Key facts
- Income for one person
- 200% of the monthly SMI: 2,442 EUR a month in 2026 1
- First family member
- +75% of the SMI: 916 EUR a month 1
- Each additional family member
- +25% of the SMI: 306 EUR a month 1
- SMI 2026
- 1,221 EUR a month, at least 17,094 EUR a year 5
- Visa length
- Up to 1 year from a consulate; residence permit up to 3 years from Spain 1
The official basis: 200% of the SMI
Spanish consulates set the income for the remote work visa as a monthly amount equal to 200% of the interprofessional minimum wage (salario mínimo interprofesional, SMI) 3 4. Family members who come with you add 1 3:
- 75% of the SMI for the first family member;
- 25% of the SMI for each additional family member.
The SMI for 2026 is set by Royal Decree 126/2026: 1,221 EUR a month, with an annual minimum of 17,094 EUR, applying from 1 January to 31 December 2026 5. The annual figure equals 14 monthly payments of 1,221 EUR, the Spanish custom of two extra payments a year.
The procedure page for applications made inside Spain notes that the law itself does not set a specific amount or a specific document for the income 7. The 200% rule is the yardstick the consulates publish and apply.
The 2026 figures by family size
The Washington consulate publishes the 2026 amounts: 2,442 EUR a month for the applicant, 916 EUR for the first family member and 306 EUR for each further one 1. Added up (our calculation):
| People | % of the SMI | Per month (14 payments) | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 200% | 2,442 EUR | 34,188 EUR |
| 2 | 275% | 3,358 EUR | 47,012 EUR |
| 3 | 300% | 3,664 EUR | 51,296 EUR |
| 4 | 325% | 3,970 EUR | 55,580 EUR |
The yearly column multiplies the consulate's rounded monthly figures by 14. If you are paid 12 times a year, divide the yearly figure by 12: for one person that is 2,849 EUR a month.
Why sites quote 2,762 EUR or 2,849 EUR
Most figures you see online are the same 200% rule applied to a different year or a different number of payments:
| Figure | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| 2,368 EUR | 200% of the 2025 SMI of 1,184 EUR a month 6 |
| 2,762 EUR | 200% of the 2025 annual SMI of 16,576 EUR, spread over 12 months 6 |
| 2,442 EUR | 200% of the 2026 SMI of 1,221 EUR a month 5 1 |
| 2,849 EUR | 200% of the 2026 annual SMI of 17,094 EUR, spread over 12 months 5 |
The 2,762 EUR figure is out of date: it uses the 2025 minimum wage. The 2,849 EUR figure is the 2026 threshold expressed in 12 payments, and 2,442 EUR is the same threshold in 14 payments. Both describe the same annual amount of 34,188 EUR. Consulates publish the 14-payment figure 1.
Applying at a consulate
You apply at the Spanish consulate responsible for the place where you live legally. Three examples:
- Washington, D.C. covers D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. From 1 September 2026 telework visa applications are filed in person, by appointment only, at the BLS Spain Visa Application Center in Washington 1. The consulate's general page says that from 1 October 2026 almost all visa applications go through BLS 2. The fee is 190 USD for US citizens and 106 USD for other nationals, revised quarterly 1.
- London takes applications at the BLS Spain Visa Application Centre, 20 St Andrew Street, London EC4A 3AG 3.
- New Delhi takes applications at BLS visa centres with a prior appointment 4.
The Washington page lists the other conditions 1:
- you work for companies located outside Spain; as a freelancer, work for Spanish clients may not exceed 20% of your activity;
- you have worked with the company, or with your clients, for at least the last three months;
- the company has had real and continuous activity for at least one year;
- you hold a degree or postgraduate degree from a university of recognised prestige, or have at least three years of professional experience;
- health insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with no deductible, copayment or coverage limit; travel insurance is not accepted.
The legal deadline for a decision is 10 days from when BLS forwards the documents to the consulate, and it can be extended if an interview or more documents are needed; and the visa is valid for up to one year 1.
Applying from inside Spain through the UGE
If you are already in Spain legally, you can apply for the remote work residence permit directly in Spain 1. Applications go to the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE) under Law 14/2013, online with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, or through a public registry 7.
You must not be in an irregular situation when you apply. The fastest resolution time is 20 business days, the permit is granted for three years, and the fee is paid with form 790, code 038 7. The Washington consulate gives the same three-year maximum for permits granted in Spain 1.
Step by step
- Step 1 of 4Count your household
Add 200% of the SMI for you, 75% for the first family member and 25% for each further one 1.
- Step 2 of 4Check your income
Compare your monthly income with 2,442 EUR for one person in 2026, or 34,188 EUR a year 1. Convert foreign currency at a conservative rate.
- Step 3 of 4Gather proof
Collect your employment contract or client contracts, proof of at least three months of work with them and proof that the company has existed for a year 1.
Questions
What is the income requirement for Spain's digital nomad visa in 2026?
200% of the monthly SMI. The Washington consulate states 2,442 EUR a month for one person in 2026 1.
Why do I see 2,762 EUR on other websites?
How much more do I need for my partner and child?
916 EUR a month for the first family member and 306 EUR for each additional one, according to the Washington consulate 1.
Can I apply from Spain as a tourist?
The UGE route requires you not to be in an irregular situation in Spain when you apply 7. Ask a Spanish immigration lawyer how this applies to your entry status.
Do I file at the consulate or at BLS in the US?
In the Washington jurisdiction, at the BLS Spain Visa Application Center, in person and by appointment, from 1 September 2026 1.
Before you rely on this
- The SMI is set every year. Use the figure in force on the day you apply 5.
- The Washington telework page gives 1 September 2026 for BLS filing, while the consulate's general page gives 1 October 2026 for all visas 1 2. Both dates have passed; check the page of your consulate.
- Fees in USD are revised quarterly by exchange rate 1.
- The yearly totals and the 12-payment figures are our calculations from the consulate figures and the BOE.
- Consulates in other countries may ask for different proof of income. Check the page of the consulate responsible for your residence.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the consulate or a lawyer before you apply.
Sources7 sources, 7 official
- Telework (Digital nomad) VisaofficialConsular Section of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C.
- Place of visa application submissionofficialConsular Section of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C.
- Visado de residencia para teletrabajo (nómada digital)officialConsulate General of Spain in London
- Digital nomad visaofficialEmbassy of Spain in New Delhi
- Real Decreto 126/2026, por el que se fija el salario mínimo interprofesional para 2026officialBoletín Oficial del Estado
- Real Decreto 87/2025, por el que se fija el salario mínimo interprofesional para 2025officialBoletín Oficial del Estado
- Residence application for digital nomadsofficialONE, Spanish Government
