Question
“So, who has more than One Year on a Spanish Digital Nomad Visa and is happy? How were the taxes?”
Answers
These are the answers from Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“I’ve been here for two years. Overall happy. Taxes of course are high, but if you budget accordingly, you get no issues. As long as you get a good gestor, of course. Personally, I ended up living in an affordable nice city as I wanted to travel quite often without sacrifice.
I moved around four cities during that period. Staying in touch with locals is a bit hard as they tend to remain within their own circles from childhood, but little by little you can integrate and they’re actually quite nice once you do. There’s also plenty of expats looking to meet people, so that’s nice.”
“I am wondering how easy it is administratively moving cities. I am leaving the first city I lived in and registered myself officially. I am nomad at heart and to be honest, don’t really care about having a long-term place. Do you have to change your padrón every time you move?”
“That is a very good question. I had the same issue with the empadronamiento. I actually just did a padrón for 2 out of the 4 I moved into, just because I stayed longer there. But yeah, you need to get your padrón and also tell your gestor that you moved and send them the padrón so they can change your fiscal residency. If you’re staying for less than 6 months in a city, I don’t think it’s necessarily needed.”
“So does it mean my padrón will always stay at the first city if I just keep traveling? The whole society is not set up for nomads 😀.”
“Technically you’re in a grey area there. Just FYI. I’m also no accountant haha. Take my words with a grain of salt. But it’s quite difficult for everyone if you keep changing the padrón constantly.”
“Right now I’m in Granada but I just have my apartment as a base since I tend to go around. I went to Lille for example during all August because it was too hot during summer. I just came back.”
“Happiness is such a personal thing and taxes really depend on your own situation, or comparing costs to your work situation, so it’s a tricky question to answer in a group like this. The best way to know if you’ll be happy is to spend more time in Spain, maybe visit a few more times, and also book a tax consultation to understand how it would apply to you?”
“All I can say is that it’s tough. In my case, I’d still say the positives outweigh the negatives, because compared to where I came from, there are more things working in its favor. If I had come from somewhere else, I’d probably be much more frustrated.
It’s not just that taxes are high—the return on them is inefficient. The systems, processes, and government staff simply aren’t prepared. The public healthcare system has huge wait times for specialists, so while it’s important to have access to it, it’s even more important to get private insurance that actually works.
The more you integrate, the more you realize how broken the system really is. And if, on top of being a nomad, you’re trying to build something entrepreneurial—forget it. This is not a dynamic, startup-friendly economy. Freelancers are treated with hostility at every turn. In fact, we’re invisible to the economy altogether: self-employed without a local client base, basically the worst of the worst. At least in my case, I’ve got one more year to go before I can live without those requirements and start working normally without restrictions.”
“I’m in the IT field and originally from Latin America. When it comes to SAP consulting, European companies mainly look for local employees. They only consider bringing in freelancers from abroad as a last resort—and usually only when the economy is extremely hot, which isn’t the case here right now.
What they predominantly want is a potential employee with the right to work in Europe. In fact, I don’t even have clients here anymore; I maintain my residency but continue working with my previous Latin American clients.
Fortunately, after a year there’s the option to switch the residence permit to either self-employed or regular employment. I do get local job offers—not to provide services to companies in Europe, but to actually work locally here or for European companies as an employee. Still, I’ve already been warned that it’s risky to transfer the responsibility for my residence over to a company that would then hold that power for at least a year. Or just wait one more year, and once I have citizenship in hand, be able to work freely here without having to worry about my residence status.”
“Very happy. Taxes are easy if you make use of companies that have experience in international tax optimisation. The Spanish system is setup to extract.”
“I will be completing one year by the end of the month. For me, the experience has been great! But I will move to a cheaper city as soon as possible. Saving 400 or 500 on rent will make my life way more interesting.”
“My plan is to arrive in Valencia which is Spain’s third major city but it looks like it is getting costly—so I already started to check on Pamplona and Zaragoza.”
“I did that, and I highly recommend it. I’m now paying 55% less, which has significantly improved my budget. At this point, I would likely have to give up my residence otherwise.”
“Dirt, crime, dogs’ mess, people pee in public, high taxes, no job, none do anything on time, ocupas, hot and sweaty weather, dirty sea, bad restaurants…”
Conclusion
Community members shared mixed experiences about life in Spain under the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa after one year. Some reported being happy and satisfied with their lifestyle, while others found taxes, bureaucracy, and integration challenging.
Several agreed that high taxes can be managed with proper budgeting and by hiring a good gestor or international tax advisor. Others emphasized that happiness depends largely on expectations, location choice, and financial planning.
Frequent movers discussed the challenges of changing their padrón with each relocation, noting that Spain’s administrative system is not designed for constant nomads. For many, living in smaller or more affordable cities helped maintain a comfortable lifestyle. Ultimately, the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa can provide a rewarding experience—but only with realistic expectations and proper preparation.
This article is based on personal opinions from the Spainguru community and is not legal advice.
FAQ about the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa After One Year in Spain
How happy are digital nomads after one year in Spain?
Most digital nomads report being generally happy with their lifestyle in Spain, especially those who budget well and live in affordable cities. However, integration into local society and navigating bureaucracy can be challenging at first.
Are taxes really high for people on the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa?
Yes, Spain has relatively high taxes compared to other countries. Many expats recommend hiring a professional gestor or international tax advisor to optimize your tax situation and stay compliant with Spanish regulations.
Do I need to change my padrón every time I move to a new city?
Technically, yes—you should update your padrón (local registration) whenever you change your primary residence. However, if you stay in a city for less than six months, some community members said it might not be strictly necessary. It’s best to consult your gestor for clarity.
Is Spain suitable for nomads who move frequently between cities?
Spain’s administrative system isn’t fully adapted to a nomadic lifestyle. Constantly changing your padrón and fiscal address can be complicated. Many nomads choose a “home base” city to simplify paperwork and taxes while still traveling within or outside Spain.
Can digital nomads work for Spanish clients while on the visa?
Generally, the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is meant for remote workers with non-Spanish employers or clients. Some nomads later switch to self-employed or local work permits after one year to work with Spanish or EU-based companies legally.
What cities are best for affordable living under the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa?
Several members suggested Granada, Zaragoza, Pamplona, and other mid-sized cities as more affordable alternatives to Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia, allowing better budget management and quality of life.
Is private health insurance necessary in Spain?
Although public healthcare is available, many expats recommend maintaining private health insurance due to long waiting times for specialists in the public system. It ensures faster and more convenient access to care.
What are the main challenges digital nomads face in Spain?
High taxes, bureaucracy, and administrative complexity are the most common difficulties. Others mention the slow pace of public services and challenges finding local clients as freelancers.
Can digital nomads apply for citizenship after living in Spain?
Yes, after several years of legal residence (typically 10 years, though shorter for some nationalities), digital nomads may apply for Spanish citizenship. Some members shared plans to transition to permanent residency or citizenship after fulfilling visa requirements.
Is Spain good for entrepreneurs or freelancers?
Spain is not considered the most startup-friendly environment due to complex regulations and limited flexibility for freelancers. However, those who adapt and find the right fiscal setup can still enjoy a rewarding professional and personal life in Spain.
