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Digital Nomad Visa vs Non-Lucrative Visa

🇪🇸 Spain · Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78)vs🇪🇸 Spain · NLV

If you're choosing between these two, the question usually comes down to whether you have active remote income or passive income to rely on. Spain's Digital Nomad Visa is built for people earning money through work. The Non-Lucrative Visa is for those with savings, investments, or other passive income streams. Your income type determines which one fits.

Section 01

At a glance

Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78)
NLV
Processing time
1–2 months
1–3 months
Application fee
$80
$130
Initial validity
3 yrs
1 yr
Path to PR
Yes — ~5 yrs
Yes — ~5 yrs
Points-based
No
No
Employer sponsor
Not required
Not required
Minimum salary
$36,000/yr
Language test
Not required
Not required
Verified
2026-05-02
2026-05-02
Section 02

Which one fits you?

  1. 01

    Income type

    Pick Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78)

    Pick Digital Nomad if you earn active income from remote work or freelancing.

    Pick NLV

    Pick Non-Lucrative if you have €28,800+ yearly passive income with no work plans.

  2. 02

    Work eligibility in Spain

    Pick Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78)

    Pick Digital Nomad if you want to work remotely for non-Spanish companies.

    Pick NLV

    Pick Non-Lucrative if you cannot or don't plan to work in Spain at all.

  3. 03

    Visa validity period

    Pick Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78)

    Pick Digital Nomad for a 3-year visa reducing renewal hassle.

    Pick NLV

    Pick Non-Lucrative if you prefer shorter 1-year terms with more flexibility.

  4. 04

    Education and experience required

    Pick Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78)

    Pick Digital Nomad if you have a bachelor's degree and 3+ years work experience.

    Pick NLV

    Pick Non-Lucrative if you only have high school education or no work history.

  5. 05

    Tax benefits

    Pick Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78)

    Pick Digital Nomad if you want Spain's 24% flat tax on Spanish-source income.

    Pick NLV

    Pick Non-Lucrative if tax incentives aren't a factor in your decision.

Still can't decide?

Take the 14-question quiz. We'll score your specific profile against Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78), NLV, and 60+ other pathways and tell you which is the best fit — with the why.

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