Can You Apply for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa With a Single-Member LLC?
Single-member LLC owners generally bypass the structural hurdles that stop W-2 remote workers. As the sole owner, you control the entity — there's no HR department to convince and no employer required to obtain an SSA Certificate of Coverage or register for payroll in Spain.
Ley 28/2022 permits self-employed professionals to reside in Spain while earning income from clients located outside Spanish territory. Under this authorization, you register as self-employed with Spanish tax authorities and Social Security after arriving — the foreign company paying your LLC never has to interact with the Spanish system at all.
How the UGE Examines Your LLC and Client Contracts
The UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos) looks at two separate timelines when reviewing a self-employed file: how long the client entity paying your invoices has been operating, and how long your professional relationship with that client has existed.
Under Ley 28/2022, the foreign company paying your LLC is expected to have been genuinely operating for at least 1 year. If your LLC invoices a client that incorporated two months ago, expect a requerimiento — a request for additional documentation. Your contractual relationship with that client must also be at least 3 months old at the time of filing.
Can I Apply With a Newly Formed LLC?
Yes, in most cases. What the UGE cares about is the age and continuity of your client relationships — not the incorporation date of your own LLC. A single-member LLC formed last month can support a filing, provided the underlying commercial relationship and client entity satisfy the same requirements as any other case.
Documenting the Income Threshold
You need to show income at or above the 2026 threshold: €2,849 gross per month for a single applicant. Full household figures — for a spouse or dependents — are in my income requirements guide.
Demonstrating that income requires consistency across three things: the contract, the invoice, and the bank deposit. If your contract specifies a retainer, your invoices and bank statements should show the same pattern. Mismatches between what the contract promises and what the bank shows are one of the most common triggers for a requerimiento.
Handling the 20% Spanish Client Limit
Under the self-employed route, no more than 20% of your total professional activity can come from companies located in Spain — at least 80% has to stay linked to clients outside Spain. W-2 employees don't get this flexibility at all; they can't work for a Spanish employer under this authorization.
If your client list includes Spanish businesses, check your revenue ratio before filing. In practice, the applicants who get tripped up here haven't done the math — not because they exceed the cap, but because they never sat down and calculated it.
Do I Need an LLC to Apply for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa?
No. An LLC is not a legal requirement under Ley 28/2022. You can qualify as a sole proprietor or independent freelancer contracting under your own name.
Many U.S. freelancers still prefer the LLC structure — it makes invoicing cleaner, provides liability protection, and gives international clients a corporate entity to contract with rather than an individual.
Do I Need an EIN or Is My SSN Enough?
If you operate through a U.S. LLC, your IRS EIN Assignment Letter (Form CP 575 or LTR 147C) documents the entity's federal tax registration. If you're a sole proprietor without an LLC, your SSN combined with Schedule C tax returns serves the same purpose.
What Documents Does the UGE Usually Expect From an LLC Owner?
Document authentication mistakes cause avoidable delays. Here's what the UGE expects for an LLC-backed file:
| Document | Why the UGE Requests It | Issuing Authority & Authentication |
|---|---|---|
| FBI Background Check | Criminal record certificate required by law | U.S. Dept of Justice + Federal Apostille (U.S. Dept of State, DC) |
| University Degree | Required in most applications (unless proving 3 yrs experience) | Notarized True Copy + State Apostille |
| Operating Agreement | Confirms 100% single ownership of the LLC | Executed internal corporate copy showing ownership |
| IRS EIN Assignment Letter | Documents the entity's federal tax registration | Official IRS Form CP 575 or LTR 147C copy |
| LLC Certificate of Formation | Documents initial entity incorporation | State Secretary of State + State Apostille (if requested) |
| Client Contracts / SOWs | Proves remote commercial relationship > 3 months | Executed commercial agreements (no notarization or apostille) |
Only one document in the entire file needs notarization: your university degree, presented as an apostilled, notarized true copy. Service contracts and the LLC's Certificate of Formation do not need notarization. Full detail is in my guide on FBI background checks and federal apostilles.
How Spanish Tax Law Interacts with U.S. Single-Member LLCs
Immigration approval and tax treatment are two different questions. A U.S. single-member LLC can satisfy the documentary requirements for the visa while still creating a tax situation that needs separate analysis before you relocate.
The IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded pass-through entity. Spanish tax law does not automatically follow that classification. Once you spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year, you become a Spanish tax resident, and self-employed applicants register with the Spanish Tax Agency and Social Security after arriving — filing regular returns and making monthly contributions.
Whether the Beckham Law applies is a separate question with its own hurdles for self-employed professionals with multiple clients — some corporate or director structures qualify depending on how the relationship is set up. See my guide on the Beckham Law for U.S. remote workers.
In-Country UGE Application vs. Consular Route
Two filing routes: apply at a Spanish consulate in the U.S. and receive a 1-year visa, or enter Spain as a tourist and have me file with the UGE from inside Spain, which yields a 3-year permit and resolves in about 20 business days. Most LLC-owner clients choose the in-country route for that reason. Full comparison in my guide on filing from inside Spain vs. the consulate.
Positive administrative silence is the legal default, but in practice the UGE frequently issues a requerimiento before the deadline to verify bank statements, invoices or client records. Your stay remains covered while the application is pending.
Common Documentation Mistakes for LLC Owners
- Invoicing recently incorporated clients — a commercial contract with a client entity that has operated for less than 1 year, without anything to establish its operational background.
- State apostilles on federal clearances — the FBI check needs a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State, not a state-level apostille from a Secretary of State.
- Financial records that don't match — bank deposits that don't reconcile with the amounts, currencies or intervals in your client contracts.
- No ownership proof — missing the Operating Agreement or EIN letter that confirms you hold 100% ownership of the LLC.
Frequently Asked Questions for LLC Owners
Can I use a Delaware or Wyoming LLC?
The UGE may accept applications supported by valid single-member LLC structures formed in Delaware, Wyoming, California, or other U.S. jurisdictions, provided the statutory requirements are met, including proving entity existence and ownership where relevant.
Can I have multiple clients?
Yes. Having multiple international clients is common for 1099 freelancers and LLC owners. You must demonstrate that your total income satisfies statutory thresholds and that non-Spanish clients represent at least 80% of your revenue.
Can I use Stripe or Wise to document incoming payments?
Yes, provided Stripe payouts or Wise transactions clear into a formal bank statement and can be reconciled with your invoices and contractual payment terms.
What if my LLC has no employees and I am the sole owner?
Single-member LLCs with no employees are common among independent contractors applying under this route. You submit your Operating Agreement or IRS documentation to prove 100% ownership.
Can my LLC invoice Spanish clients after I move?
Yes, provided that income from Spanish companies does not exceed 20% of your total professional activity under the self-employed route.
Do I need to dissolve my U.S. LLC when moving to Spain?
No. Spanish immigration law does not require you to close your foreign corporate entities. You can maintain your U.S. corporate entity and bank accounts while resident in Spain.
Does Spain recognize single-member LLCs as pass-through entities?
No. Spain's Tax Agency does not automatically treat U.S. LLCs as disregarded entities. Cross-border tax structuring should be reviewed with a Spanish international tax specialist.
Structuring Your File Correctly
The statute sets the framework; the UGE's administrative practice sets the actual documentation bar. A single-member LLC works well for this visa when the underlying commercial relationship and paperwork hold up to that standard.
Before filing, confirm that your contracts, invoices, ownership documents and client relationships line up with what the UGE expects. My free assessment reviews your structure and flags problems before you submit.
Sources: Ley 28/2022 (BOE) · Ministerio de Inclusión — UGE. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Last updated: July 2026.