This guide is what worked for us and the people we've helped — it is not immigration or tax advice, and we are not immigration or tax professionals. Rules change, every situation is different, and the cost of getting it wrong (denied visas, double taxation, fines, missed deadlines) is real.
Before you act on anything here, speak with a qualified immigration or tax professional — an immigration lawyer (abogado de extranjería), a cross-border tax accountant, or a licensed gestor — who can review your specific facts. Use this guide to know what questions to ask, not as a substitute for paid advice.
Startup Law — is almost always the right path. This is the step-by-step we wish we'd had when we started.
It covers the consulate route (apply from the US, get a one-year visa, then renew in Spain) and the in-country UGE route (enter on a 90-day tourist stamp, apply for a three-year permit while in Spain). Pick one before you start collecting paperwork — the document checklist is almost identical but the timing is very different.
You must work remotely for non-Spanish clients or a non-Spanish employer. Self-employed applicants can earn up to 20% of income from Spanish clients; employees should have zero Spanish-employer income. LinkedIn export is not enough — bring signed letters from past employers on letterhead.
You need a client or employer relationship at least three months old at the time of application, and a contract (or contracts) that proves the relationship will continue.
You need a clean criminal-record certificate from every country you've lived in for the last two years (apostilled and translated by a sworn translator).
Income threshold for 2026: roughly €2,760/month for the main applicant (200% of the Spanish minimum wage), plus ~€1,035 for a spouse (75% of SMI) and ~€345 per additional dependent (25% of SMI). Show 3–6 months of bank statements and recent invoices or payslips.