Moving to Spain
Why Spain?
Spain is known for its warm climate, fresh food, and slower way of living. The Spanish value community, family, nature, and celebrating the simple things in life.
Spain has a robust universal healthcare system, affordable education system, and walkable cities and towns that allow you to genuinely feel like you are part of a community. Spain also has low crime rates, and is a wonderful place to raise your family.
Americans are delighted to discover how attainable a fulfilling life is in Spain. Groceries, restaurants, healthcare, education, and travel are all affordable and sure to exceed your expectations.
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Spain is in the European Union and the Schengen Area
Why is that important?
Countries within the European Union (EU) offer an extraordinary level of freedom and mobility. Under the EU’s freedom of movement rules, citizens of one member state can live and work in any other EU country (plus Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland) without the need for a visa. In practical terms, this means that Spanish citizens can move seamlessly to France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, or any other EU member state without restriction. For Americans who become EU Long-Term Residents in Spain, moving to another EU country is also possible through a simplified and streamlined process.
Spain is also part of the Schengen Area, a unique region where people, commerce, and capital move freely across borders without passport controls. This openness removes many of the barriers that exist elsewhere, making both everyday life and business significantly easier. It enables effortless travel, deeper integration, and a truly borderless European experience.
How Can I Move to Spain?
You can move to Spain with a Long-Stay Visa
This is the most common pathway for Americans seeking to move to Spain. A visa is official authorization that allows you to live, work, and/or study in another country. Most visas are issued for a period of one (1) year and can be renewed as long as you continue to meet the visa's requirements. Without a visa, U.S. citizens can only visit Spain for tourism for up to 90 days, but cannot remain long-term, establish residency, or work.
How do Long-Stay Visas work?
You must apply for a visa and submit detailed documentation demonstrating that you meet the qualifications for the specific category you are seeking. This process can be time-consuming and complex, which is why many people choose to work with Geostrata so they can remain focused on their careers, families, and daily lives.
Most visas have a shared set of basic requirements. You must have enough income to cover your cost of living during your stay. The amount of income (and what kind of income) differs depending on your situation. You will also need to show proof of accommodation, which may be a leased apartment, a hosting arrangement with family or friends, or a home you own.
Geostrata has deep expertise across the full range of visa pathways available to Americans. We carefully evaluate your background, objectives, and timeline to identify the option best suited to your circumstances. Our services are offered in multiple tiers, ranging from focused coaching sessions and customized step-by-step guidance to comprehensive, full-service white-glove relocation support.
Types of Long-Stay Visas
Spain Offers Many Options for Americans
Whether you are looking to work, study, or simply embrace a new chapter, Spain offers a range of visa options to help make your move possible. The following could be eligible for a Long-Stay Visa:
- Digital nomads and remote workers
- Students and graduates who are interested in teaching English
- Freelancers, self-employed, and Entrepreneurs
- People who are hired to work at an Spanish company
- Highly-qualified workers (EU Blue Card)
- Researchers and scientists
- Job seekers
- Retirees
- Students
- Seasonal workers (temporary)
- And more!
Spotlight: Spain's Visa for English Teaching Assistants
For American Students and Graduates
This incredible opportunity is for American college students and graduates who are native English speakers. this visa allows you to become an English teaching assistant in an elementary or secondary school in Spain under the guidance of senior teachers. As a language assistant, you are fulfilling the role of a cultural ambassador, encouraging Spanish students to broaden their knowledge of English and American culture.
You will receive a monthly salary of €800 - €1,000 for 14-16 hours of work per week, and will be provided health insurance from the Spanish government. In Spain, this salary is competitive and will allow you to enjoy new adventures and fun weekend outings.
Spotlight: Spain's Digital Nomad Visa
For Digital Nomads and Remote Workers
Spain offers a digital nomad visa that allows Americans to work remotely while living in Spain. This visa offers three main benefits:
1. Your income from the United States is likely higher than it would be from an equivalent job in Spain. This allows you to enjoy the lower cost of living in Spain even more.
2. Since you are not competing with Spanish citizens and long-term residents for a job, it is significantly easier to move to Spain as a digital nomad than other methods.
3. After five (5) years living in Spain a a digital nomad, you become eligible for EU Long-Term Residency (similar to permanent residency in the United States). As an EU Long-Term Resident, you can live in Spain without any restrictions, apply for any job, study at any institution, and move to another EU country through a streamlined procedure.
Spotlight: European Union Blue Card
For Highly-Qualified Workers
The EU Blue Card is one of the most powerful and flexible visas in Spain and for the entire European Union. It is specifically designed for highly skilled professionals. If you obtain an EU Blue Card, your family can accompany you and enjoy free movement rights within the EU.
To qualify, you must have a valid work contract or binding job offer for highly-qualified employment with a duration of at least six (6) months. Your gross annual salary must be at least 1.5x the average gross annual Spanish salary (€28,000 in 2026), or €42,000.
As a Blue Card holder, you will have full rights to social security, healthcare, and all social benefits. After working in Spain for one (1) year, you can move to another EU member state and work at another highly-skilled job. The card transfers to the new member state through a simplified procedure.
EU Long-Term Residency and Citizenship
EU Long-Term Residency
EU Long-Term Residency
EU Long-Term Residency
EU Long-Term Residency is the next step for most Americans after living in Spain for five (5) years. EU Long-Term Residency allows you to live in Spain permanently without any restrictions. You can apply for any job, attend any university, and utilize social benefits like Spain's universal healthcare system. Your immediate family can accompany you and enjoy these benefits as well. If you want to move to another EU country, you can do so through a simplified procedure designed exclusively for EU Long-Term Residents.
Spanish Citizenship
EU Long-Term Residency
EU Long-Term Residency
Spanish citizenship is the ultimate goal of many of Geostrata's clients. Spanish citizenship is also EU citizenship, so you can live and work in 27 European countries with no restrictions. The Spanish passport is the most powerful on earth, tied at number 1 on the Passport Index (ten positions higher than the US passport). To become eligible to be naturalized as a Spanish citizen, you need to live in Spain for 10 years (typically five years as a visa holder and five years as an EU Long-Term Resident).
Ways to Obtain Spanish Citizenship
Naturalization and Discretionary Conferral
Americans typically obtain Spanish citizenship by naturalization, including Americans with a Spanish ancestor or spouse.
We mentioned naturalization above. To be eligible, you must live in Spain for a period of at least ten years, pass a Spanish language test, and demonstrate that you are financially stable. There a few exceptions to the ten year rule. The two most common are:
1. You are married to a Spanish citizen. In this case, you are eligible for Spanish citizenship after only one (1) year.
2. Your parent(s) or grandparent(s) are Spanish citizens and you were born outside of Spain. In this case, you are eligible for Spanish citizenship after only one (1) year.
Obtaining citizenship by discretionary conferral is very uncommon. Spain is a monarchy even though it functions as a parliamentary democracy. In special and unusual circumstances, foreigners can be made Spanish citizens through a royal decree.