Head to head
Italy vs Spain: the digital nomad visas compared
Verified data
Last verified June 10, 2026
The short version
- Italy has the lower entry bar: €2,065.83 per month versus €2,442 for Spain.
- Spain grants a longer initial stay (36 months vs 12), and it is renewable.
- Tax treatment differs: Italy — standard resident taxation; Spain — special tax regime. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Italy DNV | Spain DNV |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €2,065.83 (better) | €2,442 |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 1 year | 3 years (better) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | No fixed limit | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | Yes | Yes |
| Path to citizenship | Yes | Yes |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Allowed | Limited |
| Tax treatment | Standard resident taxation | Special tax regime (Régimen especial para trabajadores desplazados a territorio español (art. 93 LIRPF, 'Beckham regime') – optional) |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit), min. €30,000 | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €116 | ≈ €73.26 (better) |
| Where to apply | Embassy / consulate | Embassy / consulate, In country, Online |
| Processing time | 4–18 weeks | 2–4 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Italy DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Spain DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Sources
- Official gazette Ministero dell'Interno - Decreto 29 febbraio 2024 (GU Serie Generale n. 79 del 04-04-2024) - landing page (renders metadata only; full text via GU issue PDF) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 79/2024 pp. 5-8 - full text of the 29 Feb 2024 digital-nomad decree accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Italy in New York - Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa (EUR 24,789 income; EUR 30,000/USD 50,000 insurance) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Sistema Tessera Sanitaria (MEF) - Esenzioni da reddito (base level EUR 8,263.31 re-confirmed) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles - Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa (EUR 30,000/USD 50,000 insurance incl. repatriation; qualification options) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Italy in Paris - Visto per nomadi digitali e lavoratori da remoto (EUR 116 fee cash, 30/120-day processing) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Embassy of Italy in Singapore - Digital Nomads and Remote Workers (EUR 116 equivalent fee, 90/120-day processing, ~EUR 8,500 rounded base) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Italy in Toronto - Digital Nomad and Remote Worker National Visa (45-90 business days; biometrics since 11 Jan 2025) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Embassy of Italy in Pristina - Digital Nomad and Remote Worker Visa (rounded base EUR 8,500 -> EUR 25,500/year) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Agenzia delle Entrate - Residenza fiscale: regole generali per persone fisiche (183/184-day rule incl. mere physical presence; page updated 13 Jan 2026) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Portale Integrazione Migranti (Ministry of Labour) - Nomadi digitali e lavoratori da remoto: le regole (codice fiscale, partita IVA, INPS framework) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Ministero della Salute - Iscrizione dei cittadini stranieri al SSN (voluntary enrollment for permits >3 months against annual lump-sum contribution; no amount stated) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government UGE – Teletrabajadores (Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government UGE – Solicitudes iniciales de autorización para teletrabajadores de carácter internacional (requirements PDF; 200% SMI monthly, 75%/25% family, savings top-up) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government UGE requirements PDF – sickness insurance and social security sections (arts. 62.3.e and 62.5 Ley 14/2013; exclusions of travel/reimbursement/copay/waiting-period policies) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government UGE – Preguntas frecuentes: Autorizaciones de Residencia y Trabajo de Teletrabajadores Internacionales (tasa EUR 73.26 initial; income 200% SMI monthly; insurance; 20% Spanish-client cap; no switch from non-lucrative) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government UGE FAQ – general eligibility, social security, family work rights, local clients, switching rules accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Instrucción conjunta DGEEAC/DGM sobre teletrabajadores de carácter internacional (signed 29/03/2023) – Tercera: 'mensualmente el 200% del SMI', 75%/25% family accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Instrucción conjunta – Quinta: seguro público o privado de enfermedad, insurer authorized in Spain, active for the full authorization period, travel insurance invalid accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Real Decreto 126/2026, de 18 de febrero – salario mínimo interprofesional 2026 (EUR 1,221/month, EUR 17,094/year, retroactive to 1 Jan 2026) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Spain in Washington – Telework (Digital Nomad) Visa (DGSFP-registered insurer, no copay/coverage limit, travel insurance not accepted, full authorization period) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Spain in Washington – Telework visa (200% monthly SMI worked example for 2025; reciprocity fees from 1 Jan 2026 incl. USD 190 for US nationals; 10-day legal decision term; 1-year validity) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Spain in Santiago de Chile – Visado de teletrabajo PDF (1-year visa, 3-year authorization, 2-year renewals, 20-day UGE term, in-country filing without prior visa, 200%/75%/25% SMI, DGSFP insurance) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Spain in London – Digital Nomad Visa (200% of monthly SMI with 2024 worked example, 75%/25% family, insurer authorized in Spain, 10-day decision term) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Ministerio de Economía, Comercio y Empresa (PRIE) – Nómadas digitales (1-year visa / 3-year authorization, 20% Spanish-client cap, 3-month relationship, qualifications) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Agencia Tributaria – Régimen especial de impatriados (art. 93 LIRPF): covers remote teleworkers incl. digital nomad visa holders since 2023; 24%/47% over EUR 600,000; year of move + 5; 5-year prior non-residence accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Agencia Tributaria – Plazo para el ejercicio de la opción (Modelo 149): 6 months from activity start date per Spanish Social Security registration accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Agencia Tributaria – Persona física residente en España (>183 days in the calendar year triggers tax residence) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Orden ESS/1571/2014 – tasas for Ley 14/2013 international-mobility authorizations (EUR 70.40 initial / EUR 75.60 renewal base, indexed by budget laws) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Orden PJC/617/2025, de 13 de junio – LO 4/2000 immigration fee restructuring after RD 1155/2024, in force 16 Jun 2025 (separate from the Ley 14/2013 teleworker tasa) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Ley 28/2022, de 21 de diciembre (Startup Law), BOE 22-Dec-2022 – creates the telework visa/authorization; preamble: 1-year visa, 3-year authorization renewable for 2 years, permanent residence possible at 5 years accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette BOE consolidated page for Ley 28/2022 – metadata: published BOE núm. 306 de 22/12/2022, entrada en vigor 23/12/2022 accessed 2026-06-10