🇰🇪 Kenyan citizens · 🇪🇸 Spain · Digital Nomad
Spain digital nomad visa for Kenyan citizens: requirements, cost and odds
We do not publish a Kenyan-specific approval rate for a digital nomad visa to Spain, because we do not yet hold a figure from Spain for this category broken down by nationality. Rather than estimate one and format it like a statistic, we leave it out. For background, the published figures that do exist for Kenya are a 68.2% US visitor-visa refusal rate in FY2025 and a 33.1% Schengen short-stay refusal rate in 2025 — different countries and a different visa class, so treat them as context rather than as your odds. What is documented is the decision itself — officers assess whether you have genuine, sufficient remote income earned from outside the country, and the single biggest lever is remote income and genuine foreign contracts. On the money side: About €2,850/month — €34,188/year (200% of Spain's minimum wage, the SMI) — plus roughly 75% (~€1,065) for the first family member and 25% (~€357) for each additional one. The figure rises when the SMI is raised. The estimator below weighs your own finances, ties, travel history and refusal record against that.
Last reviewed July 2026 per our editorial standards. Source: Spain — UGE-CE International Teleworker, Ministry of Inclusion (inclusion.gob.es) .
For Kenyan citizens applying, a digital nomad visa to Spain is decided mainly on whether you have genuine, sufficient remote income earned from outside the country. Public statistics point to an approximate base approval of around 57% for this route — but your own profile can move that figure a lot in either direction. Kenyan applicants see elevated refusal rates; documented finances, stable employment and ties to home are decisive.
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Key requirements
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain
- Income of at least about €2,850/month (200% of the Spanish minimum wage / SMI), +75% for the first dependent and +25% per additional
- No more than 20% of income from Spain-based clients
- A work relationship or client contracts of at least 3 months, with the company active 1+ year
- A degree or at least 3 years' relevant experience
- Private health insurance, a clean criminal record and proof of remote-work capability
Money & funds
About €2,850/month — €34,188/year (200% of Spain's minimum wage, the SMI) — plus roughly 75% (~€1,065) for the first family member and 25% (~€357) for each additional one. The figure rises when the SMI is raised.
Typical timeline
The UGE processes DNV applications quickly — often around 20 working days, with a positive-silence rule if they do not reply in time. You can apply from abroad (consulate) or from within Spain; it initially grants up to 3 years (from within Spain) or a 1-year visa (from a consulate), renewable.
Common refusal reasons
- Income below about €2,850/month, or not consistently documented
- More than 20% of income from Spanish clients
- A work relationship shorter than 3 months, or a company under 1 year old
- No qualifying degree or 3 years' relevant experience
- Incomplete criminal record, insurance or remote-work evidence
Where Kenya sits in the official data
Two governments publish visa outcomes broken down by country. Neither predicts an individual decision, but together they show how Kenyan applicants fare relative to everyone else, and which of the destinations we cover currently refuses the fewest applications from Kenya.
US visitor visas — FY2025
A 68.2% adjusted refusal rate places Kenya 183rd of 199 nationalities the State Department publishes — a lower refusal rate than 8% of them. The median nationality sits at 31.8%, so Kenya is 36.4 points above it.
Schengen short-stay visas — 2025
Across all Schengen consulates in Kenya, 33.1% of short-stay applications were not issued — 102nd of 127 countries with a meaningful application volume, and 17.5 points above the 15.6% median.
| Destination | Refused | Issued | Decided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spainthis page | 16.9% | 83.1% | 5,063 |
| the Netherlands | 19.4% | 80.6% | 5,152 |
| Italy | 19.9% | 80.1% | 6,427 |
| Greece | 23.5% | 76.5% | 2,359 |
| France | 26.2% | 73.8% | 4,326 |
| Germany | 29% | 71% | 10,039 |
Among Schengen states, applications lodged in Kenya were refused least often by Spain at 16.9% and most often by Germany at 29% — a gap of 12.1 points on a like-for-like basis. That gap reflects who applies where as much as how strictly each state decides, so it is a starting point for choosing a main destination, not a ranking of leniency. You must still apply to the state where you will spend the most nights.
Demand and outcome moved together for Kenya between 2024 and 2025. Schengen consulates there decided 76,271 short-stay applications, against 64,779 the year before — up 17.7% — while the refusal rate went from 29.1% to 33.1%. Had 2024's rate held, roughly 3,032 of the 76,271 applicants refused in 2025 would have been issued a visa instead.
Sources: U.S. Department of State — Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality and European Commission — Schengen short-stay visa statistics for consulates . Schengen figures are grouped by the country an application was lodged in, not by passport.
What actually moves the needle
Remote income comfortably above the threshold
This is the heart of digital nomad decisions for Spain. Make it concrete and documented rather than assumed.
Genuine contracts with a foreign employer or clients
Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.
A clean record, valid insurance and registered accommodation
Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.
Context for Kenya applicants
Kenyan applicants see elevated refusal rates; documented finances, stable employment and ties to home are decisive. Your personal profile matters far more than any nationality-level pattern, so focus on the levers above.
Avoid the common pitfall
The most frequent reason this route fails is income below the threshold, or that is not genuinely remote and foreign-sourced. Address it directly and you remove the biggest doubt.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official Spain digital nomad visa success rate for Kenyan citizens?
Not one we currently carry. We only print a rate when we hold the publisher's own figure for this nationality and this visa category, and we do not hold one for Spain digital nomad visas. The figure shown on this page is a modelled estimate built from published route-level data and your answers — we label it as such rather than presenting it as a government statistic. What you can act on is the documented requirement set below, which is what the decision actually turns on.
What matters most for a Spain digital nomad visa?
Officers focus on whether you have genuine, sufficient remote income earned from outside the country. In practice the single biggest lever is remote income and genuine foreign contracts, so make that part of your application as strong and well-documented as possible.
Does a previous visa refusal affect my chances?
Yes. A prior refusal weighs on new applications until its underlying reason is addressed. Find out exactly why you were refused, fix what caused it, and clearly show what is different this time.
Is this a guarantee of approval?
No. GetVisaOdds is an educational planning tool, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Only a consular or immigration officer can decide your application. We show approximate odds and the reasons behind them so you can prepare better.
Is my information private?
Completely. The estimate runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server or stored — there is no sign-up and nothing to leak.
How much income do I need for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa in 2026?
About €2,850/month (€34,188/year) — 200% of the Spanish minimum wage — plus ~75% for a first dependent and 25% for each additional family member. It rises with the minimum wage.
Can I have Spanish clients on the Digital Nomad Visa?
Yes, but no more than 20% of your income can come from Spain-based clients — the visa is designed for foreign-sourced remote income.
How is the DNV different from the Non-Lucrative Visa?
The DNV lets you work remotely and needs about €2,850/month of active income; the NLV forbids all work and needs about €2,400/month of passive income or savings.
Does Spain's Digital Nomad Visa offer a tax benefit?
Many DNV holders can apply for a special regime (often called the 'Beckham Law') taxing Spanish-source employment income at a flat rate for up to six years. Eligibility varies, so get professional tax advice.
Can my family come with me on the DNV?
Yes. A spouse/partner and dependent children can be included, which raises the income requirement by about 75% for the first family member and 25% for each additional one.
