Spanish Residency
Spanish residency offers a high quality of life and the fastest route to European Union citizenship.
Spain - The Fastest European Citizenship
The Advantages of Residency in Spain
Residency in Spain is a powerful document
- Taxes: 24% tax on active income and 0% tax on passive income from abroad for those who qualify for the Impatriate Regime. 7p exemption for those performing work abroad. 4% corporate tax in the Canary Islands (ZEC).
- Residency in the European Union: You will have the right to free movement within any European Union country.
- Citizenship in Europe: You can apply for Spanish citizenship after 2 years of legal residency as a Brazilian citizen.
- Language: Spanish is the official language and is easy to learn.
- Quality of Life: Spain offers a high quality of life, with quality public services such as healthcare, education, and transportation. Spain is also one of the safest countries in the world, with low crime rates.
Residency in Spain as a Digital Nomad
Introduced by the Spanish government in late 2021, the Digital Nomad Visa aims to attract highly qualified individuals to contribute to Spain's vibrant landscape. As the 14th European state to implement this program, Spain is opening its doors to digital nomads seeking a temporary residence permit in Europe.
This permit serves as a gateway to acquiring permanent residency and citizenship, subject to meeting the specific eligibility criteria for each status.
This residence permit operates within a specialized immigration framework established by the Entrepreneurship Law (14/2013). The unique advantages of this regime lie in the oversight of the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE), which is responsible for reviewing and resolving applications.
Furthermore, the streamlined 20-business-day processing time ensures efficiency, and in the absence of a response within this period, Spanish law considers the application approved by administrative silence.
The permit can be granted for a period ranging from 1 to 3 years, depending on the digital nomad's specific circumstances.
We also work with other pathways to residency, such as non-lucrative residency, retirement visas, and family reunification visas.
Digital Nomad Visa Requirements
Digital nomads (DN) have the option to apply for this residence permit as either freelancers or employees. Choosing the freelance route is advisable, as it generally involves a smoother and less bureaucratic process.
Choosing the "employee" category as a digital nomad means your employer must register in Spain to manage tax withholdings and payments. This crucial step must be completed before starting the residence permit application process.
Additionally, to qualify for the residence permit, other key criteria must be met:
- Income: The Digital Nomad (DN) must prove a minimum monthly income of €2,646.00 or €31,752.00 per year. The UGE verifies this by reviewing the freelance agreement or employment contract and cross-referencing it with the DN's bank statements. This amount is twice the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI), which was set at €1,134.00 in 2024.
- Employment duration: The DN must have a minimum work history of 3 months with the company at the time of application.
- Company operating history: The company must have been in business for at least 1 year to meet the eligibility criteria.
- Education or professional experience. The Digital Nomad (DN) must hold a university degree from a globally recognized institution in a field related to their work, or demonstrate at least 3 years of relevant professional experience in their field.
- Company location. The company must be based outside of Spain.
- Non-EU citizens: The Digital Nomad visa is not available to EU citizens.
Required Documents for the Digital Nomad Visa
Upon meeting these conditions, the Digital Nomad (DN) must compile a set of documents to submit to the Consulate or the UGE, depending on the specific circumstances.
Foreign public documents must have an apostille. All documents must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator
- MIT Form
- Full scan of passport
- Freelance agreement or employment contract (3-month duration) - with sworn translation
- Bank statements from the last three months to prove income - with sworn translation
- Proof of company existence for 1 year - with apostille and sworn translation
- Letter issued by the company that i. explains the position, ii. working conditions, iii. salary in euros, iv. explicit authorization to work remotely from Spain - with sworn translation
- 3 years of professional training or experience: University degree translated and apostilled, or translated letters from previous employers describing activities and certifying the provision of services
- Resume - with sworn translation
- Private insurance. Not required if the digital nomad will be registering with the Spanish Social Security system as a freelancer or employee.
- Criminal background check - with apostille and sworn translation
- Social Security documents: i. Claim for application of foreign Social Security under a Cooperation Treaty between Spain and the country of origin, translated and apostilled, ii. Commitment to register as a freelancer in Spain (if applying as a freelancer), iii. Company registration in Spain for tax purposes (if applying as an employee)
- Sworn statement confirming that the Digital Nomad has maintained a clean criminal record in all countries of residence over the past 5 years.
The Digital Nomad Visa Process, Step-by-Step
The digital nomad (DN) has the option to apply through the Spanish Consulate in their home country or the country where they have legal residence. Alternatively, they can apply directly from within Spain.
The difference lies in the duration of the permit.
- Application at a Spanish Consulate: When applying through a Spanish consulate, the digital nomad (DN) receives a visa valid for 1 year.
- Application in Spain: Typically, applying for a residence permit within Spain results in a 3-year grant, unless the freelance agreement or employment contract specifies a shorter duration.
This process is divided into three parts:
- Review and application. This process covers everything from qualifying the candidate to receiving approval for the application. It can be a lengthy process, depending on the number of applicants and your country of origin.
- Foreigner registration and foreigner ID card. In this stage, the Digital Nomad registers with the police as a foreigner and applies for a Foreigner Identity Card (Tarjeta de Identificación de Extranjero - TIE). The main challenge at this stage is booking an appointment.
- Tax compliance. The third step requires the Digital Nomad to register as a "self-employed" individual if they are a freelancer.
More information about Spain
You can find more information and documents here:
- Article: How to Live Tax-Free in Spain with the Expat Tax Regime
- Article: Spain as a Tax Haven – The Importance of the Beckham Law and Cristiano Ronaldo
- Article: How to Obtain Spanish Citizenship by Descent and Naturalization
- Article: Ley De Nietos: Changes to Spanish Citizenship in 2022
- Article: Living in Mallorca - A Good Choice
- Article: Madeira and the Canaries: The Advantages of Special Zones in Portugal and Spain
- Podcast: Everything You Need to Know About Spanish Citizenship - with Roberta and Camila
Residency pricing and options
Residency in Spain
(Digital Nomad, Non-Lucrative, Retirement, or Family Reunification Visas)
- Legal counsel throughout the entire residency application period.
- Compilation, compliance review, and due diligence for all required documentation.
- Coordination of all appointments and communication with immigration and consular officials.
- Discounts available for families and members of the Settee Community (See FAQ)
Is Spanish Residency right for me?
We Recommend Spanish Residency For:
- Clients who want to live in Europe and do not have European citizenship: Spain offers access to all the benefits of living in the European Union, such as freedom of movement and access to the labor market in other EU countries.
- Individuals seeking quality of life and infrastructure: Spain is known for its excellent quality of life, with high-quality healthcare, education, transportation, and safety infrastructure.
- Those seeking fast-track European citizenship: You can apply for Spanish citizenship after 2 years of legal residency if you are a citizen of Brazil or Ibero-American countries.
We Do Not Recommend Spanish Residency For:
- Individuals seeking a low-tax country. Spain has few attractive tax regimes, and even those still involve taxes and social security contributions.
- Individuals with less than 30k EUR in savings or income below 2.5k EUR: Spanish residency requires proof of minimum income or savings to ensure the resident can support themselves in the country. Paraguay, Colombia, and Uruguay are options that do not require high income or excessive bureaucracy.
Additional Settee Services in Spain
Special Regime for Inbound Expats
We help you structure and process the most advantageous option for those wishing to reside in Spain without paying taxes on their foreign income.
7p Exemption
Our service for those looking to process the 7p exemption, which allows you to avoid paying taxes on certain income earned while working abroad.
Tax Optimization in Spain
Looking to improve your tax situation or better protect your assets without leaving Spain? You can book this consultation where our Spanish tax attorney will present your options.
Company Incorporation
We can help you incorporate your company in the Canary Islands Special Zone (4% corporate tax) or anywhere else in Spain (25% corporate tax).
Spanish Citizenship
Do you want to apply for Spanish citizenship? Whether by marriage, descent, or residency, our associates can assist you with the process.
Investing in Spain
Looking for investment opportunities or need support for your current investment? We have trusted contacts who can help you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Review and provision of document templates
- Preparation of the document collection pipeline
- Application submission
- Coordination (but not payment) of sworn translations
- Payment of all government fees
- Personalized consultation with our specialist in Spain
- Fees for obtaining and legalizing foreign documents
- Appeal against denial
- Registration as a self-employed individual with the tax administration and social security
- Eligibility analysis for the Impatriate Regime
- Application for the Beckham Law / Impatriate Regime: The impatriate regime in Spain, commonly known as the "Beckham Law," is a legal framework that offers major tax advantages to foreign workers moving to Spain.
If you have never lived in Spain or have not lived there in the last five years, the special impatriate regime may allow you to live in Spain without paying tax on your foreign income if you meet certain requirements.
You can read our blog article that explains exactly how it works: On the special regime for impatriates in Spain.
At Settee, we can help you prepare correctly and process the regime for 500 dollars. - 7p Exemption: The Article 7p exemption allows Spanish residents who travel abroad for work to avoid paying taxes in Spain on employment income earned abroad, provided they meet certain established requirements.
If you are a tax resident in Spain, work as an employee, and frequently travel physically abroad, whether for long or short periods, it is quite possible that you could apply for this exemption and avoid paying tax on up to 60,100 euros per year.
Our tax lawyer can help you find out if you qualify for this exemption and how to apply for it if you do.
The price for a tax optimization consultation in Spain is 597 euros. - NIE Application: The Número de Identificación de Extranjero (NIE) is a tax identification number.
It is essential for various purposes, including buying property, starting a company, signing up for internet and phone services, opening a bank account, paying taxes, and obtaining a driver's license. The NIE is also required for employment and for processing Social Security-related documents in Spain.
Therefore, obtaining a NIE is a fundamental step for foreigners planning to live, work, or do business in Spain. However, it is not always easy to obtain, so we offer our clients the possibility of processing the NIE remotely or in person with the help of our associates.
The price for the NIE application for non-residents is 450 euros. For those applying for residency in Spain, the NIE is assigned automatically. - Investments in Spain: Despite all the attempts of its politicians, Spain remains a country with a relatively strong economy, which makes it attractive to investors. Its high quality of life, diversity, and rich culture are some of the factors that make it an interesting destination for investment.
At Settee, we have interesting contacts for those who want to invest in real estate or buy land in various areas of Spain, for both high-level and smaller investments.
On the other hand, if you are about to close an investment, we can put you in touch with trusted lawyers, notaries, and consultants to ensure everything goes as you wish.
If you are looking for investment opportunities or simply want our associated lawyers, consultants, or notaries to help you with your negotiations, we are here for you. - Open your Spanish company and pay only 4% tax: Our associates can help you open your company anywhere in Spain (25% corporate tax). The Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC) is particularly interesting in this regard.
Companies there must meet certain requirements, such as employing several people and investing specific amounts (we explain this in more detail in our article on how to open a company in the ZEC), but in return, they can allow you to pay only 4% corporate tax, among other advantages.
The price for incorporating a standard company in Spain is usually around 1,200 euros (including notary and registry fees), but ZECs are more expensive.
If you would like us to help you decide if a ZEC company would be a good option for you, or if you would like our associates to set one up for you, simply contact us. - Spanish Citizenship: We can assist with Spanish citizenship processes by descent and naturalization. To do so, get in touch.
Yes. Depending on the digital nomad's country of origin, they may apply for citizenship after 2, 5, or 10 years. For Brazilians, only 2 years of residence are required.
Yes, but income from a Spanish source is limited to 20% of your annual gross income. This only applies to digital nomads applying as freelancers.
Yes, you can bring your spouse and other dependents under this scheme. The income requirement increases per dependent.
First dependent - 75% of the SMI - 11,907 EUR in 2024
Second dependent - 25% of the SMI - 3,969 EUR in 2024 per dependent
Additional requirements apply to each additional dependent.
To maintain your digital nomad status, you must remain in Spanish territory for 6 months within a fiscal year.
It is possible to provide other sources of income, such as savings, dividends, interest, etc. However, there is no guarantee that the UGE will approve an application under these conditions.
In general, it is possible to convert most residency permits into a digital nomad residency. However, before doing so, you must first assess whether this would be more or less beneficial for your situation.
If you lose your job, you are theoretically required to inform the immigration office. However, if you find a new job and meet the requirements, you may be able to change employers with a new residency permit.
Yes. The Spanish administration works with "collaborating entities" to process payments. Therefore, there is a list of pre-approved banks that can process payments for the Spanish administration. Currently, the neobank "N26" can process these payments.
No, freelancers cannot benefit from the "non-resident" tax status, also known as the "Beckham Law" or the Impatriate Regime. The Spanish government is currently discussing new regulations on this matter.
We can attempt to submit the application for you as a freelancer, but we cannot provide any guarantee of acceptance by Spain.
Disclaimer and Waiver
This platform, which acts as an intermediary for residency, visa, incorporation, and tax regime applications, conducts a comprehensive eligibility assessment based on established criteria. It is imperative to recognize that meeting these criteria does not guarantee the approval of a residency permit. The final decision rests solely with the authorities of the chosen country.
Likewise, the timelines provided are those informed by local authorities or average timeframes based on previously completed processes. Settee is not responsible for delays caused by the authorities of the chosen country.
Our role is to provide professional guidance, prepare, and facilitate the meticulous submission of all necessary documentation during the application process. However, the final determination is at the discretion of the authorities, and additional factors outside our control may be considered.
By using the services of Settee.io and its associates, you agree to waive any claims, demands, or liabilities against Settee.io and its associates arising from the final decision of the authorities or any consequences thereof. For processes that require your physical presence, you agree to the same waivers if you purchase your round-trip tickets without confirming dates with our team.
While we strive to ensure a seamless application experience, it is imperative to understand that the final outcome depends on the assessment conducted by the relevant immigration authorities.
For any questions or clarifications, please do not hesitate to contact Settee.io and its associates. We appreciate your consideration of our services.