Spain’s digital nomad visa faces mixed reception one year later
MADRID, SPAIN — A year into Spain’s digital nomad visa initiative, the outcome reveals a complex narrative of adaptation and resistance.
According to the Spanish Foreign Ministry, 300 approvals have been given for the visa, which allows non-EU nationals to live and work in Spain for up to 5 years.
However, the visa has been criticized for its bureaucracy, from proving social security payments in their homeland to navigating Spain’s complex application process.
“It is possible to apply yourself, however some applicants may prefer to have a lawyer or immigration professional helping them to get approval and navigate the complexity,” Maria José Muñoz Gomez, an immigration consultant at Help At Hand Spain, told Euronews Travel.
“The visa required a lot of paperwork and I got the impression that the [Spanish] did not understand or welcome the UK structures of employment,” said Pinak Pushkar, who moved from London.
Despite these challenges, the allure of Spain’s lifestyle remains undeniable for those who have made the move.
Pinak, now residing in Moraira with his family, praises the superior quality of life. “The lifestyle is so much better than London. Here we have a villa, with a swimming pool and I can look out at the sea and the food is good.”
On the other hand, anti-tourism sentiments and concerns over rising rent prices highlight the societal impacts of this new wave of residents, with cities like Barcelona and Malaga experiencing backlash from local communities.
“We found that community life is not as rich. You trust the people you know in a community, but if your new [neighbor] is someone who has just moved in a few weeks ago, then you might not do that,” said migration expert Antonio López-Gay.
“What suffers is the social cohesion of an area.”
Barcelona resident Ana Miquel, 66, said, “They wanted to charge me €3,000 ($3,200) per month in rent. I said ‘I can’t afford that!’ They said I was lucky that they did not want €3,000 per month with six months paid before I moved in,”
Applicants must earn at least €2,140 ($2,300) per month, around €641 ($695) less than the EU monthly average. They can also qualify for a special 24% tax rate on foreign income up to €600,000 ($650,000) for the first four years.
“In many cases, they earn more money than local people and this can mean that this drives up the cost of rental accommodation,” Ricardo Urrestarazu, an expert in tourism investment, explained.
“This is when people start to feel resentment towards them.”
Nick Trend, Chief Consumer and Culture Editor at The Telegraph, previously warned about societal and career risks of digital nomadism.
The trend suggests that today’s digital nomads might miss out on truly understanding the cultures they live in, as their work keeps them tethered to their home countries virtually.
He also points out that cities like Chiang Mai (in Thailand) and Lisbon (Portugal) saw rent spikes due to the influx of well-paid remote workers seeking cheaper living costs, competing with locals for housing, and driving up prices.
These concerns align with the new visa policies passed by several countries —including Japan and South Africa — to attract remote workers.
