What Texas applicants need to know
Texas represents one of the largest pools of potential Digital Nomad Visa applicants in the United States — a combination of high tech employment, strong freelance culture, and zero state income tax makes Spain's Beckham Law an especially compelling option. (When you move from Texas with 0% state tax to Spain under Beckham Law at 24% flat, you are trading a low U.S. tax burden for a flat European one — use the Beckham calculator to model your exact numbers.)
The Houston consulate covers Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston. Applicants from all major Texas metros make the trip to the consulate's offices in the Galleria area.
Required documents
- Visa application form — EX-01 or current equivalent, in Spanish, signed
- Valid passport + 2 photos
- FBI background check with apostille — issued within the last 3 months. FBI + apostille guide →
- Medical certificate — licensed physician, apostilled
- Spanish health insurance — full coverage, no copays, authorized insurer in Spain
- Remote work proof — employment contract (W-2) or client contracts + invoices (freelancers)
- Income proof — pay stubs, tax return, or bank statements. Solo minimum: ~€2,849/month
- Sworn Spanish translations of all English documents
- Visa fee — approximately €80
Texas-specific considerations
Texas applicants commonly work in tech, energy, finance, and healthcare — industries where remote work documentation is straightforward. The most common issue is the employer letter: it must explicitly state that the employee is authorized to work remotely from Spain and that the employer has no Spanish operations that could classify the work as Spanish-source income. Use the salary calculator to understand how Spanish-source vs. foreign-source income affects your tax situation under Beckham Law.
Dallas applicants sometimes ask about using the Houston consulate vs. flying to Spain directly. The in-Spain UGE route is worth considering — especially for Dallas and Austin residents with direct flights to Madrid or Barcelona. You enter Spain as a tourist, file the 3-year TIE in-country, and avoid the year-one renewal entirely.
Booking and processing
Book via the official Spanish appointment system linked from the consulate website. Houston appointment windows are typically 5–8 weeks out. Processing after submission runs approximately 4–6 weeks. Bring originals and copies; the Houston office returns originals on the day of your appointment.
Moving from Texas? The Texas-specific guide covers your state tax math and what changes when you leave.
Texas-based and want to know your options?
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