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Spain: visas, tax & cost of living

Moving to Spain? Plain answers on the digital nomad visa, 183-day tax residency, cost of living and life as a foreigner. Figures are estimates.

Spain: visas, tax & cost of living
Your passport

United KingdomSpain

Your move to Spain on a United Kingdom passport

  • VisitEasyVisa-free entry
  • NomadEasyNomad visa — likely eligible
  • RelocateMediumResidence with conditions

Visiting

Visa-free for up to 90 days. Travel on a passport valid for your whole stay, with a return or onward ticket and proof you can support yourself.

Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, and issued less than 10 years before arrival; ideally a blank page.

Heads-up:EES biometric registration (fingerprints and photo) rolling out from 12 October 2025, fully operational 10 April 2026, no fee; ETIAS pre-authorisation expected from autumn 2026 at about 20 euros (visa-exempt nationals only).

At the border:Border may ask for a return or onward ticket, travel insurance, proof of accommodation, and sufficient funds; cash of 10,000 euros or more must be declared.

Working remotely

Digital Nomad Visa (Startups Law).

Income needed:~2,850 EUR/month (Digital Nomad Visa, 200% of SMI; ~34,200 EUR/yr)(estimate)

Duration:12months

Fee:~80 EUR(estimate)

Who qualifies:Remote workers for non-Spanish companies with a degree or about 3 years relevant experience, a work or client relationship at least 3 months old (company existing at least 1 year), private health insurance valid in Spain, clean criminal record, and Spanish clients no more than about 20 percent of income.

Tax and residency

183+ days = tax resident on worldwide income; Beckham regime can flat-tax Spanish income at 24%.(estimate)

The UK decides residence with its Statutory Residence Test (days in the UK plus your ties). As a non-resident you are usually taxed only on UK income; where one exists, a double-tax treaty with the destination decides who taxes what.

Double-tax treaty:yes, in force since 2014

Practical

Currency:EUR. Cost of living:mid.

Healthcare:For visits there is no reciprocal public health agreement except for UK nationals using a GHIC or valid EHIC; residents access care via social security or private cover, which the Digital Nomad Visa requires.

Healthcare agreement:A UK GHIC or valid EHIC covers medically necessary state healthcare for visits.

Driving:An International Driving Permit is recommended alongside the home licence for short visits, and residents must obtain or exchange for a Spanish licence.

Sources: Spain, Ministry of Foreign Affairs · GOV.UK: tax on foreign income · HMRC: double-taxation treaties

Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.

Should you move to Spain?

If you want warm coasts, walkable cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia) and a cost of living below most of Western Europe, Spain is hard to beat. Since 2023 it has been one of the easier large EU countries for remote workers to settle in legally, and the lifestyle is the real draw.

Spain digital nomad visa and entry

EU and EEA citizens move freely. If you are from outside the EU, the main door is the Spain digital nomad visa. You prove steady remote income, a clean record and private health cover, and you are in. The income bar is tied to Spain’s minimum wage, so it drifts upward each year. For 2026 a solo applicant needs roughly 2,850 euros a month (about 34,200 euros a year), with more required if family come along. The old golden investment visa closed in April 2025, so that shortcut is gone. Short trips still follow the Schengen 90 in 180 days rule.

Tax residency and the 183-day rule

Stay more than 183 days in a calendar year and Spain will generally treat you as a tax resident, taxed on your worldwide income. The Beckham regime is the escape hatch many new arrivals chase. It can cap Spanish-source income at a flat 24 percent and leave most foreign income outside the net, but the rules are tight (you must move for work and not have been a Spanish resident in the prior five years). Confirm you actually qualify before you build a plan around it.

Cost of living in Spain

Living in Spain runs cheaper than northern Europe, though Madrid and Barcelona rents have climbed hard. A solo nomad lands somewhere around 1,500 to 2,500 euros a month all in, depending on the city. Valencia, Seville or Granada sit at the low end. The big two cities push you toward the top, mostly on rent. Food stays kind. Markets, cheap menús del día and a bottle of decent wine for a few euros all help. One trap to plan for: if you go self-employed (autónomo), social security and a gestor add a fixed monthly cost that lighter guides tend to skip.

Figures are estimates. Always check the official source linked below.

At a glance

Currency
EUR
Cost of living
Moderate
Digital-nomad visa
Yes
Tax & residency
183+ days = tax resident on worldwide income; Beckham regime can flat-tax Spanish income at 24%.

Frequently asked questions

Spain: is there a digital nomad visa?
Digital Nomad Visa (Startups Law). Remote workers for non-Spanish companies with a degree or about 3 years relevant experience, a work or client relationship at least 3 months old (company existing at least 1 year), private health insurance valid in Spain, clean criminal record, and Spanish clients no more than about 20 percent of income.
Spain: when do you become a tax resident?
183+ days = tax resident on worldwide income; Beckham regime can flat-tax Spanish income at 24%.
Spain: what is the cost of living?
The cost of living is moderate and the local currency is the EUR. Treat any figures as estimates.
Spain: do you need health insurance?
For visits there is no reciprocal public health agreement except for UK nationals using a GHIC or valid EHIC; residents access care via social security or private cover, which the Digital Nomad Visa requires.
Spain: can you drive on a foreign licence?
An International Driving Permit is recommended alongside the home licence for short visits, and residents must obtain or exchange for a Spanish licence.

Terms worth knowing

Europe: more countries to explore

Put it to work

Last verified: 2026-06-24

Sources: Spain — Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Voymo gives general information to help you organise your move. It is not legal, tax, or immigration advice, always confirm with an official source or a qualified professional before you act.

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