If you are comparing the Spain Digital Nomad Visa to the Italy Digital Nomad Visa, then you should know that neither option will be outright better for everyone and it’s best to choose between the programs based on your circumstances. A major factor is the income requirement which is €28,000 per year for Italy and €34,200 for Spain.
Other decision drivers that we will discuss in our article include the benefits, eligibility requirements, application processes, country preference, and costs. By breaking down these factors, we, at Global Citizen Solutions, can help you to choose between the two programs with all the information at hand.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa vs Italy Digital Nomad Visa: Key Takeaways
Spain Digital Nomad Visa vs Italy Digital Nomad Visa Compared
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa allows non-EU remote workers to live and work legally in Spain. The initial residence permit is valid for three years if the application is submitted in Spain and for one year if the application is submitted at the Consulate of Spain in your home country.
It’s extendable for up to five years, with access to a 24% flat tax rate on income up to €600,000 for eligible individuals. Private health insurance is mandatory, and family members may be included with proof of the required additional income.
Italy Digital Nomad Visa
Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa targets highly qualified professionals working for a foreign employer. The visa is valid for one year, renewable annually, and must be applied for at an Italian Consulate abroad. Applicants become tax residents if they stay over 183 days and are subject to progressive tax rates (23%–43%).
Comprehensive medical insurance is required, and dependents can join if the main applicant applies at the consulate. The visa offers a path to permanent residency after five years and citizenship after ten years.
Spain vs Italy Digital Nomad Visa
Rules checked August 2026, and you should confirm the competent authority in your area before filing.
| Criteria | Spain | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Residence Permit | 1 or 3 years depending on where the application is submitted, renewable up to 5 years | 1 year, renewable annually with no fixed maximum |
| Minimum Annual Income | €34,200 | €28,000 |
| Tax Regime | 19% to 47% progressive rates with Beckham Law potential | 23% to 43% progressive rates with flat tax and inpatriate potential |
| Application Location | Spain or Spanish Consulate abroad | Italian Consulate abroad |
| Family Inclusion | Spouse or unmarried partner, children under 18, dependent children over 18, dependent parents with additional financial requirements | Spouse or partner, children under 18 with additional financial requirements |
| Health Insurance | Comprehensive private policy required | Comprehensive private policy required |
| Visa-Free Travel | Yes, within Schengen Area for 90 days in any 180-day period | Yes, within Schengen Area for 90 days in any 180-day period |
| Permanent Residency Path | After 5 years | After 5 years |
| Citizenship Eligibility | After 10 years, with a reduction to 2 years for citizens of Ibero-American countries and certain others | After 10 years |
Spain Digital Nomad Visa vs Italy Digital Nomad Visa Benefits
Spain
- Special tax incentives: Spain offers a highly competitive special expat tax regime, allowing qualifying visa holders to pay a flat 24% income tax on earnings up to €600,000. Visa eligibility does not necessarily make you eligible for the expat tax regime.
- Simplified application routes: Applicants can submit their visa application from their home country or within Spain, offering greater flexibility.
- Digital hubs: Cities like Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, and Madrid are home to thriving digital nomad communities and coworking environments.
- European integration: Holding a Spanish residence permit allows free movement across Schengen countries for 90 days within a 180-day period.
- Path to long-term residency: After five years of continuous legal stay, digital nomads become eligible to apply for permanent residency in Spain.
Italy
- Quality of life and culture: Italy boasts a slower pace of life, modern infrastructure, and a very high standard of living that appeals to remote professionals. The country ranks 25th on the Quality-of-Life sub-index of our Global Passport Index.
- Family-friendly environment: Ideal for relocating with family members, Italy offers strong education, public healthcare, and supportive social systems. Additionally, Italy places 11th in the world on our Global Education Index.
- Professional prestige: The Italian digital nomad visa is designed for self-employed and highly qualified workers, enhancing credibility and mobility.
- Path to long-term residency: After five years of legal stay, applicants can apply for permanent residency, with a pathway to Italian citizenship after ten years.
- European integration: Holding an Italian residence permit allows free movement across Schengen countries for 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Familial work rights: Italy’s Interior Ministry confirmed that spouses and family members of DNV holders can now work in Italy without a labor-market test.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa vs Italy Digital Nomad Visa: Eligibility Requirements
| Eligibility criterion | Spain Digital Nomad Visa | Italy Digital Nomad Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Open to eligible non-EU/EEA nationals | Open to eligible non-EU/EEA nationals who meet the highly qualified-worker requirements |
| Work type | Remote employment or professional activity for companies outside Spain. Self-employed applicants may earn up to 20% of their income from Spanish clients | Highly qualified remote work performed through digital technology for foreign employers or clients; available to both employees and self-employed applicants |
| Prior relationship or experience | Employees must show at least three months’ employment with the foreign company before applying | Must show at least six months prior experience as a digital nomad or remote worker in the relevant activity |
| Qualifications | Relevant university degree, professional qualification, or at least three years of relevant professional experience | Must qualify as a highly qualified worker under Italian law, supported by the relevant degree, professional qualification, and/or legally accepted experience evidence |
| Criminal records | Certificates and declarations covering the relevant countries of residence, using the previous five-year period and certificates for the more recent residence period | Criminal-record documentation is required; the exact countries and period depend on the consular checklist and the applicant’s circumstances |
| Health insurance | Spanish public health coverage or compliant private health insurance; travel insurance is not accepted | Medical and hospitalization insurance valid throughout Italy for the period of stay; travel insurance is not accepted |
| Accommodation | Proof of suitable accommodation in Spain. | Proof of suitable accommodation in Italy; the evidence must meet the applicable consular and residence-permit requirements |
| Financial resources | €2,850 per month (€34,200 per year) | (€2,333.34 per month) €28,000 per year |
| Application channel | Consulate abroad for the visa, or UGE from within Spain for the residence authorization if the applicant is lawfully present | Competent Italian consulate for the national visa when applying abroad; after arrival, the residence permit is requested through the local Questura |
Spain Digital Nomad Visa vs Italy Digital Nomad Visa: Application Process
Spain Digital Nomad Visa application process
A person legally in Spain may apply directly for an international telework residence authorization, valid for up to three years. While those outside of Spain will need a consular telework visa that has a maximum validity of one year.
UGE-CE reorganized with a stricter fraud-focused team, and it’s now explicitly confirmed you cannot switch from a Non-Lucrative Visa into DNV status from inside Spain. The UGE has conducted stricter checks on the minimum six-month physical-presence rule, and there has been a crackdown on fake employment contracts.
- Gather required documents: Including a valid passport, proof of remote work (such as contracts or letters from a foreign employer), bank statements, private health insurance coverage, accommodation details, and a clean criminal record.
- Submit application: Apply for the one-year Digital Nomad Visa at a Spanish embassy in your home country or directly apply for the three-year Digital Nomad Residence Permit within Spain.
- Biometric submission: Provide biometrics as part of the application process.
- Residence permit application: If you applied for the visa from your home country, apply for the residence permit upon arrival in Spain.
- Obtain TIE (foreigner identity card): Once approved, wait approximately 30 days to receive your TIE.
- Register residence: Register your residence at the local City Hall (Certificado de Empadronamiento).
Processing time: Typically ranges from one to three months, depending on the consulate or application volume.
Visa validity: The initial visa is valid for one year, with the residence permit valid for three years and extendable for an additional two years.
Italy Digital Nomad Visa application process
Italy distinguishes between employed remote workers and freelancers. The documentation requirements differ between these types of workers.
For a freelancer, you must establish that you genuinely operate an independent business or professional practice. A strong file includes client agreements, recent invoices, bank statements, tax returns, and a description of the services performed remotely.
For an employee, the central document is the employment contract or binding job offer. It should identify the role, salary, duration, and remote-working arrangement. The salary must comply with the applicable Italian remuneration standards.
The following is the general application process for the visa:
- Prepare documentation: Gather all required documents, including a valid passport, proof of remote work (employment contract or evidence of self-employment), proof of income meeting the minimum requirement (€28,000 per year), comprehensive health insurance covering at least €30,000, proof of accommodation in Italy, and a clean criminal record.
- Complete application form: Fill out the Digital Nomad or Remote Worker Visa application form, ensuring all instructions are followed carefully.
- Schedule appointment: Book an appointment at the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country to submit your application, provide biometric data, and attend an interview.
- Submit application: Attend your appointment and provide all necessary paperwork.
- Obtain visa: If approved, you receive a one-year visa.
- Travel to Italy: Enter the country within the visa’s validity period.
- Apply for residence permit: Within eight working days of arrival, apply at the local police headquarters (Questura) for your Permesso di Soggiorno (residence permit).
- Register residence: Update your residence details at the Italian Office of Vital Statistics (Anagrafe).
Processing time: Expected to take 30 to 60 days from the date of application submission, though it can extend to 120 days.
Visa validity: The visa is valid for one year and can be renewed annually, provided you continue to meet the requirements.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa vs Italy Digital Nomad Visa Cost
Fees vary depending on the consulate and are subject to change based on currency exchange rates and other factors including nationality, filing route, and date. Applicants can expect to spend several hundred Euros on fees and costs for both visas for applications, permits, and translations.
Minimum Income Requirements for Spanish vs Italian Digital Nomad Visa
Minimum income requirement – Spain
- A monthly income of at least €2,850 (€34,200 per year)
This figure is based on 200% of the Spanish minimum interprofessional wage and is subject to updates. Additional income is required if you include family members in your application. 75% of SMI is applied for the first dependent and 25% for each dependent thereafter. Applicants must provide documentation such as bank statements, employment contracts, or invoices if self-employed, proving consistent income over recent months.
Minimum income requirement – Italy
- A minimum annual income of at least €28,000 (€2,333.34 per month)
The Italian visa requires an annual income of at least three times the minimum income level used for exemption from Italian healthcare charges. This figure is consulate dependent, and some consulates may require more income to qualify for the visa. To bring dependents, you will need to show additional income that is related to the Italy’s annual social allowance (assegno sociale).
Spain vs Italy Decision Matrix
| Applicant factor | Spain Digital Nomad Visa | Italy Digital Nomad Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Remote employee | Suitable for applicants that work remotely for a foreign employer or employers. The employment relationship, employer activity period and permission to work remotely from Spain need documentary support. Spain’s route may also be relevant to applicants considering the special expatriate tax regime, subject to separate eligibility conditions. | Potential fit for a highly qualified remote worker employed by a non-Italian company. The applicant needs to show a qualifying remote-work arrangement, professional experience or equivalent evidence, and that the work is performed for foreign-based clients or employers. |
| Freelancer | Potential fit for self-employed applicants providing services remotely. Spain generally permits a limited proportion of professional activity for Spanish clients, provided the applicable threshold and other conditions are met. | Potential fit for a self-employed or freelance applicant who qualifies as a highly skilled remote worker or digital nomad. The applicant should verify whether the planned client structure, professional activity and supporting evidence satisfy Italian requirements. |
| In-country applicant | A major procedural consideration as eligible applicants who are legally present in Spain may apply through Spain’s in-country immigration route, rather than applying only through a consulate. | The route is initiated through the appropriate Italian consulate abroad, followed by residence-permit formalities after arrival. Applicants already in Italy should verify whether their status permits an in-country application or whether departure and consular filing are required. |
| Family case | Spouses or partners and dependent children may be included, subject to proof of the relationship, dependency where relevant, adequate financial means and required documentation. The financial threshold increases for accompanying family members. | Family members may be eligible to accompany or join the main applicant, but the process and documentary requirements should be examined separately. Italian consular guidance notes family sponsorship possibilities for a spouse and minor children, with additional conditions and supporting documents. |
| Qualification evidence | Applicants should expect to prove professional qualifications or relevant experience, depending on whether they apply as an employee or freelancer. Typical evidence may include a university qualification, professional credentials, employment history, client contracts, portfolio material, or other proof of expertise. | Qualification evidence is particularly important because Italy’s program is aimed at highly qualified remote workers and digital nomads. Applicants should verify the accepted degree, professional-qualification or experience evidence and ensure that documents meet Italian legalization, translation, and certification rules. |
| Tax-advice need | A visa does not automatically determine tax residence or guarantee access to the special expatriate regime commonly called Spain’s “Beckham Law.” Applicants should obtain advice on Spanish tax residence, worldwide income, social security, treaty relief and the treatment of employment versus freelance income. | The digital nomad visa itself should not be treated as an automatic tax exemption. Time spent in Italy, residence status, worldwide income, social-security obligations and possible regimes such as the impatriate or forfettario regime require separate eligibility analysis. |
Spain may be a potential fit for applicants who value an in-country application route, while Italy may be a potential fit for highly qualified remote workers with strong professional evidence. In both cases, applicants should verify current immigration requirements and obtain tailored tax advice before choosing which route is best for their personal situation.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
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