Are you an administrative agency or a law firm?

No. Landesp coordinates your relocation process, and our partner lawyers handle the legal work when your case requires it. Procedures and documents are checked against official sources.

How much does it cost?

The Student Pack has a fixed price of €300 per person. Essential depends on your procedure and headcount: you define your case in two minutes, see the price and scope in writing, and only then decide whether to pay. No hidden costs or later charges.

I'm already in Spain. Can you help me?

Yes. Registration, bank account, digital certificate or utilities if you have just arrived; and family reunification if you have been here for a while. We handle it with you.

Can you guarantee an appointment for my procedure?

No one can honestly guarantee an appointment at a public office, whether immigration, the police, the town hall or the consulate: availability depends on each administration. What we do guarantee is our part: the file ready, official channels monitored and the request filed the moment a slot opens.

How long does the process take?

We recommend starting 8 to 12 weeks before arrival. Some procedures can be prepared from your home country; others are only possible in Spain. With early planning, many clients are operational within 15 to 30 days of arrival.

What are the 7 biggest mistakes people make when moving to Spain?

1) Paying rental deposits without verifying property ownership or reviewing lease terms; 2) Misunderstanding immigration rules (arriving as a tourist for procedures requiring a prior consular visa); 3) Delaying mandatory local municipal registration (empadronamiento); 4) Overlooking tax residency rules (such as the 183-day rule or Beckham Law deadlines); 5) Purchasing health insurance with co-payments rejected by immigration; 6) Arriving without police certificates or degrees properly apostilled and sworn-translated; and 7) Postponing TIE appointments and bank account opening without organized proof of funds.

Can you move and live in Spain?

Yes, absolutely. Spain offers well-established legal residency pathways: the Digital Nomad Visa (for remote employees and international freelancers under the Startup Act), the Student Visa (which permits working up to 30 hours per week), the Non-Lucrative Visa (for individuals with sufficient savings or passive income), highly qualified professional visas, investor visas, and residency through arraigo. The key is organizing your documentation and choosing the right legal route before travelling.

What are the do's and don'ts in Spain?

Do's: register your address (empadronamiento) immediately upon signing your lease; apply for your TIE residence card within 30 days of arrival; seek professional tax advice before your first 183 days; and verify property records before sending any money. Don'ts: never transfer rent deposits without lease verification and land registry check; do not exhaust your 90-day Schengen stay without a valid legal pathway; and do not purchase cheap insurance with co-payments.

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Paperwork

Non-lucrative visa or digital nomad visa: which one fits you

Detailed legal comparison between Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) and the Digital Nomad Visa: work rights, IPREM vs SMI financial thresholds, and taxes.

Two dirt paths split apart in the countryside next to a gate

If you have capital, passive investments, or a remote career and want to live in Spain, you will inevitably find yourself choosing between two flagship legal pathways: the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) and the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV). Choosing the wrong one can legally prohibit you from earning income or saddle you with unintended tax obligations.

Work Rights: The Absolute Line in the Sand

The defining distinction between the two permits lies in your right to engage in productive economic activity. The Non-Lucrative Visa is strictly an 'autorización de residencia no lucrativa'—the law expressly prohibits the holder from working in Spain, whether for domestic Spanish companies or remotely for overseas employers.

In contrast, the Digital Nomad Visa is an economic mobility permit specifically designed for active professionals. It grants full, explicit rights to telework from Spanish soil for overseas enterprises and freelance clients.

Financial Requirements: 400% IPREM vs. 200% SMI

The two visas utilize entirely different statutory benchmarks to assess financial solvency:

Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)Evaluated against the IPREM (Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples). The primary applicant must prove liquid capital or recurring passive income of 400% of the IPREM annually (approximately €28,800/year), plus 100% of the IPREM (€7,200/year) for each dependent. Funds must be passive (e.g., dividends, pensions, real estate rentals, investment trusts).
Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)Evaluated against the SMI (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional). The applicant must prove active gross earned income of 200% of the SMI (approximately €34,188/year) derived strictly from professional remote employment or active contracting.

Keep readingDigital nomad visa without a degree: the three-year experience rule

Tax Implications and Application Geography

Holders of the Non-Lucrative Visa automatically become Spanish tax residents if they reside in the country for more than 183 days in a calendar year, subjecting their worldwide income and wealth to standard progressive Spanish tax rates (up to 47-50%), with zero access to the Beckham Law.

Digital Nomad Visa holders applying in Spain through the UGE obtain a 3-year permit (versus 1 year for consular NLV filings) and may qualify for the 24% flat tax Beckham Law regime, exempting foreign non-employment assets.

Side-by-Side Evaluation: Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) vs. Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)

Key Feature	Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)	Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)
Work Authorization	STRICTLY PROHIBITED (Zero active work)	PERMITTED (Remote foreign work + 20% local)
Financial Requirement	400% IPREM in savings/passive (~€28,800/yr)	200% SMI in active income (~€31,752/yr)
Application Location	Consulate in origin country only	Inside Spain via UGE (3 yrs) OR Consulates (1 yr)
Initial Permit Length	1 year (renewable 2+2 years)	3 years (via UGE) or 1 year (via Consulate)
Stay Obligation (Physical)	Mandatory 183 days/yr in Spain for renewal	No strict 183-day rule for visa renewal (UGE criteria)
Tax Regime Eligibility	Taxed on worldwide income under standard IRPF	Eligible for Beckham Law flat 24% regime

Key Practical Tips

What the team recommends before you file anything:

If you plan to retire, take a sabbatical year, or live off portfolio returns without answering Slack messages or writing code, choose the Non-Lucrative Visa.
Do not attempt to apply for the Non-Lucrative Visa while quietly continuing your US remote job. Consulates frequently audit LinkedIn profiles, social media, and bank transaction narratives.

Required Documentation Checklist

Identification of primary revenue streamActive earned salary vs passive investment capital.
Proof of funds400% IPREM in liquid bank accounts (NLV) vs active 3-month contract trail (DNV).
Comprehensive private medical insurance without copayments with a Spanish carrier.
Hague-apostilled criminal history check from all countries of residence during the last 5 years.
Medical certificate confirming absence of public health threats under International Health Regulations 2005.

Sources: Real Decreto 557/2011 (Reglamento de Extranjería - Artículos 45 a 49 sobre Residencia No Lucrativa); Ley 14/2013 (Artículos 74 bis y 74 ter sobre Teletrabajo de Carácter Internacional); Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples (IPREM) - Gobierno de España.