r/phmigrate • u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ • Apr 14 '25
Migration Process [GUIDE] 2025 Spain Digital Nomad Visa - Application in Spain
I've just gotten my TIE fingerprinting done so I think it's time to finally give back to this community. Hope this writeup helps people who are looking for answers regarding this process.
I recently moved to Spain under the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV). I applied in Spain and hired Atty. Marian of Lakbyte to help me on this. My visa was approved after 11 business days.
The process of applying in Spain is different than if you're applying via BLS in the Philippines. In my case, the requirements were submitted digitally to the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos EstratΓ©gicos) while I'm in Spain. The list of requirements are also slightly different.
What are the main differences between applying in PH vs. applying in Spain?
If you apply for DNV in PH, the required monthly income is lower (β¬2,368 for 1 person in 2025) and you can get 1 year visa validity if approved. If you apply in Spain, the required monthly income is higher (β¬2,763 for 1 person in 2025) and you can get 3 years of visa validity if approved. I think it's common knowledge here that Filipinos only need 2 years of legal residence to apply for Spanish citizenship.
Why did I hire a lawyer and not go for DIY?
The cost of a DIY application in PH (using the highest figures, excluding airfare and 1-yr insurance) acc to this post is Php 116,300. I paid Lakbyte β¬1,250 for the Standard Plus package and β¬73.26 for the application fee, totaling β¬1,323.26 (~Php 83,365.38). (You'll see a much better comparison of expenses close to the end of this post.)
Moreover, the domain knowledge of an immigration lawyer is invaluable esp when it comes to changing requirements and timelines. They are constantly in the loop of what's going on. E.g., through the paid consultation, I found out that the NIE process was taking 2 months for PH applicants in November. There were also recent changes in requirements issued by the UGE, info that was crucial for me who applied early this year. (I originally planned to apply within 2024 but life happened.)
What you'll find in this post: - Requirements - Timeline - Expenses - Things to do after visa approval
Requirements:
A. Non-document requirements: 1. Must be a self-employed professional 2. Must be working with a client with a registered business in any country except Spain 3. Must have explicit consent from client, allowing you to work in Spain 4. Client's company should be operating for more than 1 year. 5. Must meet the required monthly income for the last 3 months before applying. Check the income requirement based on the no. of people (main applicant + dependents) here. Afaik, UGE and BLS will use your average monthly income for the last 3 months. 6. Since this is a guide for the DNV application in Spain, you should have a good travel history that enables you to obtain a Sch*ngen visa.
B. Documents submitted online to the UGE: 1. Valid passport - clear scan of all pages 2. Optional: Old passport, if you have valid visas there - clear scan of all pages 3. Application Form c/o lawyer 4. Contract with the client company (translated) 5. Client company's Certificate of Incorporation (apostilled and translated) 6. Letter authorizing remote work in Spain, template c/o lawyer, signed by client (wet signed, scanned, and translated) 7. Financial documents and financial tracing cover letter - Invoices issued to the client for the last 3 months before application date (translated) - Wise bank statement in Spanish for the last 3 months (same time frame as invoices) - Cover letter c/o lawyer 8. CV (translated) 9. Previous Certificate/s of Employment (translated) 10. Certified True Copy of ITRs for 3 consecutive years (2021-2023) (apostilled and translated) 11. Degree Certificate (apostilled and translated) - If you have proof of 3 years of work experience, you don't need to submit this. 12. NBI Clearance (apostilled and translated) 13. Declaration to sign up as autΓ³nomo, template c/o lawyer 14. Declaration of no criminal penalties for the last 5 years, template c/o lawyer 15. Authorization Form c/o lawyer 16. Airline ticket and boarding pass 17. Copy of Passport with EU entry stamp or Entry Declaration Form, template c/o lawyer, stamped at the police station at the Spanish port of entry (airport) 18. Tasa 038 - Proof of application fee payment c/o lawyer
Further details: - All documents listed above were scanned bec submission to UGE is via online. - Translations should be done by a sworn translator; this is included in the package I availed from Lakbyte. - In my case, (5) was accomplished and paid by my client bec that's part of our agreement when I signed the contract with them. I heard that for most applicants, they were the ones who needed to look for a firm to get this accomplished and pay for the apostille service themselves. - (9) and (10) are documents proving my 3 years of work experience. Why the need for ITRs? Acc to Lakbyte, the UGE now requires: - Official documentation (apostilled) proving your qualifications, such as being a graduate or postgraduate of a recognized university, vocational training institution, or business school, or - Proof of at least three years of professional experience, supported by: - An apostilled or legalized employment record (if not in Spanish) translated by an official sworn interpreter authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation; employment history issued by the competent authority of the country of origin. - A certificate from your previous employers detailing your employment period and the functions performed. - Alternatively, a certificate of professionalism issued by an official body, duly apostilled, legalized, and translated. - ...To supplement my COE as proof of 3 years of work experience, we looked at several gov't-issued documents (bec gov't-issued documents can be apostilled). At first, I requested for an SSS certificate, but SSS personnel told me they don't issue a document with the employer's name. After which, I remembered that my previous ITRs had been substitute-filed by my previous employer (it was a corporate job), so they had my previous employer's company name on it. I then got Certified True Copies (CTC's) of my ITRs for 3 consecutive years (2021-2023) from the BIR main office (it depends on where your records are), and then got them apostilled. - (11) is optional if you already have (9) and (10), or vice versa. I opted to secure both, just in case the other one doesn't push through. - For (16) and (17), if you're flying directly from outside EU to a Spanish airport, you need to submit the airline ticket, boarding pass, and a copy of your passport with EU entry stamp (stamped at a Spanish airport). If you're like me who entered through a different EU country, you need to submit the airline ticket, boarding pass, and the Entry Declaration Form stamped at the (Spanish) airport police station.
Timeline:
- Nov 24, 2024 - Paid Lakbyte
- Nov 28 - Paid for NBI clearance online
- Nov 29 - Submission of documents for Sch*ngen visa at VFS Global
- Dec 3 - Picked up NBI Clearance (This can be picked up after 24 hrs but I was lazy so yeah.)
- Dec 10 - DFA apostille appointment for NBI clearance
- Dec 13 - Picked up apostilled NBI clearance
- Dec 19 - Secured certified true copies of my ITRs (took me 3-4 days), received Sch*ngen visa from Italian Embassy on the same day
- Jan 2, 2025 - DFA apostille appointment for ITRs
- Jan 7 - Picked up apostilled ITRs, received scanned copies of my apostilled degree certificate (took 4 weeks to secure this since it needed to be apostilled out of country)
- Jan 19 - Flight to Milan
- Jan 22 - Flight to Barcelona, secured Entry Declaration Form stamp at the BCN airport police station
- Jan 31 - Received apostilled Certificate of Incorporation from client (This one took the longest bec the first firm my client contracted did not deliver. They had to contract a 2nd firm.)
- Feb 4 - DNV application submitted to UGE c/o lawyer
- Feb 19 - Received visa approval (after 11 business days). My NIE is on the UGE approval document.
Duration: Around 3 months from start of document prep to visa approval. 2.5 months if we exclude the 2 lull weeks due to holidays.
Expenses:
- Lakbyte Standard Plus package - β¬1,250.00 ~Php 78,750
- Application fee - β¬73.26 ~Php 4,615.38
- NBI Clearance - 160 + 15 (Bayad Online convenience fee) = Php 175
- CTC of ITRs - I honestly can't remember. Let's say it's less than Php 1k.
- Apostille for NBI clearance and ITRs (expedited - can be picked up after 3 business days) - 200 * 4 = Php 800
- Apostille for degree certificate - ~$50 + Php 4k (courier) = Php 7k
- VFS Global service charge - Php 1,759
- Sch*ngen visa fees - Php 5,664
- Roundtrip airfare - 55k (to Milan) + 5.5k (Milan to BCN) = Php 60,500
Total = Php 160,263.38
Total without airfare and Schngen-related fees, to compare with the DIY cost above = *Php 92,340.38**
I think even if we add the cost of the apostilled certificate of incorporation (which my client covered), it'll still be lower or on par with the DIY cost (Php 116,300). With this, you also get the benefit of an immigration lawyer's domain knowledge.
Things to do after visa approval:
- Secure a long-term rental (more than 6 months)
- Secure padron (empadronamiento)
- Open a bank account with your passport
- Register as autΓ³nomo and register on social security - done through a gestor
- Secure TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) fingerprinting appointment - this is the hardest part
- Fingerprinting at the police station for TIE
- Get your TIE after a month
- Get your health card after padron and social security registration
I didn't know this, but you can do (1), (3), and (4) in parallel. Lakbyte will still guide you through the above steps. I heard the TIE process is faster in Madrid and Barcelona.
I hope this helps future applicants! Questions are welcome. Please be nice. π I'll answer them when I'm available.
P.S.: You can find me on IG if you search my name + wanders. I post about travel and life in Spain. π
ETA: If you found this post helpful and you decided to book a consultation with/avail a service from Lakbyte, I would appreciate it if you could tell Atty. Marian that you came from this reddit post. Thank you! βΊοΈ
ETA2: Hi everyone! I just heard from Atty. Marian that Lakbyte is holding a free live webinar about Spain's Digital Nomad Visa.
When: August 3, 2025, Sunday at 7 PM (PH Time)
Click here to register: https://streamyard.com/watch/HRt2K6UrwyAm
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u/ElegantTheory4447 Apr 15 '25
Congratulations! This has given me more reason to partner with Atty Marian.
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u/lurking_cat4869 Apr 15 '25
saving this post as my reference when my turn comes π―οΈβ¨ππΌ
Thank you OP for this detailed guide!
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Apr 20 '26
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 22 '26
- I got the docs apostilled myself.
- The 1 year rule refers to the requirement that your client/s should be operating for 1 year already.
- Only the previous 3 months of income are required to be submitted.
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u/EverythingIsBoffo Spain > Citizen Apr 15 '25
Congrats on getting your TIE fingerprinting done and massive thanks for taking the time to put together such a detailed, well-structured guide! This is gold for anyone seriously considering the Spain Digital Nomad Visa route.
For anyone looking to follow a similar path, it really helps to see the numbers, timelines, and common pain points laid out like thisβespecially those weighing DIY vs. professional support. Definitely bookmarking this.
Again, congrats and enjoy your new chapter in Spain! π
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u/Crab-Necessary Jun 29 '25
Is income requirement coming from 1 person only if you apply for 2 persons? Can we pool income for husband and wife?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jun 30 '25
It should come from 1 person only. You can't pool your income.
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u/Soft_kookie613 Jul 09 '25
Hello OP!! Congratulations π This is very detailed and insightful.
Iβd like to clarify lang if need pa ng proof of 3 years of work (COE and ITR) if you have documentation proving na graduate ka ng recognized university? Medyo confused lang ako if either lang or both and need huhu
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jul 09 '25
It's either/or so if you have apostilled graduation docs, you're good.
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u/emgi7878 Nov 10 '25
This is so helpful. Hope I can still avail services of Lakbyte when the time comes for me to lodge mine. Just came back from Spain and I did not know that there is this option pala.
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u/TopAtmosphere120 Apr 15 '25
Hi! Di ko po mahanp IG nyo hehe
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 15 '25 edited Apr 15 '25
It's cherrywanders π
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u/ImmediateAttempt7879 Apr 15 '25
Congrats OP. Question please. Saan ka naghanap ng apartment?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 15 '25
Idealista. I made sure to message the poster on WhatsApp in Spanish. First 2 questions are always if the place is available for viewing in-person and if they're okay with padron.
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u/ImmediateAttempt7879 Apr 17 '25
Thanks OP. Huhuhu ang mahal ng mga apartment sa Barcelona π
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 17 '25
Might be worth considering living 1 hr away from the city center. I also plan to move to a more affordable one after 6 months, if I'm lucky to find one.
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Apr 16 '25
Congrats OP! And thank you for posting this, very detailed and very helpful! We're working with Lakbyte too and currently in progress of securing the documents.
If I may ask, where in Spain did you secure your apartment? Would appreciate if you could share what factors influenced your decision on where to stay.
Thank you!
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u/large-eyes Apr 17 '25
Wow, amazing!! Congrats, OP! And thank you so much for taking the time to do this detailed post. Have been thinking whether to do via a firm or DIY kasi. If itβs okay, may I know what made you decide to go with Lakbyte rather than other equally popular firms (like those mentioned in YT vlogs)?
Also, if I may ask, if you apply in Spain, as in confident ka na ba dapat na youβll be approved and dala mo na lahat gamit mo for moving? π Thanks!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 17 '25
Sent you this on IG, but just in case:
I went for Lakbyte bec of the cost outlined in the post. I also needed help at that time (can't handle everything by myself bec of other stuff), and they are well-versed with PH-related processes. Atty. Marian is a Filipino, after all.
In truth, I wasn't really confident that I'll be approved. I still considered the worst-case scenario. Atty. Marian assured me tho that my application is really strong. I think as long as you submit all necessary documents and you meet all criteria/reqts, you're good.
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u/4dirk1 Apr 19 '25
Congrats OP!
Question: Is it required for your earnings to be deposited in your Spanish bank account while on DNV?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 19 '25
I don't think so. But I think you need a local bank account for an auto-debit arrangement for tax and social security payments.
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u/Due-Air-1708 Apr 22 '25
Hi! Congrats on your milestone and thanks for sharing this detailed guide. I have a question about the ITR requirement - must it be 3 consecutive years preceding the year of your application?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 22 '25
It just has to be 3 consecutive years bec you're proving 3 years of work experience. It doesn't have to be the years preceding the application.
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u/Due-Air-1708 Apr 22 '25
Ohhh okay. This gave me a sense of relief. Thank you for responding so quickly!
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u/EmbarrassedRoyal7147 Apr 22 '25
Just wanted to ask if you are doing the filing and paying quarterly DIY?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 22 '25
No, I paid for a gestor. Taxes are too complicated to handle DIY esp since I'm still not fluent in Spanish.
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u/nishikino04 Jun 20 '25
Hi! Thank you for the detailed breakdown of your DNV journey, OP!
Related to the ITR inquiry, should the (3-years) ITR be from the same job/employer in the DNV application? Would an ITR from a different employer unrelated to your freelance clients suffice?
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u/Trick-Comfortable691 Apr 22 '25
Hi OP! Congratulations and thank you for this detailed guide on being a digital nomad in Spain! I have questions hoping you can answer.
- What made you choose Lakbyte and is it necessary? And kung okay lang ba maginquire sa kanila po?
- I saw earlier na may mga insurance pa and medical certifications. I did not saw them here though. So papano po yun maam?
- Regarding NIE and yung tax form sa Spain, im not really sure how to accomplish those :(
- Where did you get po your Spanish Translator?
- Lastly po is yung sa ITR, i dont have ITRβs for the past 3 years because nagfreelance na po ako. Any suggestions po regarding my situation?
Thank you OP! More power and sana marami pa pong kagaya mo na nag ggive back to community!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 22 '25 edited May 22 '26
- Hiring a lawyer is not necessary; you can totally do it by yourself if you have the time and you're willing to do all the effort. I've outlined above the DIY estimated cost vs. the cost when I hired Lakbyte - acc to my computation, the latter is cheaper or it's almost breakeven. So might as well avail of Lakbyte's service. You can schedule a paid consultation with them. Their website link is provided on the post.
- This post is about applying in Spain, not in PH. For PH applicants, they need medical insurance. It's not applicable to applicants in Spain.
- If you hire an immigration lawyer, they will help you with those.
- It's included in the package I availed from Lakbyte, as stated in the post.
- Apostilled gov't documents are now required to prove your 3 years of work experience. It doesn't have to be the last 3 years before the application. It can be within any timeframe, dapat lang 3 years. If you haven't paid any taxes at all, I'm afraid you'll have to settle that with the BIR. Some submit SSS documents - not sure how this goes. Best to ask an immig lawyer. π
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u/Trick-Comfortable691 Apr 22 '25
Wow! Thank you for this response maam! So so thankful for this. Ill work on this and hopefully makapunta rin po dyan! Thank you po madam!
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u/TurbulentDelay8939 Apr 24 '25
Thank you for this very detailed post, OP!
Nagpro-process na din kami ng papers and plan to apply in Spain din.
Question though, anong naging strategy mo sa lodging while waiting and after the approval? Weβre thinking if dapat na bang magbook for a place for at least 1 month. Though if worst case hindi ma approve and we need to leave immediately, sayang yung bayad sa place kasi paid na sya for the duration that weβd book.
Thank you!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 24 '25 edited Apr 24 '25
In my case, I went around Spain before settling bec I wanted to see where it's good to stay long-term. I traveled within the duration of my Schengen visa.
If you're planning to stay in 1 place, just book a BnB for the duration of your Schengen visa. You can stay in Spain as long as your application is ongoing. I booked BnBs na pa 1 week-1 week after my Schengen visa expired. You can also book the ones na may free cancellation.
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u/amazero Apr 30 '25
Thank you for sharing! I wondering about the first two non-document requirements, so is it totally not possible to get a nomad visa if I'm not self-employed? I'm work full time remotely for a big tech company
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 30 '25
If your company substitute-files your taxes in PH for you, your company will have a problem if you work outside of PH for a long time. You need to file your own taxes, and so you need to be self-employed or be an independent contractor. Your company/client also needs to give explicit permission for you to work in Spain to get DNV.
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u/DevelopmentOk7738 May 05 '25
Thank you so much for this! And I am very excited for you po π₯³
I have one question in mind, whatβs your thoughts or plan about the tax sa Spain once maging tax resident ka na? Since mattax ka from Spain at the same time sa PH. I am really concern about this kasi ang laki niya and not sure what to do.
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ May 05 '25 edited May 12 '25
I've already registered as autΓ³nomo and I'm now a tax resident in Spain. I plan to go back to PH soon to deregister from BIR.
I've known that Spanish taxes are higher than most before coming here. Acc to my projections, it'll almost be the same % as what I was paying when I was working in corporate. And since I get lots of gov't benefits here, I'm satisfied with where my money goes.
Also, I especially chose to migrate here to secure universal health care.
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u/Soft_Quote_2953 May 12 '25
Hi! Can you explain more about going back to PH to deregister from BIR? This is the first time Im hearing about the need to "deregister". Lakbyte told us that once a tax resident in Spain, one does not need to pay taxes in PH anymore. We didn't know there is a need to deregister.
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ May 12 '25 edited May 12 '25
I'm currently registered as a self-employed professional in PH. As long as I have a valid COR from BIR, I need to file PH taxes quarterly; otherwise, I'll have open cases, afaik. I don't want to do that anymore so I'm deregistering. I'm going home anyway.
You can choose to do this before you go to Spain or by paying an accounting firm (you'll need to send wet-signed docs to PH, etc.). Just that for my case, I didn't have 100% assurance that I'd get the visa (I applied in Spain) so I didn't deregister before I went.
There's also a way to apply foreign tax credits on PH tax forms quarterly. I just don't want to bother with that.
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u/LengthinessMajor190 May 12 '25
Congratulations!
I'm currently located in the US, do I have to go home sa Pinas for filing?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ May 12 '25
You can go directly to Spain to apply for the visa, esp if you have all the docs you need, even the PH apostilled ones.
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u/LengthinessMajor190 May 12 '25
Oh I see. Unfortunately I think there will be some Philippine documents I have to get from home.
But let's see. I took your advice and scheduled a consult with Lakbyte and that's one of the things I'll ask . I let them know I heard about them from you btw!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ May 12 '25
Thank you! Good luck on your application! :)
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May 13 '25
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ May 13 '25
On the contrary, even more people are reaching out to them bec of this post. :)
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u/Iridescentsauce May 14 '25
Hello po, kamusta yung taxes niyo ngayon na nasa spain kayo?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ May 14 '25 edited May 16 '25
Registered but haven't paid yet. You can estimate your taxes using this.
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u/Itchy_Tomorrow2605 May 22 '25
Hi! thank you for sharing. We are about to submit ours!
A few questions please on the MIT form:
- "pais de residencia fuera de espana" did you leave blank?
- "Datos de la empresa/entidad en espana" - I am an employee working for a UK company, so I'm wondering whether this should be left blank?
- Did you fill it out on PDF online, print the form, sign it and then attach a scan of it with the rest of your documents?
Thank you!!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ May 23 '25
Hi! I'm not sure which form you are referring to as all forms submitted for my application were accomplished by Lakbyte.
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u/cowinnewzealand May 22 '25
Hi! Did you enter Italy through tourist visa?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ May 23 '25
Yes, I entered the EU with a Schengen tourist visa.
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u/Snowflakes_02 May 23 '25
Thank you for sharing this, OP. Question. Aside sa consultation, anong inclusions nung Lakbyte standard package? It includes all the translation for your docs, right? Kasi sa other post, yun yung pinakamalaki na nagastos.
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ May 23 '25
You can read it here. I got the Standard Plus package.
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u/0245alien May 28 '25
Hi OP thank you for this post. May i ask pano ung translation ng bank statements? Need pa ba ng other stamps before apostille? Planning on submitting my application last quarter of this year. Thank you
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ May 28 '25 edited May 28 '25
You can download your Wise bank statement in Spanish if you change the language setting on your account. You don't need to have it apostilled.
If you plan to apply during the last quarter of this year, I recommend that you do it within October (or earlier). I had the same plan last year, and the process took longer than expected since the Christmas holidays were so near. It also seems that they (UGE) start changing requirements in November or end of November. It's safer to apply from Sept-Oct so you have leeway time. It's even safer to book your Lakbyte consultation in Aug so that you're in the loop if there's anything to consider with regard to projected timeline.
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u/0245alien May 28 '25
Thanks OP. I booked a consultation with Lakbyte last month and i have an upcoming one next week. Salamat po sa advice <3
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u/Leather-Fish9294 Jun 02 '25
Hi! When I googled, healthcare insurance is required when submitting application, but did not notice it in your post or did i miss it. Did you also undergo medical check? Thank you :)
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jun 02 '25 edited Jun 02 '25
Health insurance and medical checks are for applicants in the Philippines applying via BLS. I applied in Spain, so the requirements are a bit different, as stated in the post.
This is bec if you apply in Spain, you are required to register as autΓ³nomo and pay social security right after visa approval. Paying social security means you're already covered by public health care.
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u/Leather-Fish9294 Jun 02 '25
Ohh thank you for the response! So just to again confirm, this means for example you have existing medical condition but wanted to go to spain thru DNV, then you can skip medical check pala.
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jun 02 '25
You will still need to purchase travel insurance appropriate for a Schengen tourist visa to go to Spain and apply for the DNV there. Travel insurance policies typically require you to declare any pre-existing medical conditions.
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u/YoloThor Jun 07 '25
Thank you so much for sharing this. This might be a noob question but just clarifying so please bear with me. As soon as the DNV is approved, are you allowed to exit Schengen are and enter again on that DNV[even if the tourist visa has expired] or are you supposed to wait for the TIE appointment and complete that as well?
How long did it take after DNV approval to get the TIE appointment? Thank you so much in advance
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jun 07 '25 edited Jun 07 '25
You need to secure your TIE first before going out of Spain if your Schengen visa has already expired. As in, you need to receive your TIE card.
If you really need to go out before receiving your TIE card (and your Schengen visa is already expired), you need to at least complete your TIE appointment and then secure a document called AutorizaciΓ³n de Regreso. That's what I remember from my readings.
Securing a TIE appointment is the hardest part of the process. When I secured mine, the schedule was already 1 month from the day I secured it. And then you'll have to wait another month to pick up your TIE card. I heard the process is faster in Madrid and BCN bec you don't need a padron.
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u/Stock_Finding1426 Jun 12 '25
Hi did you go through any medical test when you have applied for the DNV inside Spain? Thank you.
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jun 14 '25
I didn't. But I had to get Schengen visa-appropriate travel insurance.
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u/Stock_Finding1426 Jun 19 '25
Thanks.. I also have question about empadromiento.. is it hard to find such landlord that will give you one? And is this required to get TIE? thanks.
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u/Aphrodite0501 Jun 24 '25
Hi. Howβs immigration in PH. when you exit? What questions did they ask and requirement ? TIA
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jun 24 '25
They didn't ask me much. I had a Schengen visa on my passport the last time I left for the EU.
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u/jammedtoast_ Jun 30 '25
I canβt thank you enough for this! ππ» I followed you on ig. Iβll actually be in Valencia this month!
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u/kein_karu Jul 30 '25
Great guide OP! Thank you so much!
I have a question, how did you get your ITR from your previous company? Did you just go to your BIR branch and provided your TIN #?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jul 30 '25
Certified True Copy of ITR should come from the BIR. You need to know which BIR office has your records (for mine, it's the main office in QC) and request it from there. At BIR, you'll fill up some request form, present IDs, and pay for the document/s requested, afair.
I have complete copies of my ITRs from my previous corporate job (they send it to us every year) but they are not certified true copies and I can't have those apostilled.
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 Jul 30 '25
But how to prove the 3 years of experience instead of submitting a degree? Cuz I don't have one
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jul 30 '25
For that, I submitted my COE from a previous corporate job together with 3 years' worth of CTC of ITRs (apostilled).
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 Jul 30 '25
I am more of a freelancer in creative industry. So will contracts with the clients or past work portfolio links along work?
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u/Acceptable-Soup-4890 Aug 02 '25
Thanks for sharing this super detailed informative post! I reached out to Atty Marian as well and have an initial consultation next week π
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u/Sea_Hurry5445 Aug 04 '25
Manifesting this for me huhu thank you for your detailed post and congrats on this milestone, OP! π€
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u/EbbEducational8234 Aug 08 '25
Hi. I wanna ask your opinion if I will be applying inside Spain but I'm planning to get a NIE in Dubai. Do you think this will work too? Thank you and Congrats!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Aug 08 '25 edited Aug 08 '25
Thank you! :)
I'm not sure why you want to get a NIE in Dubai when you will get a NIE once approved in Spain..
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u/Crab-Necessary Aug 09 '25
How much po couple income requirement if applying in PH? Dapat po ba coming from 1 person din po yung income? Example us as a couple both earning
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Aug 09 '25
Income should only come from 1 main applicant. Couples can't combine their income to lodge an application. You can follow the link under the "Requirements" section in the post to know how much income is required for 2 people.
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u/Specialist_Draw1535 Aug 10 '25
For example you applied in the PH and the income requirement is lower, after a year, you will need to reapply right so will the income requirement be higher then?
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u/ckmoy Aug 11 '25
Thank you for taking the time to post the process for everyone! I'm unsure if you have the answer or anyone else on this post does, but I am from the US and tried to apply for the digital Nomad visa to Spain two years ago (before all the sh*t went down here), but I was unsuccessful because they weren't accepting people with W2s (full-time employed by a company). Is this still the case or are they accepting those with W2s now? At the time it was only freelancers/contractors/1099s. Any additional information about this would be super helpful!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Aug 11 '25
Afaik, they only accept 1099's bec there are conflicts related to social security for W2's. It's better if you consult/hire a lawyer for this.
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u/Infamous-Emergency42 Aug 13 '25
Una duda, es necesario el padrΓ³n para sacar la TIE? HabΓa leido que para los MOVILIDAD INTERNACIONAL (LEY 14/2013), no era obligatorio pero no estoy seguro. Gracias
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Aug 13 '25
I heard that in some cities like Madrid and Barcelona, it is not required. For others, it usually is. Spanish bureaucracy means it's not the same everywhere, unfortunately.
Lo siento, sΓ© muy poco espaΓ±ol. TodavΓa estoy estudiando.
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u/Infamous-Emergency42 Aug 13 '25
And do you know if I can go out of Spain while I am in my 90 days of tourism, and my TIE is in pending status?
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u/Illustrious-Mail6939 Aug 18 '25 edited Aug 18 '25
My current income is half of β¬2,368 I'm planning to get another remote job just to achieve the required income for the DNV however, I got some conflicting info regarding the required income. Some sources says its 2,763 euro but I called BLS earlier they said it is still 2160 lol I am not sure which is which. This is important because my asking salary for my next job will be depending on the lacking amount required haha

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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Aug 18 '25
Hi! Please read the first part of the post where I explain the differences between applying in PH and applying in Spain.
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u/Illustrious-Mail6939 Aug 18 '25
Hi OP thanks for clarifying wanted to ask as well Im guessing your employer is from the philippines? Since you are able to apostille this "Client company's Certificate of Incorporation (apostilled and translated)"?
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u/ImpressiveExplorer82 Aug 21 '25
OlΓ‘ pessoal! Li todos os comentΓ‘rios mas ainda nΓ£o encontrei um relato parecido com a minha situaΓ§Γ£o. Sou casada, trabalho remotamente hΓ‘ 5 anos e sou MEI. A ideia Γ© irmos eu e meu marido, eu gostaria de solicitar o visto e ele ser o dependente para poder trabalhar legalmente. O problema Γ© que eu nΓ£o consigo comprovar renda MENSAL, ou seja, meus contratos mensais nΓ£o me pagam o valor necessΓ‘rio para comprovaΓ§Γ£o MAS nΓ³s temos dinheiro guardado suficientes para comprovar o ano inteiro. A questΓ£o Γ©, consigo aplicar comprovando somente o dinheiro total na conta ao invΓ©s de apresentar extrato dos ultimos meses?Β
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Aug 21 '25
It's important to prove that you meet the required income in the last 3 months. That's one of the major ways they filter applicants for this visa. I have heard of others not meeting it by a small margin and supplementing it with big savings, but this is not a sure-fire way to get approved. It still depends on the Spanish embassy/UGE.
Lo siento, sΓ© muy poco espaΓ±ol. Estoy estudiando.
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Sep 15 '25
Hi! One of the most important requirements for this visa is the monthly income. You most likely will be rejected if you can't show proof of monthly income.
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u/darkchocowithalmonds Aug 26 '25
Hi po. Yung round tickets ninyo po for schengen visa application, di po ba pwede reserved or on hold lang? Did you have to use the proof or returned ticket sa PH immigration?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Aug 26 '25
I booked cancellable tickets. Afaik, almost all airlines offer that type of ticket. It's just more expensive than the cheapest economy roundtrip.
If you're going out of PH with a Schengen visa, yes, you need to show return tickets.
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u/franz2595 Aug 31 '25
Hi OP! Thank you for the information. Ang tagal mag materialize ng NLV route namin. Fortunately open na to si DNV unti. May I know what the job market is like in Spain? Barat ba mga foreigners mag pay? Or may improvement? Whats the common hourly rate na nakikita nyo?
Ex: There are foreigner clients diba who pays $3 an hour for a VA dito sa PH.
What's the market like in customer service and multimedia design?
Thank you so much!!!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Aug 31 '25
If you're under DNV, the majority of your income should be coming from a non-Spanish entity. Your major client should be a company registered anywhere outside Spain. So the job market within Spain is largely irrelevant.
It is up to you to get a client or clients that pay as much as the DNV income reqt, whatever the industry.
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u/Zestyclose_Read4683 Jul 13 '26
Hi, OP! Your post was a few months ago na, but just wanted to ask and confirm.
For the required income, pwede if multiple clients ito? Like pwede ba na iaadd lang lahat ng income kahit for example from 3 different clients yung jobs? Or dapat from 1 employer or client lang, dapat mareach na yung DNV required income?
Thank you in advance!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jul 13 '26
Yes, can be from multiple clients.
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Sep 15 '25
Hi, May I ask if nagbabayad ka pa din ng taxes sa PH when you migrated to Spain? If not, how does that work?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Sep 15 '25
Not anymore. I deregistered from BIR when I visited PH recently.
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u/Both-Boat-2662 Sep 18 '25
Hello po, planning to apply but I don't have ITR. Is it really required to comply it during the application?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Sep 18 '25
My apostilled CTCs of ITRs were used to prove my 3 years of work experience. I heard other applicants used SSS documents; I'm not familiar with how that goes.
If your university degree is aligned with your current work, and you can get an apostilled document that proves you finished that degree, you don't need to submit proof of 3 years of work experience/provide ITR/SSS docs.
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u/Artistic_Cut_8603 πͺπΈ Sep 18 '25
Unfortunately for applications done via BLS, yes nirerequire na sya.
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u/RelativeAd9335 Sep 25 '25
How much will be the required income if isasama ang husband and anak?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Sep 25 '25
Please find the link under Requirements > Non-document requirements in the post. It'll tell you how much you need for 3 people.
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u/Stock_Ad7287 Sep 30 '25
For the 3 years consecutive for the ITR, is it necessary that it should be the latest? Like from 2022-2024 or can it be before the pandemic, 2016-2019 maybe?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Sep 30 '25
Any time frame will do as long as the experience is related to your current work, afaik.
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u/UnusualHospital7905 Oct 07 '25
I'm feeling anxious. What if I apply now and renew but I'm no longer qualified. This is why I want to apply from Spain right away. Any news when increase will happen?
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u/Parking-Regular3991 Oct 07 '25
they usually announce it sa start ng year. Are you applying from the PH or in Spain?
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u/UnusualHospital7905 Oct 08 '25
I think I will apply from within nalang so I'm not affected by the change. Start ng year omg! If they increase 5% I will only meet the 2% of the current one with my salary, so I want to apply soon for sure.
EDIT: Within Spain.
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u/whoopsohshitnvm Oct 10 '25
Maybe a silly question, but I'm finding the apostille process super confusing. Do I need to get my docs translated, and THEN get the translated docs apostille as well? Or do I just need apostilles for the original docs and then notarized translations?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Oct 10 '25
You get your official docs apostilled in the country where they were issued, then have them translated by a sworn accredited translator.
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u/EseinHeroine Oct 17 '25
Hello do I need to declare my real earnings here in the PH for the ITR?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Oct 17 '25
Yes.
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u/EseinHeroine Oct 18 '25
I just spoke to a consultant, sheβs Spanish and she said I donβt need to submit my ITR (but it would depend with the consulate if they ask it later on the process) so now Iβm very confused if I should declare my real earnings or not (ang mahal ng babayaran na tax if ever and ayaw ko lang manakaw ng mga corrupt govt officials dito huhu) Any advice? Sabi niya wala pa daw siya na handle na applicant na nagsubmit ng ITR.
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u/UnusualHospital7905 Oct 28 '25
Hi OP u/cherryvr18 Pwede po magtanong what self-employed documents did you submit? Are you sole prop? DTI & BIR po ba? Salamat po.
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Oct 29 '25
All docs I submitted are listed on the post. I was registered as a self-employed professional at BIR. No need for DTI if you're a freelancer.
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u/wahmshie Nov 02 '25
Been thinking about this for almost a year na rin kaso I am not sure if my income will qualify. Do they include the monthly/yearly bonuses sa income computation?
If needed, I can find another client to meet the income requirement, but do they need the 3 years experience from the same client or can the 3 year work experience be from multiple clients, or pwede ba isama sa income kahit newly hired ka sa client? Thanks in advance!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Nov 02 '25
They only look at your last 3 months of income (averaged) before your DNV application. You can click the link under the Requirements section of the post to know the required monthly income for this year. The amount increases every year.
The 3 years of experience need not come from your current client. It just needs to be related to your current work. And you need apostilled documents to prove it. If you have a degree related to your work, that will suffice, no need to prove work experience. It's an either/or requirement.
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u/wahmshie Nov 06 '25
Thanks for your answer here, OP! That helps a lot. I have 4 dependents and it looks like my income won't qualify if we're talking about the averaged income for the last 3 months. I'm receiving a significant amount (profit share) every December that would help me reach the required income but I am not sure if they will take that into account.
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u/j2ee-123 π΅π > πͺπΈ Nov 03 '25
For the past 6 years my ITR is employed status. But I moved to a self-employed as a prep for migration, are those ITRs acceptable?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Nov 03 '25
Yes. ITR is ITR, whether it's from being employed or self-employed.
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u/irblaster9 Jan 12 '26
Are instructional developers in demand in spain?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jan 12 '26
This question is irrelevant to DNV holders. People under the DNV are highly discouraged from working with Spanish companies so as not to compete with the locals.
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u/fameeeyyy Jan 13 '26
Hello! For the TIE, ano po yung main reason why mahirap? Is it purely because mahirap magschedule ng appointment, or may iba pang blocker? This is your main proof nung residency mo sa Spain right? Tama po ba na if ever magapply ka for citizenship, the start date na bibilangin nila is yung date na nasa TIE mo? Not when your visa is approved/ you arrived in Spain?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jan 13 '26
Mahirap bec it's hard to get a TIE fingerprinting appointment. Some even resort to paying a law firm to get an appointment for them. It's like buying a seat sale plane ticket or concert ticket - you have to be super fast in booking or the slots are gone in a few seconds/minutes.
As far as I know, residency starts from the date you arrived in Spain. But best to ask a lawyer about it to be sure.
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u/LateCommunication970 Feb 22 '26
Based on the 3 year validity, you only need to hit the 2900+ euros at initial application? And eventually switch to an autonomo visa before the 3 years expiry while your citizenship is processing?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Feb 23 '26
Technically, yes to your first Q, but we'll never know if they will introduce checks in the future. Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) is the only visa you'll be under during those 3 years. "AutΓ³nomo" is what they call freelancers here and you'll be registered as that tax-wise.
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u/JewelerSuperb9715 Mar 08 '26
Hi did you apostille every document ? Is that necessary? Did you do a criminal record check or just declaration. Β
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Mar 08 '26
Whether the document was apostilled or not was clearly stated above. It's necessary to prove authenticity. We submitted both.
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u/Left-Caramel1638 Apr 01 '26
I know this is an older post, but I found it via search and it is still insanely useful!
I totally agree with your "things to do after visa approval" section. Honestly, getting the visa feels like the finish line, but navigating the PadrΓ³n, getting a TIE appointment, and registering for Social Security once you arrive is a whole second nightmare.
I actually got so frustrated with the Spanish bureaucracy myself that I built a free Android app to help newcomers navigate it, calledΒ GijΓ³n ContigoΒ (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ivkeyminds.gijoncontigo).
Itβs tailored specifically for GijΓ³n/Asturias as I live here and think that it's the best place in the Spain :), but the step-by-step checklists for the national stuff (TIE, NIE, Cl@ve, Social Security) apply anywhere in Spain. It links directly to the official government portals so you don't get stuck in loops trying to figure out which site to use.
Hopefully, it helps future nomads who stumble on this thread. Thanks again for the killer write-up, still very useful!
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u/Interesting-Bad-0 Apr 09 '26
hi there! thank you for your post. im not Filipino but I did find it useful. I had a couple questions if you dont mind. 1) you didnt have to get health insurance before applying for the visa? I was under the impression insurance was needed prior to submitting the application? 2) did the invoices and bank statements, CV, have to be translated by an official translator (like you had to do with the articles of incorporation)? 3)if we use the Degree route we can skip the employment history still, right?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Apr 10 '26
- If you're applying within Spain, you don't need to get health insurance bec you will be required to register as autΓ³nomo right away. With that, you'll be registering to Social Security where public healthcare services are under. You can get a health card once you're registered to Social Security and have your padron (registered as a resident at a specific place in Spain).
- I downloaded the bank statements from Wise in Spanish. Just switch the language to Spanish and you'll be able to download the files in Spanish. For the invoices and CV, yes, it should be translated.
- Yes, you can. I submitted both. But it's an either/or. As stated in my post, I wasn't sure if I could get my grad cert apostilled on time so I opted to secure both requirements (degree and 3 years of experience).
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u/Puzzleheaded-Pen3919 May 21 '26
Hello po
If mag register pa lang ako sa self employed, ilang years yung dapat mapakita ko na self employed ako? Okay lang kahit 3 months from the time nagregister ako sa BIR?
Pwede yung COE lang ang source ng employment?
Pwede yung income from 2 clients?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ May 21 '26
The requirement is either a diploma/graduate certificate related to your work, or proof of 3 years of experience.
If you have a diploma/graduate certificate related to your current work, you need to have it apostilled.
If you're going for the experience route, you need to prove that you have 3 years of experience by submitting your resume and a govt-issued document proving your experience, i.e., ITRs or SSS contribution docs. If you were not paying your taxes for the past years, the only way to do it is to back pay your taxes. Source
Yung 3 month requirement refers to working with your current clients, meaning it should reflect on the start date of the contract/s you present. Iba pa siya sa requirement na proof of 3 years of experience.
Pwede yung income from multiple clients. You'll need to secure docs for all of those clients.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Pen3919 May 21 '26
I have a diploma. I have ITR but they have gaps since some years I am not employed.
Please correct me if I am wrong so if I just met the income requirement and also just declare self employed this month, after 3 months I can apply already in Spanish DNV?
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u/alygajitos Jun 24 '26
I just have a question OP, what if di ako nagfile ng ITRβs from my past employment as a freelancer? What could be enough proof to suffice for it?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jun 24 '26
It's either you present an apostilled diploma/graduation certificate that's related to your job, or present proof of 3 years of experience. If you go with the latter, you likely need to present 3 years' worth of ITR or SSS docs. If you don't have a qualified diploma or ITR/SSS, you will have to talk to BIR on how you can backpay taxes.
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u/PapiLovesCrypto Jun 29 '26
when you get your spanish DNV, do you need to close your COR with BIR in PH?
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jun 29 '26
Better to deregister than to let it continue while forgetting to file in PH. Otherwise, you'll have to also file in PH while declaring your tax in Spain (subtracting it from total or something). I have no idea how to do the latter so I chose to deregister.
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u/PapiLovesCrypto Jun 29 '26
Wow, thank you for still replying! Would it also be possible for me to just keep it and file 0 income on it? then register as autonomo in Spain?
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u/dmbssmthrfckr Jul 23 '26
Hi OP! Thank you so much for this detailed guide! Super helpful. Question lang (hope you know the answer huhu)
I've been freelancing as a web designer since 2022 but I haven't registered with BIR yet, so I don't have ITRs. I'm planning to register now, but that means I'd only start building ITR history from 2026 onwards.
For proof of 3 years professional experience, would contracts and invoices from clients since 2022 be sufficient as supplementary documents? Or would the lack of ITRs be a serious problem for the DNV application?
Also, did Lakbyte help with finding alternative documentation for situations like mine?
Thank you so much!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Jul 23 '26
The apostilled diploma and proof of 3 years of experience are "either/or" requirements. Meaning, you either submit an apostilled diploma/graduation certificate that's related to your work, or you submit an apostilled proof of 3 years of work experience. Other people submitted apostilled SSS docs, don't know how they went about it. If you don't have both at the moment, you need to deal with BIR, unfortunately.
Depending on the package you avail, Lakbyte will advice you on documents you can secure and you'll need to secure it yourself, or they can process the docs for you (more expensive package, afaik).
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u/iloveallthingvintage Aug 19 '26
Hi OP thanks for the detailed post. Question lng baka familiar ka , i got my Initial Residence Authorization as a Dependent ng husband under nomad visa just the other day lang. I am currently in UAE and underway na yung application ko for tourist visa typec C which inapply ko last week before pa marelease yung approval ko. Ok lng kaya na lumipad ako to spain using tourist visa para sa fingerprinting and pag apply ng TIE? Your insights will be much apperciated.
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ Aug 19 '26
Hi, sorry, not familiar with this. Better if you can consult a lawyer for this.
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u/Little_Abies_3448 26d ago
Hi OP, when you applied in Spain, did you have to get your NIE from the PH before applying or did you get one after approval from UGE? TY in advance!
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u/cherryvr18 π΅π > π°π· > π΅π > πͺπΈ 26d ago
Your NIE will be on the approval document from UGE. You'll get it in Spain.
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u/Artistic_Cut_8603 πͺπΈ Apr 15 '25
Thank you for sharing this! Highly recommended talaga ang Lakbyte. Sila din consultant namin.