r/MovingToSpain

Hi r/AmerExit, we’re StartAbroad.

We founded StartAbroad after spending years living and working internationally ourselves. We’re two Americans who have each lived in six countries and we originally moved abroad for career opportunities.

Our most recent move was to Costa Rica, where we moved as digital nomads instead of for a location-specific job. During that experience, we realized how difficult and fragmented the support is for people trying to move abroad on their own. Whether you’re a retiree, remote worker, family, or digital nomad, a lot of the process feels confusing until you are already in the middle of it.

We wanted to build the kind of relocation support we were used to receiving as employees relocating internationally, but for regular people making the move themselves.

Today, we help hundreds of Americans every year move to Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica, and Panama, the countries we specialize in.

We help people with visas, housing, banking, shipping, buying cars, pet relocation, timelines, costs, and navigating the bureaucracy that tends to trip people up.

Most of our team has personally lived abroad, and we’ve guided 800+ clients through the process with a 100% visa approval rate for qualifying applicants.

Ask us anything about moving out of the US and in our target countries: visas, timelines, costs, mistakes to avoid, housing, taxes, pets, or banking. We're set to start answering questions at 18:00 Central Time!

Site link

https://preview.redd.it/d9z2m6x2f62h1.jpg?width=360&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7bd6ec46e9c1af581abda1cb213fa8fea0bdbfde

EDIT: Thanks r/AmerExit this was fun! Feel free to leave comments below and we will pop in periodically to answer if you missed us this time.

My partner and I have a young baby and want to emigrate to Spain ideally in the next 1-2 years.

We don’t have passive income for a non-lucrative visa, and while we would be happy to go and teach English, I understand it would be hard for us to both get jobs in the same school or area on pay we can survive on.

We both have experience in copy/editing/writing as well as filming content but open to anything.

Is the only option really for us to go for a Digital Nomad Visa? Would it be possible for us to go over and get an autonomo which I understand doesn’t have a threshold.

We are both working to get regular clients freelance but I’m worried we won’t be able to clear the 4K+ a month needed

About to move to Madrid with kids. The parent groups are very active in Spanish. How do other families handle this?

I’m currently working in a Spanish company under an HQP permit. I’m now changing jobs, and my new company applied for a new HQP permit for my transfer on May 20th.

As far as I understand, once the new permit is approved, I will need to renew/change my current TIE card, even though it is physically valid until 2028, because it is linked to my current employer’s sponsorship.

The problem is that I have a trip to the USA planned from June 18th to June 28th, and unfortunately it is impossible for me to cancel it. I assume that my new permit may be approved before I leave Spain, but I probably will not have enough time to obtain the new TIE card before my trip.

Also, I will continue working for my current company until June 30th because of my notice period.

Based on this situation, I would really appreciate if anyone could share their experience or knowledge regarding the following questions:

- Could there be any issue at the airline check-in desk if I travel with my current TIE card showing validity until 2028, even if it may no longer be valid in the Spanish immigration system after the new permit approval? Does TAP Air Portugal usually verify TIE validity directly in the system?

- Could there be any issue when entering Portugal with:
- my current TIE card (valid until 2028 physically), and
- the approval resolution of the new HQP permit?

- Does my current TIE become invalid immediately after the approval of the new HQP permit, or does it remain valid until the end of my notice period with my current employer?

This situation is really important and stressful for me because cancelling the trip is unfortunately not an option.

Thank you very much in advance for any help or shared experiences.

I’m a 38-year-old Tunisian who has been living and working in Dubai for the past 13 years. I currently work as an Office Manager and have built a stable career here, but lately I’ve been seriously considering a different lifestyle and long-term future.

My plan is to move to Spain on a student visa, study Spanish for around 6 months, then hopefully transition into a job opportunity and eventually long-term residency in Europe.

The main reasons behind this decision are:

• wanting a better work-life balance
• being geographically closer to Tunisia and family
• experiencing a different pace of life compared to Dubai
• building a more stable long-term future in Europe

I understand this path is not easy, especially at my age, and I’m trying to be realistic about the challenges (language, job market, paperwork, etc.).

I would really appreciate hearing from:

• people who moved from Dubai/Gulf countries to Spain
• Tunisians or North Africans who took the student visa route
• anyone who managed to transition from studies to work/residency in Spain

Do you think this is a realistic plan?
What were the biggest challenges for you?
Would you do it again?

Thanks a lot in advance 🙏

Looking for a nice town or city with high temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit/24 degrees Celsius or less. I realize that NW Spain is the coldest region of Spain. I’m just looking for town/city recommendations.

Over the last few months I’ve been talking with Americans planning moves to Spain and reviewing a lot of the questions that come up across Facebook groups, Reddit threads, WhatsApp chats, and relocation communities.

One pattern keeps showing up: people are not really struggling because there is “no information.” They’re struggling because the answer depends on their exact situation.

For example, small details like these can completely change the useful answer:

- visa route

- consulate / BLS location

- timing

- whether documents are already apostilled / translated

- income structure

- family situation

- whether someone is pre-arrival or already in Spain

- what step comes next after approval

Some of the most repeated questions I keep seeing are things like:

- Do I need the FBI apostille before booking?

- Can I apply with W-2 / 1099 income?

- How do I prove entry date if there’s no passport stamp?

- Does BLS treat family appointments separately?

- Should translations happen before or after apostille?

- Can I apply from inside Spain?

- What actually matters for the NLV financial proof?

- How do I organize the document packet for the appointment?

I’m curious: for people who are currently moving to Spain or already went through it, what was the question that made you feel the most stuck?

Not looking for legal advice.. more trying to understand where the process breaks down for real people.

For people who moved to Spain from the US:

What is one thing you wish you had handled before arriving?

I’m not asking about broad advice like “learn Spanish” or “be patient” I’m more curious about practical sequence mistakes.

Examples:

- document you wish you had apostilled earlier

- appointment you wish you had booked sooner

- proof you wish you had kept

- tax/timing issue you wish you had understood

- housing or school step you underestimated

- bank/NIE/TIE/padrón dependency you didn’t realize

- shipping/customs issue you would plan differently

It seems like a lot of the stress comes from not knowing which small detail will matter later.

What was that detail for you?

Hi guys,
To cut a long story short.

I own a small apartment in Malaga, but I’m rarely out there ( work work work) instead my dad spends much of his time there.

He bought a car last week, tried to register it but they wanted proof of address, and asked for deeds, he had to fly home the next day so never got any further.

Potential issues I’m hoping someone can advise on.

1. My father has an NIE number, is that linked to a property and can be used as proof of address?

2. Property Deeds are in my name, so I don’t see how he can use these as proof of address?

3. I believe car must be registered in 28 days? I will not be in Spain within this period to register in my name, so it has to be done in my father’s.

4. The seller of the car said there was still insurance on the car, and it wouldn’t be cancelled and it would continue for us to use for 6 months - is this the case and how do we check it is legitimate, this is obviously very different to the system we have in ireland.

Best regards

So I am planning on moving out of the US in the next 3 to 4 months possibly sooner I am struggling with deciding which country to move to. I speak a little Arabic. I speak alittle Spanish. Obvs fluent in English so the country doesn’t really matter, but with the war and everything, would it be wise to move to Dubai or would that be foolish which country would you move to. And why not I’m really having some confusion on this.

I work remotely so I would just work from my laptop.

I am an American, with an American passport.

I’ve lived in Valencia since 2018, and I’m raising a child here now.

This isn’t visa advice. There are already enough threads for that, and, honestly, Spanish paperwork has enough main-character energy.

This is more about the thing I wish more families thought about before moving.

When you’re planning a move to Spain, it’s very easy to focus on the official questions.

Can we get the visa? Can we afford it? Can we find a flat? Can we get the kids into school? Can we register for healthcare? Can we survive the NIE/TIE/padrón appointment Olympics without developing a nervous twitch?

All valid.

But those questions mostly answer whether you can get here.

They don’t really answer what kind of life you’re building once you arrive.

Because “moving to Spain” can mean completely different things.

It can mean city life, beach life, suburban life, village life, international school life, public school life, car-dependent life, walk-everywhere life, Spanish immersion life, English bubble life, remote worker life, or “why are we spending half our day getting across town?” life.

And when you have kids, those choices start stacking fast.

The school affects the neighborhood. The neighborhood affects the rental search. The rental search affects the budget. The budget affects how calm everyone feels.

And everyone’s calm matters when someone is hungry, sweaty, late, overstimulated, or all four. Usually around 17:30.

The thing I underestimated before living here as a parent is that you’re not just choosing a place.

You’re choosing your daily friction.

I don’t mean that in a gloomy way. Spain can be a beautiful place to raise a family. Valencia has given us beach mornings, outdoor life, walkability, playground friendships, and the strange joy of hearing your child say things in Spanish with more confidence than you have after years of trying.

But the dreamy parts don’t cancel out the practical parts.

A beautiful flat with a terrible school run is still a terrible school run.

A charming neighborhood without the basics nearby becomes less charming when you need bread, medicine, printer paper, and emotional stability before pickup.

A school that looks great online may change your whole map once you understand the commute.

And beach life sounds amazing until you realize your version of beach life also includes sand in every bag you own, a tired child, and the eternal question of what’s for lunch.

Always lunch.

So if you’re moving with a family, I’d think beyond “Can we move to Spain?” and ask:

What version of Spain are we actually choosing?

A few questions I’d sit with before committing to an area:

• What will the school run actually look like?
• Are we choosing this neighborhood because it works for daily life, or because it looked good during a visit?
• Do we want Spanish immersion, international school, or something in between?
• How much heat, noise, stairs, commuting, and admin can our family realistically absorb?
• Are we building a life that works when everyone is rested and excited, or when everyone is tired and slightly sticky?
• Do we have enough support, routine, and community to make this feel liveable, not just possible?

The paperwork matters. Obviously.

But for families, the bigger question is often not:

“Can we legally get there?” It’s “Can we build a life there that our actual family can live?”

Hola, soy licenciado en Matemática y economía, tengo 26 años, mi esposa tiene 25 y es licenciada en Letras, (maestra de español) tenemos ciertos ahorros y queremos migrar a España mediante beca de estudio, la idea es aplicar ambos a varias becas para poder irnos los dos asi, sino almenos uno que consiga una beca y el otro que se matricule allá para luego tener la oportunidad de trabajar tambien.

Cuales son los campos de mayor oferta laboral? Y que recomendaciones pueden dar, creen qje sea buena idea?

Hey everyone! I’m married to a Spanish citizen living in Cádiz. We applied for my residency card and it’s still “en tramite” although it has already been 41 days. Has anyone applied in Cádiz recently? Some people say it might take 3 months 🤦🏻‍♀️ Thanks!!

Is LuxNomads operating from Spain Fake? It is a Scam!!! 🛑

Hello, I'm looking for advice of broker/company to send my car overseas(Long Beach to Spain).
Anybody here has experience with brokers or companies even if it was bad?

I know all the theory and fees(aprox costs, taxes, etc), I'm looking for companies or broker names that can be legit/competitive based on real feedback.

I've read crazy stories and there is a little bit of anxiety attach to leave my car at the port not knowing how long is going to be awaiting to get moved.

I plan to come back to my motherland for 2026 end and I want to do my homework in advance(my car is way more expensive in spain, is mostly eu compliant and I'm not going to pay duties since I owned it more than 6 months in the US).

I know it can be roro or consolidated, and even there is a difference in price, consolidated sounds better if I could add some stuff in the car and have the car enclosed all the travel.

I'm still considering roro as an option, if consolidated is a headache.

Let me know your experiences :)

I'm trying to book an appointment for my NIE number, but when I click the link, nothing happens! It doesn't work. I'm thinking about using e-residence.com but they are very expensive. But my head is going to explode why is it so complicated? Are they reliable?

So my family and I are relocating to Spain in the next two years and I have some time to prepare myself for the change, and I wanted to ask some guitarists living on that side of the world what I can expect.
I know I will be needing a step down transformer to be able to run my current gear. I would love your suggestions for a good one.
Currently my studio is very minimal after I sold a bunch of my gear, but there’s still some things that will need to be run by my power conditioners.
I have my Mac mini, Yamaha monitors, apollo interface for the desk side of things.
For the guitar side of things I have a mesa boogie dual rectifier multi watt head, a krab krevolution series 1 head, an orange or15 head, and a pedalboard running an average of 8 pedals depending on the set up. I use a voodoo labs pedal power plus 2 for the board.
I’m trying to be as detailed as I can to help answer any questions from the beginning regarding the power needs. Two of the heads are 100 watts and one is 15 watts.
I usually run my guitar rig on one power conditioner and my desk on another separate power conditioner.

Things I’m curious about:

1. Can I run a power conditioner on one step down transformer and continue powering things as I do now with it?
2. If I buy any new amps or power conditioners in Spain, I’m assuming they will be built to run to their electricity grid of 230 V 50hz type F sockets. Am I wrong?
3. Can I avoid the VAT tax by buying mostly used gear locally since that’s what I do now on the states? No im not opposed to paying VAT there I just know electronics have a higher tax rate and I always buy used gear instead of new.
4. As far as new gear goes, what kind of shops do you guys have in Spain for guitar and studio related equipment?
5. Just how astronomical are your music gear related taxes for new purchases?
6. Are there any tips or advice you’d like to share as a fellow musician? I remember I once had a customer at guitar center come in from overseas and he was so excited to see the most simple things like an SM57 microphone or a Boss DS1, which had me wondering just how rare good gear is overseas.

Please excuse my ignorance, I’m trying to learn as much as I can before the move to prepare myself and buy most of what I need in the states and have it shipped with the rest of our things.

I’d love to keep this mostly focused on the gear and electricity requirement discussion and not go into the whole “why are you moving to Spain bro??” If possible 🤣

Yes I am a native Spanish speaker and my heritage comes from Spain, so I am very much looking forward to becoming a part of the rural community near Asturias and hopefully bringing something of value to the people around me instead of being another American tourist taking affordable housing.

Any help you can share is immensely appreciated!

All the best and blessing to you all!