Spain launched its first Digital Nomad Visa or DNV at the beginning of 2023 and since then it’s proved to be a very popular way for non-EU nationals to be able to live in Spain and work remotely.
The visa enables you to work remotely for a company back home or be self-employed working for clients abroad. The key rule is that no more than 20 percent of your income can be earned within Spain and you have to earn above a certain threshold in order to support yourself while living here.
READ ALSO: How does Spain's digital nomad visa income requirement compare to others globally?
So how many people have taken advantage of what is the easiest way for Americans, Brits, Canadians, Australians and other third-country nationals to work and live in Spain?
According to data published by Spain's Immigration Observatory, Spanish authorities granted a total of 27,875 digital nomad visas up until the end of 2024.
These figures also account for family members of the primary DNV holder who also hold the visa, with the spread being 14,255 for the title holders and 13,620 for spouses, children and parents in their care.
At the end of 2023, the number of digital nomad visas issued was only 9,568, which means that in just one year the total number of digital nomads in Spain almost tripled.
Looking more closely at the data, we can see that the last quarter of 2024 was when the highest number of DNVs were issued: 5,619 in total.
Six out ten of DNV holders are from non-EU/EFTA European countries, 16,846 to be precise. It's likely that a large proportion of these are from the United Kingdom, given how popular Spain is among Britons and that since Brexit it is not easy for them to move to Spain on a whim.
The next biggest DNV group includes those from Central and South America, representing 17 percent of the total or 4,669 digital nomad visas. The vast majority of Latin Americans have the advantage of being able to apply for Spanish nationality after two years of residency in Spain.
They are followed by digital nomad visa holders from North America (12 percent). We have reported recently on how the number of US nationals has grown exponentially in the last few years, and the DNV is once again the best work option for many of them.
REVEALED: Number of Americans living in Spain soars by 10,000 in two years
Next up are Asian DNV holders with 1,833 permits. According to online forums, the visa is proving very popular with those from the Philippines, most likely because Filipinos can also get Spanish citizenship after only living here for two years.
Lastly are African digital nomads with 951 DNVs and those from Oceanian countries such as Australia and New Zealand, who make up only 251.
READ ALSO: What are the downsides to being a digital nomad in Spain?
Overall, there are slightly more men than women with the Spanish DNV, 52 percent compared to 48 percent.
However, when looking at the distribution of male to female DNV title holders (the main applicant carrying out the remote work), men make up 32 percent of the total while women make up 17 percent.
The primary age groups for DNV title holders are the 25 to 34 tranche and the 35 to 44 tranche, but there are people in their 50s and their 60s who are also working on Spain's DNV.
Interestingly, there are more than 5,400 minors aged 15 and under with the right to live in Spain because one of their parents is a DNV title holder.
If you want to join these people and move to Spain as a digital nomad, there are several strict requirements you’ll have to meet.
One of the most important is that you’ll have to be making €2,762 per month – more if you want to bring family members. You’ll also have to have been working for your company or clients for at least three months before applying and have permission from them to work in Spain.
If you want to find out more about how to apply and what you need then you can read our handy guides.
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