How long can you stay in Spain? Schengen 90/180 and long-stay visas

How the 90/180 rule applies here

If you are visa-exempt, you can spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The limit applies to the Schengen Area as a whole, not to Spain: days spent in France or Portugal count towards the same 90-day limit.

The 180 days are a moving window, not a calendar period. For any given date, count back 180 days, including that date, add up the days you spent in the area, and the total must never exceed 90.
The day you arrive and the day you leave both count as full days, even if you are only there for a few hours.
Crossing from Spain into another Schengen country changes nothing: the days are part of the same shared count.
Only the passage of time restores your allowance. The European Commission states it plainly: an uninterrupted absence of 90 days gives you a fresh 90 days.

Staying longer than 90 days

For stays beyond 90 days, you need a national visa, which you must apply for before you travel at the Spanish consulate responsible for your place of residence. The two routes people ask about most differ above all in one respect: whether you are allowed to work.

Non-lucrative residence visa (residencia no lucrativa)

For living in Spain on money you already have. It does not authorise any kind of work: the consulate requires a sworn declaration, signed before a notary, stating that you will not carry out paid work — and that explicitly includes working remotely online for a company abroad. It is issued for one year, with the initial residence authorisation processed alongside it.

Money: 400% of the IPREM. The IPREM has been frozen at €600 a month since 2023, which puts the amount at around €2,400 a month, plus 100% of the IPREM for each family member.

International teleworking visa (the "digital nomad" visa)

Created by Ley 28/2022 for people who work remotely for companies outside Spain — precisely what the non-lucrative visa forbids. It requires at least three months of an established relationship with the foreign employer or client, a degree or three years of professional experience, health insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain and, if you are employed, a letter from the company allowing you to work from Spain. The visa is valid for up to one year and can lead to a residence authorisation of up to three years.

Money: 200% of the minimum wage (SMI). The SMI for 2026 is €1,221 a month, so the amount is roughly €2,442.

The mistake worth avoiding

Applying for the non-lucrative visa while intending to keep your remote job. The sworn declaration explicitly states that remote and online work counts as work, and the teleworking visa exists precisely for that situation. Choosing the wrong route is not a technicality: it involves signing a declaration before a notary.

Common questions

Do days spent in other Schengen countries count against my time in Spain?

Yes. There is no separate Spanish allowance; there is one Schengen allowance. A week in Lisbon and a week in Seville count towards the same 90-day limit.

Does leaving and coming back reset the count?

No. Only the passage of time does. Each day drops out of the 180-day window 180 days after you spent it, and an uninterrupted absence of 90 days restores a full 90-day stay.

Does a Spanish residence permit change how the rule applies to me?

Once you hold one, your stay in Spain is governed by that permit rather than by the 90/180 rule. Travel to other Schengen countries is still subject to limits, so check the terms of your permit before planning long trips elsewhere.

Check it at the source

Immigration rules change, and the financial thresholds change most often of all. These are the official pages this guide is based on.

Count your Schengen days

Open the Schengen 90/180 calculator

This guide is a planning aid, not legal advice. The final decision on entry and length of stay rests with the border officer or the consulate. Confirm the rules with the official sources above before you travel.