Short answer
The Spain Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), submitted via BLS in London, requires a complete set of 14 documents. The most common point of failure is the health insurance item, which must come from an insurer authorized to operate in Spain (Source: BLS_ES_DNV_LONDON_2026, page 2, item 9; verified 2026-01-12). This guide summarizes the official checklist, the money requirement, and the timeline, then points you to the insurance check.
Key findings at a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Route | Spain DNV (Consulate via BLS London) |
| Document items on checklist | 14 |
| Financial means | At least 200% of monthly SMI (stated as EUR 1,134/month, 2024) |
| Consular decision time | Up to 10 days (stated maximum) |
| Visa validity | Maximum 1 year |
| Source | BLS_ES_DNV_LONDON_2026, verified 2026-01-12 |
What the authority requires
The official BLS London checklist lists the following documents (Source: BLS_ES_DNV_LONDON_2026, pages 1-4; verified 2026-01-12):
| # | Document |
|---|---|
| 1 | National visa application form, completed, dated and signed (state your province of residence in Spain) |
| 2 | NIE number |
| 3 | One recent passport-size colour photograph (white background, no digital retouching) |
| 4 | Valid passport (min. 1 year validity, two blank pages) plus UK residence permit for non-British nationals |
| 5 | Criminal record certificate for countries of residence in the past 2 years, not older than 6 months, translated and apostilled |
| 6 | Proof of residence in the consular district |
| 7 | If applying through a representative, identity document and power of attorney |
| 8 | Payment of the visa fee (in local currency) |
| 9 | Public or private health insurance from an insurer authorized in Spain (see below) |
| 10 | Certificate of working at least 3 months for a foreign company, with remote-work consent |
| 11 | Certificate from Companies House on the date of company creation and type of business |
| 12 | Social security registration (UK A1 form, or Spanish RETA/registration) |
| 13 | Proof of financial means (at least 200% of monthly SMI) |
| 14 | University degree or professional certificate showing at least 3 years of experience |
Process notes from the checklist: passports are left in custody at the Consulate during processing; the Consulate states it should resolve applications within a maximum of 10 days; the visa has a maximum validity of 1 year; and submission of the documents does not by itself ensure the visa is issued.
The insurance item (where applications most often fail)
Item 9 is specific: the policy must be from an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain, must cover the risks insured by Spain’s public health system, and must be comprehensive, full and unlimited, with no excess (deductible), no co-payments, and no moratorium (waiting period) (Source: BLS_ES_DNV_LONDON_2026, page 2, item 9; verified 2026-01-12). A registered Social Security S1 form is also accepted.
This single rule disqualifies most international travel-medical policies. For the full evidence and which products meet it, see Spain DNV insurance requirements and why travel policies get rejected.
How we evaluate
VisaFact compares each authority requirement against insurance product evidence in the rule engine. A product is GREEN only when its documented terms satisfy every modeled requirement; a conflict (a deductible, a co-payment, a waiting period, or a travel-only policy) produces RED; and missing evidence produces UNKNOWN rather than a guess. See /methodology/ for the full logic and the UNKNOWN > Wrong principle.
Common rejection traps
- Submitting an international travel-medical policy that is not from an insurer authorized in Spain (conflicts with item 9).
- A policy with a deductible, a co-payment, or a waiting period (the checklist requires none).
- A criminal record certificate older than 6 months, or not translated and apostilled.
- Financial means below 200% of the monthly SMI.
Check in the engine
Confirm in the compliance checker whether a specific policy meets the Spain DNV rule for the current snapshot:
Open Compliance CheckerWhere the insurance requirement fits
For the Spain DNV, the products that show GREEN are health policies from an insurer authorized in Spain. In the current snapshot these include ASISA (an official, non-affiliate link) and Feather, a health policy registered in Spain (DGSFP).
- Feather Expat Health Insurance (Spain) — registered in Spain (DGSFP), with unlimited cover and no co-payments, deductibles or waiting periods. Paid link; we may earn a commission if you purchase through it.
Related reading
- Spain DNV requirements (route page)
- Spain DNV insurance requirements
- Spain Non-Lucrative Visa: application process
- “No co-payment, no deductible”: what Spain’s insurance rule means
- Visa insurance requirements by country
Disclaimer + Affiliate disclosure
Not legal advice. This is a guide based on the official consular checklist; the Consulate may request additional documents and the checklist can change. Always follow the current consular instructions.
Affiliate disclosure: the Feather link above is a paid affiliate link; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and it does not change the evidence-based compliance result. See affiliate disclosure.
Evidence log
- Source:
BLS_ES_DNV_LONDON_2026(BLS London checklist for the Digital Nomad Visa), verified 2026-01-12.