Last Updated on May 2, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
“If my family moves to Spain under my Spain Digital Nomad Visa, can my wife still work as a contractor for a US company or does she need her own visa?”
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Spain Digital Nomad Visa group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“We were advised that a spouse would be able to work while a dependent under the Spain Digital Nomad Visa. You might check with an attorney but I specifically asked this and was told I could work and wouldn’t need to apply for my own DNV.”
(Lawyer’s answer) “Yes, as your dependent on your Spain Digital Nomad Visa, she will have more rights than the main applicant actually as she can work as a contractor for a US company as you mentioned or also work for a Spanish company (without any restrictions).”
“Maybe this is not your situation but just make sure that your wife’s contractor work is not with the U.S. Government, as it is forbidden for many, if not all, U.S. Government agencies contractors to work remotely from a location outside of the USA.”
Conclusion
Spainguru Facebook group members indicate that a spouse under a Spain Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) can usually work remotely for a US-based company without needing their own separate visa.
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See Vetted Lawyers →In fact, one member noted that dependents may have broader work flexibility than the primary visa holder.
However, contracting for the US Government remotely from Spain is often restricted, so it’s essential to verify the specifics of any employment arrangement with legal experts or relevant agencies.
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