Spain and Barbados Offer Digital Nomad Visas: Requirements You Need to Know

As more people embrace remote work and look for opportunities to live and work in different parts of the world, countries are responding by introducing special visa programs for digital nomads. Spain and Barbados are two countries vying for digital nomad attention with enticing visa programs. Below are the requirements you need to fulfill to be eligible for the visa.

Spain

If you're a digital nomad looking to base yourself in Spain, the country offers a Special Visa for International Teleworkers under Startup Act 28/2022. To apply for the visa, you need to fulfill the following requirements:

• Be a qualified professional - a graduate or postgraduate from a university of recognized prestige, or have professional training and business schools of recognized prestige, or have a minimum of three years' professional experience
• Provide proof of being employed with the employer (outside of Spain) for at least one year continuously and permit to work remotely
• If on contractual employment, provide proof of professional relationship with an entity (outside of Spain) for no less than three months and permit to work remotely
• If freelancing, provide proof of working with at least one non-Spanish company from at least the past three months and providing terms and conditions allowing to work remotely
• Work through the exclusive use of means and systems, computer science, telematics and telecommunication, and have valid experience and technical knowledge for the job performance
• Have clean criminal records
• Earn at least 80 percent of income from outside of Spain (for freelancers)

Other Requirements for Spain Digital Nomad Visa

• Provide certificate of social security coverage (if there is an agreement with the country of origin) or registration in the Spanish social security accrediting at least the application for registration of the foreign company before the Spanish Social Security and the commitment to register once the authorization before the start of work
• Have public or private health insurance (not necessary in the case of registration with Spanish Social Security)
• Provide police background check of the country/countries they resided in the past 2 years, along with the affidavit of clean criminal record.

The Spain digital nomad visa is valid only for one year, and the residence permit is valid up to three years. However, the tax residence criteria for digital nomads is the same as for other visa holders. Nevertheless, eligible digital nomads may be eligible for the Special Tax Regime and, if they fulfill all the requirements, they would be taxed on their salary income at a 24% flat rate (up to €600k, 47% onwards), and their foreign source private income (such as capital gains, dividends, interests, or income from real estate) would not be subject to taxation in Spain.

Barbados

Barbados offers the Welcome Stamp Visa for digital nomads, which allows individuals and families to live and work remotely on the island. Here are the requirements to apply for the visa:

• Pay a fee of US$1,500 for individual or US$2,250 for family
• Show evidence of an income of at least US$50,000 per annum
• Provide background checks
• Have healthcare insurance coverage for the duration of stay

The Barbados digital nomad visa is valid for one year and is exclusive for remote work only, which means it is only for companies and individuals outside of Barbados. You will also need to provide a passport-sized photograph of the principal applicant and all other dependents over the age of 18, bio-data page of the passport, birth certificate, and proof of relationship of the principal applicant to all other members.

Regardless of which country you choose, living and working abroad can be a rewarding experience. Before you apply for a digital nomad visa, make sure to research all the requirements and restrictions, and consider consulting with a lawyer or immigration expert to make the process smoother and hassle-free. Good luck on your digital nomad journey!