“Applied for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa on Dec. 12 2024 and approved on Jan. 6 2025! I did it from within Spain and arrived here on Dec. 8 2024.
I prepared everything I possibly could before leaving for Spain. The only things left were the digital certificate and to pay the tasa, which were both quite easy. I submitted the application myself.
I’m from the US and applied as a self-employed consultant. I’ll try to list the best couple of tips here that helped me:
- Merge all invoices and bank statements into one PDF. Highlight the deposits on your bank statements and redact all other items.
- Schedule the digital certificate appointment before arriving in Spain to get it done within the first few days of being here.
- Merge all passport page scans into one PDF and reduce the file size. The total limit for the entire application is 25MB. I had to decrease the image quality of the scans multiple times.
- Download the AutoFirma software. This part was a bit confusing for me as I thought I just needed the digital certificate, but you need this software too for it to work.
I am in Córdoba and did everything here. My TIE appointment is scheduled for Feb. 3, so just under a month after my DNV approval.
Questions and Answers
Q: “What kind of work do you do? I find I’m in a weird area because I’m self-employed but own an e-commerce business. I don’t have long-term clients, I sell to whomever whenever, despite having some long-time customers.”
A: “I do finance/data work.”
Q: “Can you tell me more about the digital certificate?”
A: “I made an appointment at a Junta de Andalucía office and did the presencial verificación there.”
Q: “What is the amount $$ you need to have in your bank account? I’m planning ahead to make sure I have everything beforehand.”
A: “I believe it varies, but you should check the most recent financial requirements for self-employed applicants.”
Q: “Weird question, but do you need every single page of your passport? Just the pages with stamps on it? Or just the ID page and the entry stamp?”
A: “I submitted all of the pages with stamps on them as well as the ID page.”
Q: “How long is your visa good for?”
A: “Three years.”
Q: “If we got a tourist visa for just one week, can we stay in Spain after the submission?”
Conclusion
Applying for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa from within Spain is possible, but thorough preparation before arrival is key. The experience shared in this case highlights a few important steps:
- Have all documents ready before arriving in Spain – This includes invoices, bank statements, and passport scans in an optimized format.
- Plan for the digital certificate in advance – Booking an appointment early ensures a smooth process.
- Understand the digital submission process – Software like AutoFirma is necessary for electronic applications.
- Be mindful of document size limitations – The system has a 25MB total file limit, so compressing PDFs and images may be necessary.
- TIE appointment timelines vary – The residence card appointment was scheduled just under a month after visa approval.
This firsthand experience reinforces the importance of meticulous preparation and organization, making the Spain Digital Nomad Visa process more manageable for those applying within Spain.
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