Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
I am new to the Spain Digital Nomad Visa process and have a few very general questions: 1. Is it recommended to apply for the DNV from home (US for me), or from Spain? I’ve been considering the 90 days then Spanish school if I need to while I apply for the DNV.
2. Approximately how much does the process cost?
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →3. Is a lawyer necessary? I’m not fluent myself but I come from a Spanish-speaking family that can help me.
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“Better and easier from Spain. And you get a 3-year approval at once. Here you can find trusted immigration lawyers and relocation agents with a proven track record of successful visa applications. Request an online consultation here: https://spainguru.es/consultations-immigration-tax/”
“Hi, you will find that the majority of applicants apply from Spain as you get a 3-year visa (vs a 1-year visa if you apply from the consulate). Another reason is that the consulates are not very organized and often don’t know very much about the Spain Digital Nomad Visa.
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Explore Cities →Other consulates don’t even offer the possibility of applying for the DNV yet. As for the cost, you will have to get documents sworn translated and that depends on how long your documents are. You will also need to get the apostille which you can do through the state or pay a private company such as SharpLink to do.
You will also need to pay the visa fee itself. Whether you use a professional to help you is a personal choice. I do think it helps but if you do hire someone, I recommend making sure it’s someone who has experience as this is vital when applying for the DNV.”
Conclusion
For those considering the Spain Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), applying from within Spain is generally considered more advantageous, providing eligibility for a 3-year visa versus the 1-year visa available when applying from abroad.
The process involves various costs, including fees for document translation, apostille, and the visa itself. While hiring a lawyer is not mandatory, professional guidance from someone familiar with the DNV can greatly enhance the application’s success, especially for those not fluent in Spanish or unfamiliar with the administrative procedures.
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