Question
Can I work remotely in Spain with a tourist visa, or do I need to obtain a Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) to work remotely in Spain?
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
”As a tourist, you can stay for 3 months in a 180-day period. You can work and pay taxes to your resident country as Spain won’t be your resident country. If you plan to stay for more than 3 consecutive months in Spain then yes, you need a DNV”
”Note that this is subject to the terms of an individual’s Schengen visa. Filipinos don’t have automatic 90/180 entry to the Schengen zone and so the duration of the visa and length of stay is governed by the vignette on one’s passport (which can be fewer days than 90/180)”
”This is soo wrong. Tourists cannot work!! doesn’t matter where they are from”
”Are you looking to reside in Spain? If so, get the DNV. Working remotely on a Schengen visa some might say is a grey area. It’s meant for tourists/visitors, not those intending to work remotely. You’d likely be able to get away with answering emails and attending a couple of meetings, but that should not be your primary motivation. You also shouldn’t mention working remotely with immigration officers. It’s a risk you’ll have to take if you want to work remotely on a Schengen visa, as it’s not explicitly allowed”
”Tourist visa is for visitors, for tourism/visiting read the conditions of the visas .. all the info is the web page of the Spanish government”
”Need to read the conditions for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa .. need to have been working for at least 3 months for a company and have a contract from the same that allows you to work out of Spain.. not as simple”
”If you want to stay in Spain for more than 90 days you must apply for the DNV. I am an immigration lawyer.”
”Double check but I think as a Philippine passport holder, you can get Spanish citizenship in two years. This would give u more flexibility”
”I think the question is if you intend to overstay your tourist visa and keep working remotely from Spain. Don’t do it”
In conclusion, according to Spainguru Facebook group members, working remotely in Spain on a tourist visa is generally not allowed. While tourists can stay for up to 3 months in a 180-day period, engaging in work activities, including remote work, is typically prohibited. To work remotely in Spain for more than 3 months, it is recommended to obtain a Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), which has specific requirements such as a contract allowing remote work and at least three months of employment. It is important to consult official sources or seek legal advice from expert immigration lawyers for accurate and up-to-date information on visa regulations and comply with the applicable rules to avoid any legal issues while working remotely in Spain.