Spain’s New Digital Nomad Visa Program Aims To Boost Local Economies

Europe has quickly become a haven for digital nomads and remote workers in recent years. 

Countries across the continent are increasingly adopting new visas and laws that make it simple for digital nomads to move to the region and work.  

Currently, there are digital nomad programs in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Romania, and many more.  

Now, Spain has announced that it has launched its own digital nomad visa, allowing people who work for companies outside of the country to live there for six to 12 months, and potentially up to three years, without the right to residency. 

This new scheme called Red Nacional de Pueblos Acogedores para el Teletrabajo (National Network of Welcoming Villages for Remote Workers) is part of the country’s Start Up act, which aims to revitalize areas of the country that are seeing decreased populations. 

So far, 30 villages with under 5,000 residents have signed up for the program and will offer participants perks for moving to these areas. 

Following the global shift to remote working arrangements and plummeting tourism, more countries that rely on the revenue from travelers are providing newfound remote workers a path to come to their region and help boost local economies.