Spain visaWork remotely from SpainSpain digital nomad visa for Indian remote workers
Spain's international teleworker visa under the Startup Law lets Indian employees of foreign companies and freelancers with foreign clients live in Spain while working remotely: income of 200 per cent of the minimum wage, EUR 2,849 a month (EUR 34,188 a year) in 2026, plus 75 per cent of the SMI for the first dependant and 25 per cent for each further one; a degree or three years' experience; at least three months with the employer or clients, who must have operated for a year; and no more than 20 per cent of income from Spanish companies. The one-year visa costs EUR 80 at BLS International (about a month), or the applicant enters on a Schengen visa and applies to the UGE for a three-year residence authorisation decided in 20 working days. Social security cover is shown with an Indian certificate of coverage under the India-Spain agreement, and the Beckham regime offers a 24 per cent flat tax.
7 min read Verified 29 October 2026 against exteriores.gob.es · How we verify
Spain digital nomad visa: quick answers
- Who qualifies for Spain's digital nomad visa?
- Non-EU nationals who work remotely for companies outside Spain, as employees or as self-employed with foreign clients, using digital means; graduates of a university, business school or vocational programme, or professionals with at least three years' experience; with at least three months of relationship with the employer or clients, who must have been operating for at least a year; and with no more than 20 per cent of income from Spanish companies. Health insurance or social security cover in Spain, a clean record for five years and the income test complete the file; spouses, children and dependent parents can be included.
- What does it cost?
- EUR 80 for the national visa for Indian nationals at BLS (about INR 9,600 plus the BLS fee of about INR 1,700) for the one-year visa route, or the residence authorisation fee (tasa 038) of about EUR 73 when applying to the UGE from Spain; the TIE card costs about EUR 16. The Indian certificate of coverage from the EPFO under the India-Spain social security agreement is free; private health insurance without co-payments costs EUR 500 to 1,000 a year.
- How long does it take from India?
- About one month at the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate in Mumbai for the one-year visa after a BLS appointment, with the law allowing up to 10 working days for UGE-linked files once complete; the three-year residence authorisation through the UGE takes 20 working days from Spain, with silence counting as approval. Plan two to three months including the certificate of coverage and the apostilled police clearance.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | International teleworker visa (1 year) or residence authorisation (3 years, renewable for 2) |
| Government fee | EUR 80 visa (Indian nationals); tasa 038 about EUR 73 for the residence route; TIE about EUR 16 |
| Processing | Visa about 1 month at BLS; residence authorisation 20 working days at the UGE |
| Income | 200 per cent of the SMI: EUR 2,849 a month (EUR 34,188 a year) in 2026; +75 per cent SMI first dependant, +25 per cent each further |
| Qualification | Degree or 3 years' experience; 3 months with the employer or clients; company operating 1 year |
| Spanish income | No more than 20 per cent from Spanish companies |
| Social security | Indian certificate of coverage (EPFO) under the India-Spain agreement, or Spanish registration |
| Verified | 29 Oct 2026 against exteriores.gob.es (New Delhi) and the UGE |
Who qualifies, and how the income and coverage tests work
| Requirement | What it means | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Remote work for foreign companies | Employee of a non-Spanish company, or self-employed with non-Spanish clients; Spanish income under 20 per cent | Contract or client agreements; employer letter authorising remote work from Spain; company registration and 1 year of operation |
| Qualification | Degree or 3 years' professional experience | Degree (apostilled) or experience letters |
| Relationship | At least 3 months with the employer or clients | Payslips or invoices |
| Income | 200 per cent of the SMI: EUR 2,849 a month in 2026; +75 per cent SMI (EUR 1,069) for the first dependant, +25 per cent (EUR 356) each further | Payslips, invoices, bank statements, ITR |
| Social security | Certificate of coverage from India (EPFO) for employees, or Spanish registration for the self-employed | A/1-type certificate under the India-Spain agreement |
| Health cover | Public (via social security) or private insurance without co-payments | Policy or coverage certificate |
| Good conduct | No record in the last 5 years | Apostilled Indian PCC and countries of residence |
The income test is 200 per cent of the minimum wage: with the 2026 SMI at EUR 1,221 in 14 payments (EUR 17,094 a year), the UGE and most consulates work from the annual figure divided by 12, EUR 2,849 a month, while some consulates accept the 14-payment reading of EUR 2,442; Vistolane prepares files to the higher figure. Employees of Indian companies prove social security cover with a certificate of coverage issued by the EPFO under the India-Spain social security agreement, which lets them stay in the Indian system for the posting; freelancers register as autónomos in Spain after arrival.
Applicants in India apply for the one-year visa at BLS and, once in Spain, can switch to the three-year residence authorisation; applicants already in Spain legally (for example on a Schengen visa) apply directly to the UGE for three years. Dependants may work, and holders may do up to 20 per cent of their work for Spanish companies. Many Indian nomads qualify for the Beckham regime, taxing Spanish-source employment income at a flat 24 per cent up to EUR 600,000 for six years while leaving most foreign income outside Spanish tax.
Fees and what they cover
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National teleworker visa (Indian nationals), 1 year | EUR 80 | Paid in INR at BLS; not refunded |
| BLS International service fee | About INR 1,700 | Per application |
| Residence authorisation via the UGE (tasa 038), 3 years | About EUR 73 | From Spain |
| TIE card (tasa 790-012) | About EUR 16 | Within 30 days of arrival |
| EPFO certificate of coverage | Free | India-Spain social security agreement |
| Private health insurance | EUR 500 to 1,000 a year | If not covered by social security |
| Apostille and sworn translations | INR 50 per document plus agency fees; EUR 30 to 60 per page | PCC, degree, certificates |
Vistolane charges the EUR 80 visa fee at the official rate and shows the UGE, insurance and legalisation costs separately.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
Assemble income and work evidence
Contract or client agreements, employer letter, 3+ months of payslips or invoices, bank statements, ITR, company registration showing 1 year of operation.
- 2
Obtain the certificate of coverage and PCC
EPFO certificate under the India-Spain agreement; apostilled PCC with sworn translation; degree or experience letters.
- 3
Lodge the national visa at BLS International
Form, photo, passport, documents, health cover; pay EUR 80; decision in about 1 month.
- 4
Enter Spain, register and apply for the TIE
Empadronamiento; TIE within 30 days; social security registration for the self-employed.
- 5
Switch to the 3-year residence authorisation
Apply to the UGE before the visa expires; tasa 038; 20 working days; renewable for 2 years.
Timeline for an Indian remote worker
| Stage | Typical time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Income history | 3 to 12 months | Regular credits at EUR 2,849 a month or more |
| Certificate of coverage and PCC | 3 to 6 weeks | EPFO; Passport Seva and MEA apostille |
| BLS appointment and decision | About 1 month | Interview possible |
| TIE card | Apply within 30 days; card in 30 to 45 days | Receipt allows travel |
| Residence authorisation | 20 working days at the UGE | Before the 1-year visa expires |
Apply two to three months before the move; the visa allows entry within its validity, so align the lease with the decision.
Living in Spain: tax, family, renewals and the long term
Anyone present 183 days or more in a year is Spanish tax resident; the Beckham regime, open to teleworkers who have not been resident in the previous five years, taxes Spanish employment income at a flat 24 per cent up to EUR 600,000 for six years and leaves most foreign-source income outside Spanish tax, with the India-Spain treaty avoiding double taxation. Employees with a certificate of coverage stay in the Indian social security system; freelancers pay autónomo contributions from about EUR 230 a month.
The residence authorisation is renewed for two years while the conditions hold, and time counts toward the five years for long-term residence; a nomad hired by a Spanish company switches to the HQP authorisation, covered on the Spain work visa route page. Dependants work freely and children attend state schools without charge.
Document checklist: identity and conduct
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid beyond the visa, 2 blank pages | Plus old passports |
| Apostilled Indian PCC with sworn translation | Issued within 3 months; countries of residence in the last 5 years |
| Photo 35 by 45 mm | White background |
Work and income
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Employment contract and employer letter, or client contracts | Remote work from Spain authorised; company outside Spain operating 1 year |
| 3+ months of payslips or invoices and bank statements | EUR 2,849 a month or more; dependants' add-ons |
| Indian income tax return | Latest assessment year |
| Degree (apostilled) or experience letters | 3 years' experience if no degree |
| EPFO certificate of coverage | Or Spanish social security registration plan |
Stay and family
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Health cover | Social security via the certificate, or private insurance without co-payments |
| Marriage and birth certificates, apostilled and translated | For dependants |
| Accommodation | Lease or booking for the first weeks |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Income below 200 per cent of the SMI
Credits under EUR 2,849 a month or irregular.
The fix. Show regular credits above the threshold for at least 3 months; plan for EUR 2,849 even where a consulate accepts less.
Social security cover not shown
No EPFO certificate and no Spanish registration plan.
The fix. Obtain the certificate of coverage under the India-Spain agreement before applying.
Company too new or relationship too short
Employer operating under 1 year or contract under 3 months.
The fix. Wait until both periods are met; add the registration certificate.
Spanish income over 20 per cent
Clients or employer in Spain.
The fix. Describe only foreign work; Spanish employment needs the HQP route.
PCC or degree not legalised
Missing apostille or sworn translation.
The fix. Apostille through the MEA and use a traductor jurado; Vistolane arranges both.
Official sources
- Embassy of Spain in New Delhi: digital nomad visa ↗
- Ministry of Inclusion: Unidad de Grandes Empresas, highly qualified professionals (Law 14/2013) ↗
- Government of Spain: minimum wage (SMI) 2026 ↗
- Consulate General of Spain in Mumbai: consular fees ↗
- BLS International Spain Visa (India): centres, fees and appointments ↗
- Consulate General of Spain in Mumbai: digital nomad visa ↗
Spain digital nomad visa questions
Other Spain routes
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Schengen visa (type C)
EUR 90 per adult (EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11; free under 6)
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EUR 80 national visa for Indian nationals after the residence authorisation; TIE card EUR 16
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EUR 80 national visa for Indian nationals after the reunification authorisation; TIE card EUR 16
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