Spain to introduce new digital nomad visa

If everything goes according to plan, Spain will join Croatia, Italy and Greece, the other three countries in Europe that have recently approved digital nomad visa programmes.

As Economic Affairs Minister Nadia Calviño explained, through this move the government aims to “attract and retain international and national talents by helping remote workers and digital nomads set up in Spain”, as well as boost post-pandemic economic recovery.

For now, the law’s Startup Act has recently passed the Spanish Parliament, so the new digital nomad visa could become a reality starting January 2023, adding more people to the remote workers who are already attracted to the country’s low budget of living and nice weather.

More details about the visa are expected to be released. Nevertheless, according to rumours, the scheme might also open to employees of non-Spanish companies. However, this category of applicants have to reside outside of the European Economic Area, have to prove at least one year of previous employment, must earn a minimum income of €2,000 a month and also rent a Spanish property. Additional information and conditions regarding the procedures are yet to be published.

All visas will be valid for 12 months, with applicants given the possibility of extending stay to no more than five years. The nomad visa holder can as well be accompanied by close relatives. Tax reductions are expected to be offered for successful scheme applicants, such as a 9 per cent cut when compared to the 24 per cent rate currently required.

Spain ranks 30th for ease of doing business according to the World Bank Data’s 2020 report, while the average monthly salary here is €1,751, 20 percent less when compared to the EU average salary.

 

Source: euronews.com, the guardian.com