Permanent Residency Spain: Your Roadmap From Digital Nomad Visa to Citizenship

Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa has become one of the most popular residency options for remote workers and freelancers looking to base themselves in Europe. It boasts a flexible structure, a favorable tax framework, and provides the ability to live and work legally in Spain for up to three years initially. As a result, the Spanish digital nomad visa is increasingly viewed as more than just a short-term solution; it’s a long-term residency strategy.

The most important question for those making long-term plans is this: Does time spent on the Digital Nomad Visa count toward permanent residency in Spain? The answer is clear and definitive. Residency time accumulated under the Digital Nomad Visa counts fully, on a 1:1 basis, toward the five-year requirement for permanent residency in Spain (Tarjeta de Larga Duración). This means that digital nomads using this visa are already on a recognized legal pathway to long-term settlement.

In this blog, we will walk through how to get Spanish residency via the Digital Nomad Visa, how that status transitions into permanent residency, and finally, how those years can lead to Spanish citizenship, giving you a complete, realistic roadmap from arrival to long-term security in Spain.

Stage 1: Temporary Residency via the Spain Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)

For most remote workers, the digital nomad visa Spain residency route is the first formal step to get Spanish residency legally and long-term.

The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is designed for non-EU remote workers, freelancers, and company founders who earn income from outside Spain while living there legally.

Key features of the DNV include:

• Initial Permit: The Digital Nomad Visa is granted for up to 3 years when applied for from within Spain (or 1 year if applied from abroad).
• Renewal: After the initial period, the permit can be renewed for a further 2 years, bringing you directly to the 5-year threshold required for permanent residency in Spain.
• Time Counts Fully: All time spent legally in Spain under the DNV counts 1:1 toward Spanish permanent residency requirements, with no reduction or special calculation.

Financial Requirements (Foundation for Approval):

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient ongoing income. This typically amounts to:

• 200% of the SMI/IPREM for the main applicant
• +75% for a spouse or dependent partner
• +25% per dependent child

Meeting these requirements consistently is essential not only to secure the DNV, but also to successfully renew it and progress toward permanent residency in Spain.

Once Stage 1 is secured and maintained correctly, Digital Nomad Visa holders are on a direct legal path toward long-term residence.

Stage 2: The Path to Permanent Residency (Larga Duración)

After five years of continuous legal residence, non-EU nationals can apply for long-term residency in Spain, known as Residencia de Larga Duración. This status allows long-term stability and removes the need for regular renewals.

The 5-Year Rule Explained

Spain grants long-term residency after five uninterrupted years of legal residence under qualifying residence permits.

This is where the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa becomes especially attractive.

Time spent living legally in Spain under this visa counts one-for-one toward the five-year requirement.

In practice, that usually looks like this:

• 3 years on the initial Digital Nomad Visa
• 2-year renewal

Total: 5 full years, making permanent residency possible without switching visa types

Two Types of Long-Term Residency in Spain

At the five-year mark, there are two long-term residency options, not one:

1. Long-Term Residency in Spain (Larga Duración España). This option allows indefinite residence and work in Spain.
   • No proof of funds required
   • No private health insurance required
   • Rights similar to Spanish residents
   • Residence remains tied to Spain only
2. Long-Term EU Residency (Larga Duración UE). This option offers additional mobility within the EU.
   • Proof of sufficient economic means required
   • Health insurance coverage required
   • Allows transfer of residency to certain other EU countries under specific conditions
   • More flexibility, but higher requirements

The right option depends on future plans. Staying long term in Spain or keeping the door open to another EU country leads to different strategic choices.

Want to learn more? Discover more details about Permanent Residency in Spain. 

Absence Limits (Key Risk for Nomads)

To qualify, you must respect Spain’s strict physical presence rules:

• No more than 10 months total outside Spain during the full 5-year period
• No more than 6 consecutive months outside Spain at any time

This is often the biggest obstacle for remote workers that travel frequently. 

Financial Continuity

Visa holders must also demonstrate that you consistently met the financial thresholds used to get Spanish residency under the DNV throughout the entire 5-year period.

If these conditions are met, you can move from temporary status to permanent residency, unlocking long-term stability in Spain.

Stage 3: Achieving Spanish Citizenship: The Final Goal

For many non-EU nationals using the Spanish digital nomad route, the end goal is not permanent residency, it’s citizenship. So it’s important to understand how Spain’s naturalization timeline works and how the Digital Nomad Visa fits into it.

The 10-Year Rule (General Requirement)

For most non-EU citizens, Spanish citizenship by naturalization requires 10 years of continuous legal residency in Spain. This residency must be uninterrupted, lawful, and compliant with absence limits at every stage.

The Full Roadmap: From DNV to Citizenship

The digital nomad visa Spain residency pathway aligns with Spain’s long-term residency framework:

• Temporary Residency (Digital Nomad Visa): 5 years
• Permanent Residency (Larga Duración): 5 years
• Total Time to Citizenship: 10 years

In practice, this means that anyone who successfully completes the Spanish permanent residency phase is already halfway toward Spanish citizenship.

Reduced Residency for Citizenship (Exceptions)

Spain offers a reduced citizenship timeline of just 2 years for nationals of certain countries, including:

• Ibero-American countries 
• The Philippines
• Equatorial Guinea
• Portugal

Applicants from these countries can apply for citizenship after only 2 years of legal residency.  This includes time spent under the Digital Nomad Visa.

Final Citizenship Requirements

In addition to meeting the residency timeline, applicants must also satisfy Spain’s integration requirements:

• CCSE Exam: Applicants must pass a test covering Spanish culture, history, and constitutional knowledge
• DELE A2 Exam: They must also prove basic Spanish language proficiency (unless exempt)
• Nationality Renunciation: Spain generally requires applicants to renounce any other nationalities they hold that are incompatible with the Spanish one. Meaning those countries that have not signed a dual citizenship agreement with Spain.

This final requirement is a critical consideration for applicants comparing Spain to countries like Italy or Portugal, which are more permissive with dual nationality.

Key Differences: Permanent Residency vs Citizenship

Understanding the difference between permanent residency in Spain and Spanish citizenship is essential when planning your long-term future after the Digital Nomad Visa.

Permanent Residency (Larga Duración)

Permanent residency grants an indefinite right to live and work in Spain, without needing to renew a temporary visa or meet ongoing income thresholds.

Key characteristics:

• Indefinite residency status, with the physical residence card renewed every 5 years
• Full access to the Spanish labour market and social security system
• You retain your original nationality and passport
• Absence limits still apply: the status can be lost if you leave Spain for more than 12 consecutive months or repeatedly spend extended periods abroad.

Permanent residency is ideal for those who want long-term stability in Spain without changing citizenship.

Spanish Citizenship

Applying for citizenship represents the final legal step and, if successful, provides full political and international rights.

Key characteristics:

• Citizens receive a Spanish passport, ranked among the strongest globally
• Right to vote in national and EU elections
• No residency card renewals or immigration status reviews
• Unrestricted freedom of movement worldwide as an EU citizen
• For most non-Ibero-American applicants, Spain requires renunciation of previous citizenship, unlike countries such as Italy or Portugal

For many Digital Nomads, the choice between permanent residency and citizenship comes down to lifestyle flexibility, tax planning, and whether holding a Spanish passport aligns with their long-term personal and professional goals. Find out more about the pros and cons of living in Spain.

Need Support Going from Digital Nomad Visa to Permanent Residency in Spain?

For non-EU remote workers, the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa offers one of the clearest and most structured pathways to permanent residency in Spain. Unlike many temporary permits in Europe, time spent under the DNV counts fully toward long-term status, making it a practical route for those who want to get Spanish residency without putting their career on hold.

By carefully managing absences and maintaining the required income, applicants can move from temporary residency to permanent residency after five years, and ultimately to citizenship after ten. 

If you’re considering the Spain Digital Nomad Visa residency route and want to ensure your time in Spain counts toward your long-term goals, professional guidance can help you avoid costly mistakes and delays. Fill out the form below, and our trusted immigration experts will assist you along every step of the way, from initial applications to long-term residency planning.