Will the Income Requirement for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa Increase in 2026?
If you’re considering applying for or keeping Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa in 2026, you might want to start thinking about your earnings. There’s a strong chance that the income requirement will go up next year. Let’s break it down.
What is Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa?
Spain introduced the Digital Nomad Visa, known as “visado de teletrabajador de carácter internacional,” at the start of 2023. This visa allows non-EU citizens to live and work remotely from Spain. By the end of 2024, more than 28,000 people from different countries had successfully obtained this visa, according to Spain’s Ministry of Inclusion and Immigration.
One of the most important requirements for getting this visa is proving your income. You need to show that you earn at least 200% of Spain’s minimum wage. This means if you’re working remotely for a foreign company or are self-employed, your monthly income needs to meet a specific threshold.
Current Minimum Wage in Spain
As of early 2025, Spain’s minimum wage (or SMI, “salario mínimo interprofesional”) is set at €1,184 gross per month, which translates to an annual income of about €16,576. When you break that down into monthly payments for the entire year, it averages about €1,381.33 each month. If you multiply this by 200%, you will find that in 2025, you need to earn approximately €2,763 monthly to qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa.
What Changes are Expected for 2026?
The discussions about what the new minimum wage will be for 2026 are ongoing. The Spanish government, along with labor unions, is in talks about increasing the minimum wage to around 60% of the average salary in Spain.
Currently, the average salary in Spain is around €2,290 gross per month, or about €32,000 per year. If the new minimum wage rises to 60% of that average, it could set the SMI at about €19,200 gross per year. This would be approximately €1,371 a month when considering 14 payments, but €1,600 when divided across 12 months.
Projected Income Requirements for 2026
Based on these calculations, if the income requirement is adjusted, you may have to show earnings of about €3,200 per month for the Digital Nomad Visa next year. Some estimates suggest it could also be slightly lower, around €3,033.20 per month.
What does this mean for you? Well, if you are currently required to earn €2,763 per month, this is quite a significant increase. To put it in perspective, €3,200 is around $3,731 USD or £2,810 GBP based on today’s exchange rates.
Understanding the Changes
The Secretary General of the Spanish trade union UGT, Pepe Álvarez, emphasizes that the minimum wage should clearly reflect the cost of living, indicating that it should be higher than the current inflation rates. According to his calculations, the wage might need to be revised to about €1,300 gross each month, leading to an annual gross income of €18,200.
So, whether the figure lands at €3,200 or €3,033.20, it’s a notable leap from current requirements. And as the discussions continue, it will become clearer what the actual numbers will be for applicants and current holders of the Digital Nomad Visa in Spain.
Anticipation and Next Steps
The anticipated changes likely mean that anyone applying for or maintaining their Digital Nomad Visa in 2026 should prepare for a considerable increase in income requirements. If new minimum wage rates are approved, existing and upcoming digital nomad visa holders might find themselves needing to earn between €270 and €473 more each month.
In conclusion, if you’re planning to apply for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa, it’s essential to stay updated and adjust your financial expectations accordingly. Stay ahead of the game so that you’re ready when that application comes up!
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Original Text – https://www.thelocal.es/20251029/will-the-income-requirement-for-spains-digital-nomad-visa-increase-in-2026