Who can apply via the consular route?

Any non EU national, regardless of whether you need a Schengen visa to enter Spain. The consular route is the only option for nationals from visa required countries (India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria and others). Visa exempt nationals (US, UK, Canada, Australia) can also choose this route instead of the in-Spain route.

How much do I need to earn?

At least 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI), which is approximately 2,762 euro per month or 33,150 euro per year in 2026. The threshold increases by 75% for a spouse and 25% for each additional dependent.

How long does consular processing take?

It varies by consulate. Some decide within two to four weeks, others take one to three months. The module includes country specific timing estimates for the most common consulates.

What is the difference between this route and the in-Spain route?

The consular route gives you a one year visa that you convert to a residence permit after arrival. The in-Spain route gives you a three year residence permit directly. The consular route is available to everyone; the in-Spain route is only for visa exempt nationals who can enter Spain as tourists.

Do I get the Beckham Law tax regime?

Yes, provided you meet the conditions (not a Spanish fiscal resident in the previous ten years). You opt in by filing Modelo 149 within six months of starting work in Spain. The module includes the full Modelo 149 walkthrough.

Can my partner and children join me?

Yes. Spouses, registered partners, dependent children and dependent parents can apply alongside you at the same consulate appointment.

What happens after the first year?

You apply for a TIE (residence permit) within 30 days of arriving in Spain. The permit is valid for the remaining duration (typically two additional years). After five years of continuous legal residence, you qualify for permanent residency.

Consulate route

Digital Nomad - Consulate route

You apply for the Digital Nomad Visa at the Spanish consulate in your home country before travelling to Spain. After approval you receive a type D visa stamped in your passport and arrive in Spain with the right of residence from day one. This route is available to everyone, including nationals who need a Schengen visa to enter Spain.

We show you exactly what to book, what to bring, and what to fill in.

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Everything in the Digital Nomad Consulate module

Eligibility check and route advisor

Confirm whether you qualify for the consular route, and understand when the in-Spain route via the UGE-CE might be a better fit.

Document checklist and apostille guide

A line by line list of every document the consulate expects, with apostille and sworn translation rules for the most common nationalities.

Income and employer proof

Exactly what the employer letter must confirm (remote work permitted, job title, salary, 3 month minimum, 12 months active), how to evidence the 200% SMI income threshold, and the freelancer alternative based on client contracts.

Health insurance walkthrough

Which policies are accepted, what the consulate checks for in the certificate, and what coverage period must be shown for the visa duration.

Consulate appointment guide

How to book your cita previa at the consulate, what to expect at the interview, how long processing typically takes, and how to track your application.

National visa application form

The full walkthrough of the Solicitud Nacional de Visado, field by field, including the consulate specific sections that differ from the in-Spain MI-T form.

Visa sticker and entry into Spain

What happens after approval, how to collect your visa sticker, the 90 day entry window, and what to do on arrival in Spain.

TIE appointment and post arrival

Cita previa booking at the Policía Nacional, fingerprints, empadronamiento, Seguridad Social registration and the renewal calendar. Your one year visa must be converted to a residence permit within 30 days of arrival.

Beckham Law tax module included

Modelo 149 election, the 6 month deadline, and how to keep the 24% flat tax rate for up to six years.

Family members included

How spouses, registered partners, dependent children and dependent parents apply alongside you at the same consulate appointment.

€89.95

Who it is for

The Digital Nomad Visa consular route is for non EU professionals who want to arrange their residence permit before travelling to Spain. It is the required route for nationals who need a Schengen visa to enter Spain (citizens of India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria and many other countries), and it is also available to visa exempt nationals (US, UK, Canadian, Australian and others) who prefer to arrive in Spain with their permit already approved rather than applying as a tourist under the 90 day in-Spain route.

You apply at the Spanish consulate that covers your place of residence. After approval, the consulate places a type D national visa sticker in your passport. You have 90 days to enter Spain. Once in Spain, you convert the one year visa into a residence permit by applying for your TIE at the Policía Nacional within 30 days. The visa is renewable for two additional years, and after five years of continuous legal residence you qualify for permanent residency.

The eligibility requirements are the same as the in-Spain route: remote work for a foreign employer or clients, income of at least 200% of the SMI (approximately 2,762 euro per month in 2026), no criminal record in the past five years, and private health insurance. The Beckham Law 24% flat tax regime is available to consular route applicants under the same conditions.

What you get

Our module walks you through the entire consular application from your home country. You learn exactly which documents to gather, how to apostille and translate them, and how to fill out every field of the Solicitud Nacional de Visado. We cover the income proof, criminal background certificate, employer letter and health insurance requirements, explain which consulates require an interview and which process by post, and guide you through the TASA fee payment.

After your visa is approved and you arrive in Spain, the module continues with the post arrival roadmap: empadronamiento, TIE application at the Policía Nacional (converting your one year visa into a residence permit within 30 days), Seguridad Social registration, and the Beckham Law tax election via Modelo 149. It is the same checklist a Spanish gestor would use, in your own language, available the moment you need it.

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Moving to Spain as a digital nomad via the consulate route. Start today with our step by step guide and arrive in Spain with your visa already approved.

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