Spain Digital Nomad Visa approved, I applied by myself! First of all, I REALLY need to say thank you to everyone in this group. Each person here made a difference. Special thanks to all the lawyers who helped answer questions—you are incredible professionals, and if I need further assistance, I’ll go to you 100%.
My case was really complicated because five countries were involved! I’m Brazilian, with residence in Colombia, who lived in France last year, working for an American company, and I applied for the visa in Spain.
It was definitely a challenge, but I had done similar applications in other countries before (Spain, Germany, Colombia, and France), so I knew I could do it. I made a table to organize everything, but it was still HARD. Here’s the breakdown of my experience:
- NIE: I was in Colombia and went to the Spanish consulate to request my NIE since the first time I lived in Spain it was only for six months, and I didn’t get one. I brought all the documents listed on the website, and they also asked me to write a letter explaining why I needed the NIE.
- Diploma: My diploma is in the area related to my work, and it had already been apostilled for a previous Colombian visa, so I just had to get it sworn translated.
- Criminal Records: I requested records from Colombia (which took 20 days, so I had to plan ahead) and from France (which took only two days). I didn’t need one from Brazil because I had been out of the country for more than two years.
- Criminal Record Declaration Letter: I paid the fee and filled it out.
- CV: Since I speak Spanish, I just did a simple translation myself.
- Work Contract: It was a regular work contract, but I needed to have it sworn translated.
- Letter from Employer Authorizing Remote Work: I also had this sworn translated.
- Social Security Certificate: I paid the fee and filled it out.
- Certificate of Good Standing: My company is based in Florida. It cost me around $10, but getting it apostilled was almost $245! Thankfully, they returned it in two business days.
- Passport: I scanned my entire passport.
- Entering Spain: I entered Spain through Portugal, so I went to a police station at the airport in Spain and requested the document confirming my entry. It only took about five minutes.
- Invoices: I submitted invoices from May to September.
- Bank Statements: I sent my Wise account bank statements, which were already in Spanish.
Once I was in Spain, I had to do the following:
- Digital Certificate: As soon as I arrived, I went online to book an appointment to get my digital certificate (the app is called CertificadoDigital, the icon is black with a white M). I made the request on my phone, which almost caused a huge issue. If you create the request on your phone, you have to transfer the document to your computer to authenticate it. I recommend installing everything directly on your computer to avoid problems. I thought I wouldn’t be able to authenticate by myself, but I figured it out in the end.
- Autofirma: After getting the digital certificate, I downloaded the Autofirma app (called Cliente @firma) to authenticate.
- MIT Form: I downloaded and filled out the form. Be sure to check the instructions to fill it correctly (for example, under “Tipo de Autorización,” you need to choose “Estancia” and not “Inversor/Teletrabajador”).
- Proof of Payment: I googled Tasa038 modelo 790, filled it out, and used my digital certificate and Autofirma to pay the fee. I went to a BBVA bank in Sagrada Familia, paid at the ATM, printed the receipt, and sent it with the form.
I submitted everything on September 23, and today, October 10 2024, I got my approval! Thank you ALL for the help—I will always be grateful!
Questions and Answers
Here are some of the questions from group members and the responses:
Q1: “How did you handle the criminal record checks from multiple countries?”
A1: “I had to request criminal records from both Colombia and France. It took 20 days in Colombia and just two days in France. I didn’t need one from Brazil because I hadn’t lived there for more than two years.”
Q2: “What was the hardest part of the process?”
A2: “The most challenging part was organizing everything and managing documents from multiple countries. Also, the certificate of good standing and its apostille were expensive and time-consuming.”
Q3: “How did you get the NIE?”
A3: “I went to the Spanish consulate in Colombia with the required documents and wrote a letter explaining why I needed the NIE. It was fairly straightforward.”
Q4: “Did you handle the translations yourself?”
A4: “For most documents, I had to use sworn translators for the translations, especially the work contract and employer authorization letter.”
Comments
Several group members provided encouraging comments and additional tips:
- “Congrats! It’s a big challenge handling documents from so many countries, but you did it!”
- “Great job navigating such a complex process. I also had to request records from multiple countries, and it’s not easy.”
- “Thank you for sharing your experience! Your detailed breakdown is super helpful for others going through similar situations.”
- “The part about entering Spain through Portugal and getting the document from the police was really helpful. That tip will save me some stress when I go through it!”
Conclusion
The process of applying for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa can be daunting, especially when it involves multiple countries and extensive paperwork. However, with careful organization and preparation, it’s possible to manage the various requirements, from criminal records to translations and certifications.
For anyone going through this process, having a clear plan, staying patient, and seeking help when needed can make all the difference. Gabriela’s journey demonstrates the importance of persistence and organization in successfully obtaining the visa.
Join our community!
Make sure to join our dedicated Spain Digital Nomad Visa group here!
