How many clients do I need?

There is no fixed number in the law that we know of. One long-term client can be enough if the contract and income meet the requirements.

What percentage of income can come from Spanish clients?

Work for Spanish companies can be at most 20% of your total professional activity.

How do I prove freelance income?

Contracts, invoices, matching bank deposits and your tax return. See proof of freelance income.

Can startup founders get the Spain digital nomad visa?

Sometimes, as self-employed or as an employee of their own foreign company, but these files get extra scrutiny. Spain also has a separate entrepreneur route under Law 14/2013. Get advice for your structure.

Can freelancers get the Spain digital nomad visa, and how many clients do they need?

Updated 2026-11-12 · Spain nomad visa guide · Not legal advice

Yes. Self-employed applicants qualify if they show contracts with clients, a working relationship of at least 3 months, income above the threshold (about €2,849/month in 2026), and that work for Spanish companies is no more than 20% of their professional activity. The law does not set a fixed number of clients; what matters is that the contracts prove enough stable income.

What freelancers must prove
Requirement	Evidence that works
Professional relationship with clients	Signed contracts or service agreements
At least 3 months of work	Invoices and payments over that period
Clients' companies active 1+ year	Client company registration documents
Clients authorise remote work from Spain	Letter or contract clause from each main client
Income at or above the threshold	Invoices + bank statements + tax return
Spanish clients ≤ 20%	Client list with income share per client

Paid by your own LLC or company

If you own the company that pays you, the authorities look at whether the relationship is genuine and whether you are really an employee or self-employed. This is one of the most common edge cases: send it for review, and for complicated structures work with a licensed Spanish immigration lawyer (lawyer path).

Irregular income

Show 12 months of bank statements, not only the last 3, so good months average out the lean ones.
Add your last tax return to show annual income.
If one client is most of your income, a longer contract term helps show stability.

Quick answers

How many clients do I need?: There is no fixed number in the law that we know of. One long-term client can be enough if the contract and income meet the requirements.
What percentage of income can come from Spanish clients?: Work for Spanish companies can be at most 20% of your total professional activity.
How do I prove freelance income?: Contracts, invoices, matching bank deposits and your tax return. See proof of freelance income.
Can startup founders get the Spain digital nomad visa?: Sometimes, as self-employed or as an employee of their own foreign company, but these files get extra scrutiny. Spain also has a separate entrepreneur route under Law 14/2013. Get advice for your structure.

What to do next

Enter your client mix and income: we'll flag the 20% rule and the 3-month history for you.

Check my freelance setup

Sources

Checked: 2026-11-12. Rules change; confirm current values on the official pages above before you file.