Spain’s western region of Extremadura, bordering Portugal, will definitely not be the first on the list for remote workers and digital nomads in Spain.

Nonetheless, there are several reasons why it may be worth looking into, particularly because the government of the region is offering financial aid to those wanting to move there.

Extremadura is one of the least-populated and least-developed regions in the country, with one of the lowest GDPs per capita and one of the highest unemployment rates – 17.6 percent compared to the national average of 11.9 percent.

In order to try and give the population and the economy a boost, the government of Extremadura has announced that it has allocated a total of €2 million in order to attract 200 remote workers and digital nomads to the region.

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Despite the rather average economic statistics above, Extremadura has a  wealth of attractions – including two natural parks and one national park, fascinating historic cities such as Cáceres and Mérida, and plenty of peace and quiet.

Another benefit to living here is that it has a much cheaper cost of living than many other regions. According to the results of the family budget survey published by the National Institute of Statistics in Extremadura, the average expense per person in 2022 (the latest data available) was €11,134.48.

“Attracting these highly qualified professionals, whose income comes from abroad, will have very positive effects on the economy of Extremadura. They will increase local consumption, enrich regional talent and generate networks and value opportunities,” said the head of Economy, Guillermo Santamaría.

He has recognised that the region suffers certain shortcomings in terms of transport infrastructure, but assured that, in the field of communications, “We are above the national average in fibre optic coverage with 93 percent, 97 percent 4G mobile coverage and between 75 and 80 percent coverage with 5G”. 

READ ALSO: Why Extremadura remains Spain’s forgotten region

Who can apply?

The aid will be aimed at highly qualified professionals in technological sectors who have the option of working remotely or are self-employed.

It’s available for those who want to move from other regions in Spain as well as those moving from abroad.

Workers must carry out all their professional activity remotely and “through the exclusive use of media and IT systems, telematics and information fields”, in other words fully online.

In order to be eligible, you must maintain your remote job and live in Extremadura for at least two years following the application.

You also must have been living outside of Extremadura for at least six months before you apply.

Foreigners can apply, but must be here legally and already have a NIE – foreign identity number – as featured on either their green EU certificate or their non-EU TIE card.

This means that the scheme is also open to non-EU nationals on Spain’s digital nomad visa, if they meet the above requirements.

Those who don’t have Spain’s digital nomad visa yet would first have to have their visa application successfully approved by the Spanish government and get their residency document, and only then be able to apply for the Extremadura scheme. Timewise, this may be somewhat difficult to achieve as there are only 200 places available.

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How much is the aid?

€10,000 will be allocated to female applicants, young people under 30 years old and those who move to towns in Extremadura with less than 5,000 inhabitants. For the rest, the aid will be of €8,000.

After this first two-year period, a second payment of €5,000 will be given to women and young people under 30 years of age, and €4,000 to male applicants.

To receive this you must continue living and working remotely in Extremadura for another year.

When can I apply and how long do I have to apply?

Applications can be submitted from the day following publication in the Official Gazette of Extremadura, but as of yet it is not known exactly when this will be, so keeping checking back here as we will update the article when we find out (it’s expected to be around mid-September).

According to the Minister of Economy, Employment and Digital Transformation, the call for applications will remain open until the funds that will cover around 200 digital nomads are exhausted.

The regional government has guaranteed that applications will be open for a period of time no less than one month or more than one year.

How to apply

Your application must be submitted electronically via the Extremadura General Electronic Access Point. 

In order to apply you must have a digital certificate or electronic Spanish ID card so that you can identify yourself electronically. Along with your application form you will need to provide a number of different documents. These include:

• An official document issued by your country or other region in Spain to show where you’ve been living.
• A certificate from the company you work for which authorises you to work in Extremadura or remotely in Spain.
• If you are self-employed, a document(s) that proves the terms and conditions in which you will carry out your professional activity remotely.

If you are moving from another region in Spain, you will need:

• An original report, issued by the General Treasury of Social Security, showing you are up to date with payments.
• A document that certifies you are up to date with your tax obligations with the State Treasury.
• A certificate that proves you don’t have any debts with the Treasury of Extremadura.

If any documents are not written in Spanish, they will be accompanied by a sworn legal translation by certified by a professional.

You will hear back within three months to see if your application has been successful or not.

When will I receive the money?

The payment of the subsidy will be made in a single lump sum, for the total amount of the aid granted for the first two years, once your application has been accepted and you have registered with a municipality in Extremadura to getting a padrón certificate.

This must be carried out within a maximum period of three months from the notification of the resolution of your application.

You will then request payment of the aid within a period of one month from the date of registration.