Author Irina Firsova Immigration lawyer in Spain, member of the Barcelona Bar Association no. 46.385 19 September 2026 9 min read Message the author

Renewing a digital nomad residence permit in Spain: deadlines and documents in 2026

A digital nomad residence permit is renewed online with the UGE, the unit that handles these permits: 60 calendar days before the permit expires, or within 90 days after. It is renewed for two years if the conditions on which it was granted still hold: a foreign employer or clients, income at or above the threshold, social security and health insurance.

The decision is due within 20 working days, and if the UGE does not reply, the renewal is deemed approved. While the application is pending, your status is kept. A new criminal record certificate is not required.

If you hold a digital nomad D visa rather than a residence permit, this is not a renewal. You file an initial residence application, and only in the last 60 days of the visa: there is no 90-day grace period after it ends.

The window for renewing a digital nomad permit: 60 calendar days before the permit expires, another 90 days after with a fine, and after that the status is lost.

When to apply: 60 days before and 90 days after

The law itself only sets the deadline after expiry: an application filed within 90 days after the permit ends extends its validity until the decision (Article 76.3 of Ley 14/2013). The 60-calendar-day window before expiry comes from the ministry’s guidance (UGE renewal guidance). Filing before that window is not advisable.

Filing deadlines for digital nomads
What you hold	What you file	When
Digital nomad residence permit (TIE card)	Renewal with the UGE	60 days before the permit expires or up to 90 days after
Digital nomad D visa	Initial residence application with the UGE	Only in the last 60 days of the visa

Count from the permit, not the card. The end date is in the UGE decision. It usually matches the TIE, but if it does not, the date in the decision is what counts.
Calendar days. Both the 60 and the 90 days are calendar days. The general rule of “two months before, up to three months after” in RD 1155/2024 does not apply to the digital nomad permit: permits under Law 14/2013 have their own procedure (ministry criterion 2/2025).
Online filing only, through the ministry’s portal. You need a digital certificate or a representative.
The decision is due within 20 working days of filing. If there is no reply, the renewal is approved; on request, the UGE issues a certificate of approval.

If you have a D visa, not a residence permit

A digital nomad visa issued by a consulate is valid for up to a year. It cannot be renewed: in its last 60 days you file an initial residence application with the UGE (Article 74 quater of Ley 14/2013). If you miss the window and the visa expires, you can no longer apply from inside Spain; the only route is a new visa through a consulate (UGE FAQ, question 15).

This application comes with some relief. You do not have to prove three months of work for your employer again, nor provide a criminal record certificate if you already hold a permit of more than six months (UGE document list). The permit is granted for the period requested, up to three years (criterion 2/2025), so the route of a one-year visa plus a three-year permit gives about four years before the first renewal.

What is checked at renewal

There is no separate list of renewal requirements: the UGE checks whether the conditions on which the permit was granted still hold (Articles 74 quinquies and 76.3 of Ley 14/2013). You have to meet them throughout the permit, not just at renewal time.

Working for abroad. As an employee, only for a company outside Spain. If you are self-employed, Spanish clients are allowed, but no more than 20% of your total activity (UGE FAQ, question 14).
Income of at least €2,849 a month for the applicant, plus €1,068 for the second family member and €356 for each additional one. A family of three needs €4,274 a month. The amounts are gross; how the threshold changed in 2026 is covered in our article on the new income threshold.
Social security. If you are self-employed, only the Spanish self-employed scheme (RETA) is accepted, not a foreign certificate; how to register is covered in our article on autónomo. If you are employed, Spanish social security through the foreign company, or a certificate under an agreement that expressly covers remote work from Spain.
Health insurance for the whole period, with no co-payments or waiting periods, if you are not in Spanish social security. Which policies qualify is covered in our article on health insurance.

The law sets no minimum number of days in Spain for renewal. But digital nomads get no relief for long absences either, and for future permanent residence the days are counted strictly — more on that below.

Documents for renewal in 2026

The UGE’s official list for renewal is short (UGE guidance):

form MI-T marked “Renovación”, the single form for holders of permits under Law 14/2013;
a copy of every page of your valid passport;
a copy of your TIE card;
proof of payment of fee 790-038 (the “renewal of authorisation” line).

To these you add proof that the conditions still hold: your contract with the employer or clients and a letter allowing remote work, proof of income, social security registration (vida laboral or a certificate under an agreement), and insurance if needed. Documents in a foreign language need a sworn translation.

In practice in 2026 the UGE asks, in requests for further documents, for income tax returns for recent years (Modelo 100, or Modelo 151 for those on the Beckham Law) and a social security certificate showing no debts. They are not on the official lists, but it is easier to attach them upfront than to answer a request.
No criminal record certificate is needed: it is not required from those who already hold a permit of more than six months (2023 ministry instruction, point 4.2).
The fee. For an initial application the UGE states €73.26 (UGE FAQ, April 2026); the renewal amount is calculated by the payment form. Each applicant pays, including each family member. The general fee rules are covered in our article on 790 fees.

If you changed employer or switched to freelancing

Any change affecting the conditions of the permit must be reported to the UGE within 30 days by filing a request to modify the conditions (Additional Provision 7 of Ley 14/2013). Failing to report it is an offence, and in the worst case the permit is terminated.

A new employer. You need the new company’s documents, as for the first application, but you do not have to prove three months of work for it again.
From employment to freelancing. You can switch at any time if you meet the requirements of the new option (UGE FAQ, question 18). Right after approval you must register in RETA; see the step-by-step guide. If you do not register, the permit may be terminated.
Proof of employment does not count as proof of freelancing, and vice versa: the documents are gathered for the new option.

Renewal for your family

Each family member files their own application: form MI-F, their own 790-038 fee, a copy of their passport and a declaration by the permit holder that the marriage or cohabitation continues (UGE guidance). It is easiest to file at the same time as the main applicant, so the decisions are issued together. The holder’s income has to cover the whole family, at the thresholds above. Family members can work in Spain without restriction, both as employees and self-employed.

Can you leave Spain while the renewal is pending

If the renewal was filed on time and there is no decision yet, travelling outside the Schengen area requires an autorización de regreso, a return authorisation on form EX-13 with fee 790-012 (Article 5 of RD 1155/2024). It is valid for up to 90 days, and you must re-enter through a Spanish border post (police). How to get one is covered in our article on the autorización de regreso.

Official sources do not say that the filing receipt alone is enough to return. It is safer either to get a return authorisation or to file early enough for the decision to arrive before the trip, which is realistic with 20 working days for a reply.

What happens if you are late

Up to 90 days after expiry. The application is accepted and the permit stays valid until the decision. But it is a minor offence, a delay of up to three months in applying for renewal (Article 52.b of LO 4/2000), with a fine of up to €500.
More than 90 days late, or not filed at all. This is an irregular stay (Article 53.1.a): a fine from €501 to €10,000 or expulsion. The permit cannot be renewed, and you cannot file a new application from inside Spain either — only through a new visa at a consulate.

Why a permit can be terminated even before it expires is covered in our article on residence permit cancellation.

After approval: a new TIE card

Within a month of the renewal you apply for a new TIE card, in person at the police station where you live, with an appointment for fingerprinting (Article 209 of RD 1155/2024). The card fee on renewal is €19.30 on form 790-012. You hand in the old card. How the appointment and the card work is covered in our article on the TIE.

Renewal and the path to permanent residence

The digital nomad permit is lawful residence, and it counts towards permanent residence: you need five years of lawful continuous residence in Spain (Article 176 of RD 1155/2024). Here the days do count: you may be absent for no more than six months in a row and no more than ten months in total over the five years.

You can apply for permanent residence in the last two months of your permit or within three months after. If by the fifth year you mostly live outside Spain, the renewal will go through but permanent residence will not. More in our article on permanent residence in Spain. The conditions of the visa and the first application are collected in our article on the digital nomad visa, and you can entrust the renewal to us along with the rest of the digital nomad permit process.

Spanish terms such as resguardo, silencio administrativo and TIE are briefly explained in the Spanish residence glossary.

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply to renew a digital nomad residence permit?

60 calendar days before the permit expires, or within 90 days after. Filing after expiry is allowed, but it is an offence with a fine of up to €500.

How long is a digital nomad permit renewed for?

For two years, if the conditions on which it was granted still hold: a foreign employer or clients, income at or above the threshold, social security and insurance.

How long does a renewal decision take?

20 working days from filing. If the UGE does not reply, the renewal is deemed approved, and your status is kept while the application is pending.

Do I need a criminal record certificate to renew?

No. It is not required from those who already hold a residence permit of more than six months.

Can a digital nomad D visa be renewed?

No. In the last 60 days of the visa you file an initial residence application with the UGE. Once the visa has expired, you can no longer apply from inside Spain.

What happens if I am late with the renewal?

Up to 90 days after expiry the application is accepted, but you may be fined up to €500. More than 90 days late is an irregular stay: a fine from €501 to €10,000 or expulsion.

Can I leave Spain while the renewal is pending?

Yes, with a return authorisation (autorización de regreso, form EX-13). It is valid for up to 90 days, and you must re-enter through a Spanish border post.

What tax documents are needed for renewal?

They are not on the official list, but in practice in 2026 the UGE asks for income tax returns for recent years and a social security certificate showing no debts. It is best to attach them upfront.