Obtaining a digital nomad visa for Spain in Thailand

The couple contacted us at the end of February to apply for the nomad visa from Thailand. We immediately outlined the steps: first, obtain the NIE, then collect the main set of documents, and finally submit them at the Spanish Consulate in Bangkok.

1. Document Collection

Start date: February 28, 2025

We prepared the application forms and payment receipts. On March 10, Alexander submitted the application for a foreigner ID number. On March 21, the NIE arrived by mail.

Booking an appointment for the entire family turned out to be difficult: there were no available slots. We offered a safe alternative — submit separately: first the main applicant, then the spouse using the submission confirmation copy. This format is typically accepted by consulates.

The biggest delay was caused by the Russian criminal record certificate. It took a month to process instead of the usual two weeks (based on our experience). Once it was ready, we obtained it via power of attorney, translated it, and sent it to the client.

We also submitted the social security registration request via the Seguridad Social website — and it worked on the first try, which was a pleasant surprise given our past cases.

On April 29, we sent the complete document package with sworn translations.

2. Submission

Date of submission to the consulate: April 30, 2025

3. First Additional Request

Date received: May 8, 2025

The consulate requested five additional documents:

1. Original signed contract
2. Last 6 invoices
3. Bank statement confirming account ownership
4. Company registration certificate with sworn translation
5. Marriage certificate with sworn (jurado) translation

Some of these were already in the original package — they likely went unnoticed. We didn’t argue: we quickly resent the missing files. On May 13, the applicant submitted the documents.

4. Second Additional Request

Date received: May 13, 2025

Alexander submitted the requested documents in person. All seemed well.

But that same day, another request came in: they also needed a social security registration promise — not just from the main applicant, but from the spouse as well.

This raised questions: the spouse is not usually required to register. But we chose not to argue — we followed the consulate’s instructions. Submitted the promises for both and provided the confirmations.

May 14 — documents accepted.

5. Approval

Nearly a month passed.

On June 14, Alexander emailed the consulate to ask: “Any news?”

On June 16, he got a response — the visa was approved.

6. Visa Issuance

There was one final twist: the passports were not at the BLS center. The consulate said the entry date listed in the application was June 1 — which had already passed. So the date had to be rescheduled.

June 19 — the visas were finally stamped into the passports.

Next comes the move to Spain — but that’s another story entirely.