Moving to Madrid without losing a step at work
Remote work, a new job offer, or a fresh start — we match your situation to the right visa and get you settled without missing a beat at work.
You've probably already done the research. You've read three contradictory blog posts about income thresholds, found a Reddit thread from 2023 that may or may not still apply, and closed the tab. This page is the version that's current, and the service is the version where someone else keeps track.
Support Tailored to Professionals & Expats
Professional moves fail in a specific way: not dramatically, but in accumulated small delays. A document that needed an apostille. An appointment window that closed. A rental application rejected because the income proof was formatted for an American landlord, not a Spanish one. Each costs a week. Four of them cost a quarter.
- Getting the pathway right the first time. There are four current routes into Spain, and the wrong one costs months. We work out which one actually fits your income structure, employment status, and timeline before anything is filed.
- A move that doesn't consume your working hours. Appointments, viewings, and paperwork are scheduled around your calendar, and handled on your behalf wherever the process allows it.
- Housing chosen for how you actually work. Connectivity, a room that can hold a desk, proximity to coworking or your office, and a commute you'd accept on a Monday.
- Support for the person moving with you. If a partner is relocating without a job waiting, that's a real part of the plan, not an afterthought.
- A tax picture you understand before you commit. Including whether Spain's special expatriate regime applies to you — see below.
Which Visa Pathway Fits You?
Spain's Golden Visa — residency through property investment — ended on April 3, 2025. It is no longer available, regardless of what you may still read online. As of 2026, there are four current pathways for Americans moving to Spain:
| Pathway | Who it's for | Key 2026 requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Non‑Lucrative Visa (NLV) | Retirees and people living on passive income; no work in Spain | Around €28,800 per year for the main applicant, plus roughly €7,200 per year for each additional family member |
| Digital Nomad Visa | Remote employees and contractors working for non‑Spanish companies | A working relationship of at least three months before applying, and monthly income of approximately €2,850 |
| Highly Qualified Professional Visa | Professionals with an offer from a Spanish employer | A contract or formal job offer in Spain |
| Entrepreneur Visa | Founders launching a business in Spain | A viable business plan with the required national approval |
Thresholds are indexed to Spain's IPREM and are reviewed annually. Figures above reflect 2026 and should be confirmed for your specific case — which is part of what the Discovery Call is for.
The Beckham Law, in plain English
Spain has a special tax regime — informally called the Beckham Law — that lets qualifying new residents be taxed at a flat 24% on Spanish employment income up to €600,000, instead of the progressive scale that reaches 47%. It applies for the year you move and the five that follow, and it generally requires that you haven't been a Spanish tax resident in the preceding years.
For a well‑paid remote professional relocating from the US, the difference is not marginal. It's also genuinely conditional: eligibility depends on how you're employed, where your income originates, and how your move is structured — which is exactly why it's worth understanding before you sign anything, not during your first Spanish tax filing.
We're not tax advisors, and we don't pretend to be. What we do is flag it early, explain it clearly, and connect you with an independent licensed professional who can assess your specific situation.
How we work on visas: SAS Relocations provides consultancy, document preparation, and coordination. We help you identify the right pathway, assemble a complete and correctly ordered file, and keep your timeline on track. Formal applications and any legal representation are handled by an independent, authorized legal professional. We are not a law firm and we do not represent clients before public authorities.
Home Search for Professionals
What's included
- Neighborhood analysis based on your commute, your work pattern, and how much of Madrid you actually want on your doorstep
- A curated shortlist of properties that meet the requirements remote work actually imposes: reliable fiber, a room that fits a desk and a door that closes, and light that doesn't fail at 3pm on a video call
- Viewings coordinated in person or by video while you're still in the US
- Negotiation and contract review before you commit
- Utilities and internet activated so you can work from day one, not day nine
Madrid runs six hours ahead of Miami year‑round. That means your afternoon overlaps cleanly with the US East Coast morning — a genuinely workable rhythm, and one reason the city has become a practical base rather than just an appealing one. It also means your internet connection needs to be right on the first day, which is why we treat it as part of the housing decision rather than an errand for later.
Settling‑In Support
The administrative sequence in Spain has an order, and skipping a step doesn't save time — it just means doing it twice.
What's included
- Empadronamiento — your local town hall registration, which most other processes depend on
- NIE and TIE — your foreigner identification number and, once you've arrived, the physical residence card
- Bank account setup, including the documentation Spanish banks expect from non‑residents
- Social Security registration where your situation requires it
- Health coverage — public access or private insurance guidance, depending on your visa pathway
- Utilities, internet, and mobile connections
- Digital certificate — the single most useful thing you'll obtain in your first month, and the one nobody tells you about
- Transport card
Which of these we handle with you, and which we handle for you, depends on your package.
A Calm, Structured Process
1. Discovery Call.
A real conversation about your timeline, your situation, and your goals in Madrid. No sales script.
2. Your Personalized Plan.
Visa pathway, housing strategy, and administrative sequence, mapped to your specific case.
3. The Move, Coordinated.
Paperwork, shipping, and appointments coordinated around your work calendar.
4. Your First 90 Days in Madrid.
We stay with you through empadronamiento, banking, and settling in, until Madrid feels like home.
What professionals who've done this say
“Saskia helped me with my relocation for a new position from the U.S. to Madrid. She supported me with paperwork appointments, found different apartment options that fit my budget and helped me secure a place that I love. She knows the area very well, which saves you a lot of time.”
— Paola Gamboa, Food Engineer & Cheese ScientistRelocated from Wisconsin to Madrid in 2026 for a new role · Full Relocation Support
“I felt like I had a friend looking after me throughout the process. She is a great communicator and is very organized. My apartment search and rental process was extremely efficient and well-planned. Saskia also provided great contextual information and relevant details that I would have struggled to get elsewhere.”
— Mark CohenRelocated from Massachusetts to Madrid in 2026 · Full Relocation Support
Common Questions From Professionals Moving to Spain
Can I keep working for my US company while living in Spain?
Yes — that's precisely what the Digital Nomad Visa was designed for. It requires a working relationship of at least three months with a non‑Spanish company before you apply, plus a minimum income level. Your employer's willingness to document the arrangement matters as much as the paperwork itself.
What's the difference between the Digital Nomad Visa and the Non‑Lucrative Visa?
The Digital Nomad Visa allows you to work remotely for a non‑Spanish employer or clients. The Non‑Lucrative Visa does not permit any work — it's designed for retirees and people living on passive income, and it requires a substantially higher proven income. Choosing wrong means starting over.
How long does the process take from Miami to Madrid?
Realistically, four to eight months from first conversation to being settled, depending on the pathway and consulate appointment availability. Consulate scheduling is often the longest single variable, and it isn't something any agency controls — which is why we build the timeline backward from it.
Do I still have to file US taxes if I live in Spain?
Yes. The United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of residence, and reporting obligations such as FATCA continue to apply. Spain will also tax you as a resident. Mechanisms exist to prevent double taxation, but they need to be set up correctly, with a professional who handles both sides.
Is the Golden Visa still an option in 2026?
No. Spain's Golden Visa — residency through a €500,000 property investment — ended on April 3, 2025 and is not available. Anyone offering it today is working from outdated information. The four current pathways are outlined above, and one of them almost certainly fits your situation.
Can my partner work in Spain if they come with me?
It depends on the pathway. Several visa routes include family members with work authorization; others don't. This is one of the most consequential details in choosing a pathway, and one of the most frequently overlooked. We raise it on the first call, not the last.
Let's map out your move.
Twenty minutes to work out which pathway fits, what the realistic timeline looks like, and what it would actually cost. You'll leave the call with a clearer picture whether you work with us or not.