Relocation Guide
Moving From Stati Uniti To Spagna
Americans moving to Spain mostly use the digital nomad visa while keeping a US employer or clients, or the non-lucrative visa in retirement. What is different from the US: you apply at the Spanish consulate that covers your state, your FBI background check needs a federal apostille, and the US keeps taxing you as a citizen wherever you live.
Updated 1 ottobre 2026
Quick answer
US citizens can move to Spain on the digital nomad visa (200% of the Spanish minimum wage from non-Spanish work) or the non-lucrative visa (€28,800 a year in funds). Apply at the Spanish consulate with jurisdiction over your state, get an FBI Identity History Summary apostilled by the US Department of State, and keep filing US tax returns: the US taxes citizens abroad.
As of 1 ottobre 2026
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Short visits | No visa needed for visits of up to 90 days in 180 (ETIAS will apply once it launches)Source · checked 2 ottobre 2026 |
| Visa appointments | We confirm this for your case |
| Documents | Apostille accepted: your country is in the Hague Apostille ConventionSource · checked 2 ottobre 2026 |
| Double tax treaty | A comprehensive income tax treaty is in forceSource · checked 2 ottobre 2026 |
| Dual citizenship | We confirm this for your case |
| Minimum | 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) a month, plus 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each further oneSource |
What is different from Stati Uniti
Your consulate depends on your state
Spain has several consulates general in the US, each covering specific states. You apply at the one for the state where you live, and some use an outsourced visa centre.
FBI check with a federal apostille
The criminal record certificate is an FBI Identity History Summary. Because it is a federal document, the apostille comes from the US Department of State, not a state secretary of state. Allow for processing time.
Citizenship-based taxation
The US taxes citizens on worldwide income wherever they live. Spain will also tax you once you are resident. The US–Spain tax treaty, foreign tax credits and the foreign earned income exclusion help avoid double tax, and FBAR and FATCA reporting continue.
Social security agreement
The US and Spain have a totalization agreement, which can stop you paying social security in both countries for the same work and lets credits count towards benefits.
Routes open to you
Figures are statutory minimums from official sources. Official fees are estimates and change; our own fees are quoted for your case.
Digital nomad visa (international teleworking)
Remote employees and freelancers working mainly for clients or employers outside Spain.
- Minimum
- 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (SMI) a month, plus 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each further one
Non-lucrative residence visa
People with savings or passive income who will not work in Spain.
- Minimum
- €28,800 a year (400% IPREM), plus €7,200 per dependant
Not sure which route fits?
An adviser checks your eligibility from Stati Uniti and replies within one working day.
Step by step from Stati Uniti
Pick the route
Digital nomad if you keep working for a US employer or foreign clients; non-lucrative if you will live on savings, pensions or investments.
Order the FBI check early
Request the FBI Identity History Summary, then the federal apostille, and have it translated by a sworn translator.
Prepare income and insurance
Contracts, three months of history, bank statements and Spanish-valid private health insurance with no co-payments.
Apply at your consulate
Book the national visa appointment at the Spanish consulate for your state. Digital nomad applicants already in Spain legally can apply to the UGE online.
Settle in Spain
Register your address, collect your TIE and get Spanish tax and social security numbers.
Documents and legalisation
Get public documents (birth and marriage certificates, police certificate, degrees) apostilled in Stati Uniti, then have them translated by a sworn translator where the destination asks for it.
You will usually need a police certificate from Stati Uniti and from every other country you have lived in recently.
Where to apply
Apply at the Spanish consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or (digital nomad route) online through the UGE from inside Spain while you are there legally.
Tax: what to check before you move
Double tax treaty: A comprehensive income tax treaty is in force Listed on the Spanish Ministry of Finance treaty list (BOE 23/10/2019 (protocol)).
General information, not tax advice. Tax points on this page are awaiting review by a tax specialist.
Sources and review
Last updated 1 ottobre 2026
- Spain UGE: international teleworkers (digital nomad) residence
- Spain Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visas
- FBI: Identity History Summary checks
- US Department of State: authentications (apostilles for federal documents)
- IRS: US citizens and resident aliens abroad
- US Social Security: international agreements
Parts of this page are awaiting review by our legal team; we confirm every point for your case before you apply.
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Frequently asked questions
Can Americans work remotely for a US company from Spain?
Yes, on the digital nomad visa, as long as Spanish clients make up no more than 20% of your work. Your employer must accept you working from Spain.
Which Spanish consulate do I apply to?
The consulate general whose district includes the state where you legally live.
Will I pay tax in both the US and Spain?
Both countries can tax you, but the tax treaty and US foreign tax credits are designed to prevent paying twice on the same income. Take advice from a cross-border tax specialist.
Do I need a visa to visit Spain first?
No. US citizens can visit for up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa. ETIAS pre-registration will apply once the EU launches it.
Which route suits me best?
It depends on your goal: living in the country, a second passport, tax planning or a base for your family. The routes on this page are ranked by fit for people moving from your country.
How long does it take to move?
Timelines depend on the route, the completeness of your file and government processing. Each programme page shows its published processing range.
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