Question
“I’ve been working as a freelancer on Upwork for about 4 years, earning around €4,000 per month. Is freelancing income valid for applying for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)? How should I verify and prove my Upwork income? I usually withdraw my earnings to Payoneer, do I also need to provide traditional bank account statements?”
Answers
These are the answers from Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“The problem with Upwork (and models like it) is that it doesn’t really fit the DNV. You need to provide ongoing long term contracts with clients who are companies who have been in business over a year.
And who are happy to give you a special authorisation letter. Upwork is the middleman in all this, and contracts are usually not long term (i.e. the 3 years for the visa).”
“Yeah, on Upwork I am working with only one company for more than 3 years as a full-time engineer.”
“Ok. But who is the contract with? And is it indefinite? And will they give you an authorisation letter?”
“Yes, the contract within Upwork is unlimited and I received a confirmation letter from them once, but I think I should get it again with more detailed information.”
“You need a contract showing an open-ended long-term contract with your client. Upwork is technically the client, but they don’t sign a contract with you guaranteeing an income amount. For some weird reason the UGE wants pen-to-paper signatures, not e-signatures for contracts. This is not a DNV-friendly situation.”
“Ok, maybe I can get a letter from the company that I am working with them for 3 years. Just our contract is based on Upwork.”
“Draft a contract with the help of a DNV consultant. Don’t mention Upwork. Have your client pay you directly for 3 months and draft invoices for every payment you get.”
“What do you do on Upwork? I’ve been meaning to look into it for years.” – “I am working as a software engineer.”
“Upwork has higher rejection rate. I mean you need some long-term employment for approval of visa.”
“Upwork could cause you denial as far as I heard.”
“Withdrawal method is not your problem here. It is the fact that you can’t show company documents for your clients or Upwork itself. Unless you have some long-term clients who are willing to give you good standing etc documents and that make up the required min income without all other projects you have.”
“Honestly, I am thinking that maybe getting an official certificate with the company’s letterhead and signature, saying I’ve been working full-time with them for three years on a monthly salary of €X, could help my case. But after hearing everyone else’s responses, I’m kind of feeling like it might be a dead end and my chances are pretty slim.”
“If one (or multiple) of your clients is willing to provide you the apostilled good standing document, contract, and other documents, why not? To be sure, your client can pay you directly (not via Upwork) for 3 months prior to your application to avoid confusion and need to prove the payments from the client (like trying to match invoices to amounts from Upwork etc). Good luck.”
Conclusion
From this discussion, it’s clear that applying for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa using Upwork income is challenging, mainly because Upwork acts as a middleman rather than a direct employer. Applicants must demonstrate a long-term, open-ended contract with a company — something Upwork typically doesn’t provide in a way that satisfies Spanish authorities.
Community members suggest bypassing Upwork’s intermediary structure by securing a direct contract with a client, ideally with traditional signatures and company details, and ensuring payments are made directly for several months before applying. It’s also helpful to provide an official company letter confirming the duration and nature of your collaboration.
In short, while income from Upwork may demonstrate financial stability, it doesn’t automatically meet the Spain Digital Nomad Visa’s strict documentary requirements. Freelancers should consider formalizing client relationships outside the platform to strengthen their visa applications.
This article is based on personal opinions from the Spainguru community and is not legal advice.
FAQs about Using Upwork Income for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa
1. Can freelancing income earned on Upwork be used to apply for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)?
Upwork income alone is generally not sufficient to meet the DNV’s requirement for long-term, stable contracts. The visa requires an ongoing open-ended contract with one or more companies, preferably with a minimum duration of 1 to 3 years, which Upwork usually does not provide since it acts as a middleman. Demonstrating financial stability from Upwork without direct client contracts is difficult.
2. How should I prove my Upwork income for the visa application?
Merely showing Upwork invoices and withdrawals is not enough. Spanish authorities want solid proof of a long-term contractual relationship with clients. If your direct client(s) on Upwork can provide official letters on company letterhead, signed contracts, and payment confirmation directly to you (not routed through Upwork), this strengthens your case significantly.
3. Do I need to show statements from traditional bank accounts, or are Payoneer withdrawals enough?
The method of withdrawal (e.g., Payoneer) can be acceptable if properly documented with corresponding invoices and payment receipts. However, direct payments from clients into traditional bank accounts for at least three months before applying can avoid discrepancies and support verification. Spanish authorities prefer a clear audit trail matching contracts, invoices, and bank payments.
4. Is it possible to draft a contract to replace Upwork’s platform contract?
Yes. To meet DNV requirements, some freelancers draft separate contracts directly with clients, avoiding Upwork’s contractual limitations. This contract should be open-ended (indefinite duration) and reflect the ongoing nature of the relationship. Such an approach may require professional help from a DNV consultant or immigration lawyer to ensure compliance and acceptance.
5. Can Upwork’s e-signature and digital contracts satisfy Spain’s visa requirements?
Spanish authorities often require “wet” pen-to-paper signatures rather than electronic signatures for contracts. Upwork contracts are mostly digital and intermediary-based, which makes acceptance unlikely. Official signed documentation on company letterhead is usually necessary for the DNV application.
