Spain draws more American expats every year, and the reasons are concrete. The cost of living is a third lower than most US cities, the public healthcare system is excellent, and from almost anywhere in the country you can be in another European city in two hours. For Americans moving to Spain from the US, the quality of life outside Madrid and Barcelona, in Valencia, Seville, and the Basque Country, is hard to match at the price.

Getting there takes planning. In Spain, each piece of paperwork unlocks the next, and the timelines are longer than they look. Here's what you need to know.

Which visa do you need

US citizens can enter Spain and the wider Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days. If you're staying longer, you need to sort residency before you go. The three main routes:

Non-Lucrative Visa: The standard choice for retirees and people living on passive income, savings, or investments. Spain requires you to demonstrate you can support yourself without working in the Spanish job market. The income threshold sits at roughly €28,800/year (2025 figures). Apply at your nearest Spanish consulate in the US, allow two to three months for processing, and you'll receive a one-year visa renewable from inside Spain. Five years of continuous residency leads to permanent residency.

Digital Nomad Visa: Introduced in 2023 under Spain's Startup Law and designed specifically for remote workers and freelancers. Requirements include at least one year with your current employer (or a track record of freelance work) and a minimum monthly income of around €2,646. The visa covers up to five years, explicitly permits remote work for non-Spanish clients, and can include family members. If you're working remotely, this is the right route.

Student Visa: Full enrollment at a Spanish university or accredited language school qualifies you. Full-time work isn't permitted, but part-time work generally is. For some people it's a practical entry point while longer-term plans take shape.

Note that Spain's Golden Visa linked to residential property investment is being phased out as of 2025.

The NIE: get this sorted early

The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is your Spanish tax identification number. You need it for almost everything: signing a lease, opening a bank account, getting a phone contract, registering with a GP. Apply at the Spanish consulate before you leave the US, or at a local police station (Comisaría de Policía) after you arrive. In larger cities, appointment slots can stretch to several weeks, so treat this as a priority from day one.

One thing that helps bridge the gap: bunq doesn't require a Spanish tax number to open an account. You can have a working Spanish IBAN before you land, so you're not blocked from receiving transfers or paying rent while you wait on NIE appointments.

What things cost

Spain is noticeably cheaper than most US cities, though Madrid and Barcelona are their own category.

Day-to-day spending follows the same pattern. A full meal at a local restaurant costs €10 to €15. Groceries run roughly 30 to 40% cheaper than equivalent US prices. A monthly metro pass in Madrid is around €55, and utilities for a standard apartment come in at €100 to €150/month.

A single person can live comfortably in a mid-sized Spanish city on €1,500 to €2,000/month. A couple in Madrid or Barcelona should budget €3,000 to €4,000 to cover rent and live well.

Healthcare

Spain's public healthcare system, the Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS), is consistently rated among the best in the world. Once you're a registered resident, you're entitled to use it. GP visits, specialist care, hospital treatment, and most prescriptions are free or heavily subsidized.

Access requires registration at your local health center (centro de salud) with your NIE and proof of residency. Before that's in place, and as a condition of most visa applications, you'll need private health insurance. Private cover in Spain is considerably cheaper than in the US, typically €50 to €120/month for comprehensive coverage depending on age and plan.

Your US health insurance won't cover routine care in Spain. Some policies include emergency international coverage, worth confirming before you go, but it's not a substitute for local cover.

Taxes

US citizens are taxed on worldwide income regardless of where they live. Moving to Spain doesn't change your obligation to file a US return each year. If your foreign bank accounts hold more than $10,000 at any point during the year, you'll also need to file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114). Depending on your asset levels, FATCA Form 8938 may apply too.

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets eligible taxpayers exclude a portion of foreign-earned income from US tax. The Foreign Tax Credit lets you offset US liability against taxes already paid in Spain. Most expats end up owing little or nothing to the IRS once both are applied correctly. Staying on top of the filings is non-negotiable.

On the Spanish side: spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year and you're a Spanish tax resident, taxed on your worldwide income at rates between 19% and 47%.

The Beckham Law is a special tax arrangement for new residents that caps Spanish income tax at a flat 24% for up to six years. Remote workers on the Digital Nomad Visa can apply. It's not automatic. You need to apply within six months of registering as a Spanish tax resident, and a good gestor will handle it.

A gestor is a Spanish administrative professional who manages tax filings, residency paperwork, and bureaucratic submissions. Fees are reasonable, and their knowledge of the local system saves real time. Find one before you need to file anything.

Banking

Traditional Spanish banks create two specific headaches for US citizens. Many are reluctant to open accounts for Americans due to FATCA compliance obligations. Those that do typically require an NIE first.

bunq cuts through both. Open an account from your phone with no NIE required and no branch visit. It's a fully regulated European bank, so you get a Spanish IBAN you can use immediately for rent, transfers, and direct debits. When your money is regularly moving between the US and Spain, ZeroFX gives you the real Mastercard exchange rate on eligible card purchases in currencies outside the Eurozone, with no additional markup.

Whether you're still in the US planning the move or already in Spain working through the paperwork, you can have a fully functional Spanish bank account ready before you land. Open your Bank Account in 5 minutes.

Finding a place to live

Spain's rental market is competitive in Madrid and Barcelona, where demand has outpaced supply and prices have risen sharply in recent years. Valencia, Seville, Málaga, and Bilbao are considerably more manageable.

Idealista is the largest and most used property portal. Fotocasa has strong listings in Barcelona and Catalonia. Expat Facebook groups for specific cities often surface furnished short-term lets that don't appear on the main platforms, useful for the first couple of months while you're getting your bearings.

Landlords will typically ask for one to two months' deposit, first month upfront, and proof of income. Some will require an NIE. Others will accept a passport alongside confirmation that you've applied. Taking a short-term rental for the first two to three months while you search properly is a sensible approach.

Driving

A US driving license is valid in Spain for the first six months of residency. After that, you'll need a Spanish one. There's no reciprocal exchange agreement between the two countries, so you'll generally need to sit the Spanish driving test rather than simply converting your license. The theory exam has a reputation for being demanding, so budgeting for lessons at a local autoescuela makes sense. €500 to €1,500 is a reasonable estimate depending on how much preparation you need.

If you're moving to Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia, all three cities have solid public transport networks that make a car unnecessary, at least to start.

Language

Spain speaks Castilian Spanish, with Catalan in Catalonia, Basque in the Basque Country, and Galician in Galicia. English is widely spoken in major cities and tourist areas, but Spanish opens up everything from healthcare appointments to administrative processes to everyday social life in a way that English alone doesn't.

Language schools are affordable and widely available. Conversation exchanges (intercambios) are popular across Spanish cities and one of the more effective ways to develop fluency while meeting people. Arriving with at least a functional level of Spanish makes the early months considerably smoother.

Getting started

Moving to Spain from the US is a big step, but your banking doesn't need to be complicated. With bunq, you can open your account from your phone, get a Spanish IBAN before you land, and manage your money in English from day one. Whether you're moving for the lifestyle, the weather, the food, or the Beckham Law, bunq helps you handle your finances with less stress and more freedom.

Before you go: start your visa application at your nearest Spanish consulate well in advance, as timelines are longer than they look. Secure private health insurance that meets visa requirements early. Begin the NIE process as soon as you can, and find a gestor in Spain before you need to file anything.

Ready to make Spain home? Open bunq and start banking smarter from day one.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Requirements and thresholds change. Consult a qualified adviser for your specific situation.