Who it is for
The route is for people who work remotely for companies or clients based outside Spain, as employees or freelancers, with only a limited share of their work for Spanish clients. The official guidance asks for evidence of the work relationship, of qualifications or experience, of sufficient income and of health cover. The exact list and the thresholds change, so we check the current version against your case.
From a consulate or from Spain
Applying from abroad, it is a visa, filed with the consulate responsible for where you live. Already in Spain legally? In some cases the authorisation can be requested from here instead. Either way, Madrid decides, not the island offices.
Once you are approved and on Tenerife, the steps become local: the padrón at your town hall, fingerprints for the TIE with form EX-17, then the collection of the card. For the wider move, the AnchorLess relocation team handles visas, housing and the admin that comes with them.
If you hold an EU, EEA or Swiss passport
None of this applies to you. You can live and work remotely on the island under free movement, and you register with form EX-18 once your stay goes beyond three months.
On Tenerife
For remote workers who chose the island for its climate, the first local stop after approval is the town hall — La Laguna, Santa Cruz, Adeje or Arona, depending on the address — and the second is the Santa Cruz police office, which lists TIE issue. Booking the fingerprint appointment early makes everything after it easier.
Questions on this topic
Can I get the NIE before the visa?
You can, as a non-resident with an EX-15, if you have a reason such as signing a lease. Residence itself comes from the visa or the authorisation, and the TIE follows.
Will I pay tax in Spain?
Possibly: living on the island usually makes tax residence a question worth asking. It is outside what we do: speak to a tax adviser before you move.
Can my family come with me?
Yes: the route allows family members to apply with you, each with their own documents and, later, their own TIE.