“Digital nomads” (DTCs) are people who work remotely using modern technology. They are therefore not tied to one specific location and can carry out their professional duties from almost anywhere. More and more people are opting for this lifestyle, and Spain has become a paradise for ‘digital nomads’.
Spain a paradise for digital nomads
As VisaGuide.World experts have pointed out, the leader of the ranking of countries that are most favoured by ‘digital nomads’ is Spain. In preparing the analysis, criteria such as visa availability, internet speed, tax policy, the amount of income required to apply for a visa, cost of living, global health index or tourist attractiveness were taken into account. Countries were ranked in terms of specific areas – relevant to ‘digital nomads’.
Spain has been working towards its first ranking for a long time. Since 2023, the Spanish remote worker visa has also been available to non-EU citizens who work remotely for companies outside Spain. Applicants must not be living illegally in Spain at the time of application and must not have lived in Spain in the five years prior to application. Additional criteria to be met by ‘digital nomads’ are not to have a criminal record in Spain, but also anywhere else, for five years prior to application.
The requirements are also strictly professional. Applicants must confirm that they have worked with their clients or company for more than three months prior to applying, and the company they work for must have been in operation for at least one year. They must also have an employment contract or, if they are working as freelancers, show that they have been regularly employed by a company outside Spain and that their work can be carried out remotely. Proof of qualification or work experience of a minimum of three years is also required.
In addition to health insurance, it is also necessary to be … self-sufficiency. This means that ‘digital nomads’ have an income threshold of 200% of the monthly minimum wage in the country, provable with bank statements, contracts and invoices. Currently, the threshold is €2,334 per month or €28,000 per year. Spain also allows spouses and family members to join the ‘digital nomads’ once further income thresholds have been met.
Why Spain in particular?
“Digital nomads” are choosing the Iberian Peninsula for several reasons. Firstly, Spain offers many attractive places to work remotely, such as Malaga TechPark. If we juxtapose the opportunities for growth that the region offers with the easy and quick access to the sea or the forms of recreation that the Costa del Sol provides – combined with more than 320 days of sunshine a year – it is easy to conclude that it is currently one of the best places to live and work in Europe – and not just for ‘digital nomads’.
Many of our compatriots prefer Spain because it is easier to work when mild temperatures and a pleasant Mediterranean climate prevail outside the window. Recent years have shown that Spain even offers a lower cost of living than many other European countries, including Poland, which has to contend with rising prices – the result of high inflation.
Poles prefer remote working
Poles are also increasingly choosing to go to Spain and work remotely, for example on the Costa del Sol. According to the Global Survey of Working Arrangements, we are one of those societies that in many cases have returned to working in offices, but still prefer remote working. However, there is no shortage of companies that are finding the golden mean and offering hybrid work for their employees.
According to data presented in the Global Survey of Working Arrangements report, Poles work remotely on average 0.7 days per week. However, the majority of compatriots would like to work remotely about 1.7 days a week. For many, the solution is to reorganise and use modern tools to work from anywhere in the world. One of the most attractive is the picturesque Costa del Sol in Spain.
