How to renew a digital nomad visa in Spain
12/05/2025 
Reading time: 5 min How to renew a digital nomad visa in Spain
Short version:
- The initial permit lasts 3 years; renewal extends it for 2 more. After 5 years of legal residence you can go for long-term residence.
- You still need to prove income of about €2,849/month (200% SMI) and that you've kept up tax and social-security obligations.
- Apply through the UGE — ideally in the 60 days before your card expires (you also have 90 days after).
- If the authorities don't answer in time, positive silence normally means your renewal is granted.
What the renewal requires
Renewal is really a check that you actually lived the life the visa is for. Three things carry the most weight:
- Income. As with the first application, you show income of roughly €2,849/month (200% of Spain's minimum wage) for the main applicant, plus the usual family add-ons. It's tied to the SMI, so confirm the current figure.
- Tax and social security. You must be up to date — filed taxes, contributions paid. This is the single biggest reason renewals get held up, and it's what proves you genuinely settled here.
- Continued remote work. A valid contract or activity with a company outside Spain that still permits remote work. Income from Spanish clients must stay under 20% of your total, or you may need a different permit type.
A serious criminal record or major legal problems in Spain will block a renewal.
Documents you'll need
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport + current TIE card | Both, valid |
| Renewal application form | The correct model for your case |
| Proof of continued remote work | Employment contract or activity records |
| Income proof | Invoices, payslips, bank statements |
| Social-security / tax certificates | Showing you're up to date |
| Health coverage | Insurance (employed) or Spanish social security (self-employed) |
| Empadronamiento | If your address changed since last time |
| Fee receipts | Modelo 790-038 processing, 790-012 for the card |
Most foreign documents need a sworn translation into Spanish (traducción jurada). Proof of family ties is required if relatives renew alongside you.
How the application works
- Gather and translate everything before your card's expiry approaches — ideally in the 60-day window before it lapses.
- Upload the file and documents through the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas), the unit that handles digital nomad cases, and pay the fees.
- Wait for the review. If anything's missing, the authorities ask for it — respond fast to avoid delays.
- Once approved, book the police appointment for fingerprints and collect your new TIE card.
Positive silence works for you. On these renewals, if the administration doesn't resolve within its deadline, the application is generally deemed approved (silencio positivo), and you can request certification of it. That's the opposite of the first-time visa's tighter posture — but don't rely on it as a plan; file complete and on time.
What actually sinks renewals
It's rarely the income. It's the boring stuff: unpaid or unfiled social-security contributions, gaps in your tax record, an incomplete financial file, or a form error. Sort your tax and social-security standing months ahead, not the week you file.
Fees and timing
The government fees are small — €73.26 for processing (Modelo 790-038) and €16.08 for the physical card (Modelo 790-012). The real cost is preparation time and sworn translations. On timing: you can apply in the 60 days before expiry and up to 90 days after, but earlier is safer — it leaves room to fix anything the office flags.
Keeping your income at the threshold matters as much at renewal as at the start — here's a refresher on how much a digital nomad must earn, and on what taxes digital nomads pay in Spain. If you'd rather hand the renewal off entirely, that's our digital nomad residence permit service.
