Indian Software Developer (Client Company in India)

The Case & Challenge

The applicant, a talented software developer working remotely for a client company based in India, initially presented what seemed to be a highly straightforward case. All standard documentation required for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) was meticulously gathered, reviewed, and submitted.

However, mid-process, we received a requerimiento (a request for additional documentation) from the Unidad de Grandes Empresas (UGE). Around this period, the UGE began strictly scrutinizing self-employed applicants, increasingly demanding official certificates that prove independent contractor registration in their country of origin.

The core challenge? India does not have a formal, direct equivalent to a European “self-employment certificate” or autónomo registration.

The Strategy & Solution

To overcome this bureaucratic hurdle without risking a rejection, our team had to look for the closest official tax and business equivalent recognized by Indian authorities. We guided the applicant to provide his GST (Goods and Services Tax) registration certificate, which effectively functions as official legal proof of self-employed business operations in India.

To ensure its validity in Spain, we had the GST certificate properly apostilled and procured a sworn Spanish translation (traducción jurada).

Additionally, the UGE requested the submission of invoices covering the three months immediately prior to the application date. While our team had already proactively included these in the original submission bundle, we promptly re-packaged and resubmitted them to ensure zero delays in the evaluator’s hands.

The Outcome

By providing a clear, legally backed alternative to the requested document, the UGE accepted the GST registration as ironclad proof. The application was successfully approved, granting our client an initial residency authorization as an international teleworker valid until February 1, 2029!

Another successful transition to Spain, demonstrating that even when local paperwork doesn’t perfectly align with Spanish expectations, the right strategic adjustments make all the difference.