How do I apply for the Spain digital nomad visa as an American?
Updated · Spain nomad visa guide · Not legal advice
As a US citizen you either apply for the visa at the Spanish consulate that covers your state of residence, or enter Spain visa-free and file a residence authorisation online with the UGE before your 90-day stay ends. Either way you need an apostilled FBI background check, an SSA certificate of coverage (if you are an employee), proof of income and remote work, and Spanish-valid health insurance.
| Step | What you do | US-specific detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Check eligibility | Income, 3+ months with employer/clients, degree or 3 years' experience | Income must be shown in euros; USD is converted |
| 2. Choose your route | Consulate (visa, 1 year) or UGE from inside Spain (permit, up to 3 years) | Consulate is set by your state: see consulates |
| 3. Criminal record | Background check covering the last 2 years | FBI Identity History Summary, apostilled by the US Department of State |
| 4. Social security | Prove coverage | SSA certificate of coverage under the US–Spain agreement (employees) |
| 5. Translate | Sworn translation of foreign documents into Spanish | Use a traductor jurado |
| 6. File | Consulate appointment or UGE online filing | Check the consulate's page for appointments |
| 7. After approval | TIE card at the police within one month of arrival (visa route) | See TIE after arrival |
Which route suits most Americans
Americans can stay in Spain visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. That makes the inside-Spain (UGE) route practical: you fly in, file online while your stay is legal, and receive a permit of up to 3 years. The consulate route suits people who want the decision before they move or who must apply from home for family or timing reasons. Compare both in inside Spain vs consulate.
US documents that take the longest
- FBI background check: request it, then have it apostilled by the US Department of State. See FBI check apostille.
- SSA certificate of coverage: your US employer requests it from the SSA's Office of International Programs. See SSA certificate.
- State documents (marriage and birth certificates for family) are apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state that issued them.
Taxes are a separate question
The visa does not decide your taxes, but living in Spain more than 183 days in a year generally makes you a Spanish tax resident, and US citizens keep filing US returns. Read taxes and the Beckham law and speak to a cross-border tax advisor before you move.
Quick answers
- Which Spanish consulate do I apply to from California?
- Southern California counties (including Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego) go to the Los Angeles consulate; the rest of California goes to San Francisco. See California consulates.
- How long can Americans stay in Spain without a visa?
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. See the 90/180 rule.
- Can I keep my US job?
- Yes, if your employer is outside Spain, authorises you in writing to work remotely from Spain, and you have worked with them for at least 3 months.
- What should I do first?
- Order your FBI background check and ask your employer about the SSA certificate of coverage: those take the longest. Then confirm your income against the current threshold.
What to do next
Get a checklist built for a US applicant: your state's consulate or the UGE route, FBI, apostille and SSA steps included.
Start my free checkSources
- UGE (Ministerio de Inclusión): Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit
- Embassy of Spain in Washington: consulates and jurisdictions
- SSA: US–Spain social security agreement
- IRS: Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
- BOE: Law 14/2013 (consolidated text, arts. 74 bis and 74 ter)
Checked: . Rules change; confirm current values on the official pages above before you file.