What documents do I need for Spain's digital nomad visa?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Spanish consulates ask for a visa form, passport, NIE, a registry certificate showing your company has been active for a year, a company certificate covering three months' work and remote permission, proof of income, criminal record certificates, health insurance, a social security declaration, and your degree or proof of three years' experience, translated into Spanish.

Key facts

Document	What it must show	Source
National visa application form	Signed by the applicant	Washington guidance, point 1; Istanbul guidance, point 4
Passport	Valid; Washington asks for validity for the stay and two blank pages, Istanbul for three months beyond the planned stay	Washington guidance, point 3; Istanbul guidance, point 1
NIE (foreigner identity number)	You must have it when you apply	Washington guidance, point 6; Istanbul guidance, introduction
Company registry certificate	Date the company was set up and its activity: at least 1 year of real, continuous activity	Ley 14/2013, art. 74 ter.a; Washington guidance, point 7; Istanbul guidance, point 6
Company certificate	Employees: at least 3 months with the company and explicit permission to work remotely from Spain. Freelancers: length of the relationship and the terms of remote work	Ley 14/2013, art. 74 ter.b–d; Washington guidance, point 8; Istanbul guidance, points 5, 7–8
Proof of income	200% of the monthly minimum wage for you, plus 75% / 25% per family member	Ley 14/2013, art. 62.3.f; Washington guidance, point 9; Istanbul guidance, point 9
Criminal record	Certificates from each country you lived in during the last 2 years, plus a sworn declaration of no criminal record in the last 5 years	Ley 14/2013, art. 62.3.c; Washington guidance, points 10–11; Istanbul guidance, point 10
Health insurance	Public or private insurance with an insurer authorised in Spain; travel insurance not accepted	Ley 14/2013, art. 62.3.e; Washington guidance, point 12; Istanbul guidance, point 11
Social security	Sworn declaration that you will meet Spanish social security obligations before starting work, and proof of coverage	Washington guidance, points 13–14; Istanbul guidance, point 12
Degree or experience	Graduate or postgraduate degree, or documents proving at least 3 years of experience	Ley 14/2013, art. 74 bis.2; Washington guidance, point 15; Istanbul guidance, point 13
Visa fee	Paid when applying; the amount depends on the consulate and your nationality	Ley 14/2013, art. 62.3.g; Washington guidance, point 18; Istanbul guidance, point 3

Translations and apostilles

Both consulates say documents in another language need a sworn (official) translation into Spanish, and official documents issued outside Spain need an apostille or legalisation.

Each consulate publishes its own list

The law sets the requirements (Ley 14/2013, arts. 62.3, 74 bis, 74 ter); each consulate publishes how to prove them. The table above lists what the Washington and Istanbul consulates both ask for. Details differ: for example, Washington also asks for proof of legal residence in its consular district, and Istanbul asks for a tax certificate of the company’s previous-year return. Check the page of the consulate where you will apply.

Applying from inside Spain instead: the residence permit goes online to the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE), not to a consulate (Ley 14/2013, arts. 74 quinquies.1, 76.1).

Sources

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2026-10-25: Page created

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.