The SMI in 2026
For 2026, Spain’s SMI is €1,221 per month in 14 annual payments (Real Decreto 126/2026), which is €1,424.50 a month spread over 12 payments. The visa threshold is calculated on the 12-payment figure. The Digital Nomad Visa requires income of 200% of the SMI, which works out to approximately €2,849 gross per month for the main applicant in 2026.
Family additions are 75% of the SMI for the first family member who joins you (approximately €1,068/month) and 25% for each one after that (approximately €356/month each). These figures are in gross income terms, before Spanish taxes.
Why the threshold moves
Spain’s government raises the SMI periodically. It has increased substantially over the past several years. Each increase raises the visa income bar proportionally. This means an income level that qualified in 2023 may technically fall short in 2026. The income requirements guide always carries the current year’s figure; verify before filing.
The threshold applies at the moment of filing. If your income grew between filing and approval, the relevant date is when your application was submitted. A requerimiento doesn’t move that date; only a new application does.
Gross vs. net income
The SMI multiplier tests gross income. Before any taxes, withholdings, or deductions. For W‑2 employees, this means your stated salary on your employment contract and pay stubs, not your take-home pay. For 1099 contractors, it is gross receipts before business expenses and before Spanish taxes. Comparing your net take-home to the threshold understates your qualifying income; the gross figure is what matters.
The SMI and the totalization agreement
The SMI has no direct connection to Social Security calculations. That is the domain of the TGSS and the totalization agreement. The SMI is solely the income benchmark. The two systems run in parallel: the income test is about crossing the SMI multiple; the Social Security question is about whose system covers you.
Checking your income
The income requirements guide converts the current threshold into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate, runs through what documentation the UGE accepts, and covers variable and equity-based income. The free assessment asks about your income as its first question, because if the threshold is not met, nothing else in the file matters.