Income for a digital nomad residence in Spain in 2026

Income for a digital nomad ’s residence in Spain in 2026: what amount is needed

The claimant must show an income of 2,849 a month, i.e. 34,188 a year. This is 20% of the minimum wage (salario minimo interprofesional, SMI) of 2026: 1,221 a month for 14 payments, 17,094 a year. [6].

The threshold is the same for both routes: the consulate visas and UGE residence permits (Unidad de Grandes Empreas, Department of Inclusion unit) [3][4]B. More detailed information on the status itself: Digital Nomad in Spain: Conditions for international telework.

Where are you getting 20% SMI?

The law only states that the applicant must have sufficient means for himself and his family to stay in his home: this is the wording of section 62.3 (f) Ley 14/2013 [1]No specific interest is included in the Act: Additional regulation 20 of the same Act directs the authorities to issue instructions on requirements for applicants and establishes that the thresholds for funds are tied to SMI [1]Interest refers to the UGE document certificate: for the applicant "mensualmente", i.e., monthly, 200,000 SMI, for a family of two, at least 75% SMI, for each of the next 25% [2]The same figures are repeated by the consulate in Moscow. [4]The Sydney Consulate explains that the funds are evaluated by means of a joint instruction of 30 March 2023 from the Director General for Spanish Affairs Abroad and Consulates and the Director General for Migration. [5]The official pages we read do not contain the instruction itself.

Once the figure is not in the law but in the instruction and the certificate, the agencies can review it without changing the law. [1], focus on the UGE help and the current SMI.

Mechanics: 14 payments, annual base and 12-year split

The SMI in Spain announces a monthly amount of 1,221 me, with 14 payments per year, 12 monthly and 2 additional (pagas extraordinarias). [6]Twice, 17,094 I give 34,188 a year, and the 12th is 2,849 a month.

Disparities appear because the UGE certificate writes "200 % SMI every month" and does not specify whether the annual amount is divided by 12 or 14 payments. [2]Hence, three figures that competitors find themselves with under the heading 2026:

The threshold of 34,188 per year is both "14 payments of 2,442 y", and "12 payments of 2,849 y," and 12 payments of 2,442 y, I give a year's payment well below the threshold. How does the agency compare monthly amounts from the certificates with the pore, is not explained, so take a reserve: each of the three months of the documents must have a minimum of 2,849 y gross. For 14 payments, attach a contract or letter with an annual amount: monthly certificates will show 2,442 I'm, and the annual number will close the threshold.

How much is needed for family: Table 2026

The complainant is considered to be 20% SMI, the first family member adds 75%, each next 25% [2][4]Family members are considered as spouse or partner, minor children, adult children and parents in maintenance [3].

Results for typical formulations:

The monthly amounts are the annual figure divided by 12 and rounded to the euro, so if you add the lines, you can make a difference of 1 .

The wording has nuance. The UGE paper requires a two-person family to "at least 75% SMI" and does not write the word "additionally" [2]The page of the Moscow Consulate on the visa specifies that at least 75% of the SMI for the first re-united and 25% for each additional family member [8]The table reads both terms as a supplement to the applicant ’s threshold: otherwise, a family of two would have claimed less than one applicant, and we did not find a separate explanation of UGE on this location. Digital Nomad family and 3-person family income.

What is considered income and how to confirm it

Income from work under the contract on which the application is based is considered as income from work of an employee, a commercial person (contrato mercantil) of an self-employed person. [2]The proceeds outside the contract, such as the transfer from a relative or the repayment of a loan, do not fall under the phrase "contract proceeds" in the text.

The UGE reference document refers to the account sheets (nóminas) or accounts (facturas) three months before the date of submission, the bank certificate (certificado bancario) to the applicant with the signature or stamp of the bank for the same three months, the contract and the letter of the company with functions, conditions of the deleted work and payment in euros. above it [2].

If the contract income is short, UGE accepts bank statements on savings or other liquid income that cover the difference over the entire period of the authorization [2]For example, if 300 a month is missing and the permit is three years, the difference is 10,800 a.m.: it is a conditional example, not a projection. [8]The basis of the application is still income from work. [3].

The hardest-case scenario for applicants from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine is a letter to the euro and bank certificate: wages are in rubles, tenge, hryvnias or dollars. [2]The course the agency takes is not stated, so write down the course and the date of the count into an explanatory letter. How to confirm income for UGE, the employer's letter separately: employer ’s letter for a digital nomad ’s residence permit.

Gross or net

The UGE Handbook explicitly states that the required amounts are indicated before any retention: taxes, social contributions and other [2]The threshold is compared to the calculation of the accruals in the final list (total devengado) rather than the amount that came to the map.

Bank statement shows net: less than in the sheet, and UGE requires that the income be matched to the sheets or accounts [2]Withdrawal: attach an explanatory letter where gross, retention and amount of the account are placed in one line, which the Office itself advises when the documents are not correctly aligned with the list [2].

The self-employed has a gross amount of money. If the platform has held the commission or converted the currency, the account will be reduced. The discrepancies are closed by the "employer, contract, bill, payment." There is nothing in the directory about deducting business expenses.

Several employers and clients: how income is accounted for

Self-employed persons are allowed by law to have relations with "one or more" companies outside Spain, for at least three months [1]The income of several customers can be shown together, but each requires a contract, three months' bills and bank statements. [1][2].

The employee is more difficult: he works only for a foreign company under an employment contract. [1][3]How the Agency takes into account the second foreign employment, the open materials are not specified. This case is decided before filing.

The "wage plus freelance" mixture is dangerous: according to UGE, the employment relationship is not proven by professional relationships, and vice versa. [2]The threshold is better to set one type of relationship.

Spanish client is authorized to self-employed until his share is no more than 20% of the total professional activity [1]. Whether the proceeds from it enter the threshold, the sources do not say, count without it. Details: Rule 20% for a digital nomad and Digital Nomad for a freelancer.

Typical errors in the calculation of income by claimants

• They count the sum of 2,442 at 12 payments per year: the annual amount falls below the threshold.
• Take the number 2025 or the article without a date: SMI changes every year [6].
• Compare the amount on the map with the threshold, not the gross amount on the sheet [2].
• The application is accompanied by an extract from the annex instead of a bank certificate bearing a stamp in the claimant ’s name [2].
• Pay for spouse, IP, pay service or relative: certificate required in the claimant ’s name [2]The ownership of the money must be confirmed. [8].
• Collect documents in advance and serve later: three months from the date of delivery, the package has to be updated [2].
• They count the threshold on one, and three go: family allowances are forgotten.

Such errors result in the request for documents: Requerimiento from UGE.

What to Change With a New SMI

SMI approves Real Decreto for each year. 2026 Decision is in force from 1 January to 31 December 2026. [6]We did not find any decisions for 2027 in official sources on 2 October 2026.

UGE Handbook Tieds Threshold to the SMI in force [2]Which SMI applies to the January and February declarations until the new decree is published is not specified.

When the new decree comes out, the order is:

1. Take a new monthly SMI and the annual amount from the first section of the decree in BOE.
2. Multiply the annual amount by two and divide by 12, which is the new threshold of the applicant.
3. Add 75% SMI to the first family member and 25% to each of the next family members, by 12.
4. Compare to the contract income: with an increase of 3.1 per cent in SMI, as in 2026 [6]Income close to the old border ceases to pass.

For extension, the law requires that conditions of authorization be maintained [1]Does UGE compare income to new SMI, it is not said, safer to think what it compares? Extension of residence permit after three years.

What can we help you with?

A case-by-case review is needed when the income for 12 payments is between 2,442 and 2,849 me, when it is mixed (wage and freelance), when the money is not paid to the applicant or your own company. The NEXO team in Barcelona counts the threshold on your family composition and payment schedule, checks how the income documents look for UGE, and prepares explanatory letters for the bank statement. Counselling: 121 in 45 minutes. ConsultationIII. Service page: Digital nomad ’s residence permit, the filing procedure by step: DNV route sheet.

Frequent issues

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The source is viewed on 02.10.2026 · NEXO · Drafting Draft · Sources do not replace individual legal advice.