v256.0 · relocation checklist · US → ES · verified 2026-04
United States to Spain — relocation checklist
15-step ordered checklist covering visa, banking, healthcare, housing, taxes, schooling, shipping, and pets. Written for the US citizen seeking Beckham Law / Non-Lucrative / Digital Nomad / Golden Visa pathway.
From
To
Total cost
USD 7,000-25,000 — visa, deposits, shipping
Timeline
16-22 weeks pre-arrival, 6-10 weeks post-arrival
Typical profile for this pair
US citizen seeking Beckham Law / Non-Lucrative / Digital Nomad / Golden Visa pathway
Step-by-step checklist (15 steps)
Pre-departure (18-22 weeks out)
- Choose visa — Non-Lucrative (passive income €28K+/year), Digital Nomad (€2,646+/mo), Golden Visa (€500K real estate or €1M fund), Highly Qualified Professional
Pre-departure (14-18 weeks out)
- Visa appointment at Spanish Consulate (LA, SF, NY, Miami, DC, Chicago, Houston) — via BLS International; 60-90 day processing
Pre-departure (12-16 weeks out)
- NIE application via consulate
Pre-departure (10-12 weeks out)
- Spanish bank account — La Caixa, BBVA, Santander, Sabadell with NIE + passport
Pre-departure (8-10 weeks out)
- FBI background + Apostille (state-level); medical certificate; health insurance €30,000+
Pre-departure (6-8 weeks out)
- Sworn translations (traductor jurado) — typically USD 80-150 per doc
Pre-departure (4-6 weeks out)
- Housing — Idealista, Fotocasa; Madrid/Barcelona €1,000-2,500/month
Pre-departure (2-4 weeks out)
- Ship — sea freight LA/NY to Valencia/Barcelona 14-21 days, USD 4,500-10,000 for 20ft
Pre-departure (1-2 weeks out)
- Pet — EU Pet Passport via USDA-accredited vet (ISO microchip + rabies + EU Health Certificate); USD 300-1,500
Arrival (Week 1-2)
- Empadronamiento at Ayuntamiento
Arrival (Week 2-4)
- TIE biometrics at Oficina de Extranjería; card mailed 4-6 weeks
Arrival (Week 4-6)
- Seguridad Social + Tarjeta Sanitaria for SNS
Arrival (Month 2)
- Beckham Law registration if eligible (24% flat tax 6 years)
Arrival (Month 3-6)
- US 1040 (citizenship-based) + Form 2555 FEIE + Form 8938 + FBAR; Spanish IRPF Modelo 100 April-June; Modelo 720
Ongoing
- Permanent residence after 5 years; Spanish citizenship after 10 years (only Latin Americans + Sephardic Jews after 2 years)
Cost breakdown
| Non-Lucrative / Digital Nomad visa | USD 142-200 + €17 TIE fee |
| NIE | EUR 10 |
| Sworn translations | USD 80-150 per doc |
| FBI + Apostille | USD 80-150 |
| Health insurance (1 year) | USD 600-1,800 |
| First month rent + 2-month deposit (Madrid 1BR) | EUR 3,000-7,500 |
| Shipping (sea freight 20ft) | USD 4,500-10,000 |
| Pet relocation | USD 300-1,500 |
⚠ Gotchas + watch-outs
- US CITIZENSHIP-BASED TAXATION — file 1040 regardless of Spanish residence
- FEIE $126,500/$130,000 (2024/2025); FBAR + Form 8938 for accounts >$10K
- Beckham Law: not Spanish-resident in past 5 years (raised from 10 in 2023)
- Modelo 720 foreign-asset declaration mandatory
- Wealth tax → Temporary Solidarity Tax on Large Fortunes (1.7-3.5% above €3M)
- US-Spain DTAA prevents double taxation; saving clause limits some treaty benefits for US citizens
- Real estate Golden Visa being phased out — fund/investment routes remain
Official sources
- Spain Consulate USA — https://www.exteriores.gob.es/embajadas/washington/
- IRS Tax Guide for US Citizens Abroad — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad
See also: United States profile · Spain profile · all relocation checklists · Spain digital nomad visa · Spain tax residency · Spain healthcare
Last verified 2026-04. Immigration, tax, and banking rules change frequently — verify with official sources before acting.