Preparing the documentation for a digital nomad visa in Spain involves more than just gathering an employment contract, a few bank statements, and a criminal background check. The Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE) verifies that all documents are authentic, up-to-date, and consistent with one another.
Recently, there has been an increase in applications for work permits for international telecommuters. In addition, the repeated submission of incorrect documentation—and, in some cases, documentation with authenticity issues—has led to more rigorous checks.
On the other hand, it is important to pay attention to every detail. An incomplete form, an unsigned bank statement, income that does not match pay stubs, or a business letter that is too generic can result in a request for additional information, the dismissal of the case, or even an unfavorable decision.
In this article, we will explain which documents the UGE currently requires for an initial residence permit for international remote work and what aspects you should review before submitting your application.
Important note: The exact documentation required depends on the applicant’s nationality, country of residence, employment or professional status, family situation, and personal circumstances. In addition, those applying for a visa from their home country should check the specific requirements of the relevant Spanish consulate. This article focuses primarily on authorization processed through the UGE from Spain and is current as of August 2026.
Who can apply for authorization to work remotely from Spain?
This authorization is intended for nationals of countries outside the European Union who wish to reside in Spain while working remotely for companies located outside Spanish territory, using exclusively computer, telematic, and telecommunications means.
An application for a residence permit may be filed, among other cases, by a person who is legally in Spain as a tourist or with another stay or residence permit. The UGE also handles notifications of changes that affect the conditions of a permit that has already been granted. Another way to apply for a visa is through the Spanish consulate corresponding to the applicant’s place of residence (this option is less efficient and not highly recommended).
List of Documents Required for the Digital Nomad Visa in Spain
Although each case requires an individual review, these are the main categories of documents that should be reviewed.
1. Application and Authorization Form
The appropriate official form must be submitted, duly completed and signed by the teleworker.
It is essential to verify that your first name, last name, date of birth, nationality, address, and passport information match exactly with the rest of your documentation.
If the application is filed through an attorney or other legal representative, documentation must be provided authorizing that person to sign and file the application on behalf of the applicant.
2. Valid passport and proof of legal residence
The UGE requires that official documentation include a legible copy of a valid passport or travel document. The list published by the Unit itself states that all pages must be submitted, even if they are blank. It is not necessary for the document to have one year of validity remaining; it is sufficient that it is currently valid.
It is also necessary to prove that the person is legally in Spain when the authorization is requested from within Spanish territory. Depending on the case, the entry stamp, the entry declaration, a previous residence card, a visa, or travel documents may be relevant.
You should not wait until the last day of your legal stay to submit your application. If a problem arises with the scan, the electronic signature, the fee payment, or any of the documents, there may not be enough time to correct it.
3. Administrative fee
The application must be accompanied by proof of payment of the corresponding fee using the applicable official form. If the payment does not appear on the form itself, a bank or electronic payment receipt must also be attached.
4. A contract and prior employment relationship of at least three months
The applicant must provide proof of an employment or professional relationship with one or more foreign companies for at least the three months prior to the application.
Depending on whether the individual is an employee or a self-employed professional, the following may be submitted:
- Employment Contract with a Foreign Company.
- Commercial contract or service agreement.
- Supporting documentation that verifies the start date and the continuity of the relationship (for example, a document confirming the renewal or extension of a contract).
The documented relationship must correspond to the category under which the application is filed. A prior employment relationship does not automatically serve as proof of a professional relationship, nor does the reverse hold true.
5. The foreign company must have been actively engaged in business for at least one year
It is not enough to prove that the company formally exists. It must be demonstrated that it has been engaged in actual, ongoing business activity for at least one year.
The UGE requires an official certificate from the commercial registry or an equivalent document from the country where the company is incorporated. This certificate must allow for verification of the company’s existence, validity, date of incorporation, and, where applicable, its business activities.
If the document is a foreign public document, you will need to verify whether it must be submitted with an apostille or legalized and accompanied by a certified translation into Spanish.
6. Letter from the company authorizing remote work from Spain
The company letter is one of the most important documents in the file. A general authorization to “work remotely” may not be sufficient.
According to the UGE’s official documentation, the letter should identify and explain:
- The applicant’s job title or professional profile.
- The main functions implemented.
- The ability to perform these functions remotely.
- Express authorization to work from Spain.
- Salary or compensation in euros.
- The other conditions under which the activity will be conducted remotely.
The content must match the contract, pay stubs or invoices, the resume, and the company’s actual structure. When the job duties involve on-site management, personnel supervision, production oversight, or in-person visits, a particularly detailed explanation may be necessary, emphasizing that the position allows for the tasks to be performed entirely remotely.
7. Pay stubs or invoices from the last three months
To verify income from remote work, the UGE form requires pay stubs or invoices for the three months prior to submission.
These documents must match:
- The employment or professional contract.
- The compensation specified in the company’s letter.
- Funds received in the bank account.
- The true nature of the relationship: employment or business.
Invoices must be properly issued and must identify the service provider, the client company, the service provided, the billing period, and the amount.
8. Signed or stamped bank certificate
Banking documentation has become particularly important. The UGE requires a bank statement in the applicant’s name, signed or stamped by the bank, covering the previous three months and verifying receipt of the income derived from the contract.
Payments must correspond to the pay stubs or invoices provided. In addition, the official list states that relevant transactions must be marked or specifically identified to distinguish them from the rest.
A simple screenshot of a banking app may not provide sufficient assurance. Whenever possible, you should obtain a verifiable electronic certificate or document issued by the financial institution.
If your income from employment or self-employment does not meet the required minimum, you may need to provide proof of savings or other resources. However, these must represent a very small portion of your total income and should truly serve as a supplement.
9. Degree or Professional Experience
The applicant must demonstrate that they are a qualified professional in one of the following two ways:
- A university degree, or a degree from a prestigious business school, or a master’s degree, duly apostilled and, if necessary, translated.
- At least three years of professional experience in similar roles.
Therefore, the three years of experience are not an additional requirement for those who already hold an appropriate degree; rather, it is an alternative route.
When professional experience is used as evidence, the UGE may request an employment history or an equivalent official document, along with certificates from the companies where the applicant worked. These certificates must specify the dates and the duties performed. The documents must be consistent with one another and, where applicable, apostilled or legalized and translated. You may also submit tax records from previous years that verify this employment, Social Security reports, and pay stubs or invoices.
The employee’s resume must also be provided. According to the official list, a simple translation of the resume may be used when necessary, without prejudice to the requirements for certified translations applicable to public documents.
10. Social Security
The required documentation varies depending on the type of relationship:
Employee
In certain cases, coverage under the home country’s social security system may continue when there is a bilateral, multilateral, or other applicable international agreement that specifies the duration of coverage and confirms that the position is a remote work arrangement. In such cases, a certificate of applicable legislation issued by the competent authority must be provided, expressly stating that it covers the assignment for teleworking from Spain. Simply requesting the certificate is not sufficient.
Alternatively, the foreign company must register with the Spanish Social Security system as a company without a place of business in Spain and commit to enrolling the employee in the General Social Security System once authorization has been obtained and before commencing operations in Spain.
Self-employed professional
The professional must commit to registering with the Special Social Security System for Self-Employed Workers (RETA) after obtaining authorization and before beginning work in Spain.
Subsequent failure to comply with this obligation may affect the validity of the authorization. Therefore, after the authorization is granted, all proof of registration and contribution payments must be retained.
11. Criminal Record
The official documentation requires criminal background checks from the country or countries where the applicant has resided during the previous two years, except in certain cases where such checks have already been provided to obtain a prior Spanish authorization.
Applicants must also submit a sworn statement certifying that they have no criminal record in the countries where they have resided during the past five years.
Foreign certificates must be valid, apostilled or legalized as appropriate, and accompanied by a certified translation into Spanish.
12. Health insurance or health coverage
When the individual registers with the Spanish Social Security system after the grant is awarded, the UGE’s own list indicates that it will not be necessary to submit the health insurance documents required in other cases.
If you remain enrolled in the social security system of your country of origin and that system does not cover public health care in Spain, you must provide proof of public or private insurance with coverage equivalent to that of the National Health System.
Travel insurance, policies that are limited to reimbursement of medical expenses, and policies with copayments or waiting periods are not considered valid.
13. Additional Documentation for Business Owners
Self-employed individuals who are sole proprietors or have effective control of a foreign company must prepare additional documentation. The UGE expressly states:
- Proof of ownership or effective control of the company.
- Latest corporate income tax return.
- Verification of investments in productive assets.
- Report from the Social Security agency in the country of origin detailing the company’s employee history, or a similar document.
These files require particularly careful review, because they must demonstrate both the company’s actual business activities and the nature of the professional relationship, as well as how the revenue is generated.
Apostille, Legalization, and Certified Translation
Public documents issued by foreign authorities must be duly apostilled or legalized, unless an applicable treaty provides for an exemption.
If they are not written in Spanish, they must be accompanied by the corresponding translation. For public documents, a certified translation by an authorized translator or interpreter, or through one of the officially recognized channels, is normally required.
The translation should not be apostilled in place of the original document. First, determine whether the foreign document needs to be legalized or apostilled, and then translate the entire document, including the apostille.
Common Mistakes When Preparing Documentation
The most common problems are:
- Using an outdated checklist or one intended for a different consulate.
- Submitting bank statements without a signature, stamp, or verification system, or simply screenshots.
- Failure to identify the revenue corresponding to payroll or invoices.
- Submitting a business letter that is too brief or contradicts the contract.
- Confusing an employment relationship with a professional relationship.
- Submit public documents without an apostille, legalization, or certified translation.
- Failure to provide proof of the company’s actual business activity for at least one year through the corresponding certificate from the Commercial Registry.
- Verifying work experience solely through personal letters when official documentation, such as contracts or pay stubs, is available.
- Failure to properly assess Social Security obligations (in the case of employees).
- Provide different information on the form, passport, certificates, and contracts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Documents for Digital Nomads
How many months’ worth of pay stubs, bills, and bank statements are required?
The UGE’s official list requires documentation covering the three months prior to submission. Depending on the circumstances of the case, additional evidence may be required.
Is a statement downloaded from online banking acceptable?
Its format and verifiability must be reviewed. The UGE requires a bank statement in the account holder’s name, signed or stamped by the financial institution, with the relevant transactions identified. A screenshot without verifiable information may not be sufficient.
Do all documents need to be apostilled?
No. The apostille or legalization generally applies to foreign public documents when applicable. Private documents require a different assessment. Unnecessarily apostilling all documents can increase costs and delay the application.
Do all documents require a certified translation?
Foreign public documents that are not in Spanish must be accompanied by a valid translation that meets official requirements. Other documents may be handled differently; for example, the UGE’s list allows for a simple translation of a resume. It is advisable to review each document before ordering translations.
Can the UGE request the originals?
Yes. Even if the application is submitted electronically, the Administration may request additional documentation or the presentation of originals. These must be retained throughout the entire processing period.
Is it enough to submit all the documents on the list?
Not necessarily. The documents must consistently demonstrate compliance with each requirement, since, depending on the case, a particular document may not be necessary. The UGE itself recommends attaching an explanatory letter when the documentation does not exactly match what was requested.
Professional review before submitting the application
A complete set of documents is not merely a collection of files. The contract, the company letter, pay stubs or invoices, bank statements, work experience, the company’s business activities, and Social Security records must be consistent and coherent with one another, as well as clear to the official responsible for evaluating the case.
At Sigma Seis Abogados, we review each case individually, identify potential inconsistencies, and assist our clients throughout the preparation, submission, and follow-up of their residence permit applications for international remote work.
If you are gathering the documentation to apply for a digital nomad visa in Spain or want to know if your case meets the current UGE requirements, you can schedule a consultation with our team in Valencia or do so online from any country.
Schedule a consultation with Sigma Seis Abogados before submitting your case file.
Official sources
- Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration: Documentation for Initial Applications by International Remote Workers.
- Large Enterprises and Strategic Groups Unit: international teleworkers.
- Law 14/2013 on Support for Entrepreneurs and Their Internationalization, Consolidated Text.
- UGE: Frequently Asked Questions About International Remote Workers.
