Moving from the US to Spain in 2026
Most Americans move to Spain on one of two routes: the Non-Lucrative Visa for retirees and people living on passive income, which needs €2,400 (≈ $2,685)/month; or the Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers for employers or clients outside Spain, which needs €2,442 (≈ $2,732)/month.
Either way, Spanish citizenship takes 10 years of legal residence.
Last verified 2026-10-26 against official Spain government and consulate pages. Every figure links to its source. USD amounts are approximate, at the ECB reference rate of 2026-10-26.
Spain visas for Americans at a glance
| Route | Income | Decision time | Work | Permanent residence | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Lucrative Visa | €2,400/month | up to 90 days | No | 5 years | 10 years |
| Digital Nomad Visa | €2,442/month | up to 10 days | Foreign employer or clients only | 5 years | 10 years |
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa: who it suits and what it takes
For retirees and people living on passive income. Official name: Non-Lucrative Residence Visa (residencia temporal no lucrativa).
- Income required
- €2,400 (≈ $2,685)/month (400% of IPREM per month for the applicant (IPREM 2026 = EUR 600/month, EUR 7,200/year))[official source]
- Per dependent
- +100% of IPREM per family member: EUR 600/month (EUR 7,200/year)[official source]
- Savings alternative
- €28,800 (≈ $32,222)[official source]
- Decision time
- up to 90 days[official source]
- Government fees
- National visa fee (US citizens, reciprocity rate): $140; Residence authorization fee (Modelo 790 código 052, epígrafe 2.1.1): $13.00 [official source]
- First permit
- 12 months; renewable for 2 years at a time, then eligible for long-term residence after 5 years[official source]
- Can you work?
- No[official source]
- Permanent residence
- after 5 years[official source]
- Citizenship
- after 10 years of residence[official source]
How to apply for the Non-Lucrative Visa from the US
- Gather documents in the US. EX-01 form, passport valid 1+ year, FBI fingerprint background check (max 6 months old) with FBI Apostille and sworn Spanish translation, medical certificate (max 3 months old), proof of means (400% IPREM), Spanish health insurance with no copay or limits, proof of residence in the consular district.[source]
- Apply in person at the consulate (or its BLS centre) for your US state. Each US consulate only accepts residents of its district. Pay the $140 visa fee + $13 Modelo 790-052 fee per applicant.[source]
- Wait for the decision (legal limit 3 months). The consulate forwards the file to the Spanish immigration office, which resolves the residence authorization within 1 month of receiving it.[source]
- Collect the visa within 1 month and enter Spain within its validity. Visa valid for up to 3 months; the 1-year authorization starts on the date of entry.[source]
- Apply for the TIE (foreigner ID card) within 1 month of entry. In person at the Policía Nacional station or Oficina de Extranjería for your place of residence.[source]
- Renew before the first year ends. Apply in the 2 months before expiry; renewal gives 2 more years if means are maintained.[source]
Legal basis and notes
- Income: Rule (400% IPREM applicant, 100% IPREM per family member) from Ministerio de Inclusión Hoja 6 (updated May 2025, cites RD 1155/2024 arts. 60-63) and US consulate pages (Boston, Chicago, Washington). IPREM 2026 = EUR 600/month, EUR 7,200/year (12 pagas): SEPE https://www.sepe.es/HomeSepe/prestaciones-desempleo/Cuantias-anuales.html and Consulate LA https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/losangeles/en/ServiciosConsulares/Documents/IPREM.pdf; legal basis Ley 31/2022 (PGE 2023) prorogued, IPREM unchanged since 2023. Arithmetic: 4 x 600 = 2,400/month; 2,400 x 12 = 28,800/year. Couple: 2,400 + 600 = 3,000/month (36,000/year). Couple + 1 child: 3,600/month (43,200/year). Washington consulate states the requirement on an annual basis (400% IPREM annually).
- Savings: Consulates accept either sufficient own funds for the initial year or a regular income (Chicago, Washington pages). Hoja 6 says means can be proven by any means, including property titles, certified cheques or credit cards with bank certification. The amount is computed from the IPREM rule (4 x 600 x 12), not a figure printed on the page. Chicago also asks for bank account details incl. balances at 31 Dec of the previous year and average balance.
- Decision time: Boston consulate: legal period for a decision is 3 months from the day after submission, extendable if an interview or extra documents are requested. Inside that, the Oficina de Extranjería must resolve the residence authorization within 1 month of receiving the consulate's communication; silence = refusal (Hoja 6). Once granted, the applicant has 1 month to collect the visa. Real-world times vary by consulate and BLS appointment availability; no official average published.
- Duration: Initial authorization lasts 1 year from entry (Hoja 6). Visa itself valid up to 90 days for entry (Boston; Hoja 6: never more than 3 months). Renewed authorization valid 2 years unless long-term residence applies (Hoja 7); apply in the 2 months before expiry or up to 3 months after. Renewal also requires sufficient means for the renewal period.
- Work: Boston: the visa 'does not allow any type of work or professional activity, including remote, as this is not a digital nomad visa.' Hoja 6: authorizes residence without carrying out work or professional activities.
- Permanent residence: Residencia de larga duración (national): 5 years of legal and continuous residence in Spain before applying (Hoja 49; Ley Orgánica 4/2000 art. 32; RD 1155/2024). Long-term EU status (Hoja 50) also requires 5 years. Absence limits that break continuity are not verified here.
- Citizenship: Código Civil art. 22.1 (as amended by Ley 36/2002): naturalization by residence requires 10 years of legal, continuous residence immediately before applying. The 2-year reduced period applies only to nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and Sephardic Jews; US citizens are not covered. Art. 23 requires renouncing prior nationality (US not exempt). Resolution time: max 1 year, silence = refusal (Ley 36/2002 DA).
What we could not verify
Changes vs app: fee was ~EUR 600, verified US-citizen fee is $140 visa + $13 residence fee = $153 per applicant (2026, Chicago/Houston/Boston). Processing: app said 2-3 months; official legal maximum is 3 months (no official minimum). Income unchanged at EUR 2,400/mo (IPREM still EUR 600 in 2026 because the 2023 budget is prorogued). Not verified: TIE card fee, BLS service charges, exact absence limits for PR/citizenship continuity, whether every US consulate charges the same $140 (Washington page only says 'reciprocity rates, revised quarterly'). RD 1155/2024 (in force May 2025) now governs NLV (arts. 60-63); the official Hoja 6 updated May 2025 keeps 400%/100% IPREM and 1-year initial term; renewal sheet (Hoja 7) states 2-year renewals. Some secondary sources claim the new reglamento lets NLV holders switch to work authorizations; not verified from an official page, so not included.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa: who it suits and what it takes
For remote workers for employers or clients outside Spain. Official name: Digital Nomad Visa (visado para teletrabajo de carácter internacional, Ley 14/2013 as amended by Ley 28/2022).
- Income required
- €2,442 (≈ $2,732)/month (200% of the monthly SMI (SMI 2026 = EUR 1,221/month in 14 payments, EUR 17,094/year; Real Decreto 126/2026))[official source]
- Per dependent
- First family member +75% SMI (EUR 916/month); each additional member +25% SMI (EUR 305/month)[official source]
- Decision time
- up to 10 days[official source]
- Government fees
- National visa fee (US citizens, reciprocity rate): $190 [official source]
- First permit
- 12 months; visa holders can apply in Spain for a residence authorization of up to 3 years (within 60 days before visa expiry); renewals for 2 years each[official source]
- Can you work?
- Foreign employer or clients only[official source]
- Permanent residence
- after 5 years[official source]
- Citizenship
- after 10 years of residence[official source]
How to apply for the Digital Nomad Visa from the US
- Get a Spanish NIE number from your consulate. Houston and other US consulates require the NIE before the visa application.[source]
- Gather documents. Employer/client certificate (3+ months, remote work allowed), company active 1+ year, degree or 3 years' experience, income 200% SMI, FBI background check with Apostille and translation, health insurance, and US Social Security Certificate of Coverage (US-Spain agreement) or Spanish Social Security registration.[source]
- Apply in person at your consulate's BLS centre and pay $190. Only residents of the consular district may apply there.[source]
- Decision within 10 business days. Legal deadline under Ley 14/2013 art. 75.5; longer if an interview or more documents are requested.[source]
- Move to Spain; the 1-year visa is your residence title. A TIE card is optional during the visa year and can be requested at the Oficina de Extranjería or Police station.[source]
- Apply to the UGE for the 3-year residence authorization. File online within the 60 days before the visa expires; UGE must answer within 20 days (silence = approval).[source]
- Get your TIE. Authorizations valid over 6 months require applying for the foreigner identity card (Ley 14/2013 art. 76.2).[source]
Legal basis and notes
- Income: Rule from the joint DGM/DGEEAC instruction of 29 Mar 2023 (https://www.inclusion.gob.es/documents/410169/0/report_report_2301+Instrucci%C3%B3n+conjunta+Teletrabajadores+de+car%C3%A1cter+internacional_rev13_FIRMADAS.pdf/d6c8533a-c98e-6157-da03-a598f0e1c017?t=1681813834808): holder 200% SMI monthly; 2-person family unit +75% SMI; +25% SMI per additional member. SMI 2026 = EUR 40.70/day or EUR 1,221/month (RD 126/2026, BOE-A-2026-3815, https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2026/02/18/126/con), EUR 17,094/year (SEPE). Houston consulate (official) computes on the monthly figure: 2 x 1,221 = 2,442/month (~$2,845); 0.75 x 1,221 = 915.75 ~ 916; 0.25 x 1,221 = 305.25 ~ 305. CONFLICT: many secondary sources prorate the 14-payment annual SMI over 12 months: 17,094 / 12 = 1,424.50; x 2 = 2,849/month (34,188/year); family +1,068.38 and +356.13. Ministry of Inclusión (UGE) historically used the prorated figure for in-Spain residence applications (2025: EUR 2,762 = 16,576 x 2 / 12), but no official 2026 UGE page confirming 2,849 was found. Annual left null because the official consular page gives only a monthly figure. Safe planning figure: EUR 2,849/month. Couple (Houston basis): 2,442 + 916 = 3,358/month; couple + 1 child: 3,663/month.
- Savings: No separate savings threshold on US consulate pages; requirement is expressed as monthly income (any means of proof: employment contract, firm job offer, commercial contract). Some non-US consulates mention 'own financial means' as an alternative; not verified for US consulates.
- Decision time: Value is in BUSINESS days (días hábiles), about 2 calendar weeks. Ley 14/2013 art. 75.5: visa applications are resolved and notified within 10 business days (Houston consulate repeats this; extendable if an interview or extra documents are needed). In-Spain residence authorization via UGE (art. 76.1): max 20 days from electronic filing, positive silence (approved if no answer). Real-world consular times and BLS appointment waits vary; not officially published.
- Duration: Ley 14/2013 art. 74 quater: visa valid max 1 year (or shorter if the work period is shorter); art. 74 quater.3: residence application in the 60 natural days before visa expiry; art. 74 quinquies.2: residence authorization max 3 years; art. 76.3: renewals for 2-year periods. Applicants already legally in Spain can apply directly to the UGE for the 3-year residence without a visa.
- Work: Ley 14/2013 art. 74 bis.1: employees may only work for companies located outside Spain; self-employed may work for Spanish companies up to 20% of their total professional activity. Work must be remote via telematic means. Requires 3+ months' relationship with the foreign employer/clients and the company must have operated at least 1 year (art. 74 ter).
- Permanent residence: Residencia de larga duración: 5 years of legal and continuous residence (Hoja 49; Ley Orgánica 4/2000 art. 32). Time on the DNV counts as legal residence (inference: it is a residence title under Ley 14/2013; no official page found that addresses DNV time explicitly).
- Citizenship: Código Civil art. 22.1: 10 years of legal, continuous residence; US citizens do not qualify for the 2-year reduced period (Ibero-America, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, Sephardic). Art. 23: renunciation of prior nationality required.
What we could not verify
INCOME CONFLICT: official Houston consulate page = EUR 2,442/month (2 x 1,221 monthly SMI); widely cited secondary figure = EUR 2,849/month (17,094 x 2 / 12, prorated). No official 2026 UGE or Ministry page found stating 2,849; one secondary report (GPA, May 2026) even claims the Ministry kept EUR 2,762. Treat EUR 2,849 as the conservative planning figure. Dependents: official rule is +75% SMI for the first family member and +25% per additional member (not specifically 'spouse' and 'child'). Processing: app said 20-45 days; statutory maximum is 10 business days for the consular visa and 20 days for UGE residence. Fee: app value not given for DNV; US citizens pay $190 (Houston, Miami; Miami label says 'from Jan 1 2025'). Washington page fee table not machine-readable. Not verified: NIE fee, BLS service charge, UGE residence fee, TIE fee, whether DNV time counts toward PR explicitly. RD 1155/2024 (in force May 2025) is the general immigration reglamento; the DNV is governed by Ley 14/2013 and the 2023 joint instruction, and no official source found indicating the new reglamento changed DNV thresholds or durations (inference).
Questions Americans ask about moving to Spain
How much income do I need for the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa?
€2,400 (≈ $2,685)/month (400% of IPREM per month for the applicant (IPREM 2026 = EUR 600/month, EUR 7,200/year)), according to the official source, last checked 2026-10-26.
How long does the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa take?
The official decision period is up to 90 days. Real-world timelines are often longer once you add document gathering and appointments.
Can I work in Spain on the Non-Lucrative Visa?
No.
How much income do I need for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa?
€2,442 (≈ $2,732)/month (200% of the monthly SMI (SMI 2026 = EUR 1,221/month in 14 payments, EUR 17,094/year; Real Decreto 126/2026)), according to the official source, last checked 2026-10-26.
How long does the Spain Digital Nomad Visa take?
The official decision period is up to 10 days. Real-world timelines are often longer once you add document gathering and appointments.
Can I work in Spain on the Digital Nomad Visa?
Foreign employer or clients only.
How long until I can become a Spanish citizen?
Counting legal residence: 10 years on the Non-Lucrative Visa; 10 years on the Digital Nomad Visa. Citizenship by descent, if you qualify, can be much faster.
Go deeper
- Spain city guides
- Spain Non-Lucrative Visa guide
- Spain NLV vs DNV
- Spain NLV vs Portugal D7
- Recent rule changes
- This data as JSON
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