Always wanted to move to Spain? A new digital nomad visa could let you stay for 5 years

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

If the scheme is approved, 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 and Croatia.

When plans were first announced back in January, 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 with rumours that the visa could be introduced as soon as January next year. 

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.

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 only be able to get a maximum of 20 per cent of their income from Spanish firms.

Applicants will need to be from outside of the European Economic Area. They will also need to be able to demonstrate that they have been working remotely for at least a year and have a contract of employment or, if freelancing, have been regularly employed by a company outside of Spain.

Anyone wanting to take advantage of the digital nomad scheme will have to prove that they