What visa do Americans need to live in Spain?

American citizens are not EU nationals and therefore need a visa to reside in Spain for more than 90 days. The main options are: (1) Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) — for those with passive income (pension, investments, savings); requires ~€2,400/month and private health insurance. (2) Digital Nomad Visa — for remote workers employed by non-Spanish companies or self-employed with foreign clients; requires €2,762/month (200% SMI 2026). (3) Golden Visa — for investors purchasing €500,000+ in Spanish property. Apply at the Spanish Consulate in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Houston or San Francisco.

Do American expats in Spain still have to file US taxes?

Yes. The United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live — this is known as citizenship-based taxation. Even if you live in Spain full-time and pay Spanish income tax, you must still file a US tax return every year. However, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE, Form 2555) allows you to exclude up to $126,500 (2024) of foreign earned income. Additionally, you can claim a Foreign Tax Credit for taxes paid in Spain. Most American expats owe little or no US tax after these exclusions, but filing is mandatory.

What is FATCA and how does it affect Americans in Spain?

FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) requires foreign banks (including Spanish banks) to report accounts held by US citizens to the IRS. This means your Spanish bank account details will be shared with US tax authorities. Additionally, Americans with foreign bank accounts exceeding $10,000 must file an FBAR (FinCEN 114) annually. Spanish banks are generally FATCA-compliant but some smaller banks or credit unions may be hesitant to open accounts for US citizens due to reporting obligations — BBVA, Santander and Sabadell are FATCA-compliant and experienced with US expat clients.

Is the Golden Visa still available for Americans buying property in Spain?

The Spanish Golden Visa for real estate investment (€500,000+ property purchase) was under political review in 2024–2025. As of 2026, buyers should verify the current status of the programme before purchase. However, alternative investor residency routes remain available including the significant capital investment route (€1M+ in Spanish shares or bank deposits, or €2M+ in Spanish government bonds). Costa Expat can confirm the current status and advise on the best pathway for your investment amount.

What is the American expat community like in Marbella?

Marbella has a growing American expat community, particularly in the Golden Mile and Nueva Andalucía areas. Americans are attracted by the Mediterranean lifestyle, world-class golf, international schools and relative proximity to the US (7-hour flight from the East Coast). There are American-friendly medical facilities (several English-speaking doctors and even US-trained specialists), and American restaurants, bars and social clubs. Málaga city has a younger American community linked to the tech sector.

Guía para Americanos en España [2026] — Visa Nómada Digital, Golden Visa y Vivir en Costa del Sol

Guía completa para ciudadanos estadounidenses que se mudan a España en 2026. Visa Nómada Digital, Visa No Lucrativa, Golden Visa, cumplimiento FATCA, reglas IRS y comunidad americana en Marbella y Málaga.

#American expats Spain#USA Spain visa#Digital Nomad Visa Spain American#Golden Visa Spain USA#move to Spain from USA

Guía para Americanos en España [2026]

Unos 50.000 estadounidenses residen legalmente en España. Costa del Sol, especialmente Marbella y Málaga, atrae cada vez más americanos por el estilo de vida mediterráneo, la Ley Beckham (24% tipo fijo) y la Golden Visa.

Visados para ciudadanos americanos

Los ciudadanos de EE.UU. necesitan visado para residir más de 90 días en España:

Visado	Para quién	Ingresos mínimos
Visa No Lucrativa (NLV)	Jubilados, rentas pasivas	~€2.400/mes
Digital Nomad Visa	Teletrabajadores	€2.762/mes
Golden Visa	Inversores en propiedad	€500.000 inversión

El problema fiscal americano: tributación por ciudadanía

EE.UU. grava a sus ciudadanos sobre renta mundial, aunque vivan en España. Los americanos en España deben:

✓Presentar el Form 1040 (declaración USA) cada año
✓Presentar FBAR si cuentas extranjeras > $10.000
✓Aplicar FEIE (excluir hasta $126.500 de renta ganada en el extranjero)
✓Presentar el Modelo 720 en España (activos fuera de España > €50.000)

Ley Beckham — Ventaja para americanos con Digital Nomad Visa

Los americanos que obtienen residencia por primera vez en España pueden acogerse a la Ley Beckham: tipo fijo del 24% durante 6 años sobre rentas de fuente española (hasta €600.000). Muy ventajosa para profesionales tech con salarios de $80k–$200k.

Comunidad americana en Costa del Sol

✓Marbella: Golden Mile, Nueva Andalucía. Médicos US-trained, colegio americano
✓Málaga ciudad: Hub tecnológico, Google/Vodafone, nómadas digitales

Checklist

✓[ ] Elegir visado + solicitar en Consulado de España (NY, LA, Miami, Chicago)
✓[ ] NIE + TIE al llegar
✓[ ] Cuenta bancaria (facilitar SSN para FATCA)
✓[ ] Form 1040 + FBAR + Modelo 720 + IRPF

Costa Expat asiste a americanos con NIE, TIE y todos los trámites en Costa del Sol.