- Where to apply. The Consulate General of Spain in Istanbul covers the Marmara provinces, the Aegean coast, the Mediterranean up to Mersin and the Black Sea provinces from Bolu to Artvin[2]. Residents of other provinces, for example Ankara, should ask the embassy in Ankara about the procedure[3].
- Status in Turkey. The Istanbul consulate requires residents of Turkey to hold a proven long-term residence permit and a certificate of registered address (İkametgah)[1].
- NIE before applying. You need the foreigner identity number already when you apply; you obtain it in advance through the consulate[1].
- Income. At least 200 % of the Spanish minimum wage: 2,849 € a month for the applicant, plus 1,068 € for the first family member and 356 € for each additional one[1][5].
- The visa itself. Article 74 bis of Ley 14/2013 gives the right to live in Spain and work remotely for companies or clients outside Spain[4].
Who can apply for the digital nomad visa from Turkey
You can apply if you live legally in Turkey: the visa is requested at the Spanish consulate for your place of residence. The Istanbul consulate says that a resident of Turkey needs a «residencia de larga duración acreditada», a proven long-term residence permit[1]. Turkey has several types of ikamet, and the consulate page does not say which of them it treats as long-term. So before booking and paying the fee, ask the consulate in writing whether your ikamet qualifies.
The other conditions are the same for every country: a degree or at least three years of experience, work for a foreign company or clients for at least three months before applying, sufficient income, health insurance and no criminal record[1][4]. In detail: Spain digital nomad visa requirements.
The consulate in Istanbul or the embassy in Ankara
Where you apply depends on the province where you live. The district of the Consulate General in Istanbul is published on its website[2]:
| Where you live | Where to apply | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul, Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Bilecik, Bursa, Yalova | Consulate General in Istanbul | Consulate district[2] |
| Çanakkale, Balıkesir, Manisa, Izmir, Aydın, Denizli, Muğla | Consulate General in Istanbul | Consulate district[2] |
| The Mediterranean up to Mersin, including Antalya | Consulate General in Istanbul | Consulate district[2] |
| Bolu, Zonguldak, Bartın, Karabük, Kastamonu, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Artvin | Consulate General in Istanbul | Consulate district[2] |
| Other provinces, including Ankara | Ask the embassy in Ankara about the procedure | Embassy in Ankara[3] |
There are honorary consulates in Antalya, Izmir, Izmit and Muğla[2]. The page does not say whether they accept visa applications, so check the booking procedure with the Consulate General. How applications work from other CIS countries: digital nomad visa from Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Georgia.
Documents for the digital nomad visa at the Istanbul consulate
The consulate published the list on 7 January 2025[1]:
- a passport valid for at least three months after the planned stay and, for residents of Turkey, a proven long-term residence permit;
- a certificate of registered address (İkametgah Tezkeresi);
- the visa application form signed by the applicant, and the fee;
- a letter from the company confirming that you have worked with it for at least three months and allowing remote work; for the self-employed, the terms on which you will work remotely;
- documents showing the company is really active: a commercial register extract with the incorporation date and type of activity, and a tax certificate for the previous year;
- proof of income;
- a criminal record certificate from every country where you lived in the last two years, apostilled or legalised, and a declaration of no criminal record for the last five years;
- health insurance from a company authorised to operate in Spain; travel insurance is not accepted;
- a declaration on social security obligations;
- a degree or proof of three years of experience, and for regulated professions recognition of the degree in Spain.
Documents in other languages need a sworn translation into Spanish, and foreign official documents need an apostille or legalisation[1]. How to do it: apostille, legalisation and translation for Spain. Certificate from Russia: Russian criminal record certificate and apostille.
How much you need to earn: 2026 income requirements
The Spanish minimum wage in 2026 is 1,221 € a month paid 14 times a year, that is 17,094 € a year[5]. The consulate counts income from it: 200 % for the applicant, 75 % for the first family member and 25 % for each additional one[1]. Per month this gives:
| Household | Income per month | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant | 2,849 € | 200 % of the minimum wage[1][5] |
| Applicant and spouse | 3,917 € | plus 75 % for the first family member |
| Family of three | 4,274 € | plus 25 % for the third person |
| Family of four | 4,630 € | plus 25 % for the fourth person |
Adult children and parents must show that they depend financially on the applicant and have not formed their own family[1]. Check your figures: digital nomad visa calculator.
How to get the digital nomad visa from Turkey: step by step
- Find out which consulate covers your province[2].
- Ask the consulate in writing whether your ikamet qualifies, and obtain an NIE: you need it already when you apply[1].
- Order criminal record certificates from every country where you lived in the last two years, get them apostilled or legalised and have them translated by a sworn translator[1].
- Prepare the employer letter or client contracts, company documents and proof of income[1].
- Take out health insurance with a company authorised to operate in Spain[1].
- Submit the documents and pay the fee in cash[1].
- After approval and entry: the first 30 days after the visa is approved.
Fee and processing time
The Istanbul consulate takes the fee in cash and in the exact amount[1]. The January 2025 requirements give the amount in US dollars, but the consulate website has a notice on 2026 consular fees, so check the amount before you apply. The requirements page does not give a processing time. All digital nomad visa fees: fees and charges.
Common mistakes when applying from Turkey
- Booking an appointment without an NIE, although the consulate requires it at the time of application[1].
- Applying in Istanbul although your province is not in its district[2].
- Bringing a criminal record certificate from only one country after living in two in the last two years[1].
- Taking out travel insurance, which the consulate does not accept[1].
- Bringing documents in Turkish or Russian without a sworn translation into Spanish[1].
How we can help
The ReloVictory team in Barcelona checks whether the digital nomad visa suits you, puts the file together to meet the consulate requirements and explains what to do after you arrive. More about the service: digital nomad visa application, prices: our fees.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for the Spain digital nomad visa from Turkey?
Which ikamet do I need for the digital nomad visa?
Do I need an NIE before applying in Istanbul?
How much do I need to earn for the digital nomad visa from Turkey?
Do I need a Russian criminal record certificate if I live in Turkey?
Official sources
- Consulate General of Spain in Istanbul · telework visa requirements (Ley 14/2013), 07.01.2025 ↗
- Consulate General of Spain in Istanbul · consular district (demarcación) ↗
- Embassy of Spain in Ankara · home page ↗
- BOE · Ley 14/2013, articles 74 bis - 74 quinquies (international telework) ↗
- BOE · Real Decreto 126/2026, 2026 minimum wage ↗
Sources reviewed on 28.10.2026. 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 28.10.2026.
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Prefer to do it yourself? Step-by-step guides: residence permit in Barcelona: from empadronamiento to TIE and route cards by residence ground.
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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 28.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.
