If you’re a digital nomad looking for a new place to settle down, you’re up for an exciting opportunity. Extremadura, a rural region in Spain near the border with Portugal, offers grants of up to $16,778 to remote workers willing to relocate for up to two years.
The initiative, known as Live in Ambroz, aims to help repopulate the rural town. The grant will help new residents find housing and cover their living expenses as they settle down in this scenic rural region.
How Much Funding Can Digital Nomads Expect?
Women, individuals under the age of 30, and those moving to small towns in Extremadura with populations under 5,000 are eligible for a grant of €10,000 ($11,043). All other applicants can receive €8,000 ($8,834).
If they remain in the area for an additional year after two years, those in the first group will receive an extra €5,000 ($5,521), while others will be granted €4,000 ($4,417).
The Benefits of Living in Extremadura for Digital Nomads
Extremadura is also an attractive option for digital nomads to settle down thanks to its low cost of living. A one-bedroom apartment in Badajoz, Extremadura, averages at around $526, and you’ll have to pay three times the cost to find the same apartment in Madrid, which averages at around $1,515.
Attractions in Extremadura
The Spanish region is home to the mountains of Pinajarro, Camocho, and Valdeamor, a treat for nature lovers. There are nearby hiking trails like the Castaños del Temblar, where you can explore century-old trees around 20 minutes from the Ambroz Valley.
If you’re a history buff, you can visit the Roman baths at Baños de Montemayor, which dates back to the 1st century AD, and relax along the nearby spas. You can cap off your day by dropping by the centuries-old Iglesia de Santa María de Aguas Vivas to enjoy the views.
How To Apply for the Grant
If these perks have convinced you enough to move to Extremadura, the local government has started accepting applications this past September. Eligible applicants must:
- Have lived outside of Extremadura for the past six months,
- Be legal residents of Spain with a foreign identity number and
- Work remotely in the tech industry.
US nationals may also apply as long as they have a valid Spanish digital nomad visa.
Similar Initiatives in Europe
Other European countries have implemented similar programs. For example, in Italy, Tuscany’s initiative called Residency in the Mountains 2024 offers up to $32,000 for those interested in moving to a town in Tuscany with a population of 5,000 or less.
The conversion from EUR to USD has been calculated using the rates provided by the European Central Bank, available at this link.
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