Spain Digital Nomad Visa Income Requirement 2026: How Much Do You Need to Earn?

The 2026 income threshold for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa in real euro amounts for singles and families, how to prove it, and what counts for freelancers and employees.

Income is the requirement that decides more Digital Nomad Visa applications than any other, and it's the one that changes most often. Here's how the 2026 figure works, what it means in real numbers, and how to prove it properly.

The 2026 threshold

The requirement is set at 200% of Spain's minimum wage (SMI). For 2026 the SMI is €1,221 in 14 payments, or €1,424.50 a month when the extra payments are spread over 12 months (Royal Decree 126/2026). Counted on the 12-month basis, 200% comes to roughly €2,849 per month for a single applicant, the figure most guides use. Some consulate pages instead apply 200% to the 14-payment figure and state about €2,442. Because consulates differ, confirm the figure with yours before you file, and if you are close to the line, aim to show the higher amount.

The numbers at a glance

  • Single applicant, 12-payment basis: about €2,849 per month
  • Single applicant, 14-payment basis (used on some consulate pages): about €2,442 per month
  • First family member: 75% of the SMI, about €1,068 per month on the 12-payment basis
  • Each additional family member: 25% of the SMI, about €356 per month on the 12-payment basis
  • Example: an applicant with a partner needs about €3,917 per month on the 12-payment basis

For the documents each family member needs, see our guide to family and dependents.

What counts as income

  • Employees: recent payslips, plus an employment contract or employer letter confirming you can work remotely from Spain
  • Freelancers: invoices and contracts with clients outside Spain, plus bank statements showing the payments arriving
  • Income in another currency: show the amount in the original currency and the euro equivalent, using one consistent exchange rate source and date

The funds need to be yours, lawful and available, and consulates accept different kinds of proof, such as an employment contract or a commercial contract. For US-specific questions, read W-2 versus 1099 income.

Rules that trip people up

  • Your working relationship with the company or clients generally needs to be at least 3 months old
  • The foreign company usually needs to have been operating for at least 1 year
  • At least 80% of your income should come from non-Spanish sources
  • The work must be done remotely for businesses outside Spain

Irregular or freelance income

If your income varies from month to month, do not rely on your best month. Show several months of invoices and bank statements, and make sure the average clearly clears the threshold. A single large invoice followed by thin months raises questions, so explain it in a short cover note and support it with contracts that show the income will continue.

How to present it cleanly

Use consistent currencies and dates, and make sure your bank statements match your invoices or payslips. A gap between the figure on your contract and what actually lands in your account is one of the most common reasons an income file gets questioned, even when your real income is well above the threshold. If you are applying from the US, the same applies to every other document in the file; see why applications get rejected.

Not sure your income documents meet the current threshold? Our Document Readiness Review checks them against today's requirements before you file.

This article reflects general guidance and is not legal advice. Figures change with Spain's minimum wage, so verify current thresholds against official sources before filing. Segundo Hogar provides administrative document preparation support, not legal representation.

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