The administration of the autonomous community of Extremadura has assigned 2 million euros to sponsor up to 200 national or international digital nomads who want to move to this region.
If you don’t remember where it is: Extremadura is a Spanish region bordering Portugal, surrounded by mountains, forests, natural parks and lakes.
With this initiative, this community is trying to boost its economy by attracting highly skilled, high-spending professionals who can help create new local businesses.
But above all, the government wants to attract young people who can somehow help stop the population bleeding. Currently, Extremadura has the lowest population density in Spain, with 26 inhabitants per square kilometer.
“Extremadura offers a high quality of life. It is a natural paradise with exceptional gastronomy. Attracting these highly skilled professionals with international incomes will have a very positive impact on our economy. They will boost local consumption, enrich regional talent and create significant networks and opportunities.” said the Minister of Economy, Employment and Digital Transformation, Guillermo Santamaría.
In terms of infrastructure, Santamaría says the region has had some transportation problems, but in terms of communications, which is what digital nomads find most important, the region can compete with major national cities.
“We are above the national average in fiber coverage at 93%, 97% in 4G mobile coverage and between 75% and 80% in 5G coverage.”
Requirements
- The first and most important requirement is that applicants can perform their work exclusively online.
- Winners must have lived outside Extremadura for at least six months before the date of their mandatory “registration of residency” in the region, known in Spanish as Empadronamiento.
- Selected persons must undertake to establish their habitual residence in a community with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants for a minimum of two years.
- Non-Spanish applicants must have a legal identification number.
Who can participate?
To qualify for the program, participants must prove their expertise as highly skilled professionals in the technology sector.
That said, the scheme is aimed at both men and women, but the amount received depends on their age.
Advantages
Women (in general) and men under 30 will initially receive 10,000 euros once selected. Men over 30 years old receive 8,000 euros.
After the first two-year period, women (in general) and men under the age of 30 will receive 5,000 euros, provided they wish to stay in the region for another year.
Men over 30 years old, who also want to stay in Extremadura for another year, will in turn receive another 4,000 euros.
How to participate?
The call will remain open until the 2 million euros have been allocated to the correct participants.
Other Spanish regions offering opportunities to digital nomads
Galicia: The Galician government has just allocated €123,800 for a pilot program aimed at digital nomads who can create business opportunities in sparsely populated Galician villages.
Andalusia: This community has made “Andalusia’s first rural development strategy, Horizon 2030”, which aims to attract digital nomads to rural areas with few inhabitants.
