Known for its cumbersome bureaucracy, Spain is living up to that reputation with a new set of paperwork requirements for digital nomads who own businesses.
For those of us familiar with Spain’s red tape, it comes as no surprise: midway through any process, officials start demanding additional documents, turning even the simplest procedures into unnecessarily complicated tasks.
That is exactly what’s happening to digital nomads looking to relocate to these Mediterranean lands. Both nomads and their lawyers have started to report Spain has quietly increased the documentation required for limited company owners.
“If you own your own company, you may be asked to provide additional documents to prove you have real clients, your company has an activity that is separate from the owner, you earn a stable income from client work, and as the owner of the company you are benefiting from the income,” Maria Muñoz Gomez, CEO of Help At Hand Spain, told iNews.
Gómez, who provides legal assistance to aspiring digital nomads, confirmed that the requirements “are changing.”
Among the key changes is the requirement that business owners must now demonstrate 100% ownership of their companies. Other significant conditions include providing proof of clients’ contracts as well as proof of a stable source of income through tax returns or similar documentation.
Experts advise that remote workers looking to relocate should be prepared to prove that their companies have existed for at least one year and have signed contracts with their clients. Proof that they have paid themselves for a minimum of three months can also be beneficial.
While these documents can’t guarantee the satisfaction of Spanish officials’ appetite for paperwork, they are a solid starting point.
“If I cannot prove that I have all these external contracts, what do I do? We have moved our whole lives over here, put our children in school, and taken out a rental contract. We have paid a lot of money and to be told midway through we need a lot more information, is very unfair,” told reporters a British digital nomad who has hit the wall of Spain’s red tape.
Since Spain approved its 2022 Start-Up law, which greenlighted the digital nomad visa, 7,368 international workers have been attracted to its sunny cities.
However, Spain seems to be following Portugal’s footsteps, which in recent months has scaled back benefits to digital nomads by canceling the golden visa program and implementing a new housing policy that directly impacts this group—in a clear move to discourage the massive arrival of digital nomads.
I’m Applying for a Spain Digital Nomad Visa—What Should I Know?

As new regulations quietly roll out, entrepreneurs seeking a flexible lifestyle in Spain may find another layer of red tape, but so far, these are the requirements that most digital nomads need to meet to live and work in the country.
- Valid Passport: Your passport must be valid for at least one year and have at least two blank pages.
- Proof of Remote Work: You need to provide evidence that you have been a remote worker for at least one year. Company owners must provide proof they have actual clients and that their businesses have been providing services for at least one year.
- Professional Qualifications: A college degree is needed. Proof of professional experience for at least three years is also valid.
- Criminal Background Check: You must provide proof that you have no criminal records.
- Income Requirements: Aspiring digital nomads must demonstrate a minimum monthly income of €2,160 or €25,920 per year. This amount is higher for those coming with spouses and children.
- Health Insurance.
These should be the requirements for most remote workers, but it’s still advisable to consult an expert specialized in Spanish visas.