Getting a Spanish Visual Nomad Visa for three years is only the first step. The programme doesn’t simply issue a document—it creates obligations that must be maintained throughout the entire period, otherwise you can lose your status before renewal or remain without the possibility to renew it after three years.

Active income, not just money in your account

The first and most common mistake is thinking that having funds in a bank account is enough. Spain looks not at the presence of money, but at its origin: who pays you, what kind of contract you have, whether you pay taxes in Spain, and whether the activity continues throughout the entire period of your residence permit.

If you are an employee of a Russian company, you must notify the migration service if the contract is terminated. If you applied as a self-employed person or freelancer, by the time of renewal you must have service agreements with legal entities, with at least 80% of income coming from sources outside Spain. The remaining 20% can come from Spanish clients.

Crypto income does not replace the active professional income required by the programme, even if it was earned through professional activity. It is not enough to say “I earn well”—you need to show and explain the origin of every euro.

Social contributions and health insurance

The second reason for losing status is failure to fulfill the obligations provided by the programme after obtaining the residence permit.

If you are an employee of a Russian company, you are required to arrange and pay private health insurance throughout all three years. The cost currently starts from €850 per year per person. When renewing after three years, if you fail to provide insurance documents for the entire period of residence, you may receive a refusal. Spanish insurance companies increasingly share information with the migration service when a policy is cancelled.

Self-employed persons and freelancers are required to register with the Spanish social security authorities, obtain self-employed status and regularly pay social contributions. In previous years, some managed to avoid these payments, but now the migration service checks applicants with these obligations more carefully.

Tax returns—key criterion for renewal

The third and most critical reason in 2026 is the absence of tax history confirming residence in Spain.

This year, for the first time, there is a mass submission of documents for renewal of the three-year residence permit, and it has become clear: Spain does not require proof of physical residence, but it necessarily requests at least two tax returns. Over the two years before renewal, you need to file tax returns and pay taxes on them. Confirmation of stable remote income alone is no longer sufficient.

Tax residency and obtaining a residence permit are different mechanisms that work differently, but intersect. This does not mean you need to pay taxes immediately upon receiving the document, but if you plan to renew your status, taxes should be paid in advance. When planning residence in Spain and status renewal, you need to find out about tax obligations and amounts through licensed lawyers and accountants.