Working in Spain as a digital nomad
With its laidback mañana attitude, sunny climate, great food and awe-inspiring landscapes, Spain is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. The southwestern European country is also known for having a healthy work/life balance, where workers can adequately manage their professional and personal lives. Consequently, Spain is a big draw for digital nomads, remote workers who use internet technologies to make a living and are not dependent on one location.
Why Spain?
Spain has a lot of things going for it as a location for digital nomads. Beyond the obvious reasons, such as a great climate, gorgeous beaches and countryside, many of its towns and cities possess essential digital nomad must-haves. These include:
- Comfortable living conditions
- Affordable cost of living
- Fast internet speeds
- Well-established international communities in many places
The introduction of a new visa for remote workers or digital nomads is further proof of Spain's commitment to attracting this growing demographic. This visa allows foreigners to stay in Spain for up to one year, allowing them to work remotely, while enjoying all the benefits of living in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
Applying for a digital nomad visa in Spain
The digital nomad visa is a type of long-stay permit that enables remote workers to legally live and work in the country for up to one year. It is renewable for up to five years. To be eligible for the Spain digital nomad visa, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they work online as freelancers, self-employed individuals, or employees of companies based outside Spain. Incomes received from Spanish companies can´t be more than 20% of your total income. Additionally, you must be able to demonstrate a minimum monthly income of around €2,400 to support yourself.
To apply for a Spanish digital nomad visa, you will need the following:
- You must demonstrate that you have adequate financial resources to support yourself during your stay in Spain as a digital nomad. This could include bank statements or evidence of employment or freelance work.
- You must have health insurance that covers you for the entire duration of your stay in Spain.
- You will need to provide proof of accommodation in Spain, such as rental agreements or hotel reservations.
- You will need to provide a criminal background check from your country of origin or residence for the past five years.
- You must complete and submit a visa application form, available from the Spanish embassy or consulate in your home country.
- You will need to provide 1-2 passport-sized photos, which must meet specific guidelines regarding size and format.
- You will need to pay the application fee for the digital nomad visa, which varies depending on the country of origin.
Taxes for digital nomads in Spain
As a digital nomad in Spain, you will be subject to paying taxes on your income, similar to any other Spanish national. This includes income tax, which requires you to pay taxes on the income you earn worldwide, regardless of whether it is from Spain or any other country.
The general rule is that income tax rates in Spain are progressive and can be as high as 50% (depending on the region), but digital nomads with residencies can benefit from a flat fee which is considerably lower.
You will be able to apply for the Beckham Law Regime, which allows qualifying foreigners to pay a flat income tax rate of 24% instead of the usual progressive tax rate. Even though you will be resident in Spain, you´ll be treated as a non-resident for tax purposes. This also means you´ll avoid paying wealth tax on your worldwide assets.
The pros and cons of being a digital nomad in Spain
Pros
Beautiful environment: Spain is a beautiful country with stunning scenery and rich history. From the beaches of Costa del Sol to the mountains of Sierra Nevada, there are a lot of amazing places to explore.
Affordable living conditions: Compared to other European countries, the cost of living in Spain is affordable, and there is great quality food, accommodation and transportation at low prices.
Perfect climate: Spain has an ideal climate, and the mild temperature in many places throughout the year ensures that you are comfortable almost all the time.
Accessible to other European countries: Spain's location makes it an excellent base for exploring other European countries, and there is a great transportation network by train or air.
Diverse culture: Spain is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, history, art, and architecture that digital nomads can experience while working remotely.
Cons
Language Barrier: English isn't widely spoken in Spain, and it can be a real challenge for digital nomads who do not speak Spanish.
Time Zone differences: While working remotely, you may find yourself working outside of Spain, and there may be awkward time zone differences.
Internet connectivity: Although Spain has excellent internet speeds, it may be unreliable in certain areas.
Isolation: Digital nomads may feel isolated, especially in smaller towns and villages with fewer opportunities to socialize than in the big cities.
Financial stability: Working as a digital nomad, you might face financial uncertainty because of the lack of job security and the unpredictability of work.
Slow bureaucracy: For those wanting to stay longer, Spain can be slow in getting work permits and other visas needed to work legally and even open a business.
Best places in Spain for digital nomads
Barcelona - the capital of Spain's Catalonia region, is one of Spain's biggest travel hubs and a city with a large multicultural population. It's very easy to make friends in Barcelona and connect with other people. The city also boasts a rich cultural heritage with lots of galleries and exceptional architecture, excellent beaches and year-round good weather. You'll discover this enticing destination is full of fantastic contrasts, being both busy and laidback, urban and rural, extravagant and cheap.
Madrid - Spain's capital and largest city is right in the center of the country. It is a vibrant, friendly place with fast internet connections, delicious food and non-stop nightlife. Surprisingly for a capital, Madrid is a chilled-out place where life is often lived at a gentle pace. Working from Madrid is easy and convenient, with many coworking spaces, coffee shops and cyber cafés.
Valencia - once the new kid on the block, the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia has now established itself as a popular location for digital nomads. It has all the advantages of bigger cities such as Madrid, but accommodation costs are cheaper, especially in small towns and villages outside the city. Valencia is also one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country and offers plenty of access to coworking spaces.
Alicante - a popular coastal city with endless miles of beaches, a beautiful old town and a frenetic summer nightlife when streets are packed with partying tourists. Digital nomads love its vibrancy, golden sands, superb food and cosmopolitan vibe.
Granada - a southern Spanish city that is home to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex with more than 1,000 years of history. This small, friendly destination has plenty of other fascinating historical sites, including the ancient cathedral and Arab baths. It is also a great place for outdoor pursuits. Above the city and easily accessible are the snow-capped peaks of Sierra Nevada. You can enjoy skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.
Las Palmas - the largest city in the Canary Islands, is also one of the largest in Spain. It is known for its many stunning beaches, mild to warm temperatures year-round, excellent air quality and rocking nightlife. While the cost of living is a little higher than in other parts of Spain, you'll be living and working in a vacation destination.
Internet connectivity and coworking spaces in Spain
Spain has many internet providers offering competing plans and services, all vying for your wallet or purse. That's a good thing because it means there is plenty of choices out there and value-for-money plans and packages. If you are staying long-term, it's a good idea to invest in a fiber optic connection that can deliver super-fast broadband speeds of up to 600Mb.
Providers include:
Coworking spaces in Spain provide digital nomads with flexibility, a chance to network with other nomads, and a cost-efficient way to run their freelance enterprise. Many towns and cities host a good selection of shared spaces for digital nomads, which can be anything from a café or coffee shop to shared offices with a dedicated desk. Below are a few links to a handful of coworking spaces in Spain.
Coworking spaces in Barcelona
Regus coworking spaces – various locations around the city
Meet BCN, Rambla de Catalunya 125, 3º 2ª
Talent Garden, Carrer de Muntaner, 239
Coworking spaces in Madrid
Madrid Office Business Center, Av. de Brasil, 29
Spaces Rio, Calle de Manzanares, 4
Impact Hub, Calle de la Alameda, 22
Coworking spaces in Valencia
Wayco Abastos, Calle Historiador Diago, 3
Wayco Ruzafa, Calle Almirante Cadarso, 26
Coworking spaces in Alicante
ULab, Plaza de San Cristobal, 14
Skyblue Coworking, Calle Alvarez Sereix, 11
Coworking spaces in Granada
Cofamily Coworking, Calle Blind of Arjona 3
Anda Cowork, Avenida de Andalucia, 5
Coworking spaces in Las Palmas
CoWorKing Canary Islands, Mesa Y Lopez commercial district
The House Coworking Space, Calle Bravo Morillo, 34
You can also search for coworking spaces in Spain by using Coworker.
Leisure in Spain
Whether you stay in a big city or a small coastal town, you'll discover lots to see and do in Spain. From monumental fortresses, palaces and Andalusian white villages to Gaudí's showstopping buildings in Barcelona and Alicante's sun-kissed beaches, the country is alive with attractions. Combined with one of the world's best cuisines, exciting nightlife and festivals every month of the year, the most challenging thing about living and working in Spain will be trying to avoid all the distractions.
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