Moving to Spain From the USA or Canada
From choosing the right residence route to preparing FBI or RCMP records, apostilles, Spanish translations and the final legal file, we coordinate the moving parts that North American applicants face when relocating to Spain.
Your Starting Point for Relocating to Spain
Spain has multiple immigration routes. DigitalNomadInSpain.org focuses on two particularly relevant pathways for North Americans who want to establish residence without taking a traditional local Spanish job.
Remote employees, freelancers and qualifying business owners will usually begin by investigating Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa or international teleworker residence authorization. Retirees and financially independent applicants who do not intend to work will usually investigate the Non-Lucrative Visa.
The visa is only one part of the move. Applicants may also need criminal-record certificates, federal or state/provincial apostilles, civil-status records, translations, health insurance, financial evidence and—depending on the route—employment, Social Security or professional documentation.
Our role is to coordinate those North American document requirements and, where requested, connect clients with independent licensed immigration counsel and relocation professionals in Spain.
Which Spain Residence Route Fits You?
Start with one question: do you plan to continue working while living in Spain?
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
- Employment/professional relationship generally must already exist before applying.
- The foreign company or business activity must meet continuity requirements.
- Degree or qualifying professional experience requirements apply.
- Social Security treatment is a major issue for employees and must be analyzed case by case.
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
- Private Spain-compliant health insurance is a central requirement.
- Financial-evidence expectations vary by consular jurisdiction.
- Family members increase the financial threshold.
- Current renewal rules require real and effective residence in Spain for more than 183 days during the calendar year.
Digital Nomad Visa vs. Non-Lucrative Visa at a Glance
These are not interchangeable visas. The right route depends primarily on whether you will work, how you support yourself and where the initial application can be filed.
| Question | Digital Nomad Visa | Non-Lucrative Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Designed for | Remote employees, freelancers and qualifying international teleworkers | Retirees and financially independent residents |
| Can you work? | Yes, within the visa’s employment/professional rules | No; it is a non-working residence category |
| 2026 main financial benchmark | €2,442/month (200% SMI) | €28,800 for the initial year (400% IPREM) |
| Dependents | Additional 75% SMI for the first family member and 25% for each additional family member | Additional 100% IPREM (€7,200 in 2026) for each dependent |
| Initial filing | Consular route, or qualifying in-country residence application while legally present in Spain | Consular process abroad |
| North American complexity | Employment/client evidence, Social Security, FBI/RCMP records, apostilles and translations | Financial proof, FBI/RCMP records, apostilles, insurance, medical certificate and translations |
The North American Paperwork Behind a Move to Spain
One of the most confusing parts of Spanish immigration is that the document may originate in North America, be authenticated by a U.S. or Canadian authority, translated for Spain and then filed with a Spanish consulate or immigration authority.
🇺🇸 Moving to Spain From the United States
- FBI criminal record: Spanish visa applications commonly require an FBI Identity History Summary rather than a state or local police check.
- Federal apostille: The FBI document is federal and therefore follows the U.S. Department of State apostille route.
- State documents: Birth, marriage and similar state-issued records generally follow the competent Secretary of State apostille process.
- Remote employees: DNV cases can involve U.S.–Spain Social Security coordination and employer documentation.
- Financial records: NLV applicants should build their evidence around the exact checklist of the responsible Spanish consulate.
🇨🇦 Moving to Spain From Canada
- RCMP criminal record: Fingerprint-based RCMP certificates are commonly required for adult applicants.
- Federal records: Federal documents such as RCMP certificates may require an apostille from Global Affairs Canada.
- Provincial records: Birth, marriage and other civil documents may be handled by a provincial competent authority or Global Affairs Canada depending on the issuing authority.
- Remote employees: Canadian DNV cases may require analysis of the Canada–Spain Social Security agreement and applicable coverage certificate.
- Translation: Spanish-language requirements should be checked against the relevant consulate or filing route.
A Practical Roadmap for Moving to Spain
Your exact sequence depends on the visa and consulate, but most successful relocations follow the same broad planning logic.
Choose the Correct Residence Route
Confirm whether your work, income and long-term plan are better aligned with the DNV, NLV or another immigration category.
Identify the Filing Jurisdiction
Consular checklists and procedures can differ. DNV applicants should also determine whether an in-country UGE route is legally available and appropriate.
Build the North American File
Order the correct FBI/RCMP, civil, employment, financial, insurance and medical records for your route and family composition.
Apostille & Translate
Send each public document through the correct federal, state or provincial apostille authority and prepare Spanish translations appropriate to the filing route.
Legal Review & Filing
Self-file where appropriate or have independent licensed Spanish immigration counsel review strategy and handle the legal filing when included in your service package.
Prepare for Settlement
Coordinate housing, health insurance and the applicable post-arrival registrations or residence-card formalities for your specific immigration status.
More Than Visa Paperwork
A successful relocation does not end when the immigration file is submitted. We can coordinate your document work and introduce you to independent professionals for the parts of the move that require local legal, property, insurance or settlement expertise.
⚖️ Immigration Counsel
Introductions and hand-off to independent licensed Spanish immigration attorneys for legal advice, strategy and filing where included in the selected package.
🏠 Housing
Introductions to local real estate and relocation professionals who can assist with your housing search based on destination and availability.
🩺 Health Insurance
Introductions to insurance professionals familiar with policies used for Spanish residence applications and expat settlement.
📄 Document Logistics
FBI/RCMP coordination, federal and state/provincial apostilles, civil records, translation coordination and international document delivery.
Choose the Level of Support You Need
Some clients want us to handle only the North American paperwork. Others want coordinated legal filing and broader settlement support.
Document-First Support
For applicants who are comfortable managing their own visa appointment or already have a lawyer, our North American document service focuses on criminal records, apostilles, civil documents, translations and file organization.
Turnkey Relocation Support
For clients who want a coordinated hand-off, selected packages combine North American document preparation with introductions to independent Spanish immigration counsel and additional relocation support.
Three Things to Decide Before You Start Ordering Documents
Starting with the wrong assumptions can create unnecessary apostille, translation and timing costs.
Will You Keep Working?
If yes, do not treat the NLV as a remote-work workaround. Start with the DNV or obtain advice on another work-authorized route.
Where Will You File?
Your U.S. or Canadian residence determines the relevant consular jurisdiction for consular applications, and the checklist can affect the evidence you prepare.
Who Is Moving With You?
Spouses, partners, children and other qualifying dependents can change financial thresholds and require additional civil, apostille and translation work.
Moving to Spain From the U.S. or Canada: FAQs
High-level answers to the questions most people need resolved before choosing a visa and starting their document file.
Can an American or Canadian move to Spain legally?
Yes. U.S. and Canadian citizens can qualify for a range of Spanish residence categories if they meet the applicable requirements. For our clients, two common routes are the Digital Nomad Visa for qualifying remote workers and the Non-Lucrative Visa for people who will live in Spain without working.
Should I choose the Digital Nomad Visa or Non-Lucrative Visa?
If you plan to continue active remote employment or professional work from Spain, investigate the Digital Nomad route. If you intend to live from sufficient financial means without working, the Non-Lucrative Visa may be more appropriate. Your employment structure, financial evidence and intended filing route should be reviewed before deciding.
Can I apply for Spanish residence after arriving in Spain?
It depends on the residence category. Qualifying international teleworkers who are legally present in Spain may apply for an in-country residence authorization through the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE). The initial Non-Lucrative Visa, by contrast, is a consular process abroad.
Do I need an apostille for documents used in Spain?
Many foreign public documents used in Spanish immigration proceedings must be legalized or apostilled. The correct authority depends on who issued the document. For example, a U.S. FBI record follows the federal U.S. Department of State apostille route, while many U.S. civil records are apostilled at state level. Canadian documents may fall under Global Affairs Canada or a provincial competent authority.
Do I need a Spanish immigration lawyer?
Not every consular visa application legally requires a private lawyer, but professional legal advice can be valuable when the employment structure, Social Security position, family circumstances, prior immigration history or filing strategy is complex. DigitalNomadInSpain.org can introduce clients to independent licensed Spanish immigration attorneys when legal support is desired or included in a package.
When should I start preparing for a move to Spain?
Start planning several months before your target move whenever possible, but do not order every time-sensitive document on day one. Criminal records, medical certificates and consular appointments have their own timing considerations. A document plan should sequence the slower items without causing time-sensitive records to become stale before filing.
Can my spouse and children move to Spain with me?
Both the Digital Nomad and Non-Lucrative routes provide mechanisms for qualifying family members, subject to the rules of the particular visa. Dependents increase financial requirements and can require additional birth, marriage, criminal-record, apostille and translation documentation.
Will moving to Spain make me a Spanish tax resident?
Immigration residence and tax residence are separate questions. Under Spanish domestic rules, spending more than 183 days in Spain during a calendar year is one important tax-residence test, alongside other criteria. U.S. and Canadian movers should obtain cross-border tax advice based on their own income, assets, treaties and family circumstances.
Can you help with housing and health insurance as well as paperwork?
Yes. Our core operational strength is North American document coordination, and selected relocation services can also include introductions to independent Spanish immigration attorneys, real estate professionals and insurance specialists. The exact support depends on the package and destination.
Official Sources for Spain Immigration & Relocation Planning
Requirements change. We use current government sources and the checklist for the applicant’s filing jurisdiction rather than relying on generic online summaries.
- Spain PRIE — International Teleworkers / Digital Nomad Residence
- Embassy of Spain in Washington — Telework Visa
- Embassy of Spain in Washington — Non-Lucrative Residence Visa
- BOE — Current Spanish Immigration Regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024)
- U.S. Department of State — Apostille Requirements
- Global Affairs Canada — Apostille and Authentication Requirements
- Spanish Tax Agency — Individual Tax Residence
Ready to Build Your Spain Relocation Plan?
Tell us whether you are working remotely, retiring, moving alone or bringing family. We can help identify the North American documents your route requires and coordinate the next steps with the appropriate relocation professionals.
DigitalNomadInSpain.org is an administrative document and relocation concierge, not a law firm. Legal advice, legal representation and immigration filings are provided by independent licensed legal professionals where applicable.