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Spanish immigration, explained

Clear, current guides on the routes that matter to international clients — written and maintained by a Málaga Bar–registered lawyer.

Master guides

Start here

Our two flagship guides for the clients we serve most.

All routes

Every guide

🌅

Non-Lucrative Visa

For retirees and the financially independent.

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💼

Beckham Regime

Flat-rate tax for entrepreneurs via ENISA.

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💻

Digital Nomad Visa

For remote workers and freelancers.

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🎯

Highly Qualified Professional

For skilled workers and executives.

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🎓

Student Visa

Study in Spain and build a path to stay.

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✉️

Not sure which route?

Tell us your situation and we'll point you to the right one.

Ask a lawyer →

More in-depth guides — consulate-by-consulate filing, income evidence, apostilles, taxes and regional living guides — are being added regularly.

Beckham deep-dives

Beckham Regime for the self-employed

Our growing library for founders and autónomos relocating to Spain.

🧭

Beckham as an autónomo (Málaga)

The full step-by-step for self-employed applicants — bilingual EN/ES.

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📑

The ENISA report

The legal bridge between your project and the entrepreneurial route.

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🗓️

Modelo 149

The six-month deadline, documents and the correct filing sequence.

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💶

Does the 24% apply?

Whether the flat rate reaches your self-employed income.

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📈

Income over €600k

How the 24% band, 47% excess rate, bonuses and equity fit together.

Read →
💍

Moving with an EU spouse

Why an EU spouse solves residence but not the tax regime.

Read →
🧭

Which route fits you?

Entrepreneur (ENISA) vs highly qualified professional.

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🌍

Foreign company owners

Permanent establishment & effective-management risk.

Read →
🤖

AI & software founders

Framing tech relocation for the entrepreneurial route.

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🛡️

How to avoid rejection

The avoidable mistakes that sink self-employed applications.

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📅

After approval

Modelo 151, annual compliance and exit planning.

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🏢

Beckham for company directors

For administradores of your own SL or an existing company.

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🏢

Beckham for SL founders

Autonomo societario, director route, RETA and founder remuneration.

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💰

Beckham for investors

Active vs savings income — what really qualifies.

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🏦

Beckham for family offices

Investment office moves, effective management, wealth tax and Modelo 149.

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🏖️

Beckham & pensions

Why retirees usually use the non-lucrative visa instead.

Read →
🇺🇸

Beckham for US citizens

PFIC, the treaty, equity and totalization — coordinated with US rules.

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🛡️

Beckham & US Social Security

Totalization, certificates of coverage and autonomo contributions for Americans.

Read →
📣

Beckham for agency owners

Marketing, PR, dev shops and consultants: route choice, client concentration and PE risk.

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☁️

Beckham for SaaS founders

Cap tables, ENISA, HoldCo + Spanish subsidiary, transfer pricing and equity.

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📦

Beckham for e-commerce sellers

Amazon FBA and DTC brands: permanent establishment, VAT vs income tax, RETA.

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🏖️

Beckham in Marbella

Private-client relocation: Andalusian wealth tax, property and effective-management risk.

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🏛️

Family office move to Spain

The active-role problem for passive wealth, substance, and each member's route.

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🧠

ENISA for AI startups

What makes an AI project look genuinely innovative — beyond an API wrapper.

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🪙

Crypto reporting & Modelo 721

Foreign-held crypto, reporting deadlines, 172/173 and the Beckham calendar.

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🪙

Token compensation for Web3 founders

Salary tokens, founder grants, vesting, later sales and Modelo 721 reporting.

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🧩

Web3 founder relocation structure

Company, founder role, token custody, ENISA, PE risk and Beckham timing.

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⏱️

Liquidity event timing

When to trigger a sale, secondary, token unlock or IPO around the six-year window.

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🧾

Sell before or after moving?

Pre-arrival timing for founders weighing a sale, secondary, dividend recap or earn-out.

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🧮

Earn-outs & deferred consideration

Escrow, holdbacks, seller notes and earn-outs mapped tranche by tranche under Beckham.

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🛡️

Warranty claims & price adjustments

Indemnities, escrow deductions and completion accounts after a founder sale.

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🤝

Non-compete & consulting pay

How restrictive covenants and post-sale service pay are taxed apart from the sale price.

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👔

Director or consultant after selling

Separate post-sale salary, board fees and consulting income from the founder exit price.

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🎭

Beckham for athletes & artists

Professional athlete exclusion, artists, royalties and image rights.

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🇵🇹

Beckham vs Portugal & Italy

Spain's flat 24% next to Portugal's IFICI and Italy's impatriati regimes.

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💻

Digital nomad visa & Beckham

Can a remote worker elect the flat-tax regime? The 6-month window.

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Beckham by city & profile

Find the right Beckham guide faster

Location-specific and profile-specific entry points for founders, company owners and high-income movers.

🚀

AI & software founders

How tech founders frame innovation, ENISA and relocation evidence before moving to Spain.

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☁️

SaaS founders

Cap table, HoldCo/subsidiary and equity issues for SaaS founders considering the Beckham regime.

Read →
📦

E-commerce sellers

Amazon FBA and DTC brands: permanent establishment, VAT versus income tax and RETA planning.

Read →
🏦

Family office moves

Substance, active roles, effective management and wealth-tax coordination for investment-office relocations.

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🪙

Crypto and Web3 founders

Token compensation, Modelo 721, later disposals and evidence planning for crypto-native founders.

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🧩

Web3 structure map

How to align company control, founder role, token custody and first-year Beckham evidence.

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⏱️

Founder exit timing

Sale, secondary, token unlock or IPO: reading the payout against the Beckham timeline.

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🧾

Sell before moving?

Pre-arrival sale timing for founders deciding whether to close before Spanish residence starts.

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🧮

Earn-outs & deferred consideration

How escrow, holdbacks, seller notes and earn-out tranches land across the Beckham timeline.

Read →
🛡️

Post-closing claim map

Warranty claims, indemnities and price adjustments after moving to Spain.

Read →
🤝

Non-compete & consulting pay

Restrictive covenants and consulting fees taxed apart from the founder sale price.

Read →
👔

Director or consultant after selling

Salary, director fees, board advisory work and consulting income after closing.

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📈

Income over €600k

High-earner Beckham planning for salary, bonus, equity and the 47% excess rate.

Read →
🇺🇸

US citizens

Coordinate Beckham planning with PFIC, equity, treaty and Social Security totalization issues.

Read →
Free tools

Interactive tools

Get an instant answer, then talk to a lawyer.

🌍

Non-lucrative visa for international expatriates

Not just for Americans — the route for financially independent expats worldwide (UK, Canada, Gulf, Asia).

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Moving from your country

Relocation guides by origin

🇬🇧

From the UK (after Brexit)

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🇺🇸

From the USA (checklist)

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🇦🇪

From the UAE & the Gulf

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🇨🇦

From Canada

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🇩🇪

From Germany

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🇲🇽

From Mexico

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🇮🇳

From India

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🇿🇦

From South Africa

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🇦🇺

From Australia

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🇧🇷

From Brazil

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🇦🇷

From Argentina

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🇨🇳

From China

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🇮🇪

From Ireland

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🇳🇱

From the Netherlands

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🇨🇭

From Switzerland

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🇸🇬

From Singapore

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🇭🇰

From Hong Kong

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🇫🇷

From France

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🇮🇹

From Italy

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🇵🇹

From Portugal

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🇧🇪

From Belgium

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🇸🇪

From Sweden

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🇳🇴

From Norway

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🇩🇰

From Denmark

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🇵🇱

From Poland

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🇷🇴

From Romania

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🇦🇹

From Austria

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🇷🇺

From Russia

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🇺🇦

From Ukraine

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🇨🇴

From Colombia

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🇻🇪

From Venezuela

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🇵🇪

From Peru

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🇨🇱

From Chile

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🇪🇨

From Ecuador

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🇩🇴

From the Dominican Republic

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🇨🇺

From Cuba

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🇧🇴

From Bolivia

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🇺🇾

From Uruguay

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🇨🇷

From Costa Rica

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🇲🇦

From Morocco

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🇮🇱

From Israel

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🇹🇷

From Turkey

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🇸🇦

From Saudi Arabia

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🇶🇦

From Qatar

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🇱🇧

From Lebanon

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🇪🇬

From Egypt

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🇯🇵

From Japan

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🇰🇷

From South Korea

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🇵🇭

From the Philippines

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🇳🇿

From New Zealand

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Practical essentials

The bits everyone asks about

🪪

TIE vs NIE explained

Read →
🇺🇸

Non-lucrative visa for US citizens

Read →
🔢

Get a NIE from the USA

Read →
💵

NLV timeline & costs from USA

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📊

First-year Spain budget for US retirees

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🧭

Apply alone or as a couple?

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🗓️

NLV document validity calendar

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📜

Apostille & sworn translation

Read →
🏦

Spanish mortgage for non-residents

Read →
🔑

Renting long-term as a foreigner

Read →
📐

IPREM & 2026 income thresholds

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🏷️

Capital gains tax selling property

Read →
🧾

Modelo 210 — non-resident tax

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🏛️

Plusvalía municipal on a sale

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🔑

Tax on rental income (landlords)

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✍️

Power of attorney from the USA

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💳

Open a bank account remotely by poder

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🕵️

FBI background check & apostille

Read →
🩺

Medical certificate for the visa

Read →

NLV insurance policy checklist

Read →
🤝

US-Spain tax treaty for retirees

Read →
🧾

Modelo 720 for US retirees

Read →
🎓

529 college plans after moving to Spain

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🏛️

US public pensions & the Fairness Act in Spain

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🎖️

US military retirement & VA disability in Spain

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🏥

HSA taxation for US retirees

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🏘️

US rental property after moving

Read →
📈

US brokerage accounts after moving to Spain

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📊

PFIC, US funds & ETFs for Spanish residents

Read →
🏥

Padrón and health card after arrival

Read →
📸

NLV passport photo requirements

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📝

Fill the national visa form

Read →
🗂️

EX-01 & 790 fee forms

Read →
💬

Consular interview questions

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⚖️

Lawyer or gestor vs DIY

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🔎

Visa receipt & tracking

Read →
🛂

Visa collection & first entry

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🔁

Renewing the non-lucrative visa

Read →
🛬

After non-lucrative visa approval

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🏅

Non-lucrative → permanent residency

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🏠

Buy property & the non-lucrative visa

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📄

Documents for the non-lucrative visa

Read →
🛡️

Social security & autónomo

Read →
🚗

Driving in Spain

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🏫

International schools

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🏘️

Empadronamiento explained

Read →
🚗

Exchanging your driving licence

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🛂

Spanish citizenship by residency

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After arrival in Spain

Your first months as a new resident

Once the visa is approved and you land: the order of steps, the TIE card procedure, healthcare registration and the annual tax calendar.

🗓️

First 90 days: arrival checklist

The order of operations — address, padrón, TIE, banking and tax clock.

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🖐️

TIE card: cita previa & fingerprints

Booking the appointment, the Modelo 790 fee, huellas and collection.

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✈️

Leaving Spain before your TIE is ready

The autorización de regreso: when you need it to re-enter Spain and how to apply.

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🏥

Healthcare registration

Private insurance, INSS recognition, padrón, TIE and the regional health card.

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🏥

Padrón and health card after arrival

The practical order for town hall registration, TIE, private insurance and public-health routes.

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🩺

Convenio especial: pay into public healthcare

The pay-in public health agreement for residents: 2026 fees, eligibility and the prescription gap.

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📅

Spanish tax calendar for new residents

Renta, Modelo 720/721, wealth tax and the Beckham filing dates.

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🧾

Modelo 720 for US retirees

Foreign-asset reporting for US accounts, brokerage, retirement wrappers and property.

Read →
🏛️

Wealth tax for US retirees on the non-lucrative visa

Worldwide net worth, not just Spanish assets: the allowances, the Andalucía rebate and the Solidarity Tax floor.

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📈

US brokerage accounts after moving to Spain

Why US brokers restrict foreign-address clients, the US-ETF/PFIC squeeze, and how to prepare.

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📊

PFIC, US funds & ETFs for Spanish residents

Why US funds stay clean for the IRS but lose Spain's traspaso deferral, and why European funds trigger the PFIC regime.

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💶

Direct debits (domiciliaciones)

Setting up SEPA direct debits for rent, utilities, taxes and Social Security.

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🔁

Year-two non-lucrative renewal

EX-01, updated income, insurance continuity, residence evidence and the new TIE.

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🔐

Digital certificate & Cl@ve

Your online ID (FNMT) for tax, Seguridad Social, extranjería and e-notifications.

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Popular questions

Straight answers to specific questions

💻

Can I work remotely on a non-lucrative visa?

Read →

How long does Spanish residency take?

Read →
🇵🇹

Beckham regime vs Portugal's NHR?

Read →
⚖️

Spain vs Portugal for expats

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📈

Does Beckham cover capital gains & dividends?

Read →
👔

Beckham: remote employee or self-employed?

Read →
📊

Does Beckham cover stock options & RSUs?

Read →
⏱️

Founder exit timing under Beckham

Read →
🧾

Sell before moving to Spain?

Read →
🧮

Earn-outs & deferred consideration under Beckham

Read →
🛡️

Warranty claims after a founder sale

Read →
🤝

Non-compete & consulting pay under Beckham

Read →
👔

Director or consultant after selling?

Read →
🪙

Beckham & crypto: how is it taxed?

Read →
🧾

Crypto reporting & Modelo 721

Read →
🪙

Token compensation under Beckham

Read →
🧩

Web3 founder structure under Beckham

Read →
🏛️

US estate tax vs Spanish inheritance tax

Read →
🎁

Spanish gift tax on lifetime gifts to family

Read →
📜

Spanish inheritance process for American heirs

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✍️

Do I need a Spanish will? (Brussels IV choice of law)

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📜

US living trusts and the non-lucrative visa

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🖋️

Do US retirees need a Spanish power of attorney? (incapacity)

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🏛️

Beckham, wealth tax & the solidarity levy

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🛡️

Beckham & US Social Security

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🎭

Beckham for athletes & artists?

Read →
🧾

What documents do I need (non-lucrative)?

Read →
👨‍👩‍👧

Can I bring my family to Spain?

Read →
⚖️

Digital nomad vs non-lucrative visa?

Read →
📈

Digital nomad visa vs Beckham (high earners)?

Read →
✉️

Another question?

Ask a lawyer directly.

Get in touch →
Study in Spain

Student visa guides

🎓

Student visa overview

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Requirements (2026)

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🧭

Apply from Spain or consulate?

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💶

How much money do I need?

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💼

Can I work while studying?

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🔄

Student visa → work permit

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🚀

Student visa → work or entrepreneur route

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👨‍👩‍👧

Can my family join me?

Read →
🪪

Student NIE & TIE

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🔁

Renewing your student visa

Read →
🏥

Student health insurance

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⚠️

Why student visas get refused

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Family & marriage

Relocating as a couple or family

💍

Marriage-based residency

Read →
🇪🇺

Spouse of an EU citizen

Read →
💒

Getting married in Spain

Read →
⚖️

Matrimonial property regime

Read →
🧾

How are married couples taxed?

Read →
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Bring your family (reunification)

Read →
🤝

Pareja de hecho (unmarried partners)

Read →
💔

Divorce & your residency

Read →
👶

Children born in Spain

Read →
Non-lucrative deep-dives

The non-lucrative visa, in detail

💶

Income requirements (2026)

Read →
🧾

Proving your income

Read →
🏦

401(k) & IRA as proof of income

Read →
💱

USD-EUR currency risk for retirees

Read →
💸

Moving dollars to euros

Read →
🏦

Fintech vs traditional bank

Read →
🏦

US banking, FATCA & FBAR

Read →
🏥

Health insurance that qualifies

Read →
🧮

Tax implications (183-day rule)

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🗽

Do US retirees still file US taxes in Spain?

Read →
💰

How is US retirement income taxed in Spain?

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🏦

Is a Roth IRA taxed in Spain?

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🔁

Backdoor & mega-backdoor Roth before moving to Spain

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🎓

529 college plans after moving to Spain

Read →
🏛️

US public pensions & the Fairness Act in Spain

Read →
🎖️

US military retirement & VA disability in Spain

Read →
📅

Required minimum distributions in Spain

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🎗️

Are IRA charitable gifts (QCDs) taxed in Spain?

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📈

Are US annuities taxed in Spain?

Read →
🏥

HSA taxation for US retirees in Spain

Read →
🏛️

Wealth tax for US retirees on the non-lucrative visa

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🔢

In what order should US retirees draw their accounts?

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💱

USD-EUR currency risk for retirees

Read →
💸

Moving dollars to euros

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🏦

Fintech vs traditional bank for US retirees

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🏠

Selling your US home after becoming a Spanish resident

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🗺️

Cutting US state tax residency before moving to Spain

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🌉

California tax residency when moving to Spain

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🗽

New York tax residency when moving to Spain

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🏘️

Renting your US home after becoming a Spanish resident

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🏛️

US estate tax vs Spanish inheritance tax

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🎁

Spanish gift tax on lifetime gifts to family

Read →
📜

Spanish inheritance process for American heirs

Read →
✍️

Do I need a Spanish will? (Brussels IV choice of law)

Read →
📜

US living trusts and the non-lucrative visa

Read →
🖋️

Do US retirees need a Spanish power of attorney? (incapacity)

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🛬

After approval: first month in Spain

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📅

The 183-day tax residency rule

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💻

Digital nomad income requirements 2026

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🏅

Golden Visa ended — alternatives

Read →
📊

Income calculator

Open →
🌍

For international expatriates

Read →
🇺🇸

Social Security + investment income

Read →
🩺

Medicare abroad: health cover for US retirees

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⚠️

Refusal reasons and how to avoid them

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⚖️

Visa denied? Appeal or reapply

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🧭

Best regions for US retirees

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🌅

Where to retire on the Costa del Sol

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💶

Cost of living for American retirees

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🏡

Rent first or buy before applying?

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📆

How much time must you spend in Spain?

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⏱️

How long does the non-lucrative visa take?

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📅

Getting a visa appointment (BLS, US)

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🐾

Bringing pets from the USA

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📦

Shipping belongings from the USA

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🚗

Driving licence for US retirees

Read →

Non-lucrative visa for early retirees under 60

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🧍

Non-lucrative visa for single retirees

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👫

Non-lucrative visa for retired couples

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🧭

NLV couple vs single planning

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📈

Non-lucrative visa for dividend investors

Read →
🏘️

Non-lucrative visa for property-income retirees

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🌅

The ultimate guide to retiring in Spain

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🪪

Digital nomad visa → permanent residency

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Applying from the US

Which Spanish consulate?

You must apply at the consulate for your state of residence.

🆚

New York vs Miami consulate

Read →
🗽

Consulate in New York

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🌴

Consulate in Los Angeles

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🏖️

Consulate in Miami

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🌉

Consulate in San Francisco

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🌆

Consulate in Chicago

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🤠

Consulate in Houston

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🏛️

Consulate in Washington, D.C.

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Consulate in Boston

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🌊

Consulate in San Juan, Puerto Rico

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Live in Spain

City & relocation guides

In-depth guides to the best places for expats to live in Spain — neighbourhoods, cost of living, community and which visa fits.

🏙️

Madrid

Read →
🌊

Barcelona

Read →
🍊

Valencia

Read →
☀️

Málaga

Read →

Marbella

Read →
🏖️

Alicante & Costa Blanca

Read →
💃

Seville

Read →
🌅

Ibiza

Read →

Palma de Mallorca

Read →
🌋

Tenerife & the Canaries

Read →
🏭

Bilbao & the Basque Country

Read →
🍽️

San Sebastián

Read →
🕌

Granada

Read →
🏌️

Costa del Sol (region)

Read →
🌺

Estepona

Read →

Sotogrande

Read →
🌉

Zaragoza

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🌞

Murcia & Costa Cálida

Read →
🏝️

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Read →
🎬

Sitges

Read →

Mijas

Read →
🏖️

Orihuela Costa

Read →
🌵

Almería

Read →
🌋

Lanzarote

Read →
🐚

Menorca

Read →
🎡

Benalmádena

Read →
🏄

Fuengirola

Read →
🕳️

Nerja

Read →
🚢

Cádiz & Costa de la Luz

Read →
More routes & permits

Work, study & other routes

🇪🇺

EU Blue Card in Spain

Read →
🔄

Intra-company transfer (ICT)

Read →
🏢

HQP employer process

Read →
👨‍👩‍👧

HQP family members

Read →
💼

HQP + Beckham regime

Read →
🔬

PhD & research visa

Read →
🧰

Self-employed (cuenta propia)

Read →
💻

Digital nomad: apply from Spain?

Read →
🔁

Renewing the digital nomad visa

Read →
🏢

DNV: employer requirements

Read →
👨‍👩‍👧

DNV: family members

Read →
📋

Digital nomad: requirements & income

Read →
🏛️

Foreign company & seniority rules

Read →
🇪🇸

Working for Spanish clients (20% rule)

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🧾

Digital nomad taxes & Beckham

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🌱

Arraigo — regularising your stay

Read →
👵

Bringing parents / dependent relatives

Read →
🛡️

Long-term residence (after 5 years)

Read →
Work for yourself

Self-employed (cuenta propia) in Spain

The immigration route for running your own business or profession in Spain.

📈

The business plan

Read →

Requirements & investment

Read →
⚖️

Self-employed vs Beckham vs nomad

Read →
📜

Licences & colegiación

Read →
🔁

Renewing the permit

Read →
🧾

Setting up as autónomo (tax & RETA)

Read →

Prefer to just ask?

Book a private consultation and get answers tailored to your exact situation.

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