The visa itself is cheap. The total is not, because the real costs sit around it: apostilles, certified translations, health insurance, Social Security and legal help. This guide separates the fees set by governments, which we could verify on official pages on 12 October 2026, from the costs that vary by provider. Where we could not confirm a number on an official page, we say so and tell you to confirm it with the lawyer instead of guessing.
Government fees for one applicant add up to a few hundred dollars. Add translations, apostilles, a background check and insurance, and the paperwork side typically reaches the low thousands before any legal fees. Legal fees published by Spanish firms for a single applicant run from roughly EUR 900 to EUR 5,000 depending on how much of the work the firm takes on. Your total depends on whether you travel alone or with family, how many documents need apostilles, and how much help you use.
Two fees are paid to the Spanish authorities. They are small compared with the rest of the process.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consular visa fee (US citizens) | USD 190 | Published by the Washington and Chicago consulates. Washington says visa fees are revised quarterly with exchange rates and takes cash or a money order. Other nationalities pay different fees. |
| Residence authorisation fee (Modelo 790, code 038), initial application | About EUR 73 per person (EUR 73.26 in the official FAQ) | Paid online before filing with UGE, for the holder and for each family member. One government portal still lists a higher initial amount, so confirm the figure with the lawyer. |
| Renewal fee and foreign resident card (TIE) | Confirm with the lawyer | Law firms quote small amounts for both, but we did not find them on an official page, so we do not print a number. |
Most applicants underestimate this part. Every foreign document must be apostilled or legalised and delivered with a sworn or certified translation into Spanish. The fee for each step is set by whoever provides it, so ask for quotes.
Health insurance must have no deductible, co-payment or coverage limit and no waiting period, and it must come from an insurer authorised in Spain. Premiums depend on your age, health and the insurer, so get quotes before you budget. If you are an employee covered by a certificate of coverage under the US-Spain social security agreement, the Social Security side is mainly paperwork. If you are self-employed you must register in the Spanish self-employed regime (RETA) and pay contributions, and the official FAQ warns that failing to comply can end the authorisation. A Spanish adviser should price this before you commit.
Legal fees are set by the lawyer, not by Arx Capital Group and not by the government. On 12 October 2026 the Spanish firms that publish prices advertised packages for one applicant ranging from about EUR 900 for review and filing only to roughly EUR 3,900 for bundles that include translations, power of attorney and arrival services, and one firm quoted EUR 2,000 to EUR 5,000 depending on complexity. Several firms publish no price at all. None published a per-dependant fee we could verify.
What a fee includes matters more than its size. Ask whether it covers document review, the filing itself, responses to requests for more information, the residence authorisation after arrival, the foreign resident card and each family member. The lawyer Arx introduces sends a written quote before you commit to anything and bills you directly. Arx may receive compensation in connection with introductions, and the lawyer confirms all fees in writing before you engage.
Budget for the foreign resident card, your local registration, and renewals. The residence authorisation can be granted for up to three years and renewed for two-year periods while you still meet the conditions, and each filing can carry its own fee. You also keep paying for insurance and Social Security for as long as you hold the permit.
List each applicant separately, then add the shared items. For every person: visa or authorisation fee, background check, apostilles, translations and insurance. For the household: legal fees, Social Security, travel, deposits and the cost of living once you arrive. Ask the lawyer to mark which items are one-off and which recur at renewal.
Before you spend money on apostilles, check that you qualify. Start the short eligibility check at /spain-digital-nomad-visa#eligibility and an independent Spanish immigration lawyer's team will review your answers and send a written quote. Arx Capital Group is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
The Washington and Chicago consulates publish USD 190 for US citizens. Washington revises its fees quarterly according to exchange rates, so confirm the amount with your consulate before paying.
The official FAQ gives about EUR 73 per person (EUR 73.26) for the initial application, paid online for the holder and each family member. Another government page lists a higher figure, so confirm with the lawyer.
Prices published by Spanish firms for a single applicant ranged from about EUR 900 to about EUR 5,000 on 12 October 2026, depending on scope. The lawyer sets the fee and sends a written quote before you commit.
No. Government fees do not cover apostilles or certified translations, which you pay to the providers. Some law firm packages include translations; others do not.
Yes. The official FAQ says the residence fee applies to the holder and to each accompanying family member, and each person needs their own documents and insurance.