Digital nomads may be unwelcome in many places but one area of Spain is luring them with grants.
Once considered beneficial to a community, digital nomads have become unwelcome in many areas of Europe, accused of aggravating gentrification and pricing out the local population.
But one region of Spain is still keen to host remote workers – so much so that it is offering financial aid to those who relocate there.
Extremadura, an autonomous community bordering Portugal, is one of Spain’s lesser visited regions but nevertheless is home to wild nature reserves, fauna-filled mountain ranges and a capital scattered with Roman ruins.
Here’s who is eligible for the grant to move to Extremadura and how to apply.
You can get paid to be a digital nomad in Spain’s Extremadura
The regional government of Extremadura is offering digital nomads up to €15,000 to move to the area.
The autonomous community has one of the lowest populations in Spain and is one of the least-developed regions. It has one of the country’s lowest GDPs per capita and one of the highest rates of unemployment at 17.6 per cent compared to the national average of 11.9 per cent.
To bolster both the population and the economy, authorities in Extremadura have earmarked €2 million that will be used to aid the relocation of 200 remote workers and digital nomads to the region.
As well as receiving financial aid, digital nomads can enjoy a low cost of living compared to many other areas in Spain. When compared with the Spanish capital Madrid, the Extremadurian city of Badajoz costs on average 30 per cent less for meals out, public transport and utilities, according to Numbeo.
According to regional authorities, Extremadura lacks in transport infrastructure but has above national average fibre optic and mobile coverage.
Who can apply for Extremadura’s digital nomad grants?
Extremadura is targeting remote workers who are highly qualified professionals in the tech industry.
You must be able to work completely remotely and online “through the exclusive use of media and IT systems, telematics and information fields.”
Those who wish to apply have to commit to maintaining a remote job and living in Extremadura for at least two years.
Both those living in other regions of Spain and those living abroad are eligible as long as they have not lived in Extremadura in the previous six months.
Foreign nationals may apply, but must be resident legally in Spain and be in possession of a foreign identity number (NIE) as found on their green EU certificate or non-EU TIE card.
Non-EU nationals can also apply as long as they are already participating in Spain’s digital nomad visa scheme.
Those not in possession of a digital nomad visa would need to apply for this first and have it approved by Spanish authorities as well as obtain a residency document before applying for the Extremadura scheme.
How much funding will digital nomads receive?
Women, young people under 30 years old and those who relocate to towns in Extremadura with populations less than 5,000 are eligible for a €10,000 grant. Others will receive €8,000.
After two years, those in the first category who choose to stay on another year will receive a second payment of €5,000 while the others will be given €4,000.
When can digital nomads apply for the Extremadura grant?
The date when applications open has not yet been confirmed but authorities say it will be the day after publication of the scheme in the Official Gazette of Extremadura, likely to be around mid-September.
Authorities say applications will stay open until all the funds to cover around 200 digital nomads have been allocated which will be no less than a month but no more than a year.
How can digital nomads apply for the Extremadura grant?
Applications have to be submitted electronically using the Extremadura General Electronic Access Point. Applicants need to be in possession of a digital certificate or electronic Spanish ID card which allows for electronic identification.
You must submit your application form along with an official document issued by your country or another region in Spain to prove your current place of residence and a certificate from your employer authorising you to work in Extremadura or remotely in Spain or, if you are self-employed, a document detailing the terms and conditions in which you will carry out your professional activity remotely.
If you are moving from another Spanish region, you will need an original report supplied by the General Treasury of Social Security showing you are up to date with social security payments, a document certifying you are up to date with your tax payments and a certificate proving you don’t have any debts with the Treasury of Extremadura.
Documents not in Spanish need to be accompanied by a sworn legal translation certified by a professional.
Applicants will hear within three months if they have been successful.
Those successful need to register with a municipality in Extremadura to get a padrón certificate (a local record for people residing in a Spanish municipality) within three months.
After this, you have a month to request payment of the grant, which will be made in a single transaction.
