Moving from the United States
Moving to Spain, from the US
Your application starts long before Spain does — an FBI check, a federal apostille, documents from the state that issued them, and a consulate that answers to the state you live in. We know what each one asks for, and we prepare the file so it isn't sent back.
Our service fee covers case management, document review, and included sworn translations only — apostille, government and consular fees are separate and paid directly by the client to the relevant authority or provider.
Which Route Fits You?
| Non-Lucrative Visa | Digital Nomad Visa | Student Visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made for | Living on savings, pensions or passive income | Remote work for employers or clients outside Spain | Study, research or training at a Spanish institution |
| Financial bar | €2,400/month or €28,800/year, +€600 per family member | €2,849/month in remote income (~200% of minimum wage) | €600/month (100% IPREM), ~€7,200/year |
| Working in Spain | Not in the first year | Yes — remotely, up to 20% for Spanish clients | Part-time up to 30 hours a week |
| Family | Joins on the same application | Joins on the same application | Family visas possible for longer programmes |
| Leads to | Renewals → long-term residence → citizenship | Renewals → long-term residence → citizenship | Work permits from inside Spain; counts differently toward citizenship |
Non-Lucrative Visa
Live in Spain on savings or passive income
You can support yourself from savings or passive income — around €2,400 a month (roughly $2,800, depending on the rate) or €28,800 in savings, plus €600 a month per family member — and won't be working inside Spain during your first year. The common route for retirees and anyone stepping back from work.
The NLV from the US →Digital Nomad Visa
Keep your remote job, change the view
You'll keep working remotely for employers or clients outside Spain. US applicants usually evidence income with 1099s, Schedule C or SE, and IRS transcripts.
The DNV from the US →Student Visa
Study in Spain — often the first step to staying
You've been accepted to study, research or train at a Spanish institution — including language programmes of sufficient hours.
The Student from the US →The Other Routes
Highly Skilled Worker Visa
A qualifying job offer from a company in Spain — the employer's side and yours prepared together.
Learn more →Long-Term Residence
After five years of legal residence — the permanent status every visa above builds toward.
Learn more →Spanish Citizenship
The passport at the end of the road — after ten years for most, two for some nationalities.
Learn more →Renewals
NLV and DNV renewals handled from inside Spain, before the clock on your current permit runs out.
Learn more →The Numbers, In Dollars
The thresholds are set in euros, but the file is built from American paperwork. Here is the shape of it.
The Non-Lucrative Visa asks for around €2,400 a month in passive income or €28,800 in savings, plus €600 a month per family member — evidenced from US accounts, presented so a consular officer sees at a glance that the threshold is met. The Digital Nomad Visa has its own income bar, met with 1099s, Schedule C or SE and IRS transcripts.
- Pick your route
NLV, DNV or student — the two-minute eligibility check tells you which fits, and what it will ask of you.
- Build the file
FBI check ordered at the right moment, federal and state apostilles, sworn translations — sequenced so nothing expires waiting on something else.
- Your consulate appointment
Booked and prepared for the consulate that answers to your state — each of the eight has its own habits.
- Decision & move
Visa in your passport, and the after-landing part — TIE, town hall, bank — already mapped.
Financial thresholds are set by the Spanish government and updated yearly — your case manager confirms the current figures before anything is filed.
What's Different Applying From the US
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Your criminal record is the FBI check — with a federal apostille
Spain wants the FBI Identity History Summary, authenticated with an apostille from the US Department of State. State-level police certificates are not a substitute, and the apostille has to be on the FBI document itself.
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The clock on that check is short, and it varies by consulate
Most consulates accept an FBI check up to six months old. Boston and Los Angeles work to five. Ordering it too early is one of the more expensive mistakes, because it takes the whole file with it.
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The sworn translation must include the apostille
Every word of the certificate and of the apostille — including the back of it. A translation that stops at the front page is a rejection, and it is a common one. Sworn translations are included in our service fee.
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Birth and marriage certificates come from the issuing state
Ordered fresh — consulates generally want them issued within six months — then apostilled by that state's Secretary of State, not by the federal government.
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Your consulate is decided by where you live
Eight Spanish consulates cover the US, each with its own appointment system, financial evidence and paperwork. The table below is where most of the surprises live.
By Consulate
What the Spanish consulates in the US typically ask of Non-Lucrative Visa applicants. Your case manager confirms the current requirements for yours before anything is filed.
| Consulate | Appointment | Bank statements | Criminal record age | Typical decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Via consulate (slow) | 12 months | 5 months | ~1 month |
| Chicago | Via BLS (good availability) | 3 months | 6 months | ~2 months |
| Houston | Via BLS (good availability) | 3 months | 6 months | ~1.5 months |
| Los Angeles | Via BLS (low availability) | 12 months | 5 months | ~3 months |
| Miami | Via BLS (moderate) | 12 months | 6 months | ~3 months |
| New York | Via consulate (or BLS) | 3 months | 6 months | ~1.5 months |
| San Francisco | Via consulate | 3 months | 6 months | ~1 month |
| Washington DC | Via BLS (moderate) | 3 months | 6 months | ~1.5 months |
Consulates change their requirements without notice, and several ask for things this table can't hold — notarised affidavits, recent tax returns in Spanish, proof of no mortgage, payment by money order rather than card. Treat this as orientation, not a checklist: the checklist your case manager builds is for your consulate, your visa and your household.
The Parts Either Side of the Visa
Apostilles on US documents
FBI checks, birth and marriage certificates, diplomas — authenticated at state or federal level before Spain will look at them. We identify exactly which of your documents need one.
US apostille service →US tax questions
You keep filing with the IRS after you move. Dual taxation, the Beckham Law and Form 720 are worth understanding before you land, not after.
Tax advice →After you arrive
Your TIE card, registering with your town hall, health insurance and a Spanish bank account — the part that starts the day you land.
TIE & residency →What Spain Gives Back
Your dollar goes further
Rent, groceries, eating out — day-to-day life in Spain costs a fraction of what it does in most American cities, without living smaller.
Why Spain →Healthcare without the anxiety
World-class public and private systems, and private cover for a family often costs less per month than one US deductible. No surprise billing.
Health insurance in Spain →Americans are already here
Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Málaga all have large, growing American communities — coworking spaces, meetups and schools included. You won't be starting from zero.
Life-in-Spain guides →Manage Your Entire Visa Journey in One Place
Manage documents, track progress, communicate with your case manager, and stay organised throughout your application process.
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Application Progress Tracking
See exactly where you are in the process, what's been completed, and what actions may be required next.
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Secure Document Uploads
Upload and store your application documents securely in one central location.
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Personalised Task List
Receive a checklist tailored to your visa type and application stage.
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Direct Communication
Stay connected with your case manager and receive important updates through your dashboard.
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Everything in One Place
Keep your documents, messages, tasks, and application progress organised in a single platform.
What our clients say
Real people, real results
Over 10,000 clients have used our platform to move to Spain. Read their stories — from first eligibility check to visa approval — all managed through the dashboard.
Ready to Start Your Journey to Spain?
Create your free account to check your eligibility, upload documents at your own pace, and track every step of your application — with a dedicated case manager beside you the whole way.
Success rate based on eligible applications.
Carlos is an AI assistant. For critical decisions, always verify with an official source or speak to an advisor.
