Practical guides for moving to Spain
32 plain-English guides on the visas, documents, tax, business, and settling-in questions US and UK citizens run into most often when relocating to Spain. Written and reviewed by our licensed team in Barcelona.
NIE vs NIF: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?
NIE and NIF are not the same thing, though most foreigners end up using one number for both. Here's exactly what each is.
Residence & Visas
Digital Nomad Visa vs Non-Lucrative Visa: Which Is Right for You?
Compare Spain's Digital Nomad Visa and Non-Lucrative Visa side by side: who qualifies, income rules, tax treatment, and which one fits your situation.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa 2026: What Changed for US and UK Applicants
What actually changed for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa in 2026: new income thresholds, stricter document checks, and what applicants need to know.
How Long Does It Take to Get Spanish Residency? A Realistic Timeline
A realistic month-by-month timeline for getting Spanish residency, from visa filing through permanent residency at year five.
Renewing Your Spanish Residence Permit: A Step-by-Step Guide
Deadlines, required documents, common rejection reasons, and what changes at renewal.
Path to Spanish Citizenship: Requirements for US and UK Nationals
The 10-year rule, DELE and CCSE exams, dual nationality limits, and the application steps.
Spain's Golden Visa Ended in 2025 — What Replaces It in 2026
What actually happened to the investor visa, and which residence routes replace it for US and UK applicants.
Pareja de Hecho: Registering a Civil Partnership in Spain
Notarial deed vs regional registry, and the residence benefit for non-EU partners under the 5-year EU family member card.
Documents & Registration
How to Get Your NIE Before You Arrive in Spain (Consular Route)
How to apply for a Spanish NIE at a home-country consulate before relocating: appointments, documents, fees.
TIE Card Explained: Your Physical Residence Card in Spain
What the TIE card is, who needs one, how it differs from the NIE, and how to book your fingerprint appointment.
Empadronamiento: Why Your Spanish Address Registration Matters
Why the padrón municipal registration is one of the most requested documents in Spain.
Apostilling US and UK Documents for Use in Spain
How to apostille birth certificates, background checks, and corporate papers, with current fees and processing times.
Tax & Accounting
Beckham Law Explained: How Americans and Britons Can Cut Their Spanish Tax Rate
How qualifying applicants pay a 24% flat rate on Spanish employment income for up to six years, and who is excluded.
FATCA and Spanish Tax Residency: What US Expats Need to Know
How FATCA, FBAR, and Spain's Modelo 720/721 interact once you become a Spanish tax resident.
Becoming Autónomo in Spain: A Guide for Freelancers and Remote Workers
Registering as autónomo, current RETA contribution bands, the tarifa plana discount, and common traps.
S1 Form and Healthcare for UK Retirees Moving to Spain
How UK state pensioners use the S1 form to access Spain's public healthcare system.
Do You Owe Taxes in Two Countries? Understanding the US/UK-Spain Tax Treaties
How the double taxation treaties actually work, including the US saving clause and foreign tax credits.
Spanish Inheritance Law for US and UK Residents: What Brussels IV Actually Changes
How EU Regulation 650/2012 lets any nationality choose their home country's succession law, and what it doesn't change about Spanish inheritance tax.
Business Setup
How to Register a Company (SL) in Spain as a Foreign Founder
Capital, notary, timeline, and costs for registering a Sociedad Limitada as a foreign founder.
ENISA Certification for the Startup Visa: What Investors Look For
How ENISA evaluates Spanish startups for certification, and the tax and visa benefits that follow approval.
Opening a Business Bank Account in Spain as a Non-Resident
What Spanish banks require to open a corporate account for non-residents.
Freelancer or Company? Autónomo vs Sociedad Limitada
Costs, liability, and taxes compared for US and UK entrepreneurs.
Virtual Office vs Physical Office: What Registration Actually Requires
What Spanish company registration legally requires for a registered address.
Relocation Services
How to Open a Spanish Bank Account as a Non-Resident
Documents, certificado de no residente, and common rejection reasons.
Renting an Apartment in Spain as a Foreigner: What Landlords Expect
Deposits, guarantors, nómina requirements, and how to rent without a Spanish payslip.
Best Cities in Spain for US and UK Expats: A Practical Comparison
Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and Málaga compared on cost, community, healthcare, and schools.
International Schools in Spain: What US and UK Families Should Know
How British, American, and IB curriculum schools compare, cost, and admissions timing.
Exchanging Your US or UK Driving License for a Spanish One
Why UK holders exchange without a test, why US holders must sit the full exam, and the shared 6-month deadline.
Bringing Your Dog or Cat to Spain: 2026 Rules for US and UK Owners
Microchip and rabies timing, EU health certificates, and what the new EU2026/131 rules change.
Cost of Living in Spain in 2026: What You'll Actually Spend
A realistic monthly budget breakdown by city, plus how visa income thresholds compare to real living costs.
Shipping Your Household Goods to Spain Without Paying Duty
The two timing rules that matter most for the menaje de casa customs exemption, and the documentation you'll need.
Getting a Mortgage in Spain as a Non-Resident
Loan-to-value limits, extra FATCA documentation for US buyers, and the post-Brexit position for UK buyers.
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