🇪🇸 Spain nomad visa: the income requirement

Last checked: 15 November 2026 · official government source

The Spain digital nomad visa requires about €2,849 per month for a single applicant, and that is a gross figure, before tax (verified 15 November 2026).

Expected change on 1 January 2027: the bar is expected to rise to about €3,001/month (about €1,125 for a partner and €375 per child). This is not law yet, but it is the figure to plan around. The Labour Ministry's draft royal decree of 5 November 2026 proposes an SMI of €1,286 over 14 payments. It was open for public comment until 16 November, the government's expert committee had suggested a lower €1,281 and unions want more, so the final figure can still move. If your application will be decided on or after that date, budget against the new figure, not today's.

The detail that matters: 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI). The 2026 SMI is €1,221/month over 14 payments (Royal Decree 126/2026, in force since February 2026), which is €1,424.50 a month spread across twelve, and 200% of that is €2,849/month. Spanish consulates do not all convert the SMI the same way: some work from the annual figure divided by twelve, as we do, while others take the €1,221 payment itself, which gives €2,442. We use the higher reading because no consulate refuses on it; if your income falls between the two, ask the consulate handling your file which one it applies. Add 75% of the SMI for the first family member (€1,068) and 25% for each additional dependent (€356). At least 80% of your income must come from outside Spain. A draft for 2027 would lift the bar to about €3,001/month; until it is approved, the 2026 figures stand.

⚠️ This is general information, not legal, immigration, tax or insurance advice. Rules change often, so always confirm the current requirements with the official government source before you apply.

How the number works

Spain's threshold isn't a round number someone picked: like most of Europe, it's produced by a formula, which is why it moves. When the underlying reference value changes, the visa bar changes with it, usually without much announcement. That's how most out-of-date guides get people refused: the formula updated, the article didn't. We re-verify this page monthly, and the date at the top is real.

Proving it

Expect to show bank statements, payslips or invoices for the months before you apply, plus contracts showing the income continues. Two practical notes: consulates generally average your recent months rather than taking your best one, and remote income should come from clients or employers outside Spain.

Bringing a partner or children

The headline figure is for one person applying alone. Spain adds to it: about €1,068/month for a partner and €356/month per child. A couple with one child is therefore looking at roughly €4,273/month, not €2,849, a difference big enough to change which country you apply to.

How it's calculated: 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each additional dependent, on top of the applicant's own figure.

Run your household through the income checker →

If you clear it, the next filter is insurance

Income rejections are predictable; insurance rejections are the surprise. Full private health insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with coverage equivalent to the public system, NO co-payments and NO waiting periods.

The Spain insurance requirement, decoded →

Quick answers

How much income do I need for the Spain digital nomad visa?

The Spain digital nomad visa requires about €2,849 per month for a single applicant, and that is a gross figure, before tax (verified 15 November 2026). From 1 January 2027 the Spain bar is expected to rise to about €3,001/month (expected, not yet law). 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI). The 2026 SMI is €1,221/month over 14 payments (Royal Decree 126/2026, in force since February 2026), which is €1,424.50 a month spread across twelve, and 200% of that is €2,849/month. Spanish consulates do not all convert the SMI the same way: some work from the annual figure divided by twelve, as we do, while others take the €1,221 payment itself, which gives €2,442. We use the higher reading because no consulate refuses on it; if your income falls between the two, ask the consulate handling your file which one it applies. Add 75% of the SMI for the first family member (€1,068) and 25% for each additional dependent (€356). At least 80% of your income must come from outside Spain. A draft for 2027 would lift the bar to about €3,001/month; until it is approved, the 2026 figures stand.

How do I prove my income for the Spain visa?

Consulates typically want documentary evidence covering the months before you apply: bank statements, payslips or client invoices, plus an employment contract or client agreements showing the income is ongoing and earned remotely from outside Spain. Exact document lists vary by consulate, so check the official source before filing.

How much more income do I need to bring my family to Spain?

Spain raises the bar by about €1,068/month for a partner and €356/month per child, so a couple with one child needs roughly €4,273/month rather than €2,849. 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each additional dependent, on top of the applicant's own figure.

What if my income is below the Spain threshold?

You won't clear the Spain bar, but 2 other countries on our list have a lower threshold: Italy (€2,125/mo), Bulgaria (€2,584/mo). Run the income checker to see every visa you qualify for.

Check your income against every visa at once →
Full Spain visa guide →
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