Many people dream of being able to work from anywhere in the world. Working from the beach. Up a mountain. While sipping coffee in a bustling square. If you can picture yourself working like this, Spain will be a super place for working remotely.

Teach students 8,700kms away

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“I can be based here but if I want to go to Budapest for two weeks I can take my job with me and then come back home to paradise,” said Michelle Emery who lives in Jávea.

She came on holiday to Jávea in 2013, fell in love with the gorgeous Costa Blanca resort, and realised she had to live here.

“I wanted to find a job where I could travel and stay here in Jávea some time. It was the scariest decision I ever made but it was the best decision.

“When I moved here, I didn’t know anyone, didn’t speak the language. Now I have an amazing group of friends.

“Jávea is so unique – 50% Spanish and 50% expats. That was really appealing. I’ve met so many amazing people from all over the world.

Michelle, from Pennsylvania, has been teaching English online to students in China for the past three years.

Previously she worked as a navigator on offshore gas and oil ships. When that work dried up in 2015, she needed to find another way to work and travel. Teaching English online is a popular way for many people to travel and work, or live anywhere and be able to work.

Another advantage of working remotely is that you can live in Spain and find higher-paid work from other countries. You can still earn an American, United Arab Emirates, or northern European salary while enjoying the superb quality of life and sunny weather in Spain.

Michelle rented an apartment through VíllaMía property rental agency in Jávea and now lives in her dream property near the beach.

“I never would have found this dream house if it wasn’t for Michelle of VíllaMía,” she added.

“I also met my partner through her,” Michelle revealed. “He rented my old apartment and was having problems with the keys.”

Michelle met him at the apartment to show him how the keys worked and the rest, as they say, is history.

Why Spain is perfect for working remotely

Spain ticks so many boxes – fabulous beaches, amazing food, superb quality of life, an average of 320 days of sunshine every year on the Costa Blanca, and a fairly low cost of living, especially when renting in Spain compared to many other European countries.

Since the pandemic, with many more people working at home, the idea of remote working is looking more attractive. No more commuting. No more office politics. More flexibility.

No wonder 17 million people aspire to be digital nomads, according to an MBO Partners State of Independence Research Brief. They want to join the 4.8 million workers already living this location-independent lifestyle.

What is a digital nomad?

Even the term ‘digital nomad’ sounds romantic. Digital nomads are people who earn a living working remotely. All you need is a laptop or smartphone and a good internet connection to have the freedom to work from anywhere in the world.

How to become a digital nomad

Basically, you can become a digital nomad if you work online, if you don’t need to be in a particular place in order to work.

You could sell products and services running an e-commerce business. Teach English online. Be a writer, copywriter, blogger or social media manager. Be a web or app developer, or graphic designer, Offer coaching or consulting services online.

“Any self-employed person in England can run their business from abroad”

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Nik Gerrard is a UK financial advisor and landlord of several properties in England. He is also well-known for the popular pages he runs on Facebook including Viva La Benidorm and Viva la Javea y Denia as well as his charity work.

After having holiday homes in Torrevieja and Dénia for several years, he and his wife Sue decided to move permanently to Dénia 11 years ago.

Now they run both businesses from their Dénia villa. “As long as you have internet it doesn’t matter where you are,” said Nik.

“We have known our clients 30 years and our new clients are their sons, daughters and partners. If someone needs a mortgage or advice, our clients say ‘you have to phone Nick or Sue`.

Nik believes his business has benefited from being operated remotely.

“If you are running a business from Spain you are a lot more accessible than someone sat in an office 9-5.

“Someone can text me at 10 o’clock at night and the chances are I will reply. They won’t get that from a person working in an office.”

Nik does feel it is easier if you already have a business up-and-running rather than starting from scratch as a remote worker in Spain.

“If people come up with an idea of distributing dartboards throughout Europe, then they can do it as easily from here as from their bedroom in England.

“You just need initiative.

“Any self-employed person in England can run their business from abroad. If people wanted to move here and promote a business in England, they don’t have a barrier.

“Twenty years ago this wouldn’t have been possible. If you have internet and a phone, you can work from anywhere in the world.”

For anyone wishing to work remotely in Spain, Nik would advise them to rent a property through a registered agent. Don’t be tempted to put a deposit on a property you see online – it might not exist.

Finding your property on the Costa Blanca North

Get in touch with VíllaMia for long-term and winter lets in Jávea, Dénia, Moraira, Jesús Pobre, Cumbre del Sol, Benissa coast and Benitachell. Their expert local knowledge means they can find the ideal property for you with great internet speeds for working as a digital nomad in Spain.

Read more information about the Costa Blanca resorts covered by VíllaMía.

Do you need a visa to be a digital nomad in Spain?

Laura Miralles Server,  Lawyer and Tax Advisor at Impley International Tax & Law, said: “People who come to Spain as a digital nomad need to get a NIE number. The NIE is only a registration number to get a SIM card or a subscription in the public swimming pool. It doesn’t mean they are resident in Spain.

“People from Europe can come to Spain without any restriction because under the Schengen agreement there is freedom of movement within the EU.

“People from outside the EU need to get a non-lucrative visa to come to Spain. The Visa is non-lucrative because the work that they do is done remotely to their own country.

“However if the digital nomad decides to stay in Spain more than six months, he will be a tax resident in Spain and will need to register with the Spanish authorities. Europeans would need to register as an autonomo and non-Europeans would need to change the non-lucrative visa to the working visa and register as an autonomo.”

For further information contact Impley.

VillaMia

VillaMia has built up an excellent reputation and has a frontline office in Jávea and a multilingual team. If you are thinking of moving over or taking a winter let in the area, please get in touch on the details below:-

VíllaMía Office