Spain’s Digital Nomad Permit: How to Avoid Common Mistakes

Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa (officially the International Teleworker residence permit under Law 14/2013) has quickly become one of the most attractive immigration pathways for remote workers.

At our firm, we maintain a success rate above 95%.

Based on that experience, this is a practical, real-world checklist of the most frequent mistakes we see, and how you can avoid them to submit a clean, strong file the first time.

1. Not Preparing the Application Before Traveling to Spain

This is our strongest recommendation: prepare and collect all required documents before you travel.

Many applicants assume they will “finalize everything once in Spain,” only to discover that essential documents take weeks or even months to obtain in their home country.

By then, your 90-day Schengen countdown is already working against you.

2. Not Getting Expert Legal Guidance Early Enough

The process may look straightforward, and many applicants assume they can do it alone.

However, correcting mistakes after you arrive in Spain, or once the process has already begun, is often difficult.

Two timing issues make this critical:

• Your 90-day Schengen allowance passes faster than expected.
• If you submit an incomplete application, UGE usually gives you only 10 days to correct it (subsanación).

Understanding the requirements in advance is essential, and good legal guidance can save you months of delay and unnecessary stress.

3. Lack of Legalization or Apostilles

Foreign public documents must be legalized or apostilled. This process can take several weeks or months, depending on your country.

Documents that generally require apostille include:

• Criminal background checks
• Diplomas and academic records
• Certificates of incorporation or good standing (for client companies)
• Birth and marriage certificates (when applications include family members)

Using an apostille service can significantly speed things up and reduce administrative stress.

4. Incorrect Translations

Some documents must be translated into Spanish — but not all of them. Applicants often either:

• Translate unnecessary documents (which is expensive), or
• Fail to translate required documents (which risks rejection).

Translations must be done by a sworn translator in Spain (traductor jurado).

They usually accept scanned copies and are often more affordable than translators abroad.

5. Not Getting Expert Tax Advice

Many applicants assume they will qualify for the Beckham Tax Regime, but not all profiles are eligible.

A short consultation with a Spanish tax advisor before starting your visa process can:

• Prevent false expectations
• Help you choose the most appropriate structure (employee vs. contractor, EOR, etc.)
• Ensure your immigration plan and tax plan actually align

6. Document-Related Mistakes in Your Spain Digital Nomad Visa Application

Now let’s look at the errors we see most often in the documents themselves.

Passport Issues

Make sure your passport is:

• Valid for at least one year, and
• In good condition (no serious damage or missing pages).

If you enter Spain through another Schengen country, remember to request a Declaración de Entrada upon arrival so you can prove legal entry.

Using Bank Accounts or Financial Proof That Don’t Match the Applicant

Frequent issues include:

• Using joint accounts without proof of ownership
• Providing screenshots instead of official statements

Your proof of income should clearly show:

• Your name
• The name of your employer or client
• Traceable payment sources

Payments that go through third-party platforms can complicate your file if it’s not clear where the funds are coming from.

Missing or Incorrect Proof of Relationship With Your Main Client

UGE carefully examines whether your work relationship is continuous and stable, especially if you are a freelancer.

Avoid:

• Submitting only invoices without a contract
• Providing a contract that is expired, too short, or does not match reality

You must include:

• A service or employment contract
• Recent invoices or payslips
• Proof of payment (bank statements)

Submitting Contracts That Don’t Explicitly Allow Remote Work

A major weakness in many applications is that the employment or freelancer contract never states that the work can be performed remotely.

If this clause is missing, ask your employer or client to:

• Sign an updated contract, or
• Sign a remote-work statement confirming that your duties can be performed from Spain

This is especially important for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa.

Not Providing Proof That Your Client Is a Legitimate, Active Company

Your employer or main client must be:

• Registered outside Spain, and
• Active for at least one year

Useful documents include:

• An apostilled certificate of good standing
• An extract from the relevant commercial registry or chamber of commerce
• Basic company information (website, registration number, etc.)

Insufficient Proof of Skills (Degree or Experience)

You must demonstrate either:

• A university degree (apostilled), or
• At least three years of professional experience in a similar role

If you rely on experience, provide:

• Letters of experience or recommendation
• Employment records or contracts
• Official translations where required

The stronger and clearer your professional profile, the better.

Misunderstanding the Social Security Requirements (A1 / Certificate of Coverage)

This is one of the most confusing parts of the process.

Common mistakes include:

• Assuming the Certificate of Coverage (A1) is optional
• Believing that freelancers can use an A1 (they cannot)
• Failing to plan for Spanish Social Security registration after approval

Your Social Security strategy must match your work setup (employee vs. contractor) and be consistent with the rest of your file.

Submitting Criminal Records That Are Too Old

For in-country digital nomad applications, criminal records should ideally be no older than 90 days at the time of submission.

Always:

• Obtain the certificate
• Get the apostille or legalization
• Then arrange the official translation into Spanish

Final Thoughts: Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa Is Accessible, If You Prepare Carefully

Most rejections are preventable.

By preparing your documents in advance, understanding how the Spanish authorities review applications, and avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be in a much stronger position for approval.