The income threshold is the number every applicant asks about first and the one advisers explain most differently. This page gives the figure the Spanish authorities publish for 2026, shows how it is built, adds the amounts for family members, and explains what we do not know. Everything here was checked on 12 October 2026 against the official FAQ and the Washington consulate's telework visa page. It is information, not legal advice; the lawyer confirms the amount that will apply to your case.
The requirement is 200% of Spain's monthly minimum wage, the salario mínimo interprofesional or SMI. The official FAQ states the SMI as EUR 1,221 per month at present. The Washington consulate turns that into EUR 2,442 per month for a single applicant, which it says is approximately USD 2,900.
The amount is gross, meaning before tax and withholdings. It is a monthly figure that you must be able to show you earn regularly from your remote work.
Family members raise the requirement. For a unit of two persons, the holder and one accompanying family member, the requirement is 75% of the SMI on top, which Washington publishes as EUR 916 per month. Each further family member adds 25% of the SMI, published as EUR 306 per month.
Adding the published amounts gives the following monthly minimums. These are our arithmetic from the official figures, and the lawyer confirms the total for your household.
| Household | How it is built | Monthly minimum (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 200% of the SMI | 2,442 |
| 2 persons | 2,442 + 916 | 3,358 |
| 3 persons | 3,358 + 306 | 3,664 |
| 4 persons | 3,664 + 306 | 3,970 |
| 5 persons | 3,970 + 306 | 4,276 |
Several law firm and relocation sites quote about EUR 2,849 per month for a single applicant, with matching higher amounts for dependants. That figure comes from counting the minimum wage as if it were paid in twelve instalments instead of fourteen. The UGE FAQ and the Washington consulate both apply 200% to the EUR 1,221 figure, which gives EUR 2,442.
The official FAQ does not print the euro total itself, which is why the disagreement persists. We follow the official wording and the consulate's published amounts. If your income sits between the two figures, tell the lawyer, because the safe course is to confirm which amount the authorities will apply before you file.
The requirement is set in euros, so your dollar income is compared against the euro threshold. The Washington consulate shows an approximate dollar figure of USD 2,900 for EUR 2,442, but exchange rates move and consulates use their own rates. Do not plan around a rounded dollar number. Ask the lawyer which rate and date apply when your file is assessed.
Also note that older consulate pages may show last year's numbers. The Chicago page we checked still displayed the 2025 minimum wage and a requirement of EUR 2,368 for a single applicant. For 2026 the SMI is EUR 1,221 and the single-applicant amount is EUR 2,442.
The consulates ask for documents showing sufficient financial means or a regular source of income for the teleworker and any accompanying family members. In practice that means evidence that matches the story the rest of the file tells.
The Chicago consulate's wording refers to documents proving sufficient own financial means or a regular source of income. How a consulate or UGE treats savings, investment income or irregular freelance income is a judgement call we cannot answer in general. If your income is uneven, or part of it comes from sources other than remote work, ask the lawyer how the file should present it before you apply.
Yes. The threshold is tied to the minimum wage, which Spain sets each year by royal decree. The 2026 amount was approved earlier this year, and the consulates update their pages at different speeds. Check the current figure when you file, and do not rely on a number copied from an older article. If you renew, the amount that applies is the one in force at the time.
Do not adjust documents to reach the figure. The requirement is about real, regular income that can be shown. If you are close, the lawyer may suggest waiting until your income stabilises or a raise takes effect, or may discuss a different route. For people who do not work, the non-lucrative visa is a separate route with its own rules; see our comparison guide.
To see whether your income fits, answer a few questions at /spain-digital-nomad-visa#eligibility. An independent Spanish immigration lawyer's team reviews your answers and contacts you. Arx Capital Group is not a law firm and does not give legal advice; the lawyer contracts with you and bills you directly.
200% of Spain's monthly minimum wage. With the SMI at EUR 1,221 per the official FAQ, the Washington consulate publishes EUR 2,442 per month, gross, for a single applicant.
The Washington consulate publishes EUR 916 per month for the first accompanying family member and EUR 306 per month for each further one, added to the holder's amount.
They count the minimum wage in twelve instalments instead of fourteen. The official FAQ and the Washington consulate use the EUR 1,221 figure, which gives EUR 2,442. Ask the lawyer to confirm which amount applies to you.
Gross. The Spanish immigration unit states the required amounts are before withholdings.
Consulate wording refers to financial means or a regular source of income, but how savings are treated is for the lawyer to confirm for your case.