What is the core difference between the two visas?
The non-lucrative visa (NLV) is for people who will live in Spain without working at all. It suits retirees, people living on savings, pensions or investment income, and anyone taking a long break from their career. You must show you can support yourself without any professional or employment activity, in Spain or abroad.
The digital nomad visa (DNV), formally the international teleworking authorisation, is for people who will keep working remotely for companies or clients based outside Spain. It exists precisely so that you can work from here. The question to ask yourself is simple: will you be working while you live in Spain? If the answer is yes, the NLV is almost certainly not your route.
How do the income requirements compare?
The two routes measure financial means against different references. The NLV is set against IPREM, a public income index: the main applicant generally needs to show annual means equivalent to 400% of IPREM, with an additional amount for each family member. Those means can come from savings, pensions or passive income, and consulates assess both the amount and how stable it is.
The DNV is set against the Spanish minimum wage (SMI): the main applicant generally needs to show monthly income equivalent to 200% of SMI from remote work, with additional percentages for family members. Here the focus is on earned income from your employer or clients, supported by contracts and evidence of an ongoing professional relationship.
Both IPREM and SMI are updated periodically, so the euro figures change. We confirm the current figures, and how your particular mix of income is likely to be read, at your consultation.
Where do you apply for each visa?
The NLV is applied for at the Spanish consulate that covers your place of legal residence, before you travel. Each consulate publishes its own checklist and appointment system, and requirements on things like bank statements, medical certificates and translations can differ noticeably from one consulate to another.
The DNV offers two paths. You can apply at a consulate as a visa, or, if you are already in Spain lawfully (for example as a visitor), you can apply for a residence authorisation directly in Spain through the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE). Applying from within Spain changes the timing and the documents you need, so it is worth deciding early which path fits your plans.
What health insurance do you need?
Both routes generally require comprehensive private health insurance from a company authorised to operate in Spain, without co-payments or waiting periods, covering you for the period of the authorisation. Policies sold as travel insurance are not normally accepted.
Some DNV applicants whose employment contributions are covered under a Social Security agreement between Spain and their home country may be able to rely on that coverage instead. Whether it applies depends on your country and how you are employed, so it needs checking case by case.
What happens to your tax residence?
As a general rule, spending more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year makes you a Spanish tax resident, taxed on your worldwide income, whichever visa you hold. Other criteria, such as where your main economic interests or your family are based, can also make you resident. For many people this is the most important consequence of the move, and it should be planned before you arrive, not after.
Digital nomad visa holders may be able to apply for the special tax regime for inbound workers, which can change how employment income is taxed for a limited number of years. Eligibility depends on your circumstances and strict deadlines apply. NLV holders are not working, so the analysis is different. In both cases you should take advice from a qualified tax adviser before choosing your route.
Can family members come with you?
Yes, both routes allow a spouse or registered partner and dependent children, among others, to apply with the main applicant or join later. Each family member increases the financial means you need to show, and each needs their own documents, usually including apostilled and translated civil records such as marriage and birth certificates.
On the NLV, family members are also not allowed to work. On the DNV, the position of family members differs, and the details are worth confirming before you plan around a second income.
What are the most common mistakes?
The most serious mistake is doing remote work while holding a non-lucrative visa. Even working for a foreign employer from your laptop is generally treated as incompatible with the NLV, and it can cause problems at renewal and with your tax position. If you plan to work, choose a route that allows it.
Other frequent problems include proof of income that is hard to verify or not stable enough, insurance policies with co-payments, documents that are not apostilled or properly translated, and DNV applications where the employer relationship is too recent or the contract does not clearly allow remote work from Spain.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and the rules for both routes change and vary by consulate. Book a consultation and we will compare both routes against your actual situation, then prepare and manage the application you choose.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we confirm your situation in a consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work remotely on a non-lucrative visa?
Generally no. The NLV is for people who will not carry out any professional activity, including remote work for foreign clients or employers. If you will be working, the digital nomad visa or another route is usually the right fit.
How much income do I need for each visa?
The NLV is generally referenced to 400% of IPREM per year for the main applicant and the DNV to 200% of SMI per month, with extra for family. Both indices are updated periodically, so we confirm the current figures at consultation.
Can I apply for the digital nomad visa from inside Spain?
Yes. If you are in Spain lawfully, you can apply for the residence authorisation through the UGE instead of applying at a consulate. Timing and documents differ between the two paths.
Will I become a Spanish tax resident?
If you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain, you will generally be a Spanish tax resident, whichever visa you hold. Speak to a qualified tax adviser before you move.
Can I switch from a non-lucrative visa to a digital nomad visa later?
Changes between residence situations are possible in some cases, but they depend on timing and requirements at the moment you apply. It is better to choose the right route from the start.