Many countries boast their openness to remote workers and digital nomads, but none deliver like European countries, specifically Portugal and Spain. So if you finally decided to give this lifestyle a go or you’re just looking for the next destination in your borderless experience of the world, then you definitely shouldn’t miss out on this opportunity.
What is a digital nomad visa?
A digital nomad visa does not differ too much from other types of visas, but it does have some particularities. While most visas presume you are visiting a country either for travel (that is to say, as a tourist), you’re simply passing through to a different country, you are a student and seek residence for the duration of your studies, or a local company has hired you. You wish to work in the country.
However, the digital nomad visa is explicitly aimed at workers who want to stay in Spain while being employed by companies outside of the country, freelancing with clients outside of Spain, or managing their firms in other countries. This way, the government can retain taxpayers and re-invest back into the economy while not worrying about their jobs.
Spain’s digital nomad visa
While there is still some time before the bill passes the parliament and the final shape of the visa will be known, there are already some pieces of information about it. The visa would allow remote workers to stay in Spain for anywhere between six months and five years, a far more extended period than the current ninety-day permission to stay.
This would greatly ease the life of remote workers since they could remain for longer and at the same time have an easier time applying for visas.
The visa seems primarily aimed at various European citizens who are not directly citizens of the EU. These can be people from the Schengen Area (like those from Switzerland) or those from the European Economic Area (which would be the UK, after Brexit). But there is a suggestion that the new law would reach even further, and it would include just about all remote workers regardless of their nationality or country of origin.
Another feature of the bill is a focus on start-ups. There isn’t much information on what exactly Spain proposes to do, but so far, there’s been a talk of tax cuts and a simplified route to setting up a company so that digital nomads can efficiently work on their dream projects.
While there is still some time left before the entire shape and scope of this new visa is known, there are already some talks about the requirements necessary to submit for the visa.
Firstly, there will be some form of proof of remote work, which will serve as the main document. This might be anything from evidence written up by your employer to perhaps tax returns of freelancers. The other necessities will probably remain the same, be it a passport, proof of healthcare, a bank statement, and the like. But overall, don’t expect enormous complications since the bill aims to make your life easier.
