Spain is Paying Digital Nomads to Move There
Spain is Paying Digital Nomads to Move There
Would you move to Spain if the government paid you to live there? For digital nomads looking to work remotely from western Europe, this just might be your chance!
Extremadura, a lesser-known Spanish region on the Portugal border, expects to begin offering digital nomads up to €15,000 to live there. Applicants will find a region filled with nature preserves and mountain ranges, while also enjoying above-average fiber optic and mobile services. They’ll even enjoy a cost of living almost 30 percent lower than Madrid, Spain’s capital. According to property search site Idealista, rents start at $250.
Digital nomads moving to Extremadura must commit to working remotely and living in the region for at least two years to be eligible for the money. Interested expats can apply here when applications open in mid-September. See below for other important details on Spain’s digital nomad visa and requirements to apply.
| Here’s how much you could collect: | Stay for 2 Years | Stay for 3 Years |
|---|---|---|
| Women, people under 30, people moving to towns with <5k people | €10,000 | €15,000 |
| Everyone else | €8,000 | €12,000 |
Digital Nomad Visa for Spain
In practice, the remote work/freelancer visa is for workers who work online for a non-Spanish company or doing freelance work. In reality, only 1099 employees can qualify because the Spanish government needs a proof of your Social Security that the U.S. won’t provide.
Digital Nomad Visa Requirements
- Obtain your Foreign Identity Number (NIE)
- Earn at least $30,240/year
- Have an employment contract with a foreign company or proof of your own company
- For self-employed people, have articles of incorporation declaring the date and type of business
- Have a copy of your degree or a certificate confirming at least three years’ experience in your industry
Digital Nomad Visa Benefits
- Lasts 12 months
- Renew for up to three years
- Eligible for permanent residency after five years
Additional Resources
Of course, moving to any new country is quite the undertaking. Luckily, Expatsi has put together several resources to make the journey easier:
- How to Move to Spain in 6 Months webinar
Looking to move quickly? Get on the fast track with our two-hour webinar, featuring our handpicked experts in immigration law, real estate, investments, and more. You’ll even receive the contact information for our professional partners.
Come with us to see Spain like a local. Our scouting trip model lets you tour the neighborhoods you want while building community with fellow expats. We even hold an in-person seminar with local experts to help you see if Spain is best for you.
Determining which visa is best for you can be challenging, to say the least. We’ve identified the most popular visas that Americans use, along with benefits and requirements for each.
Our country guide offer a broad look at what Spain has to offer expats. From blog posts to content creators and the Spanish healthcare system, we’ve gathered a range of free resources to show expats like you are living in Spain already.
Brett Andrews is an expat influencer and co-founder of Expatsi, a company that's helped thousands of expats on their moving abroad journeys. Brett and his partner Jen developed the Expatsi Test to recommend countries to move to, based on factors like budget, visa type, spoken languages, healthcare rankings, and more. In a former life, he worked as a software developer, IT support specialist, and college educator. When he's not working, Brett loves watching exploring new countries, reading unusual books, and pondering the wisdom of The Big Lebowski.
