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What documents do I need to move to Spain as a United States citizen?

Typical pathway: Digital Nomad

Last verified: September 22, 2026

• National Visa Application Form (Solicitud de visado nacional) (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/washington/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Telework-visa.aspx
  One official Spanish national visa form per applicant, completed and signed; consulates specifically require fields for your US address/contact, intended date of entry, address in Spain, NIE, and full employer/company details to be filled in.
• Biometric passport-size photograph of the applicant (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/sanfrancisco/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Telework-visa.aspx
  Recent (within 6 months) color passport-size photo on photo paper, light/white uniform background, face fully visible, glued or clipped (not stapled) to the visa form. Some US consulates (e.g. San Francisco) ask for a second loose copy — verify with your consulate.
• Original valid US passport (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/houston/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/TELEWORK-Visa-(Digital-Nomad-Visa)-.aspx
  Unexpired US passport with minimum 1 year remaining validity and at least two consecutive blank pages; passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted, and the original is retained by the consulate during processing.
• Photocopy of passport biometric data page (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/chicago/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Teleworkvisa.aspx
  A plain photocopy of the passport page(s) containing the biometric/personal data, submitted alongside the original passport. This is separate from the loose biometric photograph.
• NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) assignment (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/miami/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/TELEWORK-VISA.aspx
  Spanish consulates in the US require the applicant to obtain an NIE number before filing the telework visa application, since the number must be entered on the visa form. Requested through the consulate's separate NIE procedure.
• FBI Identity History Summary with US Department of State Apostille (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/houston/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/TELEWORK-Visa-(Digital-Nomad-Visa)-.aspx
  Federal criminal record check issued by the FBI within the last 6 months, apostilled (Hague federal apostille) by the US Department of State in Washington DC. State or local police checks and state apostilles are explicitly not accepted; do not remove apostille staples or seals.
• Sworn Spanish translation of the FBI criminal record certificate (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/houston/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/TELEWORK-Visa-(Digital-Nomad-Visa)-.aspx
  Certified/sworn translation into Spanish of the apostilled FBI record (consulates point to ATA-certified translators or Spain's official sworn translator registry). Other non-Spanish supporting documents generally also need official translation.
• Additional police certificates from other countries of residence (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/washington/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Telework-visa.aspx
  Criminal record certificates from any country where you lived during the relevant look-back period (Washington DC states more than 180 days in the last 2 years; Houston states countries of residence in the last 5 years — verify with your own consulate). EU-issued certificates need no apostille.
• Responsible declaration of no criminal record (últimos 5 años) (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/houston/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/TELEWORK-Visa-(Digital-Nomad-Visa)-.aspx
  Signed sworn statement declaring absence of criminal convictions during the last five years, submitted in addition to (not instead of) the FBI certificate.
• Employer or client certificate authorizing remote work from Spain (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/toronto/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/National-Visas-%E2%80%93-Telework-Visa-(Digital-Nomad).aspx
  Letter from the non-Spanish employer confirming at least 3 months of seniority and express authorization to telework from Spain; self-employed/1099 applicants submit client contracts showing a relationship of at least 3 months and the remote terms of service.
• Certificate of company existence from the commercial registry (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/toronto/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/National-Visas-%E2%80%93-Telework-Visa-(Digital-Nomad).aspx
  Proof of real and continuous activity of the foreign (US) company: registry certificate or equivalent (e.g. Secretary of State certificate of good standing) showing incorporation date at least one year earlier and type of activity.
• Proof of professional qualification (degree or 3 years' experience) (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/guadalajara/es/Comunicacion/Noticias/Paginas/Articulos/visado_nomada_digital.aspx
  University or postgraduate degree from a recognized institution, professional/business-school certificate, or documentation of at least three years of relevant professional experience in comparable functions. Consulates may ask for homologation of foreign qualifications.
• Evidence of sufficient economic means (income and receipt of income) (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/chicago/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Teleworkvisa.aspx
  Documentation proving income above the statutory multiple of the Spanish SMI (plus an added percentage per accompanying family member): employment contract or company certificate stating salary, recent payslips or invoices, and matching bank statements showing the funds actually received. Exact euro threshold is updated annually — verify the current figure with the consulate.
• Private health insurance policy valid in Spain (full coverage, no copay) (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/chicago/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Teleworkvisa.aspx
  Health (not travel) insurance with an insurer authorized to operate in Spain, covering 100% of medical, hospital and outpatient costs with no deductibles, copayments, waiting periods or coverage caps, valid for the whole authorization. Not required if coverage by the Spanish public Social Security system is proven instead.
• Social Security undertaking: responsible declaration or US certificate of coverage (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/es/ServiciosAlCiudadano/Paginas/Servicios-consulares.aspx?scco=Estados+Unidos&scd=155&scca=Visados&scs=Visados+Nacionales+-+Visado+de+residencia+para+teletrabajo+%28n%C3%B3mada+digital%29
  Signed declaration committing to comply with Spanish Social Security obligations before starting activity, or — under the US–Spain totalization agreement — a certificate of applicable legislation/coverage issued by the US Social Security Administration. Consulate practice differs: some accept the declaration, others require proof of RETA registration or application — verify with your specific consulate.
• Proof of residence within the consular jurisdiction (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/houston/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/TELEWORK-Visa-(Digital-Nomad-Visa)-.aspx
  Document showing you live in the states served by the consulate where you apply, e.g. a notarized copy of a state ID, driver's license or student ID (Houston lists AL, AR, LA, MS, NM, OK, TN, TX). Required format varies by consulate.
• Visa fee payment receipt (before) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/houston/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/TELEWORK-Visa-(Digital-Nomad-Visa)-.aspx
  Consular visa fee paid in the form required by your consulate (e.g. money order payable to the Consulate of Spain); the reciprocity rate for US nationals is higher than the general rate. Confirm the current amount and payment method on the consulate's fee page.
• Certificado de empadronamiento (municipal registration) (during) — Source: Ayuntamiento (local town hall) – Padrón Municipal de Habitantes, Instituto Nacional de Estadística
  Registration on the Padrón Municipal de Habitantes at the town hall of your Spanish address, obtained after arrival using your passport, visa and a housing document (rental contract or property deed). Needed for the TIE, healthcare and most local procedures.
• Spanish housing contract (rental agreement or property deed) (during)
  Signed long-term rental contract or escritura for your Spanish address, used as proof of domicile for empadronamiento and often requested at the TIE appointment and for bank account opening.
• TIE application form EX-17 with Tasa 790 Código 012 receipt (during) — Source: https://sede.policia.gob.es/portalCiudadano/_es/tramites_extranjeria_tramite_tarjeta_residencia_residenciaytrabajo.php
  Foreigner Identity Card application submitted in person at the National Police / Oficina de Extranjería within one month of entry to Spain, with the paid 790-012 fee slip; appointment (cita previa) is booked through the sede electrónica and fingerprints are taken at that appointment.
• Spanish Social Security registration (alta / número de afiliación) (during) — Source: Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS)
  Enrollment with the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social before starting activity — self-employed applicants register under RETA, employees via their employer's registration — unless covered by the US–Spain totalization certificate.
• Initial residence authorization for international teleworker (UGE-CE) (after) — Source: https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/washington/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Telework-visa.aspx
  Electronic application to the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos for the 3-year telework residence authorization; the Washington consulate advises filing it about 2 months before the 1-year visa expires, proving the original conditions still hold.
• Spanish tax registration (Modelo 030) and optional Beckham-regime election (Modelo 149) (after) — Source: Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria (AEAT)
  Registration in the AEAT census of taxpayers once resident; international teleworkers may also elect the special non-resident tax regime (Ley Beckham) via Modelo 149, generally within 6 months of Social Security registration. Confirm deadlines and eligibility with AEAT or a Spanish tax adviser.
• Renewal evidence file (income, insurance and activity records) (after) — Source: Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE-CE), Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones
  Maintained records for the 2-year renewal and later long-term residence: bank statements and invoices/payslips meeting the income threshold in force at renewal, continuous health/Social Security coverage, and evidence that Spanish-sourced work stays within the permitted minority share of activity.

Not legal advice. Based on cached research — verify with official sources before making decisions.

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