Side by side (2026 figures)
| Non-lucrative visa | Digital nomad visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Retirees, people living on savings, pensions or investments | Remote employees and freelancers working mainly for non-Spanish clients |
| Work allowed? | No, including remote work | Yes, remote work; up to 20% of income may come from Spanish clients |
| Income needed (main applicant) | 400% of IPREM: about €2,400 a month or €28,800 a year | 200% of the minimum wage: about €2,849 a month or €34,000 a year |
| Extra per family member | 100% of IPREM: about €600 a month | About €1,068 a month for the first, about €356 for each further one |
| Other key requirements | Private health insurance with no co-payments, criminal record, medical certificate | Degree or 3 years’ experience, employer or clients operating at least a year, health insurance, criminal record |
| Where you apply | Spanish consulate covering where you live | Consulate (1-year visa) or from inside Spain as a visitor (permit of up to 3 years) |
| Renewals | 1 year, then 2 + 2 | Renewable in 2-year periods |
| Special tax regime | No | Can apply for the Beckham Law (24% flat rate) |
Figures are based on the IPREM (€600 a month) and the 2026 minimum wage. Consulates sometimes ask for more than the minimum. Always check the current figures on the consulate’s page.
Which should you choose?
- You will stop working: the non-lucrative visa. It has the lower income bar, but you cannot work at all.
- You will keep working remotely: the digital nomad visa. Working on an NLV risks refusal at renewal.
- You might do occasional consulting: treat that as work. Choose the DNV, or plan to stop.
- You have a Spanish job offer: neither. Look at a work permit or the highly qualified professional route.
Both routes
- You become a Spanish tax resident if you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain, and are then taxed on worldwide income (unless you are on the Beckham Law).
- Years on either visa count toward long-term residence after five years.
- After arriving, you need your TIE card and padrón registration.
Full guides: non-lucrative visa · digital nomad visa.
Official sources: Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (visas)
