Spanish Residents Experience Rise In Digital Nomads

The rise of digital nomads in Barcelona has affected Spanish residents’ cost of living – causing some to move out of the area.

What’s going on:

Spanish residents in Barcelona’s Pablenou neighborhood have been complaining of rising rent prices due to an increase of digital nomads moving to the city, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.

The recent surge in digital nomads arriving in Barcelona stems from Spain’s new Digital Nomad Visa, which the country began accepting applications for in February.

Why it matters:

Spain’s digital nomad visa is the country’s effort to draw in an influx of international talent by welcoming remote workers to the country. Non-EU citizens who are self-employed, or working for a non-Spanish firm overseas, can apply for the visa.

To prove their ability to sustain themselves in Spain, applicants must demonstrate a monthly income of at least two times the recently increased monthly minimum wage of 1,260 euros ($1,340). That amounts to approximately $2,680 per month, or a yearly total of approximately $32,000, according to CNBC.

How it’ll impact the future:

Other European countries like Iceland, Latvia, Hungary, Greece, Malta, Croatia, and Estonia, have experienced an increase in international remote workers due to their own respective Digital Nomad Visas.

Complaints from local Spanish residents may affect future visa policies in Spain and other European countries as they study and adjust their own digital nomad policies.