Spain's New SMI Hike Means Families Need Over €3,900 Monthly

Spain's New SMI Hike Means Families Need Over €3,900 Monthly

Spain's Digital Nomad Visa (officially the Telework Visa) sets a minimum income threshold tied directly to 200% of the country's Salario Mínimo Interprofesional (SMI) and that floor just moved. Real Decreto 126/2026, published in the BOE in February, raised the SMI to €1,221/month, which, turns out, pushes the single-applicant threshold to €2,849/month effective from January 1, 2026. Not a suggestion. That's the hard floor consulates are checking against.

Dependents cost extra, honestly more than most people budget for: €1,069/month (75% of the adjusted SMI base) for the first dependent, then €356/month (25%) for each additional one. Families aren't cheap to qualify.

Who's affected: Non-EU/EEA remote workers applying fresh or renewing, this doesn't touch tourists on 90-day Schengen stays at all. Existing holders face the higher bar at renewal, which is where a lot of people are getting caught off guard right now. Stricter enforcement in early 2026 has also introduced tighter verification of six months' physical presence annually, so passive holders who've been treating the visa as a backup residency are seeing more rejections.

What to do:

• Prove income with contracts, payslips or bank statements covering at least three months and make sure no more than 20% comes from Spanish clients
• Document remote employment of 1+ year with your employer or show 3+ years of professional experience if self-employed
• Apply at your home consulate for the initial 1-year visa (~€106,$190 depending on nationality) or in-country via UGECE for a 3-year permit if you're already legally present
• Bring health insurance, a clean criminal record (last 2,5 years) and your NIE number

The Beckham Law flat tax of 24% is unchanged, which is good news, but higher income means social security contributions around €320/month , factor that in. Technical rejections are up, documentation gaps are the main culprit, so don't rush the paperwork.

Read our full Spain guide for the complete picture on costs, timelines and the latest visa updates affecting nomads across Europe.