How to Apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa in the UK (2026 Guide)
British nationals apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa through BLS International in London, the official outsourcing partner for the Spanish Consulate. The full process, from booking your appointment to collecting your visa, normally takes between 6 and 10 weeks once your documents are ready. (Travel to Spain for work – GOV.UK, 2026) This guide is based on the current 2026 requirements and walks you through every step, including the costs, the documents you actually need and the parts that catch people out.
Who Can Apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa
You qualify for this visa if you plan to live in Spain while working remotely for a company or clients based outside Spain. You can apply whether you are employed by a foreign company or self-employed, as long as the work is genuinely remote and carried out using a computer and internet connection rather than tied to a physical Spanish workplace.
If you are self-employed, no more than 20% of your professional income can come from Spanish clients. The other 80% must come from clients or companies outside Spain. If you are employed, your employer must confirm in writing that you have permission to work remotely from Spain.
You also need either a university degree from a recognised institution or at least 3 years of professional experience in your field. Most applicants meet this through work experience rather than a degree, since the consulate accepts both. (Spain Digital Nomad Visa Requirements, 2026)
Can I Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa From Inside Spain Instead?
Yes, if you are already in Spain on a valid Schengen visa or a visa-free stay, you can apply for the Digital Nomad residence permit from within the country rather than through the London consulate. Applying from inside Spain gets you a 3-year residence permit straight away, rather than the 1-year visa issued through a UK consular application. (Digital Nomad Visa, 2025) Many people choose this route for that reason alone, though it means travelling to Spain first on a tourist basis and handling the paperwork there. If switching from another visa type, such as the Non-Lucrative Visa, check the current rules carefully, as conversion between visa categories from within Spain has become more restricted.
How Much Does the Spain Digital Nomad Visa Cost From the UK
The official consular fee for UK nationals is £719 per applicant, paid directly to BLS at the time of your appointment. On top of that, BLS charges a service fee of £14.85 per application. If you want your passport returned by tracked courier rather than collecting it in person, that is an additional £29.99. (Digital Nomad Visa, 2024) None of these fees are refundable, even if your visa is refused, so it is worth having your documents properly checked before you book.
For a family of three applying together, expect to pay the £719 consular fee for each person, since each family member needs their own application and appointment slot.
Step by Step: How to Apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa in the UK
Step 1: Get Your NIE Number
Before you can apply for the visa, you need a NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero), which is your Spanish foreigner identification number. You will need this for almost everything in Spain later, from opening a bank account to signing a rental contract, so it is worth getting it sorted early rather than leaving it until the last minute.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
You will need the following for yourself and for each family member applying with you.
The national visa application form must be completed and signed for each applicant. A recent passport-style colour photograph taken against a plain light background, with no glasses or head coverings unless worn for religious reasons. Your original passport plus a photocopy of the biometric data page, valid for at least 1 year, with at least 2 blank pages, and issued within the last 10 years.
If you are not a British national but hold a UK residence permit, you will need a copy of that permit. A criminal record certificate covering the last 2 years, issued by the police in any country you have lived in during that period, along with a signed declaration confirming you have no criminal record going back 5 years. The certificate must be no more than 6 months old when you submit it.
Proof that you live within the London consulate’s jurisdiction, which covers most of England, Wales and the Crown Dependencies. Proof of payment of the visa fee. Private health insurance that meets Spain’s requirements in full, with no co-payments, no waiting periods and no excess, covering you for the entire length of the visa.
Step 3: Meet the Specific Requirements for Remote Workers
This is where most applications run into trouble, because the documentation needs to be precise.
If you are employed, you need a letter from your employer confirming that you have worked there for at least 3 months, stating your contract length and salary, and explicitly confirming that you have permission to work remotely from Spain. If you are self-employed, you need equivalent proof covering your client relationships and the length and terms of that work.
You also need a certificate from Companies House (or the equivalent registry if your employer is based outside the UK) confirming when the company was formed and what it does.
For social security, you have two options. If you remain registered with UK National Insurance, you will need the A1 form from HMRC confirming this, along with a signed declaration from your employer confirming their commitment to continue paying UK social security contributions. If you choose to register with the Spanish social security system instead, self-employed applicants need to register for RETA (the Spanish equivalent of being self-employed), and employees need a certificate confirming the company has registered them.
Finally, you need proof you meet the financial threshold (covered below), plus a copy of your degree certificate or documented proof of at least 3 years’ relevant work experience.
Step 4: Prove You Meet the Financial Requirement
For 2026, the main applicant must show a monthly income of at least 200% of Spain’s minimum wage (SMI), which is approximately €2,850 per month, or €34,200 per year. This figure rises each year because it is tied directly to the SMI, so always confirm the current threshold before you apply rather than relying on last year’s number.
If you are bringing family members, the requirement increases by one for each additional family member. Add roughly 75% of the SMI (around €1,070 per month) for the first dependant, such as a spouse or partner, and around 25% of the SMI (around €355 per month) for each additional dependant, such as a child.
You can prove this through work contracts, recent bank statements, payslips or invoices if you are self-employed. Several immigration lawyers recommend showing income comfortably above the minimum, ideally 10 to 15% higher, to allow for currency fluctuations between pounds and euros and to avoid any question marks during assessment. (Travel to Spain for work – GOV.UK, 2021)
Step 5: Book Your Appointment With BLS
Submission now happens through BLS’s online booking portal rather than by email. You create an account, select the Digital Nomad Visa category, and choose an available appointment slot at the BLS centre in London. Appointment slots can book up quickly, particularly in spring and early autumn when relocation activity peaks, so book as soon as your documents are ready rather than waiting until everything is perfect.
Each appointment covers one person and one passport. If you are applying with a partner or children, you need to book a separate appointment for each family member, including minors.
Step 6: Attend Your Appointment
You must attend in person, except for minors, who can be represented by a parent. At the appointment, BLS checks that your file is complete and forwards it to the Spanish Consulate the next working day. BLS cannot approve or refuse your visa. Their role is purely to check your paperwork and pass it on, so a friendly BLS staff member cannot speed up a decision or guarantee an outcome.
You will receive a receipt with a tracking code so you can check your application status online.
Step 7: Wait for the Decision
The legal timeframe for a decision is 10 working days from the day after submission, though this can be extended if the Consulate requests an interview or additional documents. (Visa processing times: applications outside the UK, 2023) In practice, allow for delays, particularly if your file needs further evidence.
The Consulate does not respond to email enquiries asking about the status of a pending application or the reasons for a refusal, so chasing by email rarely helps. Use the tracking code instead.
Step 8: Collect Your Visa
Once approved, you or your representative must collect the visa in person within 1 month of being notified. BLS will explain how your passport and any original documents will be returned to you.
What Happens If My Visa Is Refused
If your application is refused, you will be told in writing. You have two options. You can submit an appeal for reconsideration directly to the Consulate within 1 month of the refusal, sent by post. Alternatively, you can lodge a legal appeal with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within 2 months of the refusal or of a rejected reconsideration appeal.
Most refusals come down to financial documentation that does not quite match the stated income, or to remote work letters that lack explicit written permission to work from Spain. Both are avoidable with careful preparation.
How Long Is the Spain Digital Nomad Visa Valid
The visa issued through the London consulate is valid for 1 year. Once you arrive in Spain, you do not need to apply for a residence card immediately, as your visa itself establishes your legal residency. However, most people choose to convert to a 3-year residence permit once in Spain, applying at the Oficina de Extranjería or local police station. This 3-year permit can then be renewed for a further 2 years, giving a maximum total stay of 5 years under this visa category before you would need to look at permanent residency. (Digital Nomad Visa, 2024)
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a legal requirement, but many applicants choose to use one because the financial and employment documentation has to match exactly what the Consulate expects. A missing phrase in an employer letter, such as explicit consent to work remotely from Spain, is a common reason for delay.
Yes. Your spouse or registered partner and any dependent children can apply alongside you. Each family member needs their own appointment, their own set of documents and an increase in the income threshold you need to show.
No. The Non-Lucrative Visa is for people who do not work at all while living in Spain and rely on passive income or savings. The Digital Nomad Visa is specifically for people who continue working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain. If you plan to keep working, the Digital Nomad Visa is the correct route, not the NLV.
Only partially. If you are self-employed, up to 20% of your income can come from Spanish clients. If you are an employee, your employer must be based outside Spain, since this visa does not authorise local employment. (Digital Nomad Visa, 2025)
Yes. It is set at 200% of Spain’s minimum wage, which the government reviews and typically increases annually. Always check the current figure shortly before you apply rather than relying on a number you saw months earlier.
Applying through the London consulate gets you a 1-year visa. Applying from inside Spain, if you are eligible to enter visa-free, you will receive a 3-year residence permit directly, skipping the shorter initial visa stage. (Telework (Digital nomad) Visa – Consular Section, 2024)
Yes, and it needs to be comprehensive, with no co-payments, no excess and no waiting periods, matching the cover provided by Spain’s public health system. Basic travel insurance policies do not meet this standard. (Spain travel advice – GOV.UK, 2026)
Once your documents are ready, expect roughly 6 to 10 weeks from booking your BLS appointment to collecting your approved visa, though this depends on how quickly the Consulate processes your file and whether they request anything further.
No. US applicants apply through BLS International in their own consular jurisdiction in the United States, not through the London centre, even if they currently live in the UK on a different visa.
The financial threshold is assessed at the time of application and again at renewal. If your income falls below the required level when you come to renew, your renewal could be refused, so it is worth keeping a buffer above the minimum rather than treating it as a one-off hurdle.
Yes, though pet relocation is handled separately from the visa application itself and involves its own paperwork, including microchipping, vaccinations and an EU pet passport or equivalent health certificate.
Getting Help With Your Application
We have been helping people relocate to Spain since 2010, and the Digital Nomad Visa is one of the routes we are asked about most often, particularly by families who want to keep working while moving to Malaga or the Costa del Sol. The paperwork itself is not complicated, but small inconsistencies, especially in income documentation and employer letters, cause delays.
If you are planning your move and want to talk through whether this visa fits your situation, or you simply want a second pair of eyes on your documents before you book your BLS appointment, get in touch, and we can go through it together.