No lucrativa or Digital Nomad: what to choose in Spain

No. lucrativa or Digital Nomad: What decides the choice

The main question is, who pays you and what for what? If you work for personal work, i.e., wage on a contract of employment or pay your bills, you work, and no lucrativa is not your problem. Article 61 Reglamento de extranjeria (Real Decreto 1155/2024) defines it as living "sin realizar actividades laborales o professionales", and UGE adds in its explanations that no lucrativa does not allow you to work, including Remote [1][3].

Digital Nomad (DNV) is called Teletrabajo de carácter international, which is a permit to live in Spain and work remotely for companies outside the country, articles 74 bis and the next Ley 14/2013 [2]If you live on savings, pensions, rents or dividends and you don't work yourself, your situation is described in no lucrativa: conditions and order no lucrativaIf you work remotely, look. conditions Digital Nomad.

The grey area starts where there is mixed income: pension and consultation, dividends and participation in management. There is no legal "part" answer: it is necessary to decide which activity is considered work, and that depends on your case.

Comparison of no lucrativa and DNV by main features

Information from articles 61 to 64 of Reglamento and articles 74 bis - 76 Ley 14/2013 and UGE explanations [1][2][3]The table describes the general rules, and in your case the timing, country of submission and status are relevant. [1][2].

Money: Why no lucrativa and DNV thresholds cannot be directly compared

No. lucrativa requires 400 per cent IPREM per month for the complainant and 100 per cent for each family member for the period of the permit. [1][5]The savings or pension are confirmed, and the origin of the money is explained by: How to count no lucrativa.

DNV requires a distance of at least 20% of SMI, which is 2,849 I per month gross per applicant. The thresholds set the instructions of the agencies and confirm them with UGE documents: three months' pay slips or bills and bank statements. If the earnings are below the threshold, the difference can be closed by saving for the entire term of the permit. [3][4]The machine's looking at the material. How to count income for DNV.

The practical conclusion is that a man with large savings and no pay will fail because he needs a working relationship. A person with a wage, but without a savings, there is no chance of no lucrativa because one wage does not accept the law as the source. It is not the amount, but the nature of the income that is chosen.

Delivery, timing and that after approval

No. lucrativa is requested with a visa at the consulate. After a positive decision, the consulate issues a visa within a month and after entry within a month, the TIE must apply for a visa. [1]If no response is received, the application is rejected [1]I'm going to go to the police station. no lucrativa through consulate.

DNV can be processed in two ways. If you are outside Spain, you will obtain a TEL visa from the consulate (up to one year) and then you will apply for a UGE permit 60 days before the visa is over. If you are already legally in Spain, for example by entry without visa, you can apply directly to the UGE. [2][3]. UGE decides in 20 days with electronic filing, in silence, the permission is considered issued. This rule applies to the decision of the UGE, and the consulate issues a visa on separate terms. [2]III. Time frame in detail: how many UGEs are considering the application.

The DNV is more advantageous in length: permission up to three years versus one year for no lucrativa, but this is a consequence of another rationale rather than a choice: after DNV, the working conditions must be confirmed when the extension is applied. [2].

Family, social insurance and taxes

Family. Under article 61, no lucrativa also gives family members the right to reside but not work [1]DNV relatives can be employed and self-employed without restrictions (additional provisions of Ley 14/2013, FAQ UGE response 17) [3]This is a serious argument if the husband is going to work: Family at Digital Nomad.

Social security. No. lucrativa requires seguro de enfermedad, which, at the request of the consulate in Moscow, must cover all the risks covered by the Spanish public health system [1][6]. DNV requires the fulfillment of obligations to Seguridad Social: for an employee it is the registration of a foreign employer in the system and alta in Régimen General or certificado de legislación aplicable from the country of origin, for self-employed alta in RETA. [3]Detailed: Digital Nomad and Seguridad Social.

Taxes. No permit itself determines the tax status. If you spend more than 183 days in Spain a year or here the centre of your economic interests, you're a resident and pay IRPF with world income. The special regime of Becham is 24% possible for a DNV hired television worker to meet the conditions, no lucrativa doesn't have it by definition because there's no working income: Beckham's law for digital nomad, taxes of a digital nomad.

To whom it is appropriate: four typical profiles

• Pensioner or wound. Pension, rent, dividends, savings, no work: no lucrativa. If the pension is below the threshold, the balance is covered by savings: no lucrativa pension.
• A foreign company employee. Companies have at least a year, relationships of at least three months, diplomas or three years of experience: DNV [2][3].
• Freelancer. Business relations with foreign customers are at least three months: DNV or cuenta propia, the choice depends on the customers: DNV or cuenta propia.
• Business owner. If you run your business, it's a job. For the owner of a single company UGE has a separate list of documents, and no lucrativa is not suitable. [3].

If you do not fit into any profile, start by comparing all the bases: What residence permit to choose in a remote job.

Typical selection errors

• To go no lucrativa and quiet to work remotely. UGE calls this work a violation, and the experience thus gained is not accepted for DNV [3]What if this situation has already arisen, is better discussed with the lawyer before the presentation.
• Pick the sum. No lucrativ has 2,400 me, DNV 2,849 me, but these are different tests. [1][4].
• Consider DNV a tax exemption. Residence permit does not include 24% automatically [2].
• Focus on the duration. Three years DNV means keeping a job and a living all this time. [2].
• Ignore Seguriidad Social. For DNV, this is a condition of authorization, not a formality after a card. [3].

When Individual Review Is Needed

A breakup is needed if you have mixed income, if you own a business, if the employer refuses to participate in Seguridad Social, if the family is in different status, if you already live in Spain on different bases and think about a change of heart, in which case the right choice depends on your case, and he's being checked by a lawyer and a gestor.

What can we help you with?

The NEXO team in Barcelona is looking at your income model, comparing no lucrativa, DNV and cuenta propia to your family and country, preparing documents and a plan after approval. First 30 minutes of free consultationB. Step diagrams: No lucrativa route sheet and on Digital Nomad.

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