How long does UGE take to decide a digital nomad application, and what is positive silence?
By law, UGE-CE must decide Law 14/2013 residence applications, including the digital nomad permit, within 20 business days of electronic filing. If it does not decide in that time, the permit is deemed granted by positive administrative silence (article 76.1). A request for more documents can pause the clock. This is the legal maximum, not a promise about your case. Spain Visa Submit files ready applications for €80 per applicant and gives you the official filing receipt that starts the count.
Official sources: BOE — Ley 14/2013, art. 76 · BOE — Ley 39/2015, art. 30 · BOE — Ley 39/2015, art. 22 · BOE — Ley 39/2015, art. 24 · Plataforma ONE — Residencia para nómadas digitales · Sede electrónica
Verified:
Spain Visa Submit is a technical submission service, not a law firm. This guide is not legal advice and does not assess eligibility or document correctness.
What the law says
Article 76.1 of Law 14/2013: “El plazo máximo de resolución será de veinte días desde la presentación electrónica de la solicitud… Si no se resuelve en dicho plazo, la autorización se entenderá estimada por silencio administrativo.” The maximum time to decide is twenty days from electronic filing, and without a decision in that time the authorisation is deemed granted. The rule covers every Law 14/2013 residence route at UGE: digital nomads, entrepreneurs, highly qualified professionals and intra-company transfers.
How the 20 days are counted
Under Law 39/2015, article 30.2, periods set in days are business days: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays do not count, but August does. The count starts when the application enters the electronic register of the competent body, which is the date and time on the official filing receipt. UGE does not say which regional holiday calendar it applies, so treat any date you calculate as an estimate. National weekday holidays in 2026 are 1 and 6 January, 3 April, 1 May, 12 October, 8 December and 25 December. The Madrid region, where UGE sits, adds 2 April, 2 November and 7 December.
What pauses the clock
If UGE sends a requerimiento, an official request to correct something or add documents, the time limit may be suspended from the notice until you comply (Law 39/2015, article 22.1.a). The usual period to answer is 10 business days (article 68). For entrepreneurs, UGE must also ask ENISA for a mandatory report (Law 14/2013, article 70.1), and Plataforma ONE lists about 30 days for that route. For digital nomads and highly qualified professionals it lists 20 business days.
What positive silence means
A grant by silence is a final administrative act (Law 39/2015, article 24.2), and a later express decision can only confirm it. You can prove it by any lawful means, including a certificate of silence. The deciding body should issue that certificate within 15 days after the deadline, and you can also request it (article 24.4). UGE’s e-office says that after the legal period you may request a “resolución de la concesión por silencio” through the e-office as a correction (subsanación) request. Silence does not cure missing requirements: deemed approvals without the essential requirements are void (article 47.1.f).
Filing receipt versus decision
The filing receipt shows when the clock started. It is not an approval. UGE notifies its decision electronically. If you file through Spain Visa Submit, we forward official notices through your private account and email.
Frequently asked questions
How long does UGE take to decide a digital nomad application?
The legal maximum is 20 business days from electronic filing (Law 14/2013, article 76.1). A request for documents can pause the clock.
What happens if UGE does not answer within 20 business days?
The authorisation is deemed granted by positive administrative silence. You can prove it by any lawful means, including a certificate of silence (Law 39/2015, article 24.4).
Does a requerimiento stop the 20 days?
It can. Law 39/2015, article 22.1.a allows the time limit to be suspended from the notice until you comply or the period to answer ends.
Does positive silence approve an application that does not meet the requirements?
No. A deemed approval without the essential requirements is void under Law 39/2015, article 47.1.f.
From which date are the 20 days counted?
From the date the application enters UGE’s electronic register, which is shown on the official filing receipt.