Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
I’m a W-2 employee in the US, and my company will allow me to work remotely from Spain as an independent contractor under the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa.
A lawyer suggested I switch to contractor status before applying for the DNV, but my company says they can’t do that until I move. Can I apply with my current full-time contract and indicate the upcoming change to autonomo? Thanks for any advice!
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These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“At the time of application, you need to have already been working as a contractor for 3 months.”
“I was in the same situation and applied after a few weeks of being a contractor for my company, and they rejected my DNV application. Once I waited 3 months I was approved.”
Conclusion
To apply for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa, it is essential to have already transitioned to and been working as a contractor for at least three months.
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Explore Cities →Applications submitted with a W-2 employment status without this prior contracting period appear to be unsuccessful. Potential applicants should plan accordingly and ensure they meet this requirement to avoid rejection.
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