Diego Fernandez 🏆 Community expert
12 Sept 2026, 20:02
I came to Spain on a digital nomad visa, and it's been good to me. But I'm now thinking about the longer term: a regular residence status that isn't tied to working for clients outside the country, maybe even taking a local contract at some point.
From what I've read, switching isn't automatic, and the rules about which permits count toward long-term residence aren't always the same as the rules for renewing the one you're on. I don't want to find out in three years that the time didn't count.
Has anyone moved from a nomad visa to a regular residence permit, in any country? Did the time on the nomad visa count toward long-term residence? And did you do it at renewal, or as a separate application?