- SMI 2026: €1,221 gross a month in 14 payments, €40.70 a day, €17,094 a year[1].
- In 12 payments (bonuses spread over the months): €1,424.50 a month. Our calculation: €17,094 divided by 12.
- Increase: +3.1% on 2025, when the SMI was €1,184 a month[1][2].
- Hourly domestic workers: at least €9.55 per hour worked[1].
- For residence permits: income for the digital nomad visa is calculated from the SMI, and contracts for arraigo and employment are checked against it[3][4].
How much the minimum wage is in 2026
| Measure | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Per month, 14 payments | €1,221[1] | €1,184[2] |
| Per day | €40.70[1] | €39.47[2] |
| Per year | €17,094[1] | €16,576[2] |
| Per month, 12 payments (calculation) | €1,424.50 | €1,381.33 |
All amounts are gross, before IRPF income tax and employee contributions. Only cash counts towards the SMI: payment in kind, such as housing, does not reduce the cash amount[1]. What is left after deductions from a given salary is explained in gross and net salary in Spain.
Real Decreto 126/2026 was published in the BOE on 19 February 2026, but the amounts apply from 1 January to 31 December 2026[1]. As of 29 October 2026 there is no official draft for the 2027 SMI.
Part-time, temporary work and domestic workers
- Part-time: the SMI is paid in proportion to the time worked (a prorrata)[1].
- Temporary and seasonal workers for up to 120 days with one employer: at least €57.82 per shift, already including rest days, holidays and the two bonuses[1].
- Domestic workers (empleadas de hogar) paid by the hour: at least €9.55 per hour actually worked, all payments included[1].
Where a regional, local or private agreement uses the SMI as a reference, the 2025 amount still applies in 2026 unless stated otherwise[1].
What the SMI means for foreigners and residence permits
| Permit | How the SMI is used | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Digital nomad visa | Income of 200% of the SMI for the applicant, 75% for the first family member, 25% for each additional one | [4] |
| Employment | For part-time work, total annual pay must be at least the full-time SMI | [3] |
| Private individual as employer | After paying the worker, the employer must keep 50% of the SMI (no dependants) or 100% for a family of two, +25% for each additional member | [3] |
| Arraigo sociolaboral | Contracts at least at the SMI pro rata, totalling 20 hours a week or more | [3] |
| Arraigo socioformativo | Work up to 30 hours a week paid at least at the SMI pro rata | [3] |
For the digital nomad visa the percentages appear only in the UGE document, not in the law or the Regulation[4]. The UGE does not say which monthly base to use. We calculate from the annual SMI divided by 12: 200% gives €2,849 a month for the applicant. Using €1,221 gives €2,442, so show income with a margin. All family thresholds are in income thresholds for residence in 2026, and you can check your income in the digital nomad visa calculator.
SMI and IPREM: do not mix them up
For non-lucrative residence, family reunification, study and arraigo social, thresholds are based on the IPREM, not the SMI[3]. In 2026 the IPREM is €600 a month, €7,200 a year in 12 payments and €8,400 in 14[5]. The amounts have not changed because no 2026 budget was passed and the 2023 budget was extended[5].
| Permit | Threshold | In 2026 (calculation) |
|---|---|---|
| Non-lucrative residence | 400% of the IPREM for the applicant + 100% per family member[3] | €2,400 + €600 a month |
| Family reunification | 150% of the IPREM for a family of two + 50% for each additional member[3] | €900 + €300 a month |
| Study | 100% of the IPREM if accommodation is not prepaid[3] | €600 a month |
| Arraigo social through family ties | 100% of the IPREM[3] | €600 a month |
Minimum contribution base
The employer does not pay Social Security contributions on just any amount: in 2026 the minimum base for groups 4 to 7 is €1,424.40 a month[6]. It almost matches the SMI in 12 payments. The social security number for work is arranged in advance: social security number in Spain.
How we can help
If you are counting on residence through work or the digital nomad visa, the ReloVictory team in Barcelona will check whether your income or contract meets the thresholds and prepare the documents. More: digital nomad visa service, working in Spain, prices: our fees.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Spain in 2026?
What is the minimum wage in 12 payments?
Is the Spanish minimum wage gross or net?
What is the minimum hourly pay for a domestic worker?
What income is needed for the digital nomad visa in 2026?
Official sources
- BOE · Real Decreto 126/2026, minimum wage for 2026, articles 1, 3 and 4 ↗
- BOE · Real Decreto 87/2025, minimum wage for 2025 ↗
- BOE · Immigration Regulation (RD 1155/2024), articles 35, 62, 67, 74, 76, 127 and 131 ↗
- UGE · application for international teleworkers, financial means section ↗
- BOE · Ley 31/2022, additional provision 90: IPREM ↗
- Social Security · 2026 contribution bases and rates ↗
Sources reviewed on 29.10.2026. Consolidated texts and government reference pages are for information only: applying the law depends on official publications, amendments and the specific circumstances. Reviewed by lawyer Francisco Romero Jiménez (ICAB 33641) on 30.10.2026.
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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 29.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.