Relokato / Destinations / Spain
🇪🇸 Spain
Non-Lucrative and Digital Nomad residence routes, NIE, padrón and TIE — with deadlines and the official source for each step.
21
Tasks in your Spain playbook
5 yr
LAU lease protection by default
24%
Beckham Law income tax rate
€0
To start your plan
Pick your route
Residence routes
published by the Spanish government.
Non-Lucrative Visa
Non-Lucrative Visa
No work in Spain. Prove ~€2,400/month passive income (IPREM × 4) plus ~€600/month per dependant. Renewable, leads to permanent residency in 5 years.
Digital Nomad Visa
Digital Nomad Visa
Work remotely for non-Spanish clients. ~€2,650/month income (200% of SMI). Eligible for the Beckham Law 24% flat tax. Leads to permanent residency in 5 years.
Your roadmap
Four phases, in the
right order.
Phase 1
Immigration
- Background check + apostille
- Vital records apostille
- Decide visa type
- Private health insurance
- Consulate appointment
Phase 2
Housing
- Research neighborhoods
- What to ship vs leave
- Temporary accommodation
- Open Spanish bank account
- Sign LAU lease
Phase 3
Financial
- Beckham Law within 6 months
- Modelo 720 if foreign assets > €50k
- Spanish NIF / Hacienda
- Notify home tax authority
Phase 4
Post-arrival
- NIE at Comisaría
- Empadronamiento (padrón)
- TIE within 30 days
- Centro de Salud
- SIM, groceries, furnish
Special regime · Art. 93 LIRPF
The Beckham Law could save you
tens of thousands in tax.
If you qualify — DNV holders, new employment contracts, highly qualified professionals — you can be taxed at a flat 24% on Spanish income (up to €600,000) for the year of your move and the following 5 tax periods. The election window is 6 months from social security registration. Miss it and you can't go back.
Relokato tracks the deadline, surfaces the right form (Modelo 149), and walks you through eligibility — so you don't lose the regime to a missed date.
24% flat rate6-month windowModelo 149 electionUp to 6 tax years
Where you'll land
The four cities
most movers choose.
Madrid
Career & community
Strongest job market, biggest DNV community, central transport hub. Higher rents than Valencia or Málaga.
Madrid data →Barcelona
Lifestyle & coast
Best weather-to-city balance, beach + mountains, vibrant international scene. Tightest rental market.
Barcelona data →Valencia
Best value
Mediterranean coast at half the cost of Barcelona. Growing remote-work scene, paella, sunshine.
Valencia data →Málaga
Sun & retirees
Year-round warmth, booming with retirees and digital nomads. Costa del Sol airport, English-friendly.
Common questions
Things people ask
before they commit.
How long does the whole process take?
Typically 3–6 months from background check to landing in Spain. Consulate appointments are the main bottleneck — book early. Once in Spain, padrón → TIE → bank → healthcare usually takes 4–8 weeks more.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
Helpful but not required for the visa. After arrival, basic Spanish makes empadronamiento, healthcare and lease signing far easier — most appointments are not in English.
Can I bring my family?
Yes — both NLV and DNV allow dependants (spouse + children). You'll need to prove additional income (~€600/month per dependant on NLV) and provide each family member's documents.
What about my US/UK/Brazil taxes?
Spain has tax treaties with 100+ countries. Your home-country tax obligations don't disappear — you'll likely need a tax advisor who understands both systems. Relokato reminds you to file home-country notifications (IRS Form 8822, HMRC P85, etc.).
Is Relokato a lawyer or gestor?
No. Relokato is a planning tool — a personalised playbook with deadlines, official sources, and step-by-step guides. For the visa application itself and tax filings, we recommend working with a Spanish gestor.
Ready for
España?
España?
Free to start · No credit card · 10 minutes to your full plan