Want to get paid to move to Spain? Extremadura is luring digital nomads with €15,000 grants

24.08.2024 - 02:00 / euronews.com / Rebecca Ann Hughes

Once considered beneficial to a community, digital nomads have become unwelcome in many areas of Europe, accused of aggravating gentrification and pricing out the local population. 

But one region of Spain is still keen to host remote workers - so much so that it is offering financial aid to those who relocate there.

Extremadura, an autonomous community bordering Portugal, is one of Spain’s lesser visited regions but nevertheless is home to wild nature reserves, fauna-filled mountain ranges and a capital scattered with Roman ruins. 

Here’s who is eligible for the grant to move to Extremadura and how to apply.

The regional government of Extremadura is offering digital nomads up to €15,000 to move to the area. 

The autonomous community has one of the lowest populations in Spain and is one of the least-developed regions. It has one of the country’s lowest GDPs per capita and one of the highest rates of unemployment at 17.6 per cent compared to the national average of 11.9 per cent.

To bolster both the population and the economy, authorities in Extremadura have earmarked €2 million that will be used to aid the relocation of 200 remote workers and digital nomads to the region.

As well as receiving financial aid, digital nomads can enjoy a low cost of living compared to many other areas in Spain. When compared with the Spanish capital Madrid, the Extremadurian city of Badajoz costs on average 30 per cent less for meals out, public transport and utilities, according to Numbeo. 

According to regional authorities, Extremadura lacks in transport infrastructure but has above national average fibre optic and mobile coverage. 

Extremadura is targeting remote workers who are highly qualified professionals in the tech industry.

You must be able to work completely remotely and online "through the exclusive use of media and IT systems, telematics and information fields."

Those who wish to apply have to commit to maintaining a remote job and living in Extremadura for at least two years. 

Both those living in other regions of Spain and those living abroad are eligible as long as they have not lived in Extremadura in the previous six months. 

Foreign nationals may apply, but must be resident legally in Spain and be in possession of a foreign identity number (NIE) as found on their green EU certificate or non-EU TIE card.

Non-EU nationals can also apply as long as they are already participating in Spain’s digital nomad visa scheme. 

Those not in possession of a digital nomad visa would need to apply for this first and have it approved by Spanish authorities as well as obtain a residency document before applying for the Extremadura scheme. 

Women, young people under 30 years old and those who relocate to towns in Extremadura with