Why applications get refused
Applicants without a degree sometimes submit a CV as proof of experience. A CV is not evidence: the authorities want certificates from employers, contracts or tax records that show three years of real work in a related field.
Proving a degree
- The diploma or degree certificate.
- Where useful, the academic transcript.
- Apostille or legalisation, and a translation into Spanish.
The law refers to institutions of recognised prestige. In practice, an official degree from a recognised institution is accepted without the need for formal homologation in Spain for this purpose.
Proving three years of experience
- Employment certificates from previous and current employers, with dates and roles.
- Contracts covering the period.
- For freelancers, contracts with clients, invoices and tax filings.
- Official social security or tax records showing the work periods, if available.
The experience should relate to the activity you will carry out remotely.
Combining evidence
If you have a degree, that is usually the simplest proof. If your degree is in an unrelated field but you have long experience in your current profession, it can be useful to provide both.
Recognised institutions
The law refers to universities, vocational training centres and business schools of recognised prestige. In practice, the authorities look at whether the qualification is official in the country that issued it and whether the institution is recognised there. Online degrees from accredited institutions can also be accepted if they are official qualifications.
Planning your evidence
Gather the diploma or employment certificates early: universities and former employers can take weeks to issue official copies, and apostilles add more time. Ask employers for certificates on letterhead, signed, with your start and end dates, your role and a short description of your duties.
A practical example
A self-taught web developer from the Philippines had no degree but six years of freelance work. We gathered his client contracts, tax returns and letters from two long-standing clients covering more than three years, and the authorities accepted his experience. See freelancers. More information on the firm's main website: immigration law at Castell Abogados (in Spanish).
Get your file checked before you apply
Most refusals come from documents that do not prove what the law asks for. Send us your situation and an immigration lawyer will tell you what is missing before you submit.
Questions about qualifications
Do I need a degree for the Spain digital nomad visa?
No. Three years of professional experience is an alternative.
Does my degree need to be homologated in Spain?
Not for this purpose in general, but it must be apostilled or legalised and translated.
Is a CV enough to prove experience?
No. You need documents such as employer certificates, contracts or tax records.
Does the experience have to be in the same field?
It should relate to the activity you will carry out remotely.
Can I combine studies and experience?
Yes. If your degree is in another field, adding proof of experience in your current profession can strengthen the application.