Digital Nomad Visa in Spain in 2022
Do you want to get a Digital Nomad Visa in Spain in 2022? There are millions of digital nomads working remotely across the world at this very moment, and the numbers are increasing. Many of them were drawn to the idea of location freedom – not being tied to one place due to work commitments.
However, we all know that life isn’t always that simple. Even the digital nomad lifestyle comes with its restrictions. One of the biggest problems remote workers who wish to live the nomadic lifestyle face, is getting work permits in the country of their choosing.
The good news is that governments are rapidly adapting their rules and regulations to this new way of living, including Spain. Let’s take a look at your visa options for this dream location!
Digital Nomad Visa: the details
Digital Nomad Visas are travel authorizations that legalize the status of workers on the move. Like tourist visas, they are relatively easy to obtain, and they allow for longer stays.
The digital nomad visa allows its holder to work during their stay in the country. As long as they do so independently and remotely. Spain announced in January of this year (2022) that they are currently planning on providing this visa option for foreign workers in the country. However, it has not yet been approved. It is expected that the visa scheme will be in place sometime in the next couple of months. So you can already start planning your move to the Iberian Peninsula!
When will the Digital Nomad Visa be available?
Rumor has it that this visa will allow you to stay between 6 and 12 months in Spain, without applying for residency in the country. The visa can also allegedly be extended up to two times. This means that you’ll be able to spend up to three years in Spain. The registration fees will also be significantly lower in order to attract digital nomads and remote workers to the country.
Perhaps the best news about this upcoming visa is that it will apply equally to the whole of Spain, so even Ibiza is up for grabs!
If you’re already a citizen of a country in the European Union, this does not apply to you. As you’re already free to move around and work in the entire EU, which includes Spain.
It has not yet been announced how you can apply for this visa, but we suspect that it will be an easy feat. Spain is already highly ranked on Forbes’ list of the best countries to live as a digital nomad. A list where factors such as ‘costs of visa’, and ‘length of remote working visa’ are scheduled in.
The Startup Act
The new digital nomad visa, which is expected to come into force in 2022, is part of a bigger scheme to facilitate remote working in the country. Welcoming temporary knowledge workers is a great way for a country to boost its economy. It’s also an incentive for governments to make life easier for remote workers.
We do suspect that you’re more attracted to the siestas and sangrias than the burocracia. But these things are good to know before you embark on your new adventure to the Costa del Sol.
Digital Nomad Visa Benefits
The new scheme will also see tax breaks for investors and talent incentives like stock options. These are created in order to provide a flourishing startup environment. The digital nomad visa is applicable to a range of different people, from freelancers and entrepreneurs to remote workers earning more than 80 % of their income from companies outside of Spain. This means that no matter your working situation, the new scheme will definitely be a huge benefit to you.
As if this wasn’t good enough, many cities around Spain, including in more rural areas, have signed up for the Red Nacional de Pueblos Acogedores para el Teletrabajo (the National Network of Welcoming Villages for Remote Workers). It’s an incentive to attract more remote workers to their villages.
It seems like Spain is doing everything they possibly can to facilitate remote working in their country. Whilst they might not greet you with tapas and sangria at the airport, they seem more than willing to welcome you with open arms. And who are you to decline such a fine offer?
The digital nomad visa is right around the corner. We say there is no time like the present to plan your trip to sunny Spain! Curious about the Digital Nomad Visa options in other countries? Check out our collection of articles covering just that!
References:
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/spain-to-create-digital-nomad-visa/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonyounger/2021/05/18/the-best-destinations-for-digital-nomads-a- new-survey/?sh=7ee4a0674286