Italy Digital Nomad Visa vs Spain Digital Nomad Visa
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Italy Digital Nomad Visa is faster: 2 months vs 3 months for Spain Digital Nomad Visa.
- ›Lower income bar: Italy Digital Nomad Visa requires $2,500/mo; Spain Digital Nomad Visa requires $2,800/mo.
Italy Digital Nomad Visa Italy · digital nomad | Spain Digital Nomad Visa Spain · digital nomad | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Italy | Spain |
| Category | Digital Nomad | Digital Nomad |
| Application Fee | $130 | $160 |
| Minimum Income | $2,500 /mo | $2,800 /mo |
| Minimum Investment | — | — |
| Processing Time | 2 months | 3 months |
| Family Included | Spouse and dependent children may apply as family dependants alongside the main applicant | 75% of main applicant minimum income per adult dependent; 25% per minor child |
| Path to PR | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 10 years | Yes — 10 years |
| Physical Presence | Must reside primarily in Italy; no fixed minimum days stated but extended absences jeopardise renewal | No fixed minimum days per year stated, but physical presence in Spain is expected; must not spend more than 6 months outside Spain annually |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax Impact | Holders who spend 183+ days in Italy become Italian tax residents. May qualify for the Impatriate Regime offering a 50% income tax exemption (70% in southern Italy) on Italian-source income for up to 5 years. Italy's Neo-Residenti flat tax on foreign income (€300,000/year for elections from 1 January 2026, with lower grandfathered rates for earlier entrants) may also apply for high-net-worth applicants. | Eligible for the Beckham Law (Ley Beckham), offering a flat 24% income tax rate on Spanish-sourced income for up to 6 years instead of the progressive scale reaching 47% |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | $130 | $200 |
About Italy Digital Nomad Visa
Italy's Digital Nomad Visa, operational since April 2024, lets highly qualified remote workers employed by or serving non-Italian companies reside in Italy; EU/EEA nationals do not need it. The defining eligibility is a remote employment contract or freelance agreement with a non-Italian company, professional qualifications or a degree, and annual income of at least €28,000 (~$30,000). It does not permit employment with Italian employers or business targeting the Italian market. The application fee is about $130, with realistic first-year costs of $7,000–12,000. Nominal processing is two months, but total time to a residence card commonly runs 24–40 weeks given the programme's newness. Spouse and dependent children may join. Permanent residency is available after five years (B1 Italian) and citizenship after ten (not five, for non-EU applicants), with dual citizenship allowed. Spending 183+ days triggers Italian tax residency on worldwide income; holders may qualify for the Impatriate Regime, a 50% income-tax exemption (70% in southern regions) for five years. Health insurance must have no co-pays.
Full Italy Digital Nomad Visa profile →About Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa lets remote workers and freelancers employed by non-Spanish companies reside in Spain for up to five years. Applicants must show income of at least about €2,334/month (200% of the minimum wage, 2024), a year of relevant experience or a related degree, a work contract of 3+ months, private health insurance and a clean criminal record; up to 20% of income may come from Spanish clients. Government fees are about $160 with first-year costs of $5,000–$9,500; in-Spain applications carry a 20-day statutory decision window, faster than the consulate route. Family can join, with income add-ons of 75% of the base per adult and 25% per child. Holders may opt into the modified Beckham Law — a 24% flat rate on Spanish-sourced income up to €600,000 with foreign income largely exempt for up to six years — if not Spanish tax resident in the prior five years, filing within six months. Permanent residency comes after five years, but citizenship takes ten years and Spain does not allow dual citizenship with most countries. Direct employment by a Spanish company is not permitted.
Full Spain Digital Nomad Visa profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Italy Digital Nomad Visa
- ⚠Digital Nomad Visa only became operational in April 2024 — limited historical data on processing
- ⚠Self-employed applicants face scrutiny on client base stability
- ⚠Requires "highly skilled worker" designation — not all remote work qualifies
- ⚠Italian citizenship requires 10 years (not 5) for non-EU applicants
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
- ⚠Spain does not allow dual citizenship with most countries at citizenship stage
- ⚠Foreign employer must have been established 1+ year
- ⚠Self-employed applicants can receive up to 20% of income from Spanish clients
- ⚠Beckham Law application requires specific filing within 6 months of tax residency
- ⚠Social security: Spain may require contributions unless there is a totalisation agreement
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.