Non-lucrative visa or digital nomad visa in Spain: which one fits?
Non-lucrative visa or digital nomad visa for Spain: one forbids working, the other is built for remote work. Compare income, duration, family and renewal.
Extranjería Palma ·
The non-lucrative visa and the digital nomad visa both let a non-EU national live in Spain, but they are opposites on the point that matters: with the first you cannot work; the second exists so you can work remotely. Pick the wrong one and you either apply for something that does not fit your life or get refused. Here are the differences.
If you have not read it yet, start with our full guide to the digital nomad visa.
The difference in one line
- Non-lucrative: you live on savings or passive income, with no work or professional activity at all (Royal Decree 1155/2024, article 61).
- Digital nomad: you work remotely for companies outside Spain (Law 14/2013, articles 74 bis to 74 quinquies).
Side by side
| Non-lucrative | Digital nomad (teleworking) | |
|---|---|---|
| Can you work? | No, neither employed nor self-employed | Yes, remotely only, for companies outside Spain (freelancers: up to 20 % for a Spanish company) |
| Legal basis | RD 1155/2024, arts. 61-64 | Law 14/2013, arts. 74 bis-74 quinquies |
| Income test | 400 % of the IPREM per month + 100 % per family member | 200 % of the SMI (per consulate information) |
| Health insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Initial duration | 1 year | Visa: up to 1 year |
| Afterwards | Renewal for 2 years | Authorisation up to 3 years, renewable for 2 |
| Qualification | None | Qualifying degree or 3 years’ experience |
| Prior link with the employer | Not applicable | At least 3 months |
| Presence in Spain to renew | More than 183 days a year | No verified source; check before planning your stays |
How much money
For the non-lucrative visa the Regulation sets 400 % of the IPREM monthly for you and 100 % for each dependent family member. With an IPREM of €600 (the value set by the 2023 Budget Law; check the current figure before filing) that is about €2,400 a month for one person and €3,000 with one family member. You can prove it with savings, income or property.
For the digital nomad visa the test is tied to the minimum wage (SMI) and to income from your remote work. Consulates report 200 % of the monthly SMI. Ask your consulate for today’s figure.
Which fits whom
Non-lucrative usually fits if:
- You are retired or live on investments or rent.
- You do not want, or are not allowed, to work in Spain.
Digital nomad usually fits if:
- You are an employee of a foreign company that allows remote work.
- You are a freelancer with clients outside Spain.
- You have a degree or three years’ experience.
Neither fits if you want to work for a Spanish company (that needs a work permit), or if you hold an EU passport.
Three common traps
- Applying for non-lucrative and working online. Remote work is a professional activity, which that permit does not cover.
- Applying as a nomad with sporadic income. The law asks for at least three months of relationship with the employer or clients.
- Forgetting the 183 days. To renew a non-lucrative permit you must have genuinely lived in Spain for more than 183 days in the calendar year.
How each is filed
The non-lucrative visa is filed at the consulate where you live; the visa application includes the residence authorisation. Once in Spain you must apply for the foreigner ID card (TIE) within a month. The digital nomad visa can be filed at the consulate, or from inside Spain if you are here legally. Details are in the full guide.
For foreign documents, remember the apostille and sworn translation.
Official sources
- Royal Decree 1155/2024 (BOE)
- Law 28/2022 (BOE)
- Law 31/2022, 2023 State Budget (IPREM)
- Spanish Consulate in Moscow: teleworking visa
Not sure which is yours?
It depends on your work situation and income. At Extranjería Palma we go through it with you before you collect documents. See our visa services or get in touch.