Renewing Your Spanish Digital Nomad Visa in 2026: Requirements, Documents and Common Problems

An updated guide to renewing your Spanish Digital Nomad residence permit, including the documentation requested by the UGE, Spanish tax returns, Social Security obligations and renewal deadlines.

Spain's Digital Nomad Visa has become a popular residence option for professionals working remotely for companies and clients abroad. For many applicants who obtained their residence permits in 2023 or 2024, the time to renew is now approaching.

Although the initial application may have been relatively straightforward, renewing your residence permit involves an important additional consideration: you must demonstrate that you have continued to meet the conditions under which your original authorisation was granted.

The Spanish immigration authorities, through the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE), examine your current employment or professional arrangements, financial circumstances and compliance with the applicable requirements.

In this guide, we explain what to expect when renewing your Digital Nomad residence permit in Spain.

1. How long is a Digital Nomad Visa renewal valid?

Under Article 74 quinquies of Law 14/2013, the initial Spanish residence authorisation for international remote workers can be granted for up to three years.

Provided the relevant requirements continue to be satisfied, the authorisation can subsequently be renewed for additional periods of two years.

An important distinction should be made between a Digital Nomad Visa issued by a Spanish consulate, generally valid for up to one year, and a residence authorisation issued by the UGE in Spain.

If you originally obtained a one-year consular visa, your next application may be for an initial residence authorisation rather than a renewal. The procedure and supporting documents can therefore differ.

2. What documents are required for renewal?

The UGE's electronic renewal platform identifies five main categories of mandatory documents for the principal applicant.

• Application fee — Modelo 790, Code 038: Applicants must provide the appropriate fee form and proof of payment. The fee for a renewal is different from the fee payable for an initial residence application.
• Valid passport: A copy of the passport information page is requested through the renewal platform. Additional passport documentation may be required depending on the circumstances.
• Signed application form: The relevant application form, known as Formulario MIT, must be completed and signed. Where possible, an electronic signature using a Spanish digital certificate is recommended.
• Current employment or professional contracts: Applicants must provide evidence of their ongoing relationship with the foreign employer or clients on which their residence authorisation is based. It is important that these contracts remain valid and accurately reflect the applicant's current working arrangements.
• Spanish tax returns for the previous two years: The renewal platform also requests complete copies of the Spanish tax returns submitted to the Spanish Tax Agency for the two tax years preceding the renewal application.

This last requirement deserves particular attention.

3. Spanish tax returns: an important consideration for renewals

One of the most significant aspects of the renewal process is the request for Spanish tax declarations. Depending on an applicant's circumstances, the relevant returns may include:

• Modelo 100: the ordinary Spanish personal income tax return.
• Modelo 151: the income tax return for individuals benefiting from the special expatriate tax regime, commonly known as the Beckham Law.
• Modelo 210: a non-resident income tax return, where applicable.

The correct form depends on the individual's Spanish tax position. Holding a Digital Nomad residence permit does not, by itself, determine which tax regime applies.

Can Immigration compare declared income with the financial requirements?

Yes. An applicant's Spanish tax returns can provide relevant evidence of their earnings during the period of residence.

The Digital Nomad residence authorisation requires applicants to demonstrate sufficient financial resources, with the principal applicant's minimum generally at €2,849/month (€34,188/year). Additional amounts apply where family members are included.

However, income reported in a tax return does not always correspond directly to the applicant's current salary or professional earnings. Differences may arise because of the timing of the move, changes in employment, the applicable tax regime or the distinction between gross and taxable income.

For that reason, a renewal should not be assessed solely by looking at one figure on a tax return.

Where necessary, updated employment contracts, payslips, invoices, bank statements and an explanation of the applicant's circumstances can help establish their current financial position.

4. Social Security: are you correctly registered?

Another important aspect of the renewal process is compliance with Spanish Social Security requirements. The correct arrangement depends primarily on whether the applicant is working as an employee or as a self-employed professional.

Self-employed Digital Nomads

Applicants carrying out a professional activity on a self-employed basis are generally required to register with the Spanish Social Security system as autónomos, under the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA). This is separate from registration with the Spanish Tax Agency.

An applicant who obtained residence approval but never completed the required Social Security registration may encounter serious difficulties when renewing.

Employees of foreign companies

Where the applicant works as an employee of a foreign company, the employer may need to register with the Spanish Social Security system and arrange the employee's contributions in Spain.

Alternatively, where an applicable international Social Security agreement permits continued coverage in the country of origin, the applicant may be able to rely on an appropriate certificate of coverage. For example, an A1 certificate may be relevant in qualifying European cross-border employment situations.

However, the existence of an international agreement does not automatically mean that every remote worker qualifies for an exemption from Spanish contributions. The certificate must be valid for teleworking and appropriate to the actual employment arrangement.

Importantly, applicants should not assume that an arrangement accepted when their initial permit was granted will necessarily remain valid throughout the renewal period.

Where there have been changes to the employer, the nature of the work or the Social Security coverage, these should be reviewed before applying.

5. What if you have changed jobs or become self-employed?

Digital Nomad residence permits are granted on the basis of specific employment or professional circumstances. A change from employment with a foreign company to independent contracting, for example, is not necessarily treated as a straightforward renewal.

Depending on the circumstances, it may be necessary to submit a new initial application reflecting the new professional relationship. Similarly, changes involving company ownership, directorships or the applicant's level of control over a foreign business can affect the correct classification of their activity and the applicable Social Security obligations. These changes can also have implications for applicants benefiting from the Beckham Law.

It is therefore advisable to review any significant change in working arrangements before the renewal deadline, rather than assuming that the original approval automatically covers the new situation.

6. When should you apply for renewal?

As a general rule, applicants should prepare their renewal during the 60 days preceding the expiry of their residence authorisation. Article 76.3 of Law 14/2013 also expressly allows renewal applications to be submitted within 90 days after the previous authorisation has expired.

The law provides that submitting a renewal extends the validity of the previous authorisation until the renewal procedure is resolved. This protection also applies to applications submitted within the 90-day period following expiry, without prejudice to the possibility of separate sanctioning proceedings. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend applying before expiry wherever possible.

Leaving the application until the last moment can create unnecessary complications, particularly if additional documentation is needed or the applicant has international travel plans.

Can you travel while your renewal is pending?

Travel requires particular care if your existing residence card has expired.

Although Spanish law provides for the extension of the residence authorisation while a qualifying renewal application is being processed, an expired TIE may create difficulties when travelling outside Spain and attempting to return.

Depending on the circumstances, an autorización de regreso (return authorisation) may be available.

Applicants should check their travel arrangements before leaving Spain rather than assuming that proof of a pending renewal will always be sufficient for re-entry.

7. Does renewing your Digital Nomad Visa affect the Beckham Law?

The Digital Nomad residence permit and the Beckham Law are separate legal regimes. Renewing your immigration authorisation does not automatically renew, extend or change your Beckham Law status. Nevertheless, the two can be closely connected.

For example, changing from employment to self-employment, becoming a controlling shareholder of a foreign company or modifying the relationship with your employer may have consequences under both immigration and tax legislation.

Applicants who benefit from the special tax regime should therefore consider the potential tax consequences before making changes to their professional arrangements.

8. What happens if your renewal is refused?

A refusal does not necessarily mean that the immigration authorities' assessment is correct or that the applicant has no further options. A refusal may arise from missing documents, inconsistencies in the information provided or a disagreement over whether the legal requirements have been satisfied.

Decisions issued by the UGE can generally be challenged through an administrative appeal known as a recurso de alzada.

It is therefore important to review both the grounds for refusal and the applicant's immigration position promptly, particularly where continued work in Spain or international travel is involved.

9. Preparing for a successful renewal

The best time to prepare for a Digital Nomad Visa renewal is well before the residence card expires. In particular, applicants should make sure that their employment or professional contracts remain valid, their earnings continue to satisfy the financial requirements, their Social Security arrangements are appropriate and their Spanish tax obligations have been properly assessed.

Where circumstances have changed since the original application, these should be reviewed in advance.



A Digital Nomad residence renewal is not simply an administrative formality. It is an opportunity for the immigration authorities to verify that the conditions supporting the original authorisation continue to be met.

Need help renewing your Spanish Digital Nomad Visa?

At SamirLaw, we advise international professionals and remote workers on Spanish immigration and tax matters, including Digital Nomad residence applications, renewals and the tax implications of relocating to Spain.

Our approach considers both immigration requirements and the applicant's wider Spanish tax position, helping identify potential complications before an application is submitted.

If your residence permit is approaching expiry, or your employment, Social Security or tax circumstances have changed since your original approval, we can help you review your position and prepare the appropriate application.

Contact SamirLaw to discuss your Digital Nomad Visa renewal.

Legal Notice: The information in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Tax and Immigration rules are subject to change and individual circumstances vary significantly. We strongly recommend seeking qualified legal advice before making any decisions based on this content.