Navigating Spanish Citizenship with a Remote Job

Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi

Question

I took up my Master’s degree in Spain and I applied for “Visa for finding a job”, it was approved and now I’m picking up my Residence Visa good for 2 years. I’m planning on applying for Spanish Citizenship since my lawyer told me that as a Filipino Citizen, we’re only required two years of stay to become a Spanish Citizen. I just wanted to know if this is still Valid even if my work is a remote job in a Philippine company?

Answers

These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:

“Time spent on búsqueda de empleo does count toward citizenship, but you need to maintain valid residency throughout the entire process. If you have remote employment, you may want to switch to the digital nomad visa if you’re making at least P140,000 a month (2,300 Euro), and time spent on that visa also counts toward citizenship.”

“The residence permit for job search only authorizes you to reside, not to work, so you should not work even remotely for your country.”

Conclusion

The conversation from Spainguru’s Facebook group highlights a crucial aspect of navigating the path to Spanish citizenship for those with remote jobs. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining valid residency and adheres to the conditions of the specific visa held.

For individuals in similar situations, exploring the digital nomad visa could be a viable alternative, provided the income requirements are met.

This approach ensures compliance with Spanish immigration laws while pursuing citizenship, especially for Filipino citizens who benefit from a reduced residency requirement to apply for Spanish Citizenship.

Bruno Bianchi CEO & Spain Immigration Expert

Bruno Bianchi is the founder and CEO of Spainguru, Spain's largest expat immigration community with 150,000+ members. Since 2014 he has helped thousands of people relocate to Spain through expert guides, webinars and vetted professional services covering visas, residency, taxes and life in Spain.

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