UAE residents can move to Spain without a Spanish job on two visas. The digital nomad visa needs about €2,849 a month in 2026 from remote work for a company outside Spain. The non-lucrative visa needs €28,800 a year in savings or passive income, and you may not work. Digital nomad applicants book with the Embassy of Spain in Abu Dhabi by email. Non-lucrative applicants book through BLS International in the UAE. UAE police and medical certificates must be legalised by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and sworn-translated into Spanish.
Checked on 4 November 2026 against the Embassy of Spain in Abu Dhabi and BLS International UAE checklists, the 2026 Spanish minimum wage (SMI, €1,221 × 14 payments) and the 2026 IPREM of €600 a month. Your passport does not change these requirements. Your UAE residence decides that you apply in Abu Dhabi, not in your home country.
Digital nomad or non-lucrative: which Spain visa fits you?
| Digital nomad visa | Non-lucrative visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Remote employees and freelancers working for companies outside Spain | Retirees, people living on savings, rent or investments |
| Minimum income, single (2026) | About €2,849 a month (200% of the SMI) | €28,800 a year (€2,400 a month, 400% of IPREM) |
| Approx. in AED | About AED 11,500 a month | About AED 116,000 a year |
| Each family member | +75% of the SMI for the first (about €1,068), +25% for each extra (about €356) | +€7,200 a year each |
| Can you work? | Yes, remotely; up to 20% of your work may be for Spanish clients | No work of any kind |
| Where UAE residents apply | Embassy of Spain, Abu Dhabi (appointment by email) | BLS International UAE (appointment), fee paid to the embassy |
| Permit length | Up to 3 years | 1 year, then 2-year renewals |
AED figures are rounded at about AED 4.03 to €1.
Spain digital nomad visa from the UAE: requirements
- Remote job or clients outside Spain. Employees must have worked for the company for at least 3 months before applying. The company must have been trading for at least 1 year.
- Qualifications or experience. You need a university degree, professional training, or at least 3 years’ experience. In the UAE, experience is proven with a certificate from the Chamber of Commerce or the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHRE), legalised by MOFA and sworn-translated.
- Company letter confirming the contract length, that the job can be done remotely, and that you may work from Spain. It must be sworn-translated.
- Income: a legalised, translated work contract or client contracts, plus 12 months of bank statements.
- Company registration: a commercial registry certificate or equivalent.
- NIE number (Spanish foreigner identification number). If you don’t have one, contact the embassy before applying.
- Police certificate from the UAE, legalised by MOFA, plus a sworn declaration of no criminal record for the last 5 years
- Passport valid for at least 1 year with 2 blank pages, a copy of every page, and a copy of your UAE residence visa
The social security hurdle for UAE employers
This is where most UAE employees get stuck. Spain and the UAE have no social security agreement. If you are employed, your UAE employer must register with Spain’s Social Security and sign you up, and it must sign a responsibility statement. Many UAE companies will not do this. Freelancers instead register in Spain’s self-employed regime (RETA) and pay monthly contributions themselves. Ask your employer about this before you spend money on translations.
Spain non-lucrative visa from the UAE: requirements
- National visa application form, plus Form EX-01 (Spanish only) showing your address in Spain
- Passport valid for at least 1 year, a copy of the first page and a copy of your UAE residence visa
- 12 months of personal bank statements with the bank’s original stamp, plus any property deeds
- Private health insurance for the whole stay, with no deductibles, excess or co-payments, confirmed in the policy or an insurer letter
- Medical certificate stating that you have none of the diseases listed in the International Health Regulations 2005, legalised by MOFA
- Criminal record certificate covering the last 5 years for each country you lived in. The UAE certificate is legalised by MOFA; certificates from other countries are legalised by the Spanish embassy there or apostilled. See UAE police clearance for immigration.
- Sworn Spanish translations of the criminal record and medical certificates and of any family documents
- Motivation letter naming the Spanish city where you will live
The embassy may interview you in Spanish, with an official interpreter if needed. Processing takes about 3 months and can take longer while the regional authority in Spain approves your residence.
How to apply from Dubai or Abu Dhabi: step by step
- Choose the visa. If you will keep working, it is the digital nomad visa. If you will only live on savings or passive income, it is the non-lucrative visa.
- Get your UAE documents legalised. Have MOFA legalise your police certificate, medical certificate (for the non-lucrative visa) and experience certificate (for the digital nomad visa). Allow 2 to 4 weeks.
- Order sworn Spanish translations. Use a translator on Spain’s official list (traductor jurado).
- Book the appointment. For the digital nomad visa, email [email protected] with a copy of your UAE residence visa once your file is ready. For the non-lucrative visa, book through BLS International UAE.
- Submit in person and pay the visa fee to the embassy (Form 790-052 for the non-lucrative visa).
- Travel to Spain and apply for your foreigner identity card (TIE) at the police station within one month of arrival.
Applying from inside Spain: the embassy notes that people already legally in Spain can apply for the digital nomad residence permit directly, for up to 3 years, without first getting a visa in the UAE. You must be legally in Spain when you apply.
After you arrive: renewals, time outside Spain and citizenship
- Non-lucrative renewals are for 2 years each under the 2025 immigration regulation. If you spend more than about 6 months a year outside Spain, you can lose the right to renew. This matters if you plan to keep spending winters in Dubai.
- Tax: spending more than 183 days a year in Spain normally makes you a Spanish tax resident, taxed on your worldwide income. Get advice before moving UAE savings.
- Long-term residence after 5 years of legal residence.
- Citizenship: 10 years of legal residence for most nationalities, but only 2 years for Filipino citizens and nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, Portugal and Equatorial Guinea (Civil Code, article 22). This is a major advantage for Filipinos living in the UAE.
Common reasons for refusal
- The UAE employer did not register with Spanish Social Security (digital nomad visa)
- The employment started less than 3 months before applying, or the company is under 1 year old
- The health insurance has co-payments (non-lucrative visa)
- Certificates were not MOFA-legalised, or not sworn-translated
- The funds come from salary rather than savings or passive income (non-lucrative visa)
Questions people ask
How much income do I need for Spain’s digital nomad visa in 2026?
About €2,849 a month for one person (200% of the 2026 minimum wage), plus about €1,068 for the first family member and €356 for each additional one.
Can I use my Dubai job for the Spain digital nomad visa?
Yes, if the company has traded for at least a year, you have worked there for at least 3 months, it allows you to work from Spain, and it registers with Spanish Social Security.
Where do I apply for a Spanish residence visa in the UAE?
Book the digital nomad visa by email with the Embassy of Spain in Abu Dhabi, and the non-lucrative visa through BLS International UAE.
Can I work on a Spain non-lucrative visa?
No. Neither local nor remote work is allowed on the non-lucrative visa. Remote workers should use the digital nomad visa.
How fast can a Filipino get Spanish citizenship?
After 2 years of legal residence in Spain, compared with 10 years for most other nationalities. You must also pass language and culture tests.
Related guides
- How to move to Europe from the UAE: all routes compared
- Portugal D7 and Digital Nomad Visa from the UAE
- UAE police clearance certificate for immigration
- Visa application centres in the UAE by country
Sources
- Embassy of Spain in Abu Dhabi: Digital nomad visa
- BLS International UAE: Non-lucrative residence visa checklist
- 2026 SMI (Real Decreto 126/2026) and DNV amounts: Migratiolex summary
- 2026 IPREM and non-lucrative amounts: Costa Luz Lawyers; renewals: 2025 reform clarification
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 4 November 2026. Spanish income thresholds follow the SMI and IPREM and can change each year. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.