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What documents do I need to move to Spain as a United Kingdom citizen?
Typical pathway: Digital Nomad
Last verified: August 5, 2026
- National visa application form (Solicitud de visado nacional) (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
Official long-stay national visa form, completed in full and signed by each applicant (a separate form for each accompanying family member). Submitted in person at the Spanish Consulate General covering your UK place of residence (London, Manchester or Edinburgh). - Valid UK passport plus photocopy of the biometric data page (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
Original passport with minimum 1 year validity remaining and at least two blank pages; passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted. One photocopy of the biometric/data page(s) is submitted with the file. This is the document copy requirement, not the photo requirement. - Recent passport-size colour photograph of the applicant (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
One recent colour photo, light/plain background, full-face, no dark glasses, no glare and no head coverings obscuring the face oval. Separate and additional to the passport photocopy above. - ACRO Police Certificate (UK criminal record certificate) with apostille (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
For UK criminal records the Spanish consular network specifically requires the ACRO certificate. It must generally be under 6 months old at submission (unless the certificate states a different expiry), apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office and accompanied by an official Spanish translation. Certificates may also be required from any other country you lived in during the last 2–5 years. - Declaración responsable of no criminal record (last 5 years) (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
Signed sworn statement declaring the absence of any criminal record over the previous five years. This is a separate declaration from the ACRO certificate itself. - FCDO apostille and sworn Spanish translation of all UK-issued documents (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
Post-Brexit, UK public documents are no longer exempt from legalisation as EU documents are, so ACRO certificates, degrees, marriage/birth certificates etc. must be apostilled and, where applicable, translated into Spanish by an officially recognised (sworn) translator. Ask your consulate for its list of accepted translators, as practice varies by consulate. - Employer or client certificate authorising remote work from Spain (minimum 3-month relationship) (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
Letter/certificate from the non-Spanish employer or contracting company confirming the employment or commercial relationship has lasted at least 3 months at the date of application, and expressly permitting remote work from Spanish territory. Employees must also provide the employment contract containing the teleworking clause; freelancers must show contracts with clients where Spanish-based clients are no more than 20% of activity. - Proof that the employing/contracting company has traded for at least one year (before) — Source: Consulado General de España en Londres (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, UE y Cooperación)
Corporate documentation evidencing that the foreign company has been genuinely active for a minimum of one year — for a UK employer this is typically a Companies House certificate of incorporation plus a current filing/registry extract. - Evidence of professional qualification or 3 years' relevant experience (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
Either a university/higher-education or professional qualification (degree certificate, apostilled and translated) or documentation proving at least three years of experience in duties comparable to the telework role. If equivalence of a vocational qualification is doubtful, official recognition (convalidación) may be requested. - Proof of sufficient income (200% of the Spanish minimum wage) (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
Payslips, employment/service contracts and bank statements evidencing recurring income at or above 200% of the Spanish SMI (approximately €2,849/month in 2026), with uplifts of 75% of the SMI for the first dependent and 25% for each further dependent. Verify the current threshold with the consulate, as it changes each time the SMI is updated. - Full private health insurance policy with an insurer authorised in Spain (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
Certificate of cover from an insurer registered with the Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones, valid for the whole authorisation period, with no waiting periods, no co-payments and no coverage caps (100% of medical costs, including consultations, check-ups, illness and emergencies). A UK GHIC/EHIC or travel policy is not accepted. - Social security undertaking plus UK A1 / Certificate of Coverage where applicable (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
Declaración responsable committing to comply with social security obligations before starting the activity. If you remain in the UK system under the UK–EU social security coordination protocol, provide the HMRC A1/Certificate of Coverage; otherwise evidence of the company's registration with Spanish Social Security or your own affiliation. - NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) request filed with the visa (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
The consulate requires the NIE to be requested at the same time and in the same consular office as the digital nomad visa application. This is the identification number only — distinct from the physical TIE card obtained later in Spain. - Proof of legal residence in the consular district and visa fee receipt (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
Evidence that you legally reside in the UK area covered by the consulate where you apply (e.g. UK council tax bill, tenancy agreement or utility bill), together with proof of payment of the consular visa fee, which must be paid in GBP at the time of submission and changes with exchange rates. - Family relationship certificates for accompanying dependants (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Digital-Nomad-Visa.aspx
Only if family members apply with you: civil-registry birth or marriage certificates, civil-partnership registration or other proof of an unregistered partnership; for adult children, proof of economic dependency and civil status; for ascendants, proof they are dependent on the teleworker. All apostilled and translated. - Certificado / volante de empadronamiento from your Spanish town hall (during) — Source: https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/es/servicios-al-ciudadano/tramites-y-gestiones/extranjeria/regimen-general/tarjeta-de-identidad-de-extranjero/
Municipal residence registration at the Ayuntamiento of your Spanish address, normally evidenced by a Spanish rental contract or property deed plus passport. Required for the TIE appointment and for most later administrative steps; it must generally be less than three months old when presented. - TIE application: form EX-17 with tasa modelo 790 código 012 (during) — Source: https://sede.policia.gob.es/portalCiudadano/_es/tramites_extranjeria_tramite_tarjeta_residencia_residenciaytrabajo.php
Physical foreigner's identity card must be applied for in person within one month of entering Spain, at the Oficina de Extranjería or National Police station of your province, by prior appointment booked online. Bring the signed EX-17, passport plus copy, a colour passport photo on white background, empadronamiento and the paid 790/012 fee slip; fingerprints are taken at the appointment and the card is collected in person weeks later. - Extranjería/Police appointment confirmation (cita previa) (during) — Source: https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/pagina/index/directorio/icpplus
Booking confirmation obtained through the government electronic office for the fingerprinting and card-collection appointments; appointments are compulsory and may be issued several weeks out, so book immediately on arrival. - Spanish tax and social security registration file (during) — Source: Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria (AEAT) / Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social
Registration with the Agencia Tributaria (modelo 036/037 census declaration for freelancers) and, where you fall under the Spanish system rather than a UK A1, affiliation and enrolment with the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social to obtain your social security number. Employees covered by a UK A1 should file the certificate instead — confirm your own case, as treatment differs between employees and self-employed. - Modelo 149 application for the special expat tax regime (after) — Source: Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria (AEAT)
Optional election of the 'Beckham Law' special non-resident tax regime available to international teleworkers, filed with the Agencia Tributaria within six months of the start of Spanish social security cover. Deadlines are strict; verify eligibility with AEAT or a Spanish tax adviser. - Residence authorisation for international teleworker (renewal application to UGE-CE) (after) — Source: Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE-CE), Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones
The consular visa is valid for a maximum of one year; to continue living in Spain you must apply in Spain, within the 60 calendar days before the visa expires, for the autorización de residencia para teletrabajador de carácter internacional, evidencing that the original conditions (income, remote employment, insurance, clean record) still hold. Handled by the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos. - Evidence of effective residence in Spain for renewal (after) — Source: Oficina de Extranjería / Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones
For renewals and any later long-term residence application, keep proof of actual physical residence (padrón history, utility bills, tenancy, travel records, Spanish tax returns). Absences of more than six months in a year can jeopardise renewal — confirm the exact rule applicable to your case with the Oficina de Extranjería or UGE-CE.
Not legal advice. Based on cached research — verify with official sources before making decisions.