Since April, most non-EU visitors entering Spain do not receive an ink stamp because the EU’s Entry/Exit System captures their biometrics electronically. That change has sown confusion among would-be Digital Nomad residents who must demonstrate they are physically—and lawfully—inside Spain when they file online with the Large Companies & Strategic Collectives Unit (UGE). Barcelona-based firm Visal Immigration has published the first comprehensive guidance on the issue. The firm confirms that an electronic EES record now replaces the traditional stamp but warns that applicants who entered Schengen through another member state may need extra evidence: boarding passes for the connecting leg to Spain, hotel invoices, ATM receipts or an official “declaración de entrada” before the National Police. For global mobility managers this nuance matters. Remote employees who arrive in Europe via Paris or Lisbon must keep travel artefacts; otherwise, authorities may issue additional-document requests that can delay residence cards by months. The guidance also reminds companies that over-stayers cannot cure an excess of Schengen days by filing a nomad application. Practically, HR teams should build a document checklist that starts at the point of entry—electronic record, onward ticket, accommodation proofs—and verify the employee is still within the 90/180-day rule on the very date of filing. Where routes are indirect, arranging a quick in-country police declaration within three days of arrival can avert later headaches.
Source: Visal Immigration
