Spain is home to several of Europe's most chosen cities for remote work, but not all of them suit everyone equally, depending on where you're from and what you're looking for: mild winter weather, nightlife, quiet, or proximity to your home country. This guide sums up the most established options — and, since you'll be preparing your visa anyway, which criminal record certificate applies depending on your nationality.
Big hubs: Madrid and Barcelona
The two cities with the most established international community, the best flight connectivity, and the widest choice of coworking spaces. Madrid is also home to the Large Companies Unit that processes the digital nomad visa. See Madrid · See Barcelona.
Year-round climate: Las Palmas and Tenerife
The Canary Islands are, by far, the most established digital nomad destination in Spain — same time zone as mainland Spain, stable year-round climate, and an already well-settled nomad community, especially in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. See Las Palmas · See Tenerife.
Mediterranean coast: Valencia, Malaga and Alicante
The combination of price, climate and quality of life makes these three cities the preferred option for anyone looking for something more affordable than Madrid or Barcelona without giving up a large city. Malaga, in particular, has built its own tech hub reputation. See Valencia · See Malaga · See Alicante.
Northern alternative: Bilbao and San Sebastián
For anyone who'd rather avoid the summer heat and wants a different food and culture scene, the Basque Country is the alternative that's less known outside Spain but is gaining ground among nomads who already know the country. See Bilbao · See San Sebastián.
Close to France: Girona
For French nomads, or anyone working with French clients, Girona combines proximity to the border, a direct connection to Barcelona, and a lower cost of living than the Catalan capital. See Girona.
The document that changes by country: criminal records
Whichever city you choose, the digital nomad visa requires a criminal record certificate from your home country — and the process for getting one changes radically depending on where you're from:
- 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇫🇷 France: FBI, ACRO and B3 compared.
- 🇨🇦 Canada: RCMP.
- 🇦🇺 Australia: National Police Check.
- 🇵🇭 Philippines: NBI Clearance.
Related pages
- Spain digital nomad visa
- Spain vs. Portugal: digital nomad visa compared
- Spain vs. Italy: digital nomad visa compared
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