Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa: 2026 updates for self-employed and remote therapists

Spain remains one of the world’s top destinations for remote professionals. For
international therapists, psychologists, and counselors, the Digital Nomad Visa
(DNV) provides an unparalleled opportunity to live in Spain while managing an
international online practice.

However, the regulations surrounding immigration are constantly evolving. As we
move through 2026, the Spanish government has refined the application process,
particularly for self-employed applicants (freelancers/autónomos). Here is
everything independent therapists need to know to successfully secure their visa this
year.

The self-employed profile: Essential criteria

Unlike remote corporate employees, self-employed therapists must prove a remote
commercial relationship—either business-to-business (B2B) with international clinics
or business-to-consumer (B2C) directly with their patients. To qualify under the
self-employed/freelance track, you must strictly meet the following parameters:
1. Formal self-employed registration in your home country: To prove that you
operate as a self-employed professional, it is a mandatory requirement to be
legally registered and active as a self-employed, sole proprietor, or business
owner in your home country or current country of residence.
2. Prior remote work history: You must demonstrate that you have been
working remotely with your patients, clients, or telehealth platforms for at
least 3 months prior to submitting the visa application.
3. Foreign client base: Your patients, clients, or the telehealth platforms you
provide professional services for must be located outside of Spain.
4. The 20% Spain income limit & mandatory degree homologation: Spanish
immigration law allows you to provide services to clients or companies located
in Spain. However, income generated from Spanish entities or residents cannot exceed 20% of your total monthly income under any circumstances.

Critical legal note: If you plan at any point to generate up to 20% of your
income by providing psychological counseling to clients or
companies in Spain, you are legally required to homologate your foreign
university degree. Under Royal Decree 889/2022 (BOE-A-2022-17045) and its
Annex, Psychology is a regulated profession in Spain (e.g., General Health
Psychology). Therefore, to legally practice within the Spanish healthcare
market—even while respecting the 20% DNV limit—the Spanish
administration requires your foreign university degree to undergo the official
homologation and recognition process through the Ministry of Universities.
5. 100% online & telehealth services: Your clinical and therapeutic activity must
be conducted exclusively online and 100% digitally. Any indication in your
contracts suggesting mandatory physical presence or frequent trips back to
your home country represents a high risk of denial by the UGE.

What’s new in 2026? Key updates for self-employed applicants

The Spanish administration has confirmed a clear trend toward stricter criteria and
greater document control. If you practice as an independent psychologist or
therapist, pay close attention to these key updates:
● Updated financial requirements (Tied to Spain’s Minimum Wage / SMI): The
financial thresholds for the Digital Nomad Visa are directly linked to Spain’s
Minimum Wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional or SMI). Following the
adjustments for 2026, the main applicant must demonstrate a stable monthly
income equivalent to 200% of the current SMI, representing roughly €2,700 to
€2,800 per month. If you are relocating with family members, you must add
75% of the SMI for the first dependent and 25% for each additional family
member. These financial resources must be demonstrated for a period of at
least 14 months. If your funds are held in a foreign bank, an official translation
of the bank certificates must be provided.
● Conditional applications for couples (New): For digital nomads, current
regulations permit joint applications when the minimum income threshold is
not reached individually, but is met combined between two applicants. This
option is ideal for couples or marriages of therapists applying together as joint
main applicants with an explanatory letter. Note that this cannot be combined
with the use of savings plans.
● Using savings to supplement income: If your monthly private practice
income fluctuates, the law allows you to use your savings to supplement your
regular income. However, the authorities will only count the excess savings
above the average Spanish salary.

● Stricter scrutiny on client contracts: In previous years, simple invoices or
vague collaboration letters were sometimes accepted. In 2026, the UGE
requires formalized commercial contracts or robust Terms of Service
agreements. These documents must clearly state the remote nature of your
therapy services, the duration of the professional relationship, and your
financial compensation.
● Official telehealth platform certificates: If you operate through international
online therapy platforms (such as BetterHelp, Talkspace, or your own
telehealth portal), you must provide official certificates issued by these
platforms. The document must confirm your active account history, monthly
earnings, and explicitly state that your counseling services are performed 100%
digitally.
● Strict scrutiny on practice owners (LLCs): If you own or manage your own
mental health practice or company (e.g., an LLC or corporate entity abroad),
proceed with caution. If you perform corporate administrative functions from
Spain, the UGE may consider the company to be located in Spain. To avoid
denials, you must prove that there is an operational structure and a real
administrator outside of Spain. You must refrain from performing local
administrative duties and have a contract specifying a fixed salary for your
clinical services, as dividends do not count as valid income for the visa.
Required documentation for self-employed therapists
To submit a successful application from within Spain (which grants a 3-year
residency permit) or from a consulate abroad (granting a 1-year visa), you will need:
● Proof of professional qualification: A university degree in psychology/therapy
or a certified professional license proving your expertise.
● Proof of income and business seniority: At least 3 months of invoices, bank
statements showing the incoming funds, and proof that your freelance
business registration (e.g., LLC documents, sole proprietorship registration in
your home country) is at least 1 year old.
● self-employed registration in home country: You must provide
documentation proving your formal freelance business registration (e.g., LLC
articles of organization, sole proprietorship registration, or tax registration) in
your home country, confirming that the registration is at least 1 year old.
● Commercial contracts: Signed agreements with international clients or
platforms outlining your remote work conditions.
● Clean criminal record: A certified and apostilled criminal background check
from any country you have lived in during the past 2 years, plus a signed
declaration covering the last 5 years.

● Private health insurance: A comprehensive policy with a company authorized
to operate in Spain, with full coverage, no co-payments (sin copagos), and no
waiting periods.
● Passport and application fee payment (Form 790-038).

Practical considerations for your practice

Once approved, you will have the right to register as an autónomo in Spain. While
the Digital Nomad Visa allows you to benefit from the Beckham Law (a special tax
regime offering a flat tax rate of 24% for income up to €600,000), you must ensure
your tax structure is properly set up from day one to avoid legal pitfalls between your
home country and the Spanish tax agency (Hacienda).

Need assistance navigating your move to Spain?

Leigh Matthews offers therapist launchpad consultations, a personalized mentoring session designed for therapists looking to set up or transition their practice to Spain.

Additionally, whether clients need assistance preparing their Digital Nomad Visa application as independent professionals, setting up their tax structure as autónomos, or managing administrative procedures such as exchanging their driving licence, Entre Trámites’ specialized legal team is available to provide expert support every step of the way.
Schedule a Consultation with Entre Trámites’ Experts Today.