Spain
Spain Digital Nomad Visa income requirement: €2,442 or €2,849 a month?
If you have researched Spain's digital nomad visa, you have probably seen two different monthly figures. Both come from the same rule. Here is why, and which one to plan for.
By The Visa Blueprint · 3 min read
The rule
The international telework permit requires a monthly income of 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI), plus 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each additional one. Amounts are gross.
The SMI is currently €1,221 per month paid in 14 instalments, i.e. €17,094 per year (Royal Decree 126/2026). The official texts do not say whether the "monthly" SMI means the 14-payment figure or the annual figure divided by 12, hence the two readings.
| Basis | Main applicant | + 1st family member | + each additional |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-payment SMI (€1,221) | €2,442 / month | €916 | €306 |
| Annual SMI ÷ 12 (€1,424.50) | €2,849 / month (€34,188 / year) | €1,069 | €357 |
The Washington consulate publishes the lower set of figures. Many practitioners plan on the higher one.
Which figure should you use?
Plan for €2,849 gross per month for the main applicant. If your income clears the higher reading, the question disappears. Rely on the lower figure only if your own consulate publishes it in writing, and remember that the SMI is revised every year.
How income is evidenced
For applications filed with the UGE (the unit that handles these permits from inside Spain), the standard evidence is:
- the last three months of payslips or invoices, and
- bank certificates for the same period with the salary or fee payments marked.
Self-employed company partners who cannot produce payslips or invoices may rely on last year's tax return instead. Savings can top up a shortfall for the whole period of the authorisation. Some consulates ask for six months of statements.
Income is not the only condition
Your income will not carry the file alone. You also need:
- a relationship of at least three months with your employer or clients before applying;
- an employer or client company that has been operating for at least one year;
- a university degree (or postgraduate degree) or three years of professional experience;
- for employees, an explicit authorisation to telework from Spain from the employer;
- for the self-employed, Spanish clients making up no more than 20% of your activity;
- a social security solution: Spanish registration by your foreign employer, a certificate of coverage under a bilateral agreement, or registration in Spain's self-employed scheme (RETA) if you are self-employed.
Two routes, two lengths
From a consulate, the visa is issued for up to one year; you then apply for the residence authorisation within the 60 days before it expires. From inside Spain, the UGE can grant the authorisation directly for up to three years, renewable for two-year periods.
