Nomad Residence Permit Guide

This is a residence permit in Spain that is issued for 3 years, with the possibility of one renewal for 2 years and then obtaining permanent residence and even Spanish citizenship.* In Spanish, it is called “Teletrabajador de carácter Internacional”.

The advantages of this residence permit:

• It is possible to travel within the EU and the Schengen area without restrictions
• There are no restrictions on opening bank cards/accounts in Spain
• You can apply for a US/UK/Japan visa without leaving the EU
• It is possible to bring family members (spouse, minor children...)
• There is a limited right to work in Spain (for family members - no restrictions on the number of hours per week)
• Children can study at prestigious international schools and universities
• To obtain and renew it, you do not need to take Spanish language exams

A number of Spanish consulates accept documents for a Digital Nomad visa for 1 year, followed by a residence permit for 3 years. However, so far the most common application option is directly for a residence permit directly from Spain. The next guide will focus specifically on a residence permit.

Below are the main points to pay attention to. The «documents» section contains comments on individual documents, which should also be studied before submitting.

• Revenue source. Your employer can be in any country except Spain. (Russia or Belarus are suitable.) You can work as an individual entrepreneur or self-employed, or simply as an employee under an employment contract, or even receive royalties as a freelancer.
• Revenue. It is necessary to receive 200% of the Spanish minimum salary, i.e. 2,646 euros per month for the main applicant. (It can be uneven, as long as 31,752 euros per year.) If you bring your family with you, you will need to show +75% for the first family member (992 euros) and +25% for each additional member (330 euros).

• Labor organization. You must specify the main organization from which you receive money (even if there are several such organizations) and show that: - This organization has existed for more than 1 year; - You have been working with it for more than 3 months - an employment contract/service agreement; - A letter stating your position, salary converted into Euros and confirming that the organization does not mind that you work remotely from Spain.

• Diploma or proof of at least 3 years of work experience. If your profession coincides with your position, then a diploma of education will do. If this is not the case, you need proof that you have at least 3 years of professional experience.
• Summary - CV in Spanish (Can be translated by online translator)
• Visa (depending on nationality). To apply for a nomad residence permit, you must legally reside in Spain (you can use a tourist visa from another country or a Spanish student Estancia).

• Digital nomad visa. Type D visa for 1 year, which can be obtained outside Spain (at the Consulate of the place of official residence).
• A residence permit for a digital nomad. This concept is often confused with a visa (including earlier in this text). However, there are 3 key differences: a residence permit can only be applied from Spain, this can be done on the Ministry's website (“UGE”), and it can be issued for 3 years at once. Otherwise, there is no difference.
• Sworn translation (Traducción jurada). This is when a licensed translator not only translates, but also puts his official stamp confirming the correctness of the translation. The number of such interpreters is limited. They usually translate government documents. For example, no criminal records or diplomas.
• Apostille - an international standardized form for filling out information on the legality of the document for presentation in countries that recognize this form of legalization. The “Apostille” stamp is placed on the originals and copies of documents. It can be issued by various authorities (for example, the Ministry of Internal Affairs or a notary).
• NIE - Número de Identidad de Extranjero - A foreigner's ID number in Spain, which can be obtained if there is any reason for this (student TRP, buying a car, buying a property, etc.). NIE is usually assigned automatically after approval of the residence permit. This is a very important thing that is required almost everywhere in Spain.
• “Certificado Digital” digital signature. A digital signature that is valid in Spain. It is needed to apply for residency. It can be issued at the Spanish consulate at your place of residence or directly in Spain through a special website. However, it is impossible to obtain a digital signature without a NIE.
• Sita (Cita previa). This is the common name for making an appointment with various administrative authorities in Spain for various reasons. You need to buy Sita online, and for some things it's very difficult to do this - slots fly out instantly. (For example, to submit fingerprints to obtain a plastic residence permit card.) Sita is usually needed to register, submit fingerprints, obtain a residence permit card, and obtain a “Return Permit” certificate.
• TIE - Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero. A plastic identification card for a resident foreigner proving his identity in Spain. It usually has a NIE number on it. As a result of all procedures, you need to get this particular card.

• MI-T application in Spanish confirming your intention to obtain a residence permit and work remotely. You can fill it here
• Passport with a visa and a copy (scan) of all pages. If you are entering Spain from another EU country (there is no Spanish entry stamp), you must take a certificate of entry to Spain. They are handed over to the police at the border crossing point. At the airport, for example. The document is called “Declaration de Entrada”.
• Proof of employment for at least 3 months before applying for a residence permit. For example, a work contract that should specify your salary. Minimum: - 2646 euros/month for the main applicant, +992 euros/month for the first family member, +330 euros/month for each subsequent one. The contract must be in Spanish OR translated by a sworn translator OR consular translation (legalization).
• Bank statement confirming the transfer of payment under the contract for the last 3 months. You can show it in English, or a free translation into Spanish.
• Proof of at least 3 years of work experience in your specialty (employment book/individual entrepreneurship registration certificate) OR a diploma (preferably with an Apostille if issued outside the EU) if the profession is related to your job. The document must be translated by a sworn translator OR consular translation (legalization)
• A letter from the company, allowing remote work from Spain and confirming your status as a digital nomad. The letter must now include the salary in Euros. A free translation into Spanish is suitable.
• Proof of the existence and activities of the company where you work (for example, a statement from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities) for at least 1 year. The document must not only be Apostilled or consular legalized, but must also be translated by a sworn translator (Traducción jurada).
• A police clearance certificate with an apostille from all countries where you have been for more than 6 months in 1 calendar year. The certificate must be from the last 2 years. A sworn translation is required.
• Declaration about the absence of serious offences over the past 5 years. It is completed in Spanish.
• Private medical insurance valid in Spain (for sole proprietors there is a variant do without it). Travel insurance is not suitable.
• Payment state fees for considering your application for a residence permit (check+form).
• Social Security Certificate from the Social Fund of Russia (departure certificate). (If your employer is from the EU or if there is a social security agreement between the employer's country and Spain, you can request a relevant certificate.) The document must be translated by a sworn translator OR consular translation (legalization)
  
  Attention: An individual entrepreneur/Self-employed/Civil contract can do without this certificate and register with Spanish social security on their own. To do this, you will need to write a free-form application in Spanish and attach it to the rest of the documents.
• Resume in Spanish (CV).
  
  ‍For family members additional documents such as birth and marriage certificates, as well as police certificates for adult applicants, will be required.
  If birth and marriage certificates are issued in the Russian Federation, they may be without an apostille, but a sworn translation is required.
  Family members must also fill out an application for a residence permit called MI-F.
  
  Please note that the migration service has the right to request any additional documents when considering your application for a residence permit for digital nomads.
  ‍For example, individual entrepreneurs are periodically asked for a certificate confirming this status, as well as invoices for the last 3 months before submission.
  
  ‍Collect documents well in advance and check that they are up to date to avoid possible delays and problems with applying. Be prepared for possible requests for additional information from the migration authorities and be flexible in the process of collecting documents, as requirements may vary from case to case.
  
  ‍Attention! The Spanish administrative authorities accept certificates no older than 3 months from the date of issue. The exception is no criminal record certificates: they are valid for 6 months (unless the certificate itself specifies a deadline).

The visa process consists of the following steps. Some of them can run in parallel:

1. Assessing your chances of getting it. Spaniards are loyal to digital nomads, but, of course, before you start collecting documents, you should read this material and assess the chances of success, as this process takes time, takes time, takes effort and costs money.
   
   You can contact our expert @EL_POMOGATOR for advice and he will assess your chances of success.
2. Collection of documents. Since all applications for a residence permit take place online, all documents are required only in electronic form. However, some documents must be apostilled. For example, a police clearance certificate, a certificate of company existence, a notarized consent to the child's move (if only 1 parent is moving), a birth or marriage certificate (if issued outside the Russian Federation).
   Spaniards have the right to request an apostille on any government document.
3. Translation of documents into Spanish.
   ‍Some documents only require a sworn translation (for example, a police certificate or a constituent document of the client/employer). Some can also be translated by yourself (for example, a letter from a client/employer).
   List of sworn translators in Spain: see.
4. Applying for a digital nomad residence permit. This must be done online through a special UGE portal.
   ‍It is important to be in Spain at this time. The submission portal itself can only be accessed with a Spanish electronic signature.
   ‍
   The deadline for consideration of the application by administrative authorities is up to 20 working days. As of August 2023, there were minor delays in the review, but there is no need to be afraid of such a situation either; this does not mean refusal.

1. Receiving a response from government agencies to your application (one of them):
   Approval;
   Request for additional documents (for example, bank statements);
   Refusal (you can appeal);
2. (optional) Collection of additional documents (everything here is individual, at the discretion of the migration officer).
3. Registration (Empadronamiento). You don't need a residence permit to be fingerprinted in Barcelona or Madrid... but in general, you do need a residence permit to live in Spain. However, fingerprints can only be taken within your province. That is, if you are in Lloret de Mar (Girona), you cannot come to Barcelona and take your fingerprints there. (The only exception is the section in Reus, which receives everyone after 3 pm.)
4. Submission of fingerprints. To do this, you must already be in Spain, sign up for an appointment at a special police station and come on your own. You must have a passport-like photo, a printed paper approving a residence permit, an application for a card, a registration document (except for Madrid and Barcelona), a duty receipt (16.08 euros), a passport and a printed sieve.
5. Obtaining a resident card. This is done offline. Some police stations need sita for this, some don't. Usually, the card production time is 40 calendar days.

1. Obtaining a Spanish digital signature:
   
   ‍From Spanish territory:
   To apply for a residence permit, a Spanish electronic digital signature (EDS) is required. To get a digital signature, you first need to get a Spanish Taxpayer identification number (NIE) number. To do this, you must sign up for Policia Nacional. However, recently NIE numbers have been issued to foreigners only if there are good reasons, for example, to buy a home. In this case, you may need a formal sales contract template for the property you are going to buy.
   
   ‍Obtaining an electronic signature on your own
   
   ‍From your own country (for example, the Spanish Consulate in Moscow):
   This process may take 6 weeks due to the reduction of diplomatic staff.
   
   First, you need to request a NIE number by sending an appropriate form for assessment without a signature via email. The basis for extradition is Solicitude del visado de teletrabajador de carácter internacional, Ley 28/2022 (specify in the application form). If everything is ok, you will be made an appointment at the consulate, where you will need to pay the duty (in rubles, in cash). After that, you will need to wait about 3 weeks for you to be assigned a NIE number.
   
   After that, you need to request a digital signature (see the link above) and sign up for proof of identity. You need to sign up by phone. After your visit to the consulate, your signature will be activated in 1-2 days.
2. State duty payment:
   ‍
   ‍You can only pay the fee from a card or from an account in one of the Spanish banks (BBVA, La Caixa, etc.). Fintech companies like Wise or Revolut are not suited for this purpose.
   
   Cash payments are possible, but not at all banks and ATMs. Please note that banks in Spain are usually open until 2:00 p.m. on weekdays.
3. Filling out an application in Spanish:
   
   ‍All applications must be completed in Spanish. Errors due to lack of language proficiency may result in your application being refused. It is recommended that you contact a professional translator or lawyer to verify that the application has been completed.
4. Declaration of entry:
   
   ‍If you are coming to Spain from another Schengen country, you must take a declaration of entry - “Declaration of Entrada”. To do this, you need to find a police station where such documents are issued. For example, at Barcelona airport, terminal T1 (don't forget your boarding pass).
5. Fingerprint appointment:
   
   ‍It can be difficult to obtain a fingerprint appointment due to limited space. In addition, the police station will only speak Spanish with you. To simplify the process and avoid problems, it is recommended to fill out documents in advance or use the services of an interpreter.
   
   In order to successfully complete all the stages of applying for a residence permit in Spain, it is important to carefully prepare and familiarize yourself with the process in advance.

If you are a sole trader in one of the countries that have a social security mutual recognition agreement with Spain, * you can choose between two options.

Variant 1 (hiring, individual entrepreneur): Provide Spain with a certificate that you are covered by social security in your country (departure certificate) + buy private health insurance in Spain. (Travel insurance or Schengen visas are not suitable. You need insurance from one of the Spanish insurance companies. For example Adeslas, Sanitas, DKV...)

Pros: Private insurance can be serviced in large private hospitals and medical centers.

This is cheaper than paying social security, as the average cost of private insurance with full coverage is 60 euros/month, and the social security contribution is 300 euros/month, starting from the second year (the first year is 80 euro/month)

Variant 2 (for individual entrepreneurs, self-employed, freelancers): Register with the Spanish social security system (after obtaining a nomad residence permit). In this case, you do not need to purchase private health insurance. Also, this option does not require a departure certificate.

Pros: In addition to access to public hospitals, you have accumulated retirement experience and the opportunity to receive various state benefits (for childcare, for example).

For a family of three or more people, this option will be comparable or even cheaper than private insurance, since the total cost of private insurance for a family with young children will be approximately 250 euros/month

If the country in which you are registered as an individual entrepreneur does not have an agreement with Spain on the mutual recognition of social security, then you will need to register with the Spanish social security system (after obtaining a nomad residence permit). In this case, you do not need to purchase private health insurance.

What should I do if I am employed in a country where there is no social security agreement? ‍

Revise your sole proprietor/freelance agreement, wait 3 months, promise to register with Spanish social security and pay for it yourself.

*Countries with which Spain has an agreement on the mutual recognition of social security: EU+ Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, South Korea, Ecuador, USA, Philippines, Japan, Morocco, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Russia, Senegal.

At the same time, to date, a number of EU countries (A1 certificate), the Russian Federation and the UK continue to issue valid certificates.