FOREIGNERS TRAVELING TO OR CURRENTLY IN SPAIN, CAN APPLY DIRECTLY IN SPAIN FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT TO TELEWORK, WITHOUT REQUIRING A PRIOR VISA.
Please note that US citizens currently do not require a visa to enter Spain for stays no longer than 90 days.
Before applying for the visa, the applicant must obtain a Spanish N.I.E. number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero / Foreigner Identity Number).
Find below a link with information on how to obtain a NIE number at this Consulate General:
How to obtain a NIE
General Information
This visa is intended for foreigners who wish to live in Spain working remotely for a Company located outside of Spain, using exclusively computer, telematics, or telecommunication means.
This visa does not apply to citizens of the European Union or to those to whom European Union law applies.
Applicants who carry out an activity as an employee may only work for companies located outside of Spain.
When applicants are Self-employed (as freelancers), they may also work for a company located in Spain, provided that the percentage of such work does not exceed 20% of their total professional activity.
Applicants must have a Bachelor´s or Postgraduate Degree from a recognized University or Business School, or demonstrate at least 3 years of work experience in their current field.
The following family members may also obtain a visa:
- The spouse or common-law partner.
- Minor children and children of legal age who are financially dependent and who have not formed a family unit on their own.
- Parents who are dependent on the teleworker.
Required Documents
Present original and photocopy of the following documents:
- National visa application form: Each applicant must complete all sections and sign the application. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application.
- Photograph: It has to be glued to the application form. A recent, color photograph with a light background, taken head-on, without dark or reflective glasses, or any clothing that hides the oval of the face.
- Valid unexpired Passport: Original and copy of the page or pages that contain biometric data. The passport must have a minimum validity of 1 year and at least two consecutive blank pages . Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
The passport will remain at the Consulate during the visa process. - Proof of residency in the Consular jurisdiction: Notarized copy of State ID, Driver´s Licence or Student ID from one of the following States: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
- Proof of legal residence in the United States (Non-US Passport holders):
Notarized copy of Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) or valid US Visa. Holders of B‐1/B‐2 visas cannot apply in the United States. They must apply in their country of residence.
- Visa fee: Money Order made out to the Consulate of Spain in Houston.
APPLICANT
Americans $ 190
Other Nationalities $ 106
For nationals of Australia, Ethiopia, Canada, the United Kingdom and others, different rates are applied based on reciprocity. Please check the complete most recent visa fees
7. Certificate issued by the Company stating the following:
- If the applicant is an Employee:
- Seniority in the Company (at least 3 months)
- the explicit consent to work remotely in Spain
- employee income
- If the applicant is Self-employed:
- the length of the contractual relationship and
- the terms and conditions to work remotely in Spain.
The documentation must prove that the applicant has maintained a professional relationship with one or more companies not located in Spain for at least the last 3 months and that the professional relationship will continue for at least 1 year working remotely from Spain, as well as the terms and conditions under which the professional activity will be carried out remotely.
8. Certificate from the State Division of Corporations: (an institution similar to the Mercantile Registry in Spain) indicating the Company's incorporation date and the type of business activity.
This certificate must demonstrate the actual and continuous activity of the Company or groups of companies with which the employee has an employment or professional relationship for at least one year.
This document must be apostilled and submitted along with an official translation into Spanish.
9. Declaration of responsibility (from the Company or the self-employed worker) stating the commitment to comply with the obligations of the Spanish Social Security before starting their work or professional activity.
It is recommended to use our Template
10. Financial means:
Documents proving sufficient financial means or a regular source of income for the applicant and, where applicable, for their family members. The minimum monthly amount required varies each year and is calculated based on the Spanish Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI).
SMI for 2026 is €1.221.
a) Applicant: 200% of monthly (SMI) € 2,442 (approx., $ 2,845)
b) 1st Family member: 75% of monthly SMI € 916 (approx., $ 1,070)
c) Additional Family member: 25% of monthly SMI € 305 (approx., $ 355)
To prove the amounts indicated, any means of proof may be used (employment contract, firm job offer, or others).
11. Proof of coverage in the Spanish Social Security System. It can be one of the following documents:
For employees: proof of the Company's application for registration with the Spanish Social Security System and proof of the employee's Social Security affiliation or EXAMPLE
For self-employed applicants: Proof of registration in the RETA (Régimen de Trabajadores Autónomos de la Seguridad Social española). EXAMPLE
Please note that if you do not have an electronic certificate or CLAVE (as a non-resident foreigner) you will not be able to complete the electronic registration request or obtain the aforementioned proof. In this case, you can obtain it through an authorized legal representative in Spain, who will use a valid electronic certificate to interact and carry out all types of procedures with the Spanish administration.
12. Copy of the Bachelor´s degree or documentation proving at least 3 years of professional experience:
Original and copy of the Bachelor´s or Postgraduate Degree from a recognized University or Business School, or documents proving at least 3 years of work experience in their current field.
To practice a regulated profession, the necessary qualifications must be demonstrated.
In case of doubt regarding the equivalence of a vocational training qualification within the Spanish education system, accreditation of the qualification´s validation by the competent educational authority may be required.
A visa for teleworking cannot be granted when the conditions of the application coincide with those of the visa for intra-company transfers.
13. Criminal record check certificate.
Stating that the applicant has no criminal record in the places where he has resided for the past 5 years. Applicants over 18 must present original and copy of the criminal record check certificate issued by the FBI and legalized with the Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention requested to the Department of State in Washington DC. It cannot be older than 6 months and it must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
Local State background checks and Apostilles are not valid.
14. A responsible declaration of the absence of criminal records penalties of the last 5 years.
15. Proof of Health insurance. public or private health insurance certificate obtained from an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance must cover all risks insured by the public health system in Spain and must be maintained for the entire duration of the authorization.
It must not have any deductible, copayment or coverage limit; it must cover 100% of the medical, hospital and out-of-hospital expenses. An insurance card will not be accepted as proof of coverage. Travel insurance will not be accepted
Required documents for family Members:
For each family member accompanying the worker, the following must be submitted:
All the required documents specified in sections 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 13, 14 y 15.
In the case of minors, the visa application must be signed by one of their parents or by a duly accredited representative.
Documents proving family relationship with the worker: Birth or Marri age Certificates issued by the civil registry, certificate of registrati on as an unmarried couple.
In the case of an unregistered couple with a stable emotional relationship equivalent to a registered couple: Documents proving the unregistered partnership with the applicant for at least 1 year, for evaluation. When there are ch ildren in common, it will be sufficient to submit the children's birth certificate and prove stable cohabitation.
In the case of adult children (18 y.o. and older): Documents proving their financial dependence and civil status. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
In the case of relatives in the ascending line, documents that prove they are under the worker's care. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
Foreign official documents must be apostilled or legalized and must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
Please submit the original and a copy of all the documents proving family relationship.
When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.
Procedure:
This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from persons residing within the consular district.
- Who can apply for a visa: This Consulate is competent to accept only visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas).
- Place of submission:
Once you have gathered all the required visa documents, you must mail your application to the following address:
Consulate General of Spain in Houston
Digital visa application
1800 Bering Drive suite 750
Houston TX, 77057
Please do not mail your application if you do not yet have all the necessary documents. We suggest you first double-check with the following check list
- Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/H ome .aspx
- Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
- Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is 10 days as of the day after the submission date of the application, but this period may be extended when an interview or additional documents are requested.
- Collecting the visa: The Consular Office will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation.
- Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based.
- Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
- Validity period of the visa: The visa is valid for 1 year.
The visa accredits residence in Spain during its validity period, making it unnecessary for the worker to obtain a Foreigner Identity Card. However, the worker may apply for this card at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the corresponding Police Station.