The Visado Nacional de Teletrabajador de Carácter Internacional lets non-EU remote employees and freelancers legally live in Spain while working for companies or clients based mostly outside the country.
Who qualifies
- Employees: must work exclusively for one or more companies located outside Spain, using digital/telematic means only.
- Freelancers/self-employed: can also serve Spanish clients, but no more than 20% of total professional income may come from Spanish companies.
- Both need either a degree from a recognized university/business school, or 3 years’ documented professional experience in the relevant field.
- The remote-work relationship must already be at least 3 months old, and the foreign employer/client company must show at least 1 year of real, continuous business activity.
2026 income requirement
| Applicant | Monthly (gross) | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Main applicant | ~€2,849 (200% of Spain’s SMI) | ~€34,188 |
| +1st dependent | +~€916 | +~€12,821 |
| +Each additional dependent | +~€305 | +~€4,274 |
Proof: 3 months of payslips/invoices plus bank statements; savings can cover a shortfall.
Documents you’ll need
- Signed application form
- Full passport copy (valid, 1+ year remaining, issued within the last 10 years)
- 2 passport photos
- Apostilled criminal-record certificate covering the last 2 years, plus a signed declaration of no convictions in the last 5 years
- Letter from your employer/client(s) detailing role, remote-work authorization, and salary/contract terms
- Proof the foreign company has operated at least 1 year
- Proof of qualification (degree or experience) plus your CV
- Qualifying health insurance
- Proof of income meeting the thresholds above
- Social Security registration commitment, or proof of continued home-country coverage
- Fee payment receipt (Modelo 790-038, or the consulate’s local-currency equivalent)
Two ways to apply
| From a consulate abroad | In-country via UGE-CE | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Not yet in Spain | Already legally in Spain |
| Processing time | ⚠ Consulates disagree — some quote ~10 business days, others up to 20; check with your specific consulate | Up to 20 business days, with automatic approval if the deadline is missed |
| Validity issued | Up to 1 year | Up to 3 years |
If you enter on a consulate-issued visa, apply for the in-Spain residence authorization (upgrades you to 3-year validity) within 60 days before your visa expires.
⚠ Renewal and long-term residency: renewal is commonly described as a “3+2” pattern, but exact terms aren’t consistently confirmed on official pages. Whether visa years count fully toward Spain’s 5-year long-term-residency clock also isn’t confirmed from an official source — worth a direct question to a lawyer or UGE-CE.
Typical all-in cost: commonly cited at $2,000–$4,000 USD, covering fees, translations, apostilles, NIE/TIE fees, a year of insurance, and any lawyer/gestoría help.
Official links: UGE-CE teleworkers page · PRIE program portal
Next step: once your visa’s approved, you’ll need a NIE and, after arrival, a TIE. Many visa holders also qualify for the Beckham Law, which can meaningfully cut your tax bill — worth reading before you land.