Do you need a degree for the DNV? Degree or three years of experience

Do you need a degree for the digital nomad visa?

No, it is not mandatory. Article 74 bis Ley 14/2013 states the condition with an “or”: the applicant must be a graduate or postgraduate of a university, of vocational training (formación profesional) or of a business school, or have at least three years of professional experience [1]. The Spanish Consulate in Moscow puts it the same way: attach a copy of the degree or documents proving at least three years of experience [3].

If your degree is in a different field, the law lets you rely on experience. If your degree is related to the position, you do not need to prove experience. Which of the two forms of proof is weaker in terms of documents is decided before you apply: for a degree it is the apostille and translation, for experience it is company letters with dates and functions.

Which degree qualifies for the digital nomad visa?

The law describes universities, vocational training and business schools as “de reconocido prestigio”, of recognised standing [1]. The law does not define this wording, and we found no list of institutions either in the UGE guide or on the consulate’s page. The UGE document list states that you need a copy of a qualification related to performing the job (grado or postgrado, FP, business school) [2]. Whether a particular school or online programme qualifies depends on the case and cannot be confirmed in advance.

The Moscow consulate adds two clarifications. The experience must be comparable to the qualification needed for the remote work for which the permit is issued. And if there is doubt about whether a vocational training qualification is equivalent to a Spanish one, its recognition (convalidación) by the Spanish education authorities may be required [4]. If you have neither a degree nor three years of experience, the condition in Article 74 bis is not met and you cannot get the DNV.

For comparison with neighbouring permits under the same law: the EU Blue Card requires higher education lasting at least three years (level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework) or five years of experience, and for IT professionals and managers three years of experience within the last seven. The national permit for highly qualified professionals requires MECES level 1 or three years of experience[1]. The digital nomad visa sets a lower bar: article 74 bis names no degree level, and it does not say over what period the three years of experience are counted[1]. More on that route: residence for highly qualified professionals and the EU Blue Card.

How to prove experience instead of a degree?

At least three years of experience in functions similar to the position you are applying for is enough [2]. The UGE gives two ways to prove it.

If your country has no such certificate or getting one would take too long, the UGE accepts letters from companies. They must state the specific functions and tasks that show the work has to be done by someone with education at level 1 or 2 of the Spanish MECES framework [2]. The document does not say what counts as the “equivalent of a vida laboral” for Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan or Ukraine.

How to gather proof of three years' experience: step by step

The UGE list says what the documents must contain but does not set the order in which to gather them. The sequence below follows from its requirements[2].

• Count only experience in functions similar to the job you will do. UGE accepts experience «en funciones análogas al puesto», not any work record[2].
• Get an official record of your employment history: a vida laboral or its equivalent issued by the competent authority of your country. It must show how long you worked and match the company certificates[2].
• Ask each employer for a certificate with start and end dates and a sufficiently detailed description of your functions. The list refers to company certificates in the plural, so the three years can be made up of several jobs[2].
• Show that the activity was real: at the very least through a current registration in your country's own system (alta vigente en sistema propio del país)[2].
• If your country issues a certificado de profesionalidad, it can replace the pair of employment record and certificates. If no such certificate exists or it takes too long to obtain, the company letters must spell out specific functions and tasks[2].
• Check the level of the tasks. UGE expects work that calls for education at MECES level 1 or 2. In the Spanish framework level 1 is Técnico Superior, higher vocational education, and level 2 is Grado, a bachelor's degree; they correspond to levels 5 and 6 of the European Qualifications Framework[6].
• Put an apostille or legalisation on public documents and have everything not written in Spanish translated by a sworn translator[2].

If you worked as a freelancer or a sole trader, the UGE list has no separate procedure for that. The requirements are the same: a record of the period of activity from an authority in your country, letters from client companies with dates and functions, and proof of registration[2]. Contracts and acceptance reports can be added, but the list does not mention them.

A CV supports the picture but does not replace the certificates: UGE asks for it separately and accepts a plain translation[2]. If a document does not match the list word for word, add a cover letter; UGE itself recommends this[2]. The letter from your current employer about remote work is a different document, covered in what to put in the employer letter for the digital nomad visa.

What to do if your profession is regulated?

If the profession is regulated in Spain, the UGE asks for one of two things: recognition (homologación) of the degree as equivalent to a Spanish one, or a notarised declaración responsable that you will not practise that profession in Spain [2]. Which option suits you is decided before you apply.

Which professions are regulated in Spain: homologación or a notarial statement

A regulated profession is one you may practise in Spain only with a specific Spanish qualification. For university-level professions the list is in the annex to Real Decreto 889/2022. Homologation to a Spanish degree is possible only for those professions; for all others Spain issues a declaración de equivalencia, which confirms the academic level[5].

Software developers, designers, marketers, analysts, project managers and translators are not in the annex[5]. RD 889/2022 covers university degrees only: it says nothing about professions at vocational (FP) level.

The UGE text only says «ante notario». Whether this must be a Spanish notary or a notary in your country with an apostille and translation, the list does not specify[2]. The homologation procedure is covered in homologation of a foreign degree in Spain.

Degree or experience: examples by profession

Below are typical situations and what to rely on in each. This is a scheme based on the UGE requirements, not a forecast of the decision: the whole file is assessed[2].

The homologation requirement sits in the item of the list that deals with a degree related to the job[2]. If the regulated profession appears only in your degree and your job is something else, the list does not say clearly whether the requirement applies. Explain such a case in a cover letter. Full document sets by type of work: for employees and for freelancers.

Do you need an apostille and a translation of your degree?

The UGE sets out a general rule: public documents from foreign authorities are submitted legalised or with an apostille, and documents not in Castilian are translated by a traductor jurado, a sworn translator appointed by the Spanish foreign ministry [2]. The CV may be translated with a simple translation [2]. The Moscow consulate requires all foreign documents to be translated into Spanish [3].

The guide does not say directly whether the degree from your particular university needs an apostille: check this by document type and issuing country. How to prepare the documents: apostille and legalisation for Spain. The other conditions of the status are collected in the overview of the Digital Nomad visa in Spain and in the DNV route card. For comparison: the document list for the Portuguese D8 visa does not mention a degree; more on this in the article DNV or the D8 in Portugal.

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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 20.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.