Best residency countries 2026: pick by profile, not by brochure
Nomad, founder, retiree or wealthy family? Taxes, visas and daily life in Europe’s and the Gulf’s favourite bases compared – find your match.
Spain
Spain is a high-tax country that runs one of Europe’s best entry discounts: the Beckham regime taxes qualifying newcomers like non-residents for six tax years. Pair it with the digital nomad visa or a certified startup and Spain gets a lot cheaper. Then year seven arrives, and with it the normal rates.
Our verdict
Great if you get into the Beckham regime (remote employee, certified startup, company director) and want a big-city or coastal life in the EU. Skip it if you plan to live on dividends from your own company for good, hold serious wealth outside Madrid or Andalusia, or break out in hives at the sight of a Spanish form.
Great for
- Remote employees earning €100k+ who qualify for the Beckham regime
- Founders of ENISA-certified startups (15% corporate tax, Beckham access)
- Non-EU remote workers who want an EU base via the digital nomad visa
Skip it if
- Owners of a classic profitable SL who want low tax for good – year seven sends the full bill
- Wealthy families without a plan for wealth and solidarity tax
- Anyone hoping for the golden visa – it closed on 3 April 2025
Key numbers at a glance.
- Corporate tax
- 25%
- 2026: 19%/21% for companies under €1m turnover, 15% for new companies
- Dividend WHT
- 19%
- to non-residents; treaties and the EU directive can reduce it
- Personal income tax
- 19–47%+
- state + regional scale; 19–30% on savings income
- Beckham regime
- 24%
- on work income up to €600,000, 47% above, six tax years
- VAT
- 21%
- reduced 10% and 4%
- Setup time
- 2–4 weeks
- NIE, notary deed, tax ID, registry
- Running cost
- from ~€3,500/yr
- gestoría for accounting, tax returns and annual accounts
- Minimum stay
- 183 days
- tax residency; nomad visa holders must live in Spain
- Currency
- EUR
The Nerdy Index.
15 criteria, each scored 0–10 by a published formula or rubric. Pick who you are – the index re-weights what matters for you.
55Nerdy IndexFounder, moving with the company
52Company
58Residence
CompanyResidence
Company 52/100
Tax on distributed profits39.3% 0.2/10
Corporate tax plus dividend withholding on €100,000 profit paid out to a non-resident owner. Transparent entities (US LLC) pay nothing at company level – the owner pays at home, so they get a neutral 5.
Tax on reinvested profits25% 2.9/10
Tax while profits stay in the company (Estonia and Georgia: 0%).
Running cost~€3,500/yr 7.7/10
Typical yearly cost to keep a small trading company compliant: registered office, accounting, tax filings, audit if mandatory, government fees. Excludes local staff and office rent.
Context: A gestoría for bookkeeping, quarterly VAT and tax filings, corporate tax return and filing accounts at the Mercantile Registry: typically €250–350 a month for a small SL. Director’s social security not included.
Setup speed & remote formation~15 working days 5/10
Typical working days from signed documents to a registered company. +1 point (max 10) if it can be done fully remotely.
Context: NIE for foreign shareholders, name certificate, bank deposit, notary deed and registry filing usually add up to two to four weeks.
Banking accessNerdy assessment 7/10
How easy it is for a foreign-owned company to open and keep a business account (local bank or regulated EMI) that works for international payments.
Our assessment: Large, modern banks open accounts for SLs with an NIE, usually in person and within weeks; the capital deposit certificate is routine. Compliance questions about foreign shareholders are normal, not a blocker.
Reputation & treaty network99 treaties, no lists 10/10
Number of double tax treaties in force, minus penalties for blacklists that make banks and tax offices nervous: EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions (Annex I), EU watchlist (Annex II), FATF grey list.
Context: Spain has one of the largest treaty networks in the world (99 treaties in force, 103 signed, per the Ministry of Finance) and is on no EU or FATF list.
Substance burdenNerdy assessment 7/10
How much real presence (director, office, staff, board meetings) the company needs locally to be respected as tax resident there and to keep the bank happy. Higher score = lighter burden.
Our assessment: A resident administrator and a registered address are usually enough for a small SL; the gestoría handles filings. The real risk runs the other way: a foreign company run from Spain becomes Spanish-resident.
Residence 58/100
Personal tax for a new resident24% (Beckham) 4.7/10
Effective tax a newly arrived resident pays on €100,000 of income from their own (foreign or local) company, using the best regime realistically available to an entrepreneur (non-dom, flat tax, territorial, special regime). Social security excluded.
Context: Newcomer under the Beckham regime paying themselves a €100,000 salary: 24% flat. Assumes you qualify (remote employee on the nomad visa, certified startup or director) – without it a €100,000 salary costs roughly 31–35% depending on the region.
Residency accessNerdy assessment 6/10
How realistic it is for a non-EU entrepreneur to get a residence permit that also gives tax residency: requirements, cost, time, approval odds. EU citizens usually have it easier – noted in the reason.
Our assessment: The nomad visa (€2,849/month) and non-lucrative visa (€28,800/year) are realistic and decided within months, but paperwork, apostilles and translations add up. EU citizens just register.
Minimum stay183 days 4/10
Days per year you need to spend there to keep your permit and your tax residency (whichever is stricter, using the most flexible programme).
Context: Beckham requires Spanish tax residency: more than 183 days, or your main economic interests in Spain. The nomad visa also assumes you actually live there.
Cost of living58.8 (Madrid) · Madrid 5.7/10
Numbeo Cost of Living Index (excl. rent, New York = 100) for the city most expats choose.
Context: Numbeo Cost of Living Index excluding rent, Madrid, 2026 – Valencia (52.2) and Málaga (51.3) are cheaper, but Madrid is where the wealth-tax relief and most jobs are.
Safety70.3 (Madrid) · Madrid 7/10
Numbeo Safety Index for the same city (0–100, higher is safer).
Context: Numbeo Safety Index for Madrid, 2026 – safer than most big European cities; Barcelona scores much lower (47.8).
Rule of law & stability78th percentile 7.8/10
World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, Rule of Law percentile rank (0–100). Measures how predictable courts, contracts and property rights are.
Context: World Bank WGI Rule of Law 2025: Spain ranks around the 78th percentile – solid institutions, slow courts, occasional retroactive tax fights.
English in daily life & businessEF EPI 540 5.6/10
EF English Proficiency Index score. Countries where English is an official or everyday business language count as 700.
Context: Spain scores 540 (“moderate”) in the EF EPI 2025. Fine in tech hubs and expat areas, but authorities, notaries and gestorías work in Spanish.
Mobility & long-term optionsNerdy assessment 7/10
What the residence gives you beyond the country: Schengen/EU access, permanent residence and citizenship path, passport strength of a future citizenship, dual citizenship allowed.
Our assessment: EU residence with Schengen access and permanent residence after 5 years, but naturalization needs 10 years (2 for Ibero-Americans and Portuguese) and usually renouncing your old nationality.
Numbers checked October 2026. Click any row for the formula, our reasoning and the source. How the Nerdy Index works
Residency & visa routes.
Digital nomad visa (international telework)
For non-EU remote employees and freelancers working mainly for clients outside Spain (Spanish clients up to 20%): at least €2,849 a month gross in 2026, plus €1,069 for a partner and €357 per child. Degree or 3 years’ experience required. Opens the door to the Beckham regime.
Non-lucrative visa
For non-EU nationals living on savings or passive income without working in Spain: €28,800 a year (400% of IPREM) plus €7,200 per family member. No work allowed – not even remote.
Entrepreneur visa
For innovative business projects with a favourable ENISA report under the Startups Law and Law 14/2013; combines with the 15% startup corporate tax rate and Beckham eligibility.
EU registration
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens register with the foreigners’ registry (certificado de registro) and get an NIE after arriving.
Golden visa (closed)
Abolished on 3 April 2025 by Organic Law 1/2025; existing permits can still be renewed.
Why Spain5
- Beckham regime: 24% flat on work income and most foreign income out of scope for six years
- Digital nomad visa with a direct path into the special regime
- 15% corporate tax for new companies, 19%/21% for micro companies in 2026
- Madrid and Andalusia fully relieve regional wealth tax
- EU, Schengen, fast trains and a quality of life that makes the paperwork bearable
Watch out for5
- Normal rates up to 47%+ once the regime ends – the discount has an expiry date
- Solidarity tax on net wealth above €3 million, launched as temporary, now extended with no end date
- Strict foreign-asset reporting (Modelo 720/721) for regular residents
- Beckham has a hard six-month application deadline, and nobody reminds you
- Citizenship takes 10 years and usually means giving up your old passport
Spain is not a tax haven, and nobody in Madrid pretends otherwise. Top income tax rates pass 47%, several regions still charge wealth tax, and the Agencia Tributaria is one of Europe’s most digital tax offices – it knows about your bank account before you’ve memorized the IBAN. So why is it on our list?
Because Spain also runs one of Europe’s best entry discounts: the Beckham regime. Since the 2023 Startups Law it’s no longer just for footballers and posted executives. Remote workers on the digital nomad visa, certified startup founders and more company directors can use it. For six tax years you pay 24% on work income, and most foreign income stays outside Spanish tax.
This guide covers Spain as of September 2026. General information, not tax or legal advice.
Is it for you?#
Spain is a timing play. Excellent for six years if you come in through the right door. Ordinary afterwards.
Who wins:
- High-earning remote employees. Salary from a foreign employer, the nomad visa, Beckham on top: 24% flat instead of 31–35% on a €100,000 salary, and your foreign portfolio income mostly untaxed in Spain.
- Startup founders. An ENISA-certified startup pays 15% corporate tax for up to four years and gets you into Beckham. Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Málaga have real ecosystems, not just co-working spaces with oat milk.
- Non-EU remote workers who want an EU base. €2,849 a month gets you a residence permit in a big, connected EU country.
- People who plan an exit after year six. If Spain is a chapter, not the whole book, the maths works.
Who loses:
- The owner of a classic profitable company. An agency or e-commerce SL that isn’t “innovative” doesn’t get Beckham through the entrepreneur door. Dividends then cost 19–30% on top of corporate tax.
- The very wealthy outside Madrid and Andalusia. Regional wealth tax plus the national solidarity tax (1.7–3.5% above €3 million, now extended with no end date) add up. “Temporary” taxes rarely stay that way; this one didn’t even pretend for long.
- Golden visa fans. It closed on 3 April 2025.
The company#
Entity types that matter#
- Sociedad Limitada (SL). The standard limited company. Since the 2022 “Crea y Crece” law the minimum capital is €1, although many advisors still recommend €3,000 to avoid extra reserve rules.
- Certified startup (empresa emergente). An SL with an ENISA certificate under the Startups Law: 15% corporate tax for four years, deferral of tax in the first two profitable years, easier stock options.
- Autónomo. Self-employed status without a company. Many freelancers start here; social security is income-based with a reduced flat rate in the first year.
How €100,000 profit is taxed#
In 2026 a company with turnover under €1 million pays 19% on the first €50,000 and 21% above. A newly created company pays 15% in its first two profitable years.
| Step | Micro SL (2026 rates) | New SL (15%) |
|---|---|---|
| Profit | €100,000 | €100,000 |
| Corporate tax | −€20,000 | −€15,000 |
| Available for dividends | €80,000 | €85,000 |
| Savings tax for a resident (19–23% scale) | −€17,280 | −€18,430 |
| Net to you | €62,720 | €66,570 |
Pay the dividend to a non-resident and Spain withholds 19%, usually cut to 5–15% by a treaty.
The Beckham alternative: pay yourself a salary (deductible for the company) and pay 24% flat up to €600,000. Social security applies on salaries, with a capped contribution base – run both versions in the tax calculator.
Setup, costs, banking and substance#
Plan two to four weeks: NIE numbers for foreign shareholders, a name certificate from the Central Mercantile Registry, the bank deposit, the notary deed, tax ID and registration. Each step is simple. Together they are a treasure hunt with stamps. Much of it can be done under a power of attorney.
A gestoría handles bookkeeping, quarterly VAT and tax filings and the annual accounts for roughly €250–350 a month – call it €3,500 a year. The administrator’s social security is extra.
Spanish banks are large and modern; opening a company account with an NIE is routine, usually in person and usually with more paper than the app suggests. For substance, a resident administrator is enough. The bigger risk runs the other way: if you live in Spain and run a foreign company from your kitchen table, Spain will call it Spanish-resident. See place of management.
Living there#
Residency routes compared#
| Route | Who it’s for | Money test (2026) | Beckham? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital nomad visa | Remote employees and freelancers, mostly foreign clients | €2,849/month gross (+€1,069 partner, +€357 per child) | Yes |
| Non-lucrative visa | Savers and passive income | €28,800/year (+€7,200 per dependant) | No (no work allowed) |
| Entrepreneur visa | Innovative projects with ENISA report | Business plan and funds | Yes |
| EU registration | EU/EEA/Swiss citizens | Work, self-employment or means | Yes, if the activity qualifies |
The nomad visa needs a degree or three years of relevant experience, and at least three months with the employer or clients before you apply. Freelancers can have Spanish clients for up to 20% of their work.
The Beckham regime in detail#
- Rates. 24% on work income up to €600,000, 47% above. Spanish dividends, interest and gains at 19–28%. Foreign investment income is generally not taxed in Spain.
- Who qualifies (since 2023). Employees moving for a job or posted by a foreign employer, remote workers on the nomad visa, company directors (with limits for asset-holding companies), entrepreneurs with an innovative activity certified by ENISA, and highly qualified professionals working for startups or in R&D. Spouse and children can join under conditions.
- Conditions. No Spanish tax residency in the previous five years. Apply on Modelo 149 within six months of registering with social security.
- Duration. The year you arrive plus five – six tax years. Wealth tax applies only to Spanish assets during the regime.
Days, region and daily life#
You’re tax resident with more than 183 days in Spain, or if your main business or economic interests are there; a spouse and minor children living in Spain create a presumption. Your region then sets part of your income tax, wealth tax and inheritance tax. Madrid and Andalusia are the most relaxed, and for anyone with serious assets that choice matters more than the beach.
Madrid scores 58.8 on Numbeo’s cost-of-living index (excluding rent) and 70.3 on safety – a big city that feels safe. Valencia and Málaga are cheaper; Barcelona is pricier and rates much lower on safety. Rents in all hot spots have climbed fast.
Public healthcare is strong once you’re registered; private insurance is affordable and required for most visas. Daily life is great: climate, food, high-speed trains, flights everywhere. Administration is not: the online appointment (cita previa) that never has a free slot, apostilles, sworn translations of documents you already translated once. A good gestoría is worth every euro.
The catches#
What can go wrong
01
The six-month Beckham deadline.
Late is out, for the whole six years.
02
Self-employed isn’t automatically Beckham.
Business income only qualifies if your activity is certified as innovative by ENISA. A regular freelance practice usually isn’t.
03
Year seven.
Regime over: worldwide income at normal rates, full wealth tax exposure, and foreign-asset reporting.
04
Modelo 720 and 721.
Regular residents must report foreign accounts, securities and property above €50,000 per category, and crypto held abroad. Penalties have been softened, but the duty stayed.
05
Exit tax both ways.
Leaving Germany with 1%+ of a company can trigger German exit tax – see the exit tax guide. Leaving Spain later with a large portfolio can trigger Spain’s own.
06
Citizenship and passports.
Naturalization takes 10 years for most nationalities and usually means giving up your old passport.
Step by step#
From decision to Spanish resident
Decide which Beckham door you use
Remote employee on the nomad visa, director, or ENISA-certified startup. No door, no Beckham – then compare Spain with Portugal or Cyprus.
Pick the region and city
It changes income, wealth and inheritance tax. Madrid and Andalusia are the usual picks for wealthier movers.
Apply for the visa or register as an EU citizen
Nomad visa from your consulate or inside Spain; EU citizens register and get an NIE.
Register with social security and file Modelo 149
Within six months. Keep the proof, ideally twice.
Set up the SL if you need one
NIE, bank deposit, notary, registry, gestoría. Consider ENISA certification before you incorporate.
Close the old chapter properly
Deregister at home, handle exit tax, and make sure your old company isn’t still managed from where you used to live. Our leaving Germany guide covers the German side.
FAQ#
Can I use Beckham as a freelancer on the nomad visa?
If you’re employed by a foreign company, yes. As a freelancer it depends on whether your activity counts as innovative entrepreneurship; many advisors are cautious. Get a written opinion before relying on it.
Is the non-lucrative visa good for entrepreneurs?
No. It forbids work, including remote work for foreign clients. It’s for people living on savings and passive income.
Do I pay wealth tax under Beckham?
Only on assets located in Spain. Without the regime, residents are taxed on worldwide wealth above the regional exempt amount.
What happens after six years?
You become a normal resident. Many people use the regime years to decide whether to stay on normal rates or move on.
Spain against Portugal, Cyprus or staying put? The Jurisdiction Finder runs the comparison, or get your plan checked in a strategy session before the six-month clock starts. Checked September 2026 – general information, not tax or legal advice.
Sources#
- Agencia Tributaria
- BOE – Law 28/2022 (Startups Law)
- BOE – Organic Law 1/2025
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs – visas
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Spain corporate
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Spain special regime
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Spain wealth and solidarity tax
- Royal Decree-law 8/2023 – solidarity tax extended until the reform of regional financing (BOE)
- Jobbatical – Spain nomad visa income 2026
- Numbeo – Madrid
- World Bank – Worldwide Governance Indicators
Sources & fact check.
Every number on this page comes from one of these. Last checked October 2026. Tax law changes – confirm with a licensed advisor before acting. Nothing here is tax or legal advice.
- Official Agencia Tributaria – Spanish tax agency income tax, Beckham (Modelo 149), Modelo 720 sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es
- Official Ministry of Foreign Affairs – visas nomad and non-lucrative visas exteriores.gob.es
- Law BOE – Law 28/2022 (Startups Law) Beckham changes 2023, startup tax rate, nomad visa boe.es
- Law BOE – Organic Law 1/2025 end of the golden visa boe.es
- Advisor PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Spain corporate 25% CIT, micro and new-company rates taxsummaries.pwc.com
- Advisor PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Spain, special regime Beckham rates and eligibility taxsummaries.pwc.com
- Advisor PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Spain other taxes wealth and solidarity tax taxsummaries.pwc.com
- Index Numbeo – Madrid cost of living and safety cost of living, safety numbeo.com
- Index World Bank – Worldwide Governance Indicators rule of law worldbank.org
- News Jobbatical – Spain digital nomad visa income 2026 €2,849 nomad visa threshold jobbatical.com
Similar to Spain: the closest alternatives.
EU€€€
Italy
Half your work income tax-free for five years, €300,000 flat on foreign income, 7% for pensioners in the south. Fit a regime or pay full price.
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EUEasy residency€€€
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EU base with reachable visas and IFICI: 20% flat for 10 years – if your work qualifies.
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EURemote setup€€€
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1% turnover tax for micro-companies under €100,000, 10% flat income tax and EU living costs from the bargain bin.
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