Spain: residence and taxes

Routes to Spanish residence

The digital nomad visa was introduced by Spain's Startup Law and lets remote workers live in the country while working for foreign employers or clients. The Beckham Law is a special tax regime for incoming workers with a flat rate for a limited number of years, but ordinary self-employed autónomos generally do not qualify.

Almost every procedure starts with the padrón, registration of your address at the town hall, and Spain gives Latin American nationals a much shorter path to citizenship than other foreigners.

Every foreigner in Spain receives an NIE identification number, and a residence permit is proven by the TIE card. Once temporary protection ends, another basis is needed: work, study, family or arraigo. Arraigo lets people who have already lived in Spain for a set period legalise their stay through social, work or family ties. Spanish citizenship generally requires ten years of residence.