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Client reviews

What clients say about getting a Spanish residency permit with us — Digital Nomad, Startup residency permit (the startup visa) and family applications. Every review is published word for word, with the author’s permission.

All reviews

  1. Andrei P.

    Permit approved ·

    • Digital Nomad
    • With family

    Translated from Russian

    I've known Denis for quite a while: three or four years ago I consulted him about getting the startup residency permit. Now it was time to switch from the startup permit to Digital Nomad, and the situation was that the startup conditions had not been met. Everyone I consulted said with one voice that refusals had already started and that, if the conditions weren't met, there was no way to move to Digital Nomad.

    I went to Denis for advice, and he suggested a way to go about it. In short, we did everything as he said, and in the end the permit was approved for the whole family. Thank you so much! To be honest, it was a very, very pleasant surprise, because I was expecting a refusal.

    Case studySwitching from the startup permit to Digital Nomad when the startup conditions were not met: a family of four, stages and timing
    When they filed
    a few days before the old cards expired, all four on the same day
    Main applicant's decision
    ~1 month after filing
    Family members' decisions
    ~2.5 months after filing

    1. ~1 year before the old cards expired

      Why not renew the startup permit

      A family of four held a startup permit that was coming to an end. The startup conditions had not been met, so renewing on that route looked unrealistic. We discussed Digital Nomad with the client as a possible alternative and gave him the list of documents to start with.

      The people the client asked said refusals had already started and that switching to Digital Nomad in this situation was impossible. There was little experience to lean on.

    2. ~2 months before the old cards expired

      Assessing the situation and choosing the approach

      We looked at the family's specific situation and proposed an approach: rather than renewing the startup permit, file a new Digital Nomad application while the old cards were still valid, with an explanatory letter about the previous startup permit. We made clear there were no guarantees and the outcome depended on how the application was assessed. The client weighed it up and decided to file a few weeks later.

      It meant deciding to file while everyone expected a refusal, with a short window before the old cards expired.

    3. ~4 weeks before filing

      Gathering documents

      The client uploaded documents to a shared folder and we checked the set as it came in: the contract, proof of work and income, an apostilled diploma, and family documents for all four. We organised the translations and the explanatory letter.

      Some documents had to be obtained and apostilled separately, which takes time. Every deadline was tied to the date the old cards expired.

    4. ~2–3 weeks before filing to the day before

      Forms, sworn translations, fees

      We prepared the forms for the main applicant and three family members and sent them to the client with signing instructions. The signed forms came back within a few days. The documents for sworn translation went out as one batch, the translations were ready in time, and the fees for all four were paid by filing day.

      Before filing we had to wait for the sworn translations, with little time to spare.

    5. A few days before the old cards expired

      Filing for all four

      We checked the set was complete and filed four applications online in one evening: the main applicant and three family members. The client received the filing receipts the same evening. The applications went in before the old cards expired.

      The filing fell in the last days of the old cards' validity.

    6. The first month after filing

      Requests from the UGE

      The UGE twice asked for additional documents proving income; the replies went in within 1–2 days.

      About two weeks were allowed for a reply, but we answered at once so as not to slow the review down.

    7. ~1 month after filing

      The main applicant's decision

      The positive decision for the main applicant came about a month after filing, a couple of days after the last reply. The family members' decisions had not come yet: at the time they were arriving later than the main applicant's.

      Waiting for the family's decisions with the main applicant already approved.

    8. ~2.5 months after filing

      Approval for the whole family

      Positive decisions for all the family members came about 2.5 months after filing, and we forwarded them to the client. Together with the main applicant's, that means Digital Nomad was approved for all four. The next step is booking fingerprint appointments for the TIE cards, one for each person.

      Each person needs their own fingerprint appointment, and free slots are scarce.

    We keep clients' information confidential and always ask permission before publishing. The client has approved publishing this general description of the case.

    • Changing permit type
    • Risks flagged in advance
    • Family application

  2. Lilia

    Permit approved ·

    • Digital Nomad
    • With family
    • Renewal

    Translated from Russian

    AI voice dub from Russian

    Hi! My name is Lilia, I've been living in Barcelona for three years, and I recently renewed my Digital Nomad visa. I didn't want to dig into the new rules or work out which documents were needed — I simply had no time for it, because I'm also a mum — so I turned to Denis, and everything went very quickly, simply and, most importantly, calmly.

    I didn't have to figure out any bureaucratic rules or details. I just sent Denis the documents he asked for, and two weeks later I got the visa approval. I really value my time and I'm glad I turned to Denis.

    Case studyRenewing the Digital Nomad residency permit for a family: income from the tax return and decision times
    Renewal filing
    ~1.5 months before expiry, all three on the same day
    Main applicant's decision
    ~3 weeks after filing
    Family members' decisions
    ~10 weeks after filing

    1. ~3 months before expiry

      Planning the renewal

      The first permit, three years earlier, had been approved in ~3.5 weeks, and the client got in touch about the renewal well ahead. The main question was timing: file early so the decision would arrive before expiry. We discussed how an early filing affects the dates of the new permit and decided to file early. The work arrangement had not changed, so some of the earlier documents could be reused.

      The filing moment had to be chosen early enough for the decision to arrive before expiry.

    2. ~1.5 months before expiry

      Gathering documents under the new list

      The client uploaded the documents to a shared folder, and we checked the set as it came in. By then the renewal list had been updated: tax returns were now required. The earlier contract and sworn translations still worked, so no new sworn translation was needed. We prepared the forms and the covering statements.

      The document list had changed, so some items had to be requested additionally, including scans of passports and cards for all three.

    3. ~1.5 months before expiry

      Income from the tax return and an explanatory letter

      For a family of three the income threshold is higher than for a single applicant, and it is compared with the income declared in the tax return for each year. We checked this against the last two returns: in both years the declared income was above the required threshold. A short explanatory letter went with the return, showing the calculation and asking that, if further proof were needed, the applicant first be given the chance to provide it (subsanación) rather than be refused outright. A letter from the company was filed with it. Nothing superfluous was added to the set.

      The family threshold calculation had to be presented carefully.

    4. Filing day

      Signing the forms and filing for all three

      The forms for the main applicant and the two family members were generated the day before filing. The client printed them, signed by hand and sent back the scans. We filed all three applications online in one evening, having explained beforehand: expect about 4 weeks, and a delay usually just means waiting, not questions about the application.

    5. ~3 weeks after filing

      The main applicant is approved

      The positive decision for the main applicant came ~3 weeks after filing. The family members' decisions had not come yet, and we let the client know they would follow later.

    6. Weeks 4–10

      Waiting for the family's decisions

      The family members' decisions came noticeably later than the main applicant's. About 5 weeks after filing we sent the UGE a reminder asking it to decide the family applications, since the main applicant's had already been decided. The applications were filed before the permits expired, and a filing like that extends their validity until the decision, so the wait did not affect the family's status.

      A long wait, even though the main applicant's decision was already in.

    7. During the wait

      Booking the card (TIE) appointments

      Each family member needs a separate fingerprint appointment, and free slots are scarce. The client watched for openings and booked as soon as they appeared. Some of the appointments were secured even before the family's decisions came.

      Slots are scarce, and each family member has to be booked separately.

    8. ~10 weeks after filing

      The family members' decisions

      Positive decisions for both family members came about 10 weeks after filing, and we forwarded them to the client straight away. We prepared the MI-TIE forms for the cards at the client's request. The renewal was approved for all three.

    We keep clients' information confidential and always ask permission before publishing. The client has approved publishing this general description of the case.

    • Renewal
    • Family application
    • Document preparation

  3. Oleg T.

    Permit approved ·

    • Digital Nomad
    • With family
    • Renewal

    Translated from Russian

    I came to Denis on friends' recommendation back in 2023, when I was only planning to apply for the Digital Nomad residency permit in Spain. My situation was unusual — the employer, and documents from several countries. We had to sort out proof of work experience, income and social security. Denis helped me discuss the filing options and explained the risks and the requirements for the documents. We prepared the set, filed the applications and got approvals for me and my wife.

    After our son was born I came to Denis again. He helped prepare and file the documents for the child's residency permit, and our son was approved too. Between the main applications we kept in touch: I asked about documents, getting the cards and the next steps in Spain.

    In 2026 it was time to renew for the whole family. The requirements had changed over the years, so we went through my specific set again. The sworn translation check stuck with me: Denis noticed that a sentence about the employer's social security contributions had been translated as if the employee paid them. The mistake changed the meaning of the document, and we fixed it before filing. Things like that show the value of a check by someone who knows what to look for.

    My approval came in about a month, and the family's decisions took a little over two months from filing. The wait made me nervous. It helped that I could ask Denis how other cases were moving, what was going on with the delays and what to expect next. In the end, the renewal was approved for all three of us.

    Over these years it mattered to me to have someone I could discuss my situation with, who would check the documents and help me work out the next steps. Denis, thank you for helping me and my family!

    Case studyRenewing the Digital Nomad residency permit for a family with a child: timing and the sworn-translation check
    First permit (main applicant and spouse)
    approved ~3 weeks after filing
    Renewal: filing and the main applicant's decision
    filed on the first day of the 60-day window, approved ~4 weeks later
    Requerimiento (request for more documents)
    none, on any application

    1. About 4 months before the first filing

      Choosing how to apply

      The situation was unusual: we had to decide which contract with the employer to build the application on. We went through the options and chose the one where every document tells the same story and is clear to the UGE. The contract has to be more than 3 months old, so filing was timed for when that condition was met.

      The basis of the application had to be chosen so that all the documents agreed with each other.

    2. 2–3 months before the first filing

      Experience, income and social security

      The client gathered three groups of proof, and we checked the set. Experience: a CV and an employment-record extract. Income: payslips and a bank statement with the salary payments highlighted, so the examiner wouldn't have to look for them. Insurance: a policy arranged through an agent so it met the requirements. For the larger documents the client ordered sworn translation (an official translation certified by a translator appointed in Spain) and prepared criminal record certificates.

      The portal's requirements were updated during preparation, so the filing date was chosen with the contract's age and the document set in mind.

    3. About 1 month before the first filing

      Proving social security coverage

      The hardest part was proving that the employee stays covered by social security. The local offices first said they were not supposed to issue such a certificate. We explained on what basis it is issued and which employer document is needed for it. The employer prepared that document, the certificate was issued, and the sworn translation was ready within a few days.

      The certificate wasn't issued on a standard request until the supporting employer document was ready.

    4. First filing and decision

      Filing and the first permit

      By filing day the client was already in Spain, with the entry stamp in his passport. On the morning of filing we checked the originals and uploaded the remaining documents within minutes. The applications for the main applicant and his spouse were filed the same day. The decision came ~3 weeks after filing and was positive for both, with no requerimiento.

      The documents were in a shared folder, so each set was checked by hand before upload.

    5. After our son was born

      A permit for the child

      First we clarified the procedure: a child is not added automatically to an existing permit; a separate application is filed as a family member, with its own decision. The set included the birth certificate, passport, insurance policy and proof of the main applicant's income for the last 3 months. We noticed the insurance was missing the policy terms and proof of payment, and the client quickly added them. The application was filed and approved ~3 weeks later, again with no requerimiento.

      The child's passport was needed to file, so the set was put together as soon as it was ready.

    6. A few months before expiry

      Preparing the family renewal

      The renewal is filed in the 60-day window, which opens 60 days before the permit expires. The requirements had changed over the years, so the set was reviewed from scratch. During preparation the official list was updated: the last two years' tax returns were added and the employer letter stopped being mandatory. We gathered the documents in one folder in advance and checked them against the current list: the contract, the social security proof and the tax returns, plus a certificate of no tax debt as extra support.

      The document list changed during preparation: some of what had been gathered was no longer needed, and some had to be added.

    7. About 1 week before the renewal filing

      A sworn-translation error caught before filing

      The client sent us the sworn translation of the social security certificate for checking before the translator certified it. We found an error that changed the meaning: the sentence saying the employer keeps paying the contributions read as if the employee paid them. For a document the UGE checks especially closely, that difference matters. The translator corrected the text before certifying it, and we checked the final version against the original again.

      The translation was formally ready but distorted the meaning of the key document. You only notice that by reading the Spanish text next to the original.

    8. On the first day of the 60-day window and after

      Renewal filed and approved for all three

      The signed forms for the main applicant, his spouse and their son came back early, and all three applications were filed on the first day of the window. No requerimiento came for any of them. The main applicant's decision came ~4 weeks later. The family members' decisions came a little over two months later: family applications are usually decided after the main one, and we had warned about this in advance. In the end the renewal was approved for all three.

    We keep clients' information confidential and always ask permission before publishing. The client has approved publishing this general description of the case.

    • Risks flagged in advance
    • Document preparation
    • Family application
    • Renewal

  4. Aleksei Travkin

    Permit approved ·

    • Digital Nomad
    • With family

    Translated from Russian

    I came to them for support with several Spanish residence permit cases and was very happy with both the result and the process.

    What I liked most was how comfortable it was to get advice while preparing the documents: every question was worked through in detail, possible risks were flagged in advance, and the recommendations were clear and specific.

    A big plus is having trusted contacts for translations, documents and other related tasks. I went to the recommended specialists and everything went perfectly: I didn't have to look for anyone on my own.

    I'd also single out the modern digital approach: the documents are neatly organised, the process is transparent, and communication is quick, informal and in plain language. In the end, even complicated bureaucracy felt quite manageable.

    Nothing but positive impressions. I recommend them without hesitation!

    Case studyDigital Nomad residency permit for the whole family: how long preparation and the UGE decision took
    From the decision to apply to filing
    about 1.5 months
    UGE decision for the main applicant
    ~3.5 weeks after filing
    Requerimiento (request for documents)
    none; all applicants approved

    1. Preparation

      Decision and gathering documents

      Once the decision to apply was made, we drew up the document list. The client gathered the documents; we answered questions and checked them along the way.

    2. 5 days before filing

      Checking the set

      The client uploaded the documents to a shared folder; the same day we checked them and sent the list of what was still needed.

      Time was short, so stages ran in parallel: while one thing was being checked, the next was already being prepared.

    3. 3 days before filing

      Sworn translation

      When the last document arrived, we put together the set for the sworn translator. We did the other translations ourselves.

      Sworn translation is the slowest step, so the set went to the translator as soon as the last document arrived, as an express order — it was ready in 3 days.

    4. 1–3 days before filing

      Forms for signature

      We prepared the forms for the main applicant and the family members, and the client signed them.

      We check printed forms before filing: here some fields hadn't printed, so the forms were reprinted following our instructions.

    5. Filing

      Filed all applications

      On the day the sworn translations arrived, we paid the government fee and filed the applications online.

    6. About 3.5 weeks after filing

      Main applicant approved

      A positive decision, with no request for more documents.

    7. About 2 months after filing

      Family members approved

      The family members' decisions came later than the main applicant's — the applications fell into the UGE's August holidays. Also positive.

    We keep clients' information confidential and always ask permission before publishing. The client has approved publishing this general description of the case.

    • Document preparation
    • Risks flagged in advance
    • Translations and trusted contacts
    • Family application

  5. Alexey D.

    Permit approved ·

    • Startup
    • Digital Nomad
    • With family

    Translated from Russian

    Hi everyone. I wanted to share my experience of our well-known Denis, who for several years now has been very actively, sparing no effort, helping people get the startup visa and the nomad residency.

    My experience with him is quite extensive by now: in 2023 we did the startup visa with him — it took a very long time, it was hard, with lots of different changes from ENISA and the UGE. But, thank God, it all ended well, though not without adventures. And this year we also applied for the nomad visa, and that went successfully too.

    You always feel like asking questions now and then, doing something else, but really the main thing is to listen to Denis, because he really knows what he's doing, better than anyone… well, one of the best. And I think he'll get you the best result you can get.

    Case studySpain's startup residency permit: a refusal without the ENISA report, an appeal and approval, then a family Digital Nomad permit
    Startup permit 2023: filing to approval
    ~6.5 months, including the appeal
    Startup permit 2023: the family's permits
    ~2.5 weeks from filing to approval
    Digital Nomad 2026: all three
    ~2 months from filing to approval

    1. 2023, week 1

      Filing for the startup permit

      We prepared the set of documents and filed the main applicant's application online. ENISA's report on the project is a required part of the assessment. The family members' applications were filed later, after the main applicant's decision.

    2. ~3.5 months after filing

      First decision: a refusal without the ENISA report

      The UGE refused because there was no ENISA report by then. The reason was not the project itself: ENISA was not managing to issue the required reports at the time. Along the way the UGE also changed the procedure: the project assessment had to be requested through ENISA's website, and a refusal could be reviewed once the report was obtained.

      The decision hinged on a document whose timing neither we nor the client controlled, and the way to request it changed after filing.

    3. ~4 months after filing

      A favourable ENISA report and a recurso de alzada

      About a week and a half after the refusal, ENISA issued a favourable report. A week later we filed a recurso de alzada (an administrative appeal against the refusal), citing the report, the processing times and the fact that the UGE itself had set the procedure for requesting the ENISA assessment, and asked for the decision to be reviewed.

    4. ~6.5 months after filing

      The main applicant is approved

      The UGE issued a positive decision for the main applicant, ~3 months after the refusal. The permit was granted for three years.

    5. ~7 weeks after approval

      The family's applications and a request for documents

      We filed the family members' applications. About 10 days later a requerimiento (a request for documents) arrived: to prove that the main applicant was registered as self-employed with social security. He registered, the reply went in within a few days, and the family was approved ~2.5 weeks after filing.

      The UGE asked for proof of self-employment after filing, with only 10 days to reply.

    6. ~5 months before filing in 2026

      Choosing the route and preparing the Digital Nomad set

      The startup permit was coming to an end. A new startup would have meant a new business plan and a new ENISA assessment, so the family chose Digital Nomad: the wife became the main applicant, and her husband and child applied as family members. We gathered proof of work and regular income, apostilled documents and sworn translations; some of the family's earlier documents with sworn translations were reused. Income was calculated against the threshold for a family of three, and an explanatory letter about the previous permit went into the set.

      The filing had to be timed for when every condition was met: the self-employment period, documented income, and documents with a paper apostille that an electronic one could not replace.

    7. The first ~5 weeks after filing

      Filing for all three and a silencio positivo request

      The three applications were filed online on the same day, while the startup permits were still valid. There was no decision within the statutory 20 working days, and UGE delays were common at the time. A little over 4 weeks after filing we sent three silencio administrativo positivo requests — a formal request to treat an application as approved because the administration has not answered.

      The decision was late beyond the statutory deadline.

    8. ~2 months after filing

      Approval for all three and help with the TIE

      Approvals for all three came on the same day. We then helped with the card form (MI-TIE) and the fee: they had to be marked "inicial", even though this was a second permit, because that is what the decision said. The client found a fingerprint appointment the next day.

    We keep clients' information confidential and always ask permission before publishing. The client has approved publishing this general description of the case.

    • Changing permit type
    • Family application
    • Requerimiento answered

  6. Andrey S.

    Permit approved ·

    • Startup
    • Renewal

    Translated from Russian

    We were lucky to work with Denis on two renewals of our startup permit. The first renewal was a particularly hard case, because our original business plan had been approved by the Ministry of Industry back in 2022 (before ENISA existed). In fact, over two years of developing our startup, a different project took off — one we had mentioned in just a couple of words in the original business plan.

    So it was a difficult task to write a business plan for the new project, explain the change of priority to the new direction properly, and make a reasoned case to ENISA for our startup's innovativeness. Denis handled all of it brilliantly. Everything was clear and thorough; you could feel that he knows the subject and has vast practical experience with ENISA. It mattered to me that Denis comes from IT himself — we were on the same wave in our discussions about the project's innovativeness.

    In fact, the ENISA form had to be rewritten almost entirely, but after a few reviews from Denis it was ready. Denis was always reachable, reassured us at the right moments, kept a close eye on the process and answered the requests for documents promptly. As a result, we got our first renewal approved literally within a month of filing.

    The second renewal was just a formality — by then I had no doubt it would succeed. We're now heading for permanent residence, but if we had to do it all again, it would definitely be Denis! I can confidently recommend him to everyone.

    Case studyRenewing a startup residency permit in Spain: a change of project, a new business plan and two renewals — timing
    First renewal (2024): filing to decision
    ~6 weeks
    Second renewal (2026): filing to decision
    ~2 months (ENISA report and UGE decision)
    What had changed by the first renewal
    a different project had become the main one, so a new business plan was needed

    1. 2022

      The first permit

      The startup residency permit was granted in 2022. According to the client, the original business plan was approved by the Ministry of Industry, before the ENISA stage existed.

    2. 2024, preparation

      A new business plan for the renewal

      Over two years a different project had become the main one. For the renewal a new business plan was written, showing what the company does now and explaining why the priority had changed.

      The change of priority had to be explained coherently.

    3. 2024, preparation

      The ENISA form, rewritten almost entirely

      The text for ENISA went through several review rounds and in the end was rewritten almost completely. The main emphasis was on the new project's innovativeness.

      ENISA had to be convinced of the project's innovativeness.

    4. 2024, filing

      Filing the renewal and answering the UGE's request

      The applications were filed online with the UGE on the same day. The UGE sent a request; the reply went in quickly.

    5. ~6 weeks after filing, 2024

      The first renewal is approved

      A favourable ENISA report came in, followed by a positive UGE decision, about 6 weeks after filing.

    6. 2026, preparation and filing

      Second renewal: preparation and filing

      Preparation started a few months before the cards expired. The client updated the ENISA text himself — what had changed in two years and how the company was developing. We reviewed it, made small edits and filed it with the other documents about two months before the cards expired.

    7. ~2 months after filing, 2026

      The second renewal is approved

      The UGE and ENISA took about two months. The cards expired during the review: the application had been filed before they did, so the permit stayed valid while it was being decided. The favourable ENISA report and the positive UGE decisions arrived on the same day.

      The decisions were still pending after the cards' expiry date, which added to the nerves.

    We keep clients' information confidential and always ask permission before publishing. The client has approved publishing this general description of the case.

    • Business plan and ENISA
    • Renewal
    • Requerimiento answered

  7. Andrey G.

    Permit approved ·

    • Startup
    • With family
    • Renewal

    Translated from Russian

    Denis helped me with the startup residence permit twice: three years ago with getting it and this year with renewing it. Both times everything went smoothly, with no requests for extra documents.

    What I value most in Denis’s experience is how he reviewed the business plan. He pointed out what ENISA looks at first and what it most often picks on, and suggested what to fix and how.

    We filed the renewal at the very start of the 60-day window, and the approval took effect from the expiry date of the first permit — seamlessly. Recommended!

    Case studySpain startup visa: getting the Startup residency permit and renewing it 3 years later — timeline
    First permit: filing to decision
    ~9–10 weeks
    Renewal: filing to decision
    ~8 weeks (ENISA assessment and UGE decision)
    Requerimiento (request for more documents)
    none, either time

    1. 3 years ago

      First application

      The client uploaded the documents; we put together the final set and prepared the business plan for ENISA together with the client. The applications for the main applicant and family members were filed online with the UGE.

    2. About 9–10 weeks after filing

      First permit approved

      The UGE admitted the application, ENISA gave a positive assessment of the project, and then the decision came. On the day of the decision the client booked the appointment for the foreigner's identity card (TIE).

    3. About 9 months before the 60-day window opened

      Planning the renewal

      We held a consultation, discussed the options and checked the current requirements. The choice was to renew the startup residency permit.

    4. About 6 weeks before the window opened

      Gathering and checking documents

      The client gathered the documents; we checked them as they came in and kept a list of what was still needed.

    5. From about 3 weeks before the window to its 2nd week

      Business plan revisions

      We reviewed the business plan, made revisions together with the client and agreed the final version.

    6. Day 6 of the 60-day window

      Renewal filed

      The 60-day window is the last 60 days before the permit expires, when the renewal can be filed. We sent the forms for signature, the client returned them the same evening, and we filed the applications for the main applicant and the family member with the UGE — on day 6 of the window, about 8 weeks before the first permit expired.

    7. 2–3 weeks after filing

      Business plan to ENISA, procedure started

      We attached the business plan to the application after filing: ENISA (the agency that assesses the project) reads it when the UGE asks for its assessment. The UGE then confirmed the procedure had started; the processing time is paused while ENISA prepares its assessment.

    8. About 8 weeks after filing

      Renewal approved

      A positive ENISA assessment came, and the next day a positive UGE decision. The application was filed within the 60-day window, so the status was never interrupted.

    We keep clients' information confidential and always ask permission before publishing. The client has approved publishing this general description of the case.

    • Business plan and ENISA
    • Risks flagged in advance
    • Renewal

  8. Dmitry R.

    Permit approved ·

    • Digital Nomad
    • With family
    • Renewal

    Translated from Russian

    I recommend you everywhere — and I've probably sent you a couple of clients. When people ask me, I tell them working with you is as comfortable as it gets.

    When we applied for the residency permit the first time, I didn't understand a thing. You told me where to go in my city and which documents and translations were really needed and which weren't — the information out there is all over the place.

    A week before filing, new documents became mandatory. We did everything very quickly, with no requests for extra documents — that felt great. Everything went perfectly.

    Things changed with the renewal, and here's what I want to point out: friends of mine were recently refused a renewal — they registered as self-employed too late. They didn't know that the renewal can go through by default. If I hadn't known either, I'd have waited until the last moment and probably got some scary requests for documents.

    What I really like is that you know absolutely everything: what workarounds exist and what can be done. That's very valuable. You can of course do it all yourself, but then you don't know how things work in Spain or what the nuances are. And in stressful moments you can calm me down and tell me it's nothing.

    On the first application I was told one document absolutely needed an apostille, and you said it didn't. We did as you said — and got approved. In effect, you saved me real money.

    Other people I've talked to charge two or three times more and know less. So when people ask me, I give them your contact straight away. I hope we'll work together again when we apply for long-term residence. Thank you so much!

    Case studyRenewing the Digital Nomad residency permit for 2 years: the 60-day window, silencio positivo and timing
    First permit
    approved ~3.5 weeks after filing
    Requerimiento (request for more documents)
    none, either time
    2-year renewal
    approved ~6 weeks after filing

    1. More than 3 years ago

      Gathering documents

      We gave the document checklist for the main applicant and the family member and prepared the forms and powers of attorney for signature. The client gathered the documents; we checked each one and asked to replace those that didn't fit — a more recent bank statement, for example.

    2. About 1 week before filing

      New portal requirements and translations

      The UGE portal updated its requirements a week before filing: a separate 3-month bank statement and sworn translations of some documents. We follow such changes — we rebuilt the set, and the translations were ready on filing day. In this case the diploma did not need an apostille — it was filed with a sworn translation.

    3. Filing day

      Filing the applications

      By filing day the client was already in Spain; we had checked the entry stamp in the passport in advance. We checked the uploaded documents and filed the applications for the main applicant and the family member online with the UGE. The filing receipts came the same day.

    4. About 3.5 weeks after filing

      First permit approved

      A positive decision for both applicants, with no requerimiento.

    5. About 3.5 months before expiry

      Starting the renewal

      We explained the procedure: the 60-day window is the last 60 days before expiry, when the renewal can be filed; filing within it keeps the right to stay in Spain while the application is decided. We prepared the forms for signature, the client returned them, and the other documents were gathered in parallel.

    6. About 5 days after the 60-day window opened

      Renewal filed

      We filed the renewal for the main applicant and the family member about 8 weeks before expiry.

      One of the documents took longer than the rest: the application was filed within the window and the document was added after filing.

    7. About 4.5 weeks after filing

      20 working days passed: silencio positivo request

      If the UGE does not decide within 20 working days, the renewal is by law deemed granted (silencio positivo). The deadline passed with no answer, so we filed a request to have silencio positivo recognised, which puts it on record.

    8. About 6 weeks after filing

      Renewal approved

      About 1.5 weeks after the request a positive decision came for both applicants, with no requerimiento — about 2 weeks before the old permit expired. The permit was renewed for 2 years.

    We keep clients' information confidential and always ask permission before publishing. The client has approved publishing this general description of the case.

    • Document preparation
    • Risks flagged in advance
    • Renewal
    • Quick replies

  9. Sema M.

    Permit approved ·

    • Digital Nomad
    • With family

    Translated from Russian

    Overall, the experience was very positive and successful.

    From the very start of our communication I liked the approach: everything was laid out clearly, and all the individual nuances of our particular case were highlighted. And overall, the honesty and openness of the approach is very appealing. That transparency is only a plus.

    I liked straight away that after the first discussions we immediately had a plan of what needed to be prepared. That makes it much easier to see which documents you still need to collect and which are ready. Everything was shared easily and conveniently through Google Drive. That's also a big plus, I think. Because when you have a plan, it's much easier to find your way around in general and to build some kind of timeline.

    The filing of the documents — everything here was top-notch. And I want to mention separately the help with the requests for additional documents, because, again, our individual case was worked through, everything was prepared, and it all ended successfully. Thank you very much for that.

    And I also want to mention separately your guides, because at first, when you've only just got the approval and maybe don't quite know what to do next, these guides helped a lot. First, they helped us prepare even before the move, to understand straight away what was likely to come later. And then the overall picture of how things work here.

    So thank you very much, and of course I can easily recommend you.

    • Requerimiento answered
    • Document preparation
    • Digital, transparent process

  10. Anatoly M.

    Permit approved ·

    • Digital Nomad

    Translated from Russian

    I had a startup visa in Spain and was registered as autónomo. With the help of Denis and his team I was able to switch to the nomad visa. They helped me prepare quite a large number of documents. I probably could have done them myself, but it would have taken much longer, and there would have been no guarantee that I had done everything right.

    They are not cheap, but everything was done quickly, precisely and competently. I hardly had to think about anything — just follow the template and the protocol they gave me. In the end the switch went quite calmly and without any problems.

    I don't know how much that depended on my particular set of documents and situation, but in my view Denis and his team did a professional job.

    Case studySwitching from the startup visa to the Digital Nomad residency permit in Spain: stages and timing
    From filing to decision
    ~3 weeks
    Decision vs. the old card's expiry
    came ~10 days before it expired
    From first contact to card in hand
    just over 4.5 months

    1. Week 1

      Why change route

      The startup residence card had about 4 months left. The client already lived in Spain, was registered as autónomo and decided to switch to the Digital Nomad permit. We started from the date by which a decision should ideally arrive and worked the filing date back from it.

      The aim was to have the decision before the old card expired, so the filing had to be planned ahead.

    2. Weeks 1–2

      Choosing the Digital Nomad route

      Moving from the startup permit to Digital Nomad is filed as a separate new application with its own set of documents. The client got the general checklist and a personal list of what to gather. The target filing date was set about two months before the old card expired.

    3. Weeks 2–13

      The document list and the protocol

      The client gathered the documents from the list, and we checked the set as it came in. It included the contract, the company's letter allowing remote work from Spain, a bank statement, an apostilled diploma, a CV, proof of autónomo registration and the company documents. We prepared the Spanish versions of the letters and other documents; the client only had to follow the protocol.

      Some documents came from abroad, and an apostille plus delivery takes weeks. The filing was first planned about a month earlier: gathering the set took longer.

    4. Week 13

      Forms, translations, fee

      We prepared the forms and sent them to the client with a signing protocol: what to print, where and how to sign, how to scan. The client returned the signed forms the same evening. The documents for sworn translation went out as one batch, the translations arrived within 1–2 days, and the fee was paid before filing.

      The only thing left before filing was to wait for the sworn translations.

    5. Week 14, ~5 weeks before the old card expired

      Filing

      With the set complete, the application went in through the online portal the same day the translations arrived. The client was told to expect about four weeks.

    6. Week 17, ~3 weeks after filing

      The decision and the fingerprint appointment

      The decision was positive. It came earlier than the four weeks we had mentioned and ~10 days before the old card expired. The same day we sent the TIE instructions and a list of what to bring to the fingerprint appointment. Free slots for the following week turned up in another province, and the client booked almost at once.

      Few fingerprint slots were left, so the booking had to be made right away.

    7. Week 21, ~4 weeks after the decision

      Card in hand

      About 3.5 weeks after the decision the card was ready. It is handed out by appointment only, and the nearest free date was just over a week away. We suggested watching for freed-up slots, and the client got the card a few days earlier. The switch from startup residence to Digital Nomad was complete.

      The card is handed out by appointment only, and the nearest date was over a week after it was ready.

    We keep clients' information confidential and always ask permission before publishing. The client has approved publishing this general description of the case.

    • Changing permit type
    • Document preparation

How we collect reviews

All reviews come from clients whose cases we handled. We publish them word for word with the author’s permission; translations into other languages and the highlighted phrases are ours. We do not pay for reviews or give discounts for them.

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