English 
Français The short version
- Spain has the lower entry bar: €2,442 per month versus €5,310 for Romania.
- Spain grants a longer initial stay (36 months vs 12), and it is renewable.
- Only Spain offers a direct path to permanent residence on this permit.
- Tax treatment differs: Romania — foreign income exempt; Spain — special tax regime. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Romania Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) | Spain DNV |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €5,310 | €2,442 (better) |
| Income basis | Salary / employment contract | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 1 year | 3 years (better) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | 3 years | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | Indirect (switch required) | Yes (better) |
| Path to citizenship | Via permanent residence | Yes |
| Family inclusion | No | Yes (better) |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Limited |
| Tax treatment | Foreign income exempt (Digital nomad tax exemption (Law no. 69/2023)) | 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 | ≈ €120 | ≈ €73.26 (better) |
| Where to apply | Embassy / consulate, Online | Embassy / consulate, In country, Online |
| Processing time | 2–9 weeks | 2–4 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Romania Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Spain DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Government IGI (General Inspectorate for Immigration) — Long-stay visa for other purposes (incl. digital nomads): insurance EUR 30,000, residence 1 year, 30-day decision (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government IGI — Informare privind viza de lunga sedere pentru alte scopuri: '...cel putin trei ori castigul salarial mediu brut lunar din Romania' (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- International organisation EU Immigration Portal — Romania long-term visa: fee EUR 120, residence 1 year, decision within 60 days (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Noerr — Romania: Tax exemptions for digital nomads (Law 69/2023, Official Gazette 265/30-Mar-2023, 183-day rule) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Romania Experience — Romania salaries 2026 (INS avg gross monthly wage ~RON 9,272, Feb 2026) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Exchange-Rates.org — EUR/RON ~5.236 (June 2026), basis for income EUR conversion (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Romanian Law Office — Romania Digital Nomad Visa (Law 22/2022) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Romania Experience — Digital Nomad Visa full guide 2026 (income ~EUR 5,600, EUR 30,000 insurance, ~36-month total) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government UGE – Teletrabajadores (Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones) (opens in a new tab) 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) (opens in a new tab) 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) (opens in a new tab) 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) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government UGE FAQ – general eligibility, social security, family work rights, local clients, switching rules (opens in a new tab) 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 (opens in a new tab) 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 (opens in a new tab) 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) (opens in a new tab) 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) (opens in a new tab) 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) (opens in a new tab) 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) (opens in a new tab) 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) (opens in a new tab) 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) (opens in a new tab) 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 (opens in a new tab) 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 (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Agencia Tributaria – Persona física residente en España (>183 days in the calendar year triggers tax residence) (opens in a new tab) 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) (opens in a new tab) 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) (opens in a new tab) 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 (opens in a new tab) 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 (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10