Spain residency: digital nomad, non-lucrative and the Beckham regime

Ley Orgánica 1/2025 emptied the investor residence articles (63 to 67) of Ley 14/2013 with effect from 3 April 2025. That closed every investment route, not only property. Applications filed before that date are decided under the old rules, permits already granted remain valid for their term, and renewals are assessed under the rules that applied when the first permit was issued.

The international teleworking permit, known as the digital nomad visa, is for qualified people working remotely for employers or clients outside Spain. You need a degree or at least three years of professional experience, a working relationship of at least three months with a company active for at least a year, and income of 200% of the monthly minimum wage (SMI), plus 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each further one. Freelancers may take Spanish clients for up to 20% of their work.

Applying from abroad gives a consular visa for up to one year; applying while legally in Spain gives a residence permit for up to three years, renewable for two years at a time. Visa holders can switch to the permit in the 60 days before the visa expires.

Non-lucrative residence fits retirees and people living on investment income. It requires 400% of the IPREM index per month for the main applicant plus 100% per family member, health cover from an insurer authorised in Spain, and no work in Spain. The first permit lasts one year, renewals run for two years, and each renewal requires more than 183 days a year in Spain.

Entrepreneur residence is granted through the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE) once ENISA reports favourably on the business plan; the permit runs for three years with two-year renewals. On the tax side, the Beckham regime lets qualifying newcomers pay 24% on employment income up to EUR 600,000 for the arrival year and the following five, and employees holding the teleworking visa are expressly eligible.

We compare the routes and coordinate the file; Spanish immigration lawyers handle the applications and tax advisers confirm any Beckham election, while approval of every permit lies with the Spanish authorities.