A point-by-point comparison
| No lucrativa | Digital nomad | |
|---|---|---|
| Is it possible to work? | No. This includes remote work for a foreign employer. | Yes, that is precisely the qualifying basis — remote work for clients abroad |
| Source of income | Passive: rental income, dividends, interest, royalties, pension, savings | From employment: an employment contract, contracts with clients, your own company outside Spain |
| How much you need | ≈ 28,800 € per applicant per year and approx. 7,200 € per each family member (400% IPREM) | From 200% of the SMI per month, with supplements for family members |
| Spanish clients | There is no question: working with anyone is not permitted | No more than 20% of revenue, otherwise the basis falls apart |
| Where to apply | Only through the consulate in your country of residence | Through the consulate abroad or from within Spain, provided the entry was legal |
| How long is the card valid for | Renewal scheme: 1 + 2 + 2 years | Up to 3 years at once if applied from within the country |
| Taxes | After 183 days, you become a Spanish tax resident with your entire worldwide income subject to taxation | The Beckham regime at a 24% rate is possible — but it must be planned in advance |
The key difference is not money, but the right to work
People compare these two grounds by the threshold amount and choose whichever is lower. That is a mistake: the amount is secondary. What matters is what you will actually be doing in Spain.
No lucrativa literally means ’without profit.’ It is designed for someone living off what they have already earned. A digital nomad visa, by contrast, is precisely for people who are still working — the only condition being that the work must not be for the Spanish market.
When you can afford both — which to choose
This does happen: some people have both savings and remote work. In that case, what matters is what the picture looks like in one year and in five.
- If you plan to keep working, take the digital nomad permit — otherwise you will have to either stop working or change your legal basis
- If you are planning a genuine pause — a year or two without work — no lucrativa is simpler on paperwork: no contracts, client track record, or social insurance required
- Want a card valid for three years right away — that is the Digital Nomad visa when applying from within Spain
- The tax side matters — work out the Beckham regime in advance; it is only available on one of the two routes
Where things go wrong at each stage
- No lucrativa: funds in the account with no documented history of origin
- No lucrativa: insurance with an excess or from a non-Spanish provider — you need full coverage from a Spanish insurer
- No lucrativa: attempting to apply from within Spain — applications are accepted only through the consulate
- Digital Nomad: more than 20% of revenue from Spanish clients
- Digital Nomad: contract with a client less than three months old, or a company less than a year old
- Digital Nomad: social security status unresolved — no A1 certificate and no registration in Spain
Calculate both thresholds for your family
The amounts depend on your family composition, and which basis proves more accessible only becomes clear when you run the numbers. Both calculations have been verified against the current year’s official government figures.
Frequently asked questions
Can you switch from a no lucrativa to a digital nomad visa?
Changing the basis is possible, but it is a separate procedure with its own conditions and timelines, not an automatic transition. If you already know you will be working, it is cheaper to apply from the outset for the permit that authorises it.
Which option is cheaper?
A direct comparison is misleading: for the no lucrativa visa, the threshold is calculated on the total annual balance in your account or passive income (≈ 28,800 € per applicant per year), while for the digital nomad visa it is based on monthly income (200% of the SMI). Run both calculations for your household — the figures will differ, and which one is lower depends on your family composition.
Which basis gets you a card faster?
The Digital Nomad visa applied for from within Spain is usually faster and issues a card valid for three years straight away. The No Lucrativa must be applied for through a consulate, takes up to three months to process, and the first card is valid for one year.
What if I have passive income but occasionally take on extra work?
In that case, the basis would be a digital nomad permit — if the freelance work is properly registered and can be documented — or it may be worth deferring the application and working through the situation separately. No lucrativa does not allow work under any circumstances, and ’occasionally’ is not a mitigating factor.
Verified 8/15/2026. Procedure varies by country — the general principle is here, your specific case will be reviewed separately.