Spain Digital Nomad Visa for Americans 2026: Complete Guide

The Spain Digital Nomad Visa (Visado para Teletrabajadores de Carácter Internacional) gives Americans who work remotely the legal right to live in Spain and work for their US employer or clients. Without this visa, Americans are limited to 90 days in Spain in any 180-day period — working remotely from a tourist stay violates Spanish law regardless of where your employer is based.

Spain launched the DNV in 2023 under the Ley de Startups (Law 28/2022). This guide covers the full application process for US citizens, including the FBI check, Beckham Law tax elections, and the intersection with ongoing US tax obligations.

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Who the Digital Nomad Visa Is For

The DNV is designed for people who:

• Work remotely for a non-Spanish employer (US companies, UK companies, international clients)
• Are employed by a foreign company or are self-employed / freelance with foreign clients
• Can demonstrate active income of at least €2,646/month

Comparison with the Non-Lucrative Visa:

	Digital Nomad Visa	Non-Lucrative Visa
Work allowed?	Yes (non-Spanish employers)	No
Income type	Active (salary, freelance)	Passive (pension, dividends)
Monthly minimum	≈ €2,646 (200% SMI)	≈ €2,400 (400% IPREM)
Initial duration	3 years	1 year
Beckham Law?	Yes — flat 24% for 6 years	No

If your income is entirely passive — Social Security, 401(k)/IRA distributions, dividends — the Non-Lucrative Visa is the correct route.

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Income Requirements

The DNV income threshold is set at 200% of Spain’s SMI (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional):

Applicants	Multiplier	Monthly minimum
Main applicant	200% SMI	≈ €2,646/month
Each additional dependant	+ 75% SMI	+ ≈ €992/month

Source: The 2025 SMI was set at €1,323/month by Real Decreto 1057/2024 (BOE 3/12/2024). The SMI is updated annually — verify the current figure at boe.es before applying.

What consulates accept as proof of income:

• Employment: US employer letter on company letterhead confirming salary, contract duration, and that you are authorised to work remotely from Spain; last 3 months of pay stubs; most recent W-2 or IRS transcript
• Freelance / self-employed: Client contracts; last 6–12 months of invoices; bank statements showing regular income; most recent US Schedule C or equivalent
• Multiple income streams: Combined total must exceed the threshold; document each source separately

Statements in US dollars are accepted; consulates convert to euros at current exchange rates.

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The US-Specific Documents: FBI Check and State Department Apostille

This is the longest step — allow 3–4 months for the FBI process and apostille before you can submit your DNV application.

FBI Identity History Summary Check

US citizens need an FBI Identity History Summary Check — not a local or state background check. This covers your complete federal criminal record and is the format recognised by Spanish consulates.

FBI-approved channelers (recommended): Use an FBI-approved third-party channeler for electronic fingerprint submission. Processing time via channeler: 3–5 business days for the FBI result, compared to 12–16 weeks for direct FBI submission.

• FBI channeler list: fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks
• Direct FBI application: fbi.gov — standard processing 12–16 weeks; fee $18

US Department of State Apostille

The FBI check must be apostilled by the US Department of State, confirming its authenticity for use in Spain (a Hague Convention signatory country, as is the USA).

• Apply at: travel.state.gov
• Fee: $20 per document (verify current fee on State Department website)
• Consider using an accredited apostille service for faster turnaround

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Full Document Checklist — US Applicants

Always cross-check against the current document list on your specific consulate’s official website before your appointment, as requirements can differ between consulates and are updated without notice.

Document	Detail
Valid US passport	At least 1 year validity beyond intended visa period. Full photocopy of all pages.
Completed visa application form	Solicitud de visado nacional — download from your consulate’s website
2 recent passport photos	35 × 45 mm, white background, taken within the last 6 months
Proof of employment / self-employment	Employer letter + contracts + income statements (see above)
Proof that employer is non-Spanish	Company registration documents, website, contract with foreign company
Private health insurance certificate	Zero copayments, covers all risks in Spain, valid for ≥ 1 year
FBI Identity History Summary Check	With State Department apostille
Medical certificate	From licensed US physician, apostilled (confirm apostille route with your consulate)
Proof of accommodation in Spain	Rental contract, property deed, or notarised letter from property owner
Consular fee	Verify current amount on your consulate’s website

Bring originals and photocopies of every document. Confirm with your specific consulate whether English-language employment documents require sworn Spanish translations (traducción jurada).

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Which Consulate to Apply At

Apply at the Spanish consulate with jurisdiction over your state of residence:

Consulate	Region (approximate)
Spanish Embassy, Washington DC	DC, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and others — verify
Consulate General, New York	New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New England states
Consulate General, Miami	Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, USVI
Consulate General, Chicago	Midwest states
Consulate General, Houston	Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma
Consulate General, Los Angeles	Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico
Consulate General, San Francisco	Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii
Consulate General, Boston	Verify current jurisdiction at consulate website

Always confirm your state’s consulate jurisdiction at exteriores.gob.es before booking — jurisdictions can change.

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The Beckham Law: Spain’s Tax Benefit for DNV Holders

Under Article 93 of Spain’s Ley del IRPF (the so-called “Beckham Law,” formally the Régimen Especial para Trabajadores Desplazados), DNV holders can elect to be taxed as non-residents on Spanish-sourced income for up to 6 years.

What this means in practice:

• Standard Spanish tax rate: 19–47% progressive (based on total worldwide income)
• Beckham Law rate: flat 24% on Spanish-sourced income up to €600,000; 47% above

Election process: Apply via the Agencia Tributaria using Modelo 149 within 6 months of registering with Spanish Social Security. The election is irrevocable for the duration.

For Americans specifically: The flat 24% Spanish rate on Spanish income generates a Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116) on your US return equal to the Spanish tax paid, which you apply dollar-for-dollar against your US liability on the same income. In many cases this significantly reduces or eliminates US tax on that income, depending on your overall tax position.

Get qualified advice: The interaction between the Beckham Law, the US-Spain Double Taxation Treaty, and the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is genuinely complex. A CPA experienced in US expatriate tax law should review your specific situation before you elect the Beckham Law regime.

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US Tax Obligations: What Americans Must Still File

Moving to Spain does not end your US tax obligations. The USA taxes citizens on worldwide income.

Filing	Requirement	Threshold
Form 1040	Annual US federal tax return	Always required
FBAR (FinCEN 114)	Report foreign bank accounts	Spanish accounts aggregate > $10,000 at any point
FATCA Form 8938	Foreign financial assets statement	$200,000 on last day of year (or $300,000 at any point) for single filers abroad

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555): Unlike NLV holders, DNV holders have earned income (salary, freelance). If you qualify under the Bona Fide Residence Test (residing in Spain for a full tax year) or the Physical Presence Test (330 days outside the USA in any 12-month period), you can exclude up to $126,500 (2024 — adjust for 2026) of foreign earned income from US tax. Combining the FEIE with the Beckham Law requires careful planning.

The US-Spain Double Taxation Treaty (1990, updated 2014) prevents full double taxation. Work with a CPA qualified in US expatriate taxation and Spanish tax law — the two systems interact in ways that can be optimised with proper planning.

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After Arrival: Registration in Spain

TIE Card (within 30 days)

Apply for your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) at the nearest Oficina de Extranjería or police station with a foreigners’ desk within 30 days of arrival.

Empadronamiento (within 30 days)

Register your address at the local ayuntamiento (town hall). The certificado de empadronamiento is required for almost every subsequent administrative step.

→ Full Empadronamiento Guide

Spanish Social Security and Beckham Law Election

If you elect the Beckham Law, register with Social Security (Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social) first, then submit Modelo 149 to the Agencia Tributaria within 6 months of your Social Security registration date.

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Visa Duration and Renewals

Stage	Permit	Duration
Initial DNV	Visa + in-Spain residence card	3 years
1st renewal	Autorización de residencia temporal	2 years
After 5 years	Residencia de larga duración (Long-Term EU Residency)	Indefinite (renewable)
After 10 years	Eligible to apply for Spanish nationality	—

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Practical Timeline: USA to Spain DNV

• 4–5 months before: Submit FBI channeler fingerprints; send result for State Department apostille; get physician medical certificate and apostille it
• 3 months before: Book consulate appointment; gather employment/income documentation; arrange private health insurance
• At appointment: Submit full document pack; pay consular fee
• 1–3 months wait: Consulate processing
• On visa approval: Book travel to Spain; arrange accommodation for first address
• Within 30 days of arrival: Empadronamiento; apply for TIE at Oficina de Extranjería
• Within 6 months of Social Security registration: File Modelo 149 to elect Beckham Law (if applicable)
• Ongoing: Annual US Form 1040 + FBAR; annual Spanish tax return (Modelo 100 or non-resident form depending on Beckham Law status); maintain health insurance and income above SMI threshold

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Official Resources

Resource	URL
Spanish Embassy Washington DC	exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/Washington
FBI Identity History Summary Check	fbi.gov
US State Dept Apostille	travel.state.gov
Spain SMI / BOE	boe.es
Beckham Law (Art. 93 LIRPF)	agenciatributaria.es
IRS — US-Spain Tax Treaty	irs.gov/businesses/international-businesses/spain-tax-treaty-documents
FBAR Filing	bsaefiling.fincen.treas.gov