Question
Has anyone successfully filed a Spain Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) without a lawyer? Given we are both corporate professionals, I think we stand a chance. Was a lawyer a must-have in your process?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Spain Digital Nomad Visa group members:
“I did, but I researched a LOT, and the group helped me a lot as well. PS: I speak Spanish, so this is a plus.”
“I did, but it took a lot of time researching as there isn’t one source of information. Worth it, though, in the end.”
“I love paperwork, I class myself as extremely organized and efficient, and my professional career for the last 35 years has been based on this. But after much research, even I didn’t consider doing the application alone.
The lady we used was amazing and worth every penny. It’s a stressful process, sometimes with no logic, and the rules are ever-changing. Having someone to answer questions and advise you is invaluable.”
“I did it myself, and it really wasn’t that bad, especially with the support from this group. I have a dependent and a partner on a student visa, so ours was a little more complicated, but we managed fine.”
“I did my apostilles in Massachusetts, and they were six bucks each. Federal takes the longest, but I called my local rep, and it was expedited in three weeks. I had a great translator who was very reasonable. Paid my tasas at ATMs. If you’ve ever been poor and had to deal with food stamps or public housing, you can do anything!”
“I think it’s imperative to have someone who knows the systems to handle your visa application. I don’t really understand why anyone would try to do this alone when the requirements keep changing with no warning. Pay for the expertise you want so you end up with a positive result.”
“Several people fluent in Spanish and with straightforward applications have posted that they did it themselves & would still recommend using a lawyer. That is fairly persuasive.
To me, this process is a bit like doing your own domestic electrical work – I probably could do it, with a lot of time, learning & effort, but the additional stress & the potential consequences of getting something wrong mean I’m better off hiring a professional for anything more complicated than a socket change.”
“Even without a lawyer, my guess is you’d still spend around $2K for apostilles, sworn translations, etc.I’ve heard they are simplifying the application later this year.The hard part for us was having the lawyer handle all the required notes for our bank account. I would have never known how to do that.”
“It’s really hard without a lawyer. I tried and couldn’t even get them to give me a NIE, so I failed instantly.”
“Some people will do it without a DNV consultant. At a guess, maybe 20-25%. It really depends on your setup and how much time you have to research.Sometimes it can be a false economy, though, as I have seen people get a one-year visa when they could have gotten three years with some tweaks.
Others got health insurance that wasn’t mandatory in their case, ordered more documents than needed, or paid higher fees for translations.It just depends, really.”
“For DNV, it is recommended to go with a lawyer, and the lawyer must have experience in this specific visa. I recommend three immigration experts that have a successful track record with DNV applications”
Conclusion
Applying for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa without a lawyer is possible, but it requires extensive research, fluency in Spanish, and strong organizational skills. Some applicants have successfully navigated the process alone, leveraging online communities for support.
However, others emphasize that the requirements frequently change, making legal assistance invaluable in avoiding costly mistakes. Many applicants who did it themselves still suggest hiring a lawyer, comparing the process to complex electrical work—possible but risky if done incorrectly.
The decision ultimately depends on time, knowledge, and comfort with bureaucracy. If in doubt, consulting an experienced immigration professional could streamline the process and prevent unnecessary delays or errors.
Join our community!
Make sure to join our dedicated Spain Digital Nomad Visa group here!
