Question
I’m applying for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa as a 1099 contractor and I’m confused about two requirements.
First, do I really need a letter from my clients authorizing remote work if they don’t have a presence in Spain and I already have a contract outlining my freelance terms?
Second, is private health insurance mandatory, or can I just register as autónomo and contribute to Spanish Social Security to access public healthcare?
Answers
“Hi. The authorisation letter is a mandatory document. Not sure why, but it could simply be that in some jobs the client wouldn’t be happy for you to work from Spain. The work contract is a different document. You don’t need health insurance for the application. You need a declaration that you will sign up for Spanish SS if approved.”
“To add, you cannot avoid presenting the authorisation letter, it’s a separate box you need to tick on the online application form. And regarding private health insurance, I do recommend taking it out—if not before submitting your DNV application, then after approval—to avoid a gap in health cover, which could be detrimental to obtaining permanent residency after 5 years.
What many don’t realise is that your residency will start on the date you receive the approval letter. So even if for the UGE, the immigration office dealing with DNVs, it is not a requirement to obtain the DNV as a 1099 contractor, it can be an issue later on when your application is assessed by one of the provincial immigration offices. We just don’t know how they will treat Digital Nomads in this respect. Better be safe than sorry!”
Conclusion
According to members of the Spainguru community, the client authorization letter is mandatory when applying for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa—even for 1099 contractors. Despite being a freelancer with no employer in Spain, the authorization letter is treated as a separate required document, and the online application system includes a checkbox for it.
Regarding private health insurance, while not strictly required at the application stage for 1099 workers applying through the UGE, having it is strongly advised.
A declaration of intent to register with Spanish Social Security might suffice initially, but gaps in health coverage could negatively impact future residency renewals or permanent residency eligibility. To stay on the safe side, it is best to maintain continuous health insurance coverage.
