Deborah Cater
The “Empty Spain” campaign offers hope for rural revival in Spain. But are incentives such as remote work villages enough to permanently repopulate the country’s deserted lands?
The Red Nacional de Pueblos Acogedores para el Teletrabajo (National Network of Welcoming Villages for Remote Work) was launched in 2020. It is backed by non-profit organisation El Hueco, and the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. The network promotes rural areas as destinations for remote workers. Each participating village must meet three key conditions: a fast internet connection, dedicated coworking space, and a local contact person to help arrivals integrate.
To date, the network’s website shows 43 welcoming villages and 1,333 registered teleworkers. The initiative aims to attract long-term digital residents, not just short-term tourists. Furthermore, the network provides a centralised portal where remote workers can compare villages based on services, population, and community life.
Tax breaks and visa incentives for foreign workers
Spain’s Startup Law, approved in 2023, made it easier for digital nomads and remote employees to move to Spain. It allows for an extension of residence periods from 1 to 3 years with the possibility of extending to 5 years.
The law includes a special visa for non-EU residents and, if you’re an employee of a foreign company not a freelancer, a reduced flat tax rate of 24% on income up to €600,000 for five years. However, you do need to be generating your income primarily from outside Spain.
Combined with village-level grants and support, these national policies are designed to make rural living attractive to international workers. But are they really making an impact?
A few tangible successes
Oliete in Teruel is creating jobs and has new residents.
There are a few tangible successes because of the remote work villages network. Some villages have remote workers coming from within Spain as well as foreigners. Spending time away from a city for a period is an attractive proposition for some. Furthermore, innovative projects in addition to the remote worker network have helped some villages to spur their success further.
Perhaps most importantly, the program and others associated with it are giving visibility and momentum to the cause.
Oliete – A success story with roots
In the province of Teruel, Oliete shows the potential of these policies. Once on the verge of extinction, the town now has 19 new residents who arrived recently. Oliete joined the national network early and leveraged other grassroots efforts to revive local life.
A key project, “Apadrina un Olivo” (Adopt an Olive Tree), invites people to sponsor ancient olive trees for €50 per year. The scheme raised €71,000 in 2023, restored over 100 hectares of groves, and brought in environmental and tourism investment. A former cow shed now operates as a high-speed coworking centre.
These developments have created 43 jobs and revitalised services. The local school had just three pupils in 2015. Now it has 27.
Extremadura’s “Live in Ambroz” programme
Valle del Ambroz, Extremadura
Extremadura offers one of Spain’s most generous regional grant schemes. The Vivir en el Valle del Ambroz initiative provides up to €15,000 for remote workers who relocate to one of eight small towns. Eligible applicants include women and under-30s in towns with fewer than 5,000 residents. They receive €10,000 in the first year and a further €5,000 if they stay for a second.
So far, about 200 people have applied. Many cite housing affordability and community support as reasons for relocating.
Challenges remain
Despite early successes, many rural areas still face major obstacles. Basic services like healthcare, transport, and childcare remain limited in dozens of locations. The digital nomad visa is also more attractive to temporary workers than families seeking long-term relocation.
Also read: Authorities crack down on digital nomad visa requirements
In many areas, the impact is modest. Even where grants are used, only a handful of new residents arrive. Without permanent job creation and wider service improvements, the gains risk being short-lived.
Spain’s remote work villages have now moved from pilot to proof of concept. Oliete shows what’s possible with coordination, investment, and innovation. Overall, the national network, combined with tax incentives and regional grants, offers a framework that could be scaled up.
But to truly reverse rural decline, authorities must go beyond promotional campaigns. Sustained infrastructure spending and education, healthcare, and transport support are vital to turn today’s newcomers into tomorrow’s long-term residents. Currently, the impact is minimal and ‘empty Spain’ is not filling up.