To obtain the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa, you must prove you are covered by social security. For employees of companies in countries with a bilateral agreement with Spain (like the UK or Brazil), a Certificate of Coverage (e.g., A1 form) is required, explicitly stating work in Spain. If no such agreement exists (e.g., USA, Kazakhstan), the employer must register with the Spanish Social Security and pay contributions there. For self-employed applicants (autónomos), if no bilateral agreement applies, they must commit to registering with the Spanish Social Security (RETA) upon arrival. Registration with RETA grants access to the public health system (SNS), so private insurance is only mandatory if a Certificate of Coverage cannot be provided or until registration is complete.
Documents from abroad must be apostilled and translated by a sworn translator (Traductor Jurado). A common error is submitting a certificate that doesn't mention Spain or using an outdated form. Certificates usually have a validity period of 3-6 months. Failure to provide either a Certificate of Coverage or a formal commitment to register in Spain is a leading cause of rejection.