Spain's Beckham Law flat rate of 24% is the only digital nomad visa in Southern Europe that includes a built-in tax incentive for the visa holder. Italy offers a flat tax, but it costs 100,000 EUR per year and is aimed at wealthy retirees and investors, not working nomads.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Spain requires remote workers to earn at least 2,646 EUR per month (roughly 200% of the national minimum wage) and prove their employer or clients are based outside Spain. The visa is valid for one year and converts to a three-year residence permit on renewal. The headline advantage is the Beckham Law opt-in, which lets qualifying applicants pay a flat 24% tax on Spanish-sourced income up to 600,000 EUR instead of progressive rates that climb to 47%. Application fees run around 75 EUR for the visa itself, but you should budget 1,500 to 3,000 EUR for document preparation, translation, apostilles, and a Spanish immigration lawyer, because consulate requirements vary by country and rejections for paperwork errors are common. For a deeper comparison of Spain against another popular European alternative, see Digital Nomad Visa Spain vs Portugal: What Each One Actually Gets You.
Italy Digital Nomad Visa
Italy's digital nomad visa, formalized under a 2024 decree, targets non-EU nationals who work remotely and earn at least 28,000 EUR per year, a lower bar than Spain's but still firm. The initial visa is valid for one year and can be renewed for two additional years. Italy's flat tax regime for new residents (100,000 EUR per year on foreign income) is designed for high-net-worth individuals, not typical nomads, so most digital nomad visa holders will fall into Italy's standard progressive tax system, which tops out at 43%. Processing is handled through Italian consulates abroad, and in practice timelines have been inconsistent, ranging from six weeks to several months depending on the consulate. If you plan to spend significant time in Italy and want to understand how resident status interacts with your offshore structure, that is a conversation worth having before you land.
Things people ask first.
Which visa is easier to get approved, Spain or Italy?
Spain has a more defined and established process, but consulate inconsistency makes it frustrating. Italy's visa is newer and processing times are less predictable. Neither is a fast track, and both require professionally apostilled documents.
Can I bring my family on either visa?
Yes, both Spain and Italy allow family reunification. In Spain, dependents can be added to the initial application or follow later, and they gain the right to work. Italy permits family members to join under a dependent visa, though the process adds documentation requirements.
Do I have to pay local taxes if I get the Spain digital nomad visa?
Yes. If you stay more than 183 days in Spain, you become a tax resident and owe Spanish tax on your income. The Beckham Law option caps that rate at 24% for up to six years on Spanish-sourced income, which is the primary financial advantage of the Spanish route.
Can I work for clients in Spain or Italy on these visas?
Spain requires that at least 80% of your income come from non-Spanish clients or employers. Italy has a similar restriction requiring your main work relationship to be with foreign entities. Both visas are designed for people whose economic activity is largely outside the host country.
How long can I stay before triggering tax residency in Italy?
The standard rule in Italy is 183 days, the same threshold as most European countries. If you exceed that, you become an Italian tax resident and are subject to Italy's progressive rates unless you qualify for one of the special regimes, which have their own conditions.
Which visa is better for someone who wants a path to permanent residency?
Spain offers a clearer pathway: the digital nomad permit can convert into long-term residency and eventually citizenship after ten years of legal residence. Italy has a similar general route, but administrative backlogs and renewals have historically been more difficult to manage in practice.
Which European base actually cuts your tax bill?
The Offshore Playbook walks through how to pair a digital nomad visa with an offshore structure so you are not just legally resident somewhere, you are paying less. Spain's Beckham Law is one lever. There are others.
Get the Playbook