Since COVID-19, remote working has become the norm, with more people escaping to a new environment in search of a better climate or an improved work-life balance.
One of the best countries for remote working is Spain, which welcomes people from all over the world. Following the recent US election result, there has been an uptick in Americans looking to leave the USA and settle in European countries like Spain, while still being gainfully employed. Since Brexit, British people have also chosen to come and work from Spain.
Why is Spain such a good choice?
Internet speed and availability
There are four main telecommunication operators in Spain: Movistar (telefonica), Orange, Yoigo and Vodafone, with several others linked to these in some way. They include MásMóvil and Jazztel. The competition is fierce and as a result, costs are reasonable and coverage is excellent in most places. Each of the main operators claim more than 98% national coverage, with Orange claiming 99.1%.
For those planning to move to Madrid, Barcelona or Málaga you will have no problem with internet coverage and fibre optics. 5G is also available in major metropolises. Even outside these, coverage and speed is pretty good, so you could be working on your laptop on a terrace by the sea!
There is plenty of free internet too. Coffee shops, bars, airports, town centres, hotels and rental properties will offer free WiFi. Another advantage of moving to Spain is that you can use your Spanish SIM card in all the other EU countries for free. Unfortunately, since Brexit, this no longer applies to the UK.
You will find telecom shops in every town and most have an online service in English. ESim is popular too and available from Movistar and Vodafone.
Spain has excellent internet speed and availability
Digital nomad visa
This visa is for those who choose to live in Spain while working remotely for a company outside the country and using only a computer or telecommunication. Self-employed remote workers may work in Spain too, providing that work represents no more than 20% of the total professional occupation.
You will need to have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a university, college or business school and to have worked for at least three years in your current profession.
You may request a visa for your spouse or partner, dependent children and other dependent relatives. British people will need to continue paying National Insurance while working in Spain.
You can apply for a digital nomad visa here.
New startup law and tax
In 2022, the Spanish government introduced the Startup Law to boost innovation and attract new talent to the country, If you work in a technical field, there are several ways to get support.
People with the digital nomad visa will not have to pay tax in Spain on income and assets earned abroad but only on monies earned in Spain. For other residents, tax is paid on worldwide assets.
Work-life balance
Spain is the perfect country to enjoy a healthy work-life balance. The climate permits outdoor sports all year round, the Mediterranean diet is affordable with most produce cultivated in Spain and restaurants offer good food at reasonable prices.
The cost of living in Spain in 2024 is considerably cheaper than in the USA and the UK. According to Numbeo, if you include rent, the cost of living in the USA is 59.4% higher than in Spain and in the UK, it is 36.1% higher than in Spain.
Spain has 14 national holidays, allowing for valuable time spent with family and friends. The standard working week is currently 40 hours, but this is due to be cut to 37.5 hours.
According to the European Life-Work Balance Index 2024, Spain is the second-best country after Luxembourg to maintain a good lifestyle while working.
You can have a healthy work-life balance in Spain
The general way of life in Spain allows for good social connections and in most towns, there is a sense of community. Family life is very important in Spain, with Sundays often devoted to large family lunches. Single people are also well-catered for, with many clubs and classes run by friendly, helpful people.
Of course, speaking Spanish, or least basic Spanish, goes a long way to finding friends and meeting other professional people. You will find adult classes in every town at a reasonable cost or even free, so make it your priority to speak Spanish (or Catalan, Galician or Basque, depending on where you choose to live). In Barcelona, Spanish is widely spoken but Catalan is the preferred language. Both are official languages.
Thanks to excellent internet connections and technology, it’s easy to keep in touch with people back home. This makes remote working in Spain even more attractive.
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