Yes, US citizens can apply for Spain's digital nomad visa. It is open to nationals of any country outside the EU and the EEA, and Americans make up a large share of the people who ask about it. What changes for a US applicant is the paperwork and the consulate, which depends on your state. An independent Spanish immigration lawyer confirms your case.
Last verified: October 12, 2026
Yes, if you meet the same conditions as everyone else: remote work for companies outside Spain, gross income of at least EUR 2,442 per month for a single applicant, a degree or three years of experience, an employer or client that has operated for at least a year, and a working relationship of at least three months. US passport holders can also stay in Spain for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.
The first route is the Spanish consulate that covers the state where you live. The visa is valid for up to one year, and before it expires you apply in Spain for a residence authorisation of up to three years.
The second route is applying inside Spain. The consulates state that foreigners who are legally in Spain, for example US visitors within their 90 days, can apply for the residence authorisation directly without a prior visa. Your lawyer compares the two routes for your situation.
US applicants deal with documents that only exist in the US system, such as an FBI background check and a state corporate certificate for the employer, each with strict apostille and translation rules. Your lawyer gives you the exact list and the order to request them in, so nothing expires before filing.
You file with the consulate that covers the state where you live. Our guide to consulates by state lists every jurisdiction.
The consulates publish a visa fee of USD 190 for US citizens, and the residence authorisation in Spain carries a small separate government fee per person. Your lawyer's fee is USD 6,000 in total for the full process, confirmed in writing before you engage and invoiced to you directly. Translations, apostilles and insurance come on top; our cost guide explains the budget.
US tax obligations continue, and Spain taxes its tax residents on worldwide income. A cross-border tax adviser should review your position before you move; our taxes guide explains the Spanish side.
The law sets decision periods of ten working days for the consular visa and twenty days for the residence authorisation. They can stretch when the authorities ask for more information, and most of the real time goes into preparing documents, so plan for weeks.
The law does not require one. Many Americans use a Spanish lawyer because the file mixes foreign documents with strict apostille and translation rules, Social Security steps that need a Spanish electronic certificate, and a process where small errors cause delays.
US citizens and other US residents can start with the short eligibility check below. Arx Capital Group is not a law firm; your lawyer contracts with you and bills you directly.
Yes, if they meet the income, work, qualification, insurance and background-check rules.
Yes. Foreigners legally in Spain, including US visitors within their 90 days, can apply for the residence authorisation without a visa. Your lawyer plans the timing.
The Washington and Chicago consulates publish USD 190 for US citizens, revised from time to time.
Adults normally need a recent FBI check with a federal apostille and a certified Spanish translation. Your lawyer confirms the exact format your consulate expects.
US citizens generally remain subject to US tax on worldwide income. A cross-border tax adviser can explain how it interacts with Spanish tax.