inclusion, explains the difference between applying at a consulate and applying from inside Spain and, above all, covers what most guides skip: how to find a home on the Costa del Sol once the visa is in your pocket.

What is the Spanish digital nomad visa and who can apply?

It was created by Law 28/2022, the startup law, which added articles 74 bis to 74 quinquies to Law 14/2013. It is aimed at adult nationals of non-EU countries who work remotely, using only digital means, for companies located outside Spain. EU citizens do not need it; British citizens, since Brexit, do fall into this group.

• Employees: may only work for the foreign company they apply with.
• Self-employed or freelancers: may have Spanish clients as long as they do not exceed 20% of their professional activity.
• The company or group must have been genuinely and continuously active for at least one year.
• The job must not require physical presence: sales visits or on-site supervision rule it out.

Spain digital nomad visa requirements in 2026

On top of the general immigration requirements, the authorities ask for the following documents and conditions:

• A valid passport and no irregular immigration status in Spain.
• An employment or service contract with the foreign company going back at least three months, plus proof that it allows remote work.
• A university, vocational or reputable business school qualification, or three years of professional experience.
• A criminal record certificate from the countries where you lived in the last two years and a sworn statement covering the last five.
• Health cover: public, through Social Security registration, or private with no co-payments or waiting periods from an insurer authorised in Spain. Travel insurance is not accepted.
• Registration with Spanish Social Security, or a certificate of coverage from your country if there is a bilateral agreement (employees only; the self-employed must join the RETA scheme).
• Sufficient income from work for you and your family.

How much money do you need for the Spanish digital nomad visa?

The benchmark is the Spanish minimum wage, set by Royal Decree 126/2026 at €1,221 a month for 2026. The main applicant needs 200% of it; each family member adds a further percentage:

The minimum wage is reviewed every year, so the figure moves with it: check it when you file. The fee for an application to the Large Companies Unit is €73.26 per person; consulates charge the visa fee applicable in each country.

How to apply: consulate or the Large Companies Unit (UGE)

There are two routes, depending on where you are when you apply:

• From your home country: a visa at the Spanish consulate. It is valid for up to one year and lets you live and work remotely from day one.
• From inside Spain, if you are here legally (for example as a tourist): a residence permit from the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE), filed online. It lasts up to three years and is renewed for two-year periods.
• The UGE must decide within 20 days; if it does not reply, the permit is deemed granted.
• If you came on the consular visa, you can apply for the residence permit within the 60 days before it expires.
• With a permit of more than six months you must apply for the foreigner identity card (TIE).

What about your family? Spouse and children

Your spouse or partner, minor or dependent children and dependent parents can apply at the same time or later. Unlike the main applicant, they may work in Spain without restrictions, as employees or self-employed.

Taxes: the Beckham Law for digital nomads

Anyone spending more than 183 days a year in Spain usually becomes tax resident. Law 28/2022 opened the special regime for inbound workers, known as the Beckham Law, to teleworkers: you are taxed under non-resident rules at 24% on employment income up to €600,000 (47% above that) in the year you arrive and the following five.

• You must not have been tax resident in Spain in the previous five years.
• The law treats employees holding the telework visa as eligible; the self-employed should check their case with an adviser.
• You opt in with form 149 within six months of starting work, and file the annual return on form 151.

Where to live on the Costa del Sol as a digital nomad

Málaga has become one of the favourite remote-work destinations: an international airport, high-speed trains to Madrid, a tech community and mild weather all year round. But the rental market is tight, and it pays to arrive with a plan.

How much does renting cost when you arrive?

According to idealista, in the second quarter of 2026 a one-bedroom flat in Málaga city cost €1,010 a month, a studio €857 and a room €450. On the western coast the price per square metre rises: €23.7 a month in Marbella and €20.9 in Estepona, against €16.5 in the city. We cover it in our analysis of what it costs to live alone in Málaga.

What landlords will ask for

• Your NIE and passport, and often your visa approval.
• Proof of income: your contract with the foreign company and recent payslips or invoices.
• A statutory deposit of one month's rent, plus any extra guarantee, which in leases of up to five years cannot exceed two months.
• The law forbids requiring the tenant to take out rent-default insurance.

Many newcomers start with a short-term let of a few months while they get to know the area, but that type of lease changed in October 2026: read our article on short-term rentals in Málaga before signing.

Buying instead of renting

With a renewable three-year permit, buying starts to make sense, especially outside the priciest towns. Median prices per square metre from our November 2026 market report:

These are asking prices from our own listings, updated monthly in the Costa del Sol market report. To sign a purchase you will need an NIE and a Spanish bank account.

Conclusion

The digital nomad visa is now the most direct route for a non-EU remote professional to live legally in Spain, provided you meet the income threshold and can prove your relationship with the foreign company. Check the figures against official sources before applying and, if you are looking for a home to rent or buy in Málaga or on the Costa del Sol, EVS Property Group can help on the ground.

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