Always wanted to move to Spain? A new digital nomad visa is expected to launch this January

Spain is poised to introduce a digital nomad visa that would give non-EU nationals the chance to live and work there for up to five years.

The scheme, recently approved by parliament, is expected to pass in January 2023. If it goes ahead as planned, the country will join a number of other European nations that have introduced some form of digital nomad scheme in the last few years including Italy, Greece, Croatia and Portugal.

When plans were first announced back in January 2022, the country was hoping to “attract and retain international and national talents by helping remote workers and digital nomads set up in Spain,” according to Economic Affairs Minister Nadia Calviño. Authorities estimated that it would help the country to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. 

It is part of a law recently passed by the Spanish Parliament called the Startup Act aimed at attracting entrepreneurship and bolstering the country's tech scene. 

With some of the best internet speeds in the EU, a low cost of living and plenty of warm weather, Spain is already a popular destination for remote workers.

The coastal city of Valencia was recently voted the best city for expats in the world and Madrid was also in the top 10. In December, three of the country’s villages came out top in UNWTO's annual ranking of the best villages for tourism across the globe, while a Spanish town is officially home to the most beautiful street in Europe, according to UNESCO.

So how could the new digital nomad visa make living and working in the country easier and cheaper?

Though details are still being finalised, it's thought that the scheme will be open to people who work remotely for non-Spanish companies. Anyone looking to apply for a digital nomad visa will