Why Spain Requires Proof of Self-Employment Status

Spain's Digital Nomad Visa is designed for professionals who work remotely for foreign companies or as freelancers serving international clients. To qualify, you must prove that:

You have an established professional activity outside Spain
Your income comes from foreign sources (at least initially)
You have a track record of self-employment or remote work

The Spanish consulate needs to verify that you're a genuine remote professional, not someone who plans to seek local employment after arrival. This means showing official documentation of your self-employed status in your home country.

For US Freelancers: Required Documents

If you're a US-based freelancer or self-employed professional, here are the documents that Spanish consulates typically accept:

1099-NEC or 1099-MISC Forms

The 1099-NEC (Nonemployee Compensation) or 1099-MISC forms show income you received as an independent contractor:

What they prove: You received payments for freelance/contract work
Who issues them: Your clients (businesses that paid you $600+)
When received: By January 31 for the previous tax year
Best practice: Provide 1099s from the past 2-3 years to show consistency

Schedule SE (Self-Employment Tax)

Schedule SE is the form you file with your tax return to calculate self-employment tax:

What it proves: You reported self-employment income to the IRS
Key sections: Shows net self-employment earnings
Attach with: Your complete Form 1040

Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business)

Schedule C details your business income and expenses:

What it proves: You operate a sole proprietorship or freelance business
Key information: Business type, income, expenses, net profit
Helpful details: Principal business activity and description

Form 1040 with Self-Employment Income

Your complete tax return (Form 1040) ties everything together:

What it proves: Official record of your total income and tax payments
Include: All schedules and attachments
Transcript option: You can also request an IRS Tax Return Transcript

Pro tip: Request your tax transcript from irs.gov — it's an official IRS document that some consulates prefer over copies of filed returns.

For Russian Freelancers: Required Documents

Russian freelancers have several options for proving self-employment status, depending on how they're registered:

EGRIP (Unified State Register of Individual Entrepreneurs)

If you're registered as an Individual Entrepreneur (IP):

EGRIP Extract: Official extract showing your registration
What it proves: Legal registration as self-employed entrepreneur
How to obtain: Order from nalog.ru or visit local FNS office
Validity: Best if dated within 30 days of visa application

Samozanyaty Certificate (Self-Employed Certificate)

If you're registered under the self-employed (samozanyaty) tax regime:

Certificate from Moy Nalog app: Download official certificate showing registration
Income statement: Report showing income earned under the regime
What it proves: Official self-employed status with the Russian tax authority

Tax Declarations

Additional supporting documents:

3-NDFL Declaration: If you've filed as self-employed under regular tax system
2-NDFL Certificate: From any clients who issued payment documents
Bank statements: Showing regular income from freelance work

Apostille and Legalization Requirements

All official documents must be properly legalized for Spanish authorities to accept them:

Apostille Process

For US documents:

Federal documents (IRS): Apostille from US Department of State
State documents: Apostille from the Secretary of State where issued
Processing time: 4-8 weeks for federal, varies by state

For Russian documents:

Apostille from Russian Ministry of Justice
Can be ordered through gosuslugi.ru or in person
Processing time: Typically 5-10 business days

Sworn Translation (Traducción Jurada) Requirements

Documents not in Spanish must be translated by a traductor jurado (sworn translator) officially certified by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

Who can translate: Only MAEC-certified sworn translators
Where to find: List available at exteriores.gob.es
Format: Translation must include translator's stamp and signature
Cost: Typically €30-60 per page depending on complexity

Important: Regular translations or notarized translations are NOT accepted. It must be a traducción jurada.

Common Rejection Reasons and How to Avoid Them

Don't let these issues delay or deny your visa application:

Missing apostille: All official documents need proper legalization — no exceptions
Regular translation instead of sworn: Insist on a traductor jurado certified by MAEC
Outdated documents: Extracts and certificates should be dated within 90 days
Incomplete tax records: Show 2-3 years of history, not just the most recent year
Unclear business activity: Your documents should clearly show freelance/self-employed status
Insufficient income proof: Documents should demonstrate income meeting the SMI threshold
Poor document quality: Ensure copies are clear and legible; certified copies preferred

Best practice: Submit more documentation than you think necessary. It's better to have extra proof than to face a request for additional documents, which delays your application.

Self-Employment Proof for Digital Nomad Visa: Which Documents You Need