🛂Keep US citizenship?Formal renunciation declaration
⚠️ Naturalizing in Spain requires giving up US citizenship (on paper or in practice).Formal declaration, not enforced as loss of US citizenship. Spain requires a renunciation declaration (Civil Code art. 23.b) but asks for no proof, and the US does not treat a routine formula as intent to give up citizenship. The real risk: you can lose Spanish nationality after 3 years of using only your US nationality (art. 25.1.a). Use Spanish documents in Spain and the EU. Residency here can still make sense; citizenship is why Spain is in our separate renunciation section.
In short: one typical path, step by step, from your first residency to a passport.
Year 1: getting your first residency. Read the story first, details below. The steps above the dashed line cover the first residency; the rest happens later on. This is one typical scenario on the main route, in plain language. Figures come from our research notes; anything marked ⚠️ or ❓ is uncertain, so check the linked details before you act.
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Before you go
Prove your passive income
The non-lucrative visa needs €2,400 a month / €28,800 a year (+€600 a month per dependant) ⚠️, private health insurance and a clean record. Aim at least ~20% higher. You cannot work on this visa ⚠️.
Need: income proof, insurance, FBI check (around US$38 ❓)Details ↓
🛂
Months 1–3
Get the visa
You apply at the Spanish consulate; processing is around 1–3 months ❓.
After 10 years you apply (fee €104.05 ⚠️). You must sign a formal declaration renouncing your US nationality. Spain does not check it, and the US does not usually treat it as giving up citizenship, but you can lose Spanish nationality after 3 years of using only your US one.
In short: the complete reference: every step, office, fee, rule and source, labeled verified or uncertain.
Labels from our research notes: ✅ verified at the linked source · ⚠️ conflicting or needs checking · ❓ unverified, do not rely on it. Researched October 9, 2026.
Spain at a glance
Main route
Non-lucrative residence
Money test
400% IPREM ≈ €2,400/mo (€28,800/yr), unverified
Residence before citizenship
10 yrs
Realistic total (estimate)
≈ 11–13 yrs
Keep US citizenship?
Formal renunciation declaration
Show the full Spain reference guide
Researched Oct 9, 2026. Exchange rate used throughout: €1 ≈ US$1.12 (ECB reference rate Oct 9, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.1206 USD; ECB). USD figures are rounded. IPREM 2026 = €600/month (€7,200/yr, 12 payments) ✅ — confirmed by the Spanish Consulate Washington non-lucrative page (checked Oct 9, 2026); secondary sources say the 2023 figure (Ley 31/2022 PGE) still applies because the budget remains prorogated (papelesaldia; OCU); official BOE text not re-read (checked Oct 9, 2026). SMI 2026 = €1,221/month (14 payments = €17,094/yr), so the digital-nomad threshold (200% SMI) = €34,188/yr ✅ (BOE RD 126/2026, checked Oct 9, 2026). Labels: ✅ = verified at the linked source · ⚠️ = conflicting sources or needs checking · ❓ = UNVERIFIED (could not confirm; do not publish as fact). This is general information, not legal or tax advice. See our disclaimer.
⚠️ RENUNCIATION FLAG — listed in our separate "requires giving up US citizenship" section. To naturalize, a US citizen must declare that they renounce their prior nationality (Código Civil art. 23.b); the exemption covers only Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and Sephardic Jews ✅ (BOE Ley 36/2002; DGSJFP notarial instruction).
Formal, not enforced as loss of US citizenship: Spain treats it as "un mero requisito formal" and has no legal basis to demand proof of loss (Government answer, Nov 2025) ✅ (RTVE, Feb 16, 2026). The US requires intent to relinquish for loss (8 USC 1481) ✅ (travel.state.gov).
Residual Spanish rule: a naturalized Spaniard loses Spanish nationality after 3 years of exclusive use of the nationality they declared to renounce (CC art. 25.1.a) ✅ (mjusticia). Use your Spanish documents in Spain/EU.
Residencia no lucrativa (non-lucrative): 400% IPREM = €2,400/mo / €28,800/yr (+100% IPREM = €7,200/yr per dependant) ✅, private health insurance, clean record; no work allowed, including remote work ✅ (Spanish Consulate Washington, checked Oct 9, 2026)
Path to permanent
Residencia de larga duración after 5 years of legal, continuous residence; absences up to 6 months at a time and 10 months total ✅ (Ministerio de Inclusión, Hoja 49; per search summary ⚠️)
Citizenship
10 years of legal, continuous residence immediately before applying (US nationals do not get the 2-year Ibero-American track) ✅ (Domenech, secondary; CC art. 22 ❓ not fetched). 1 year if married to a Spaniard ❓. Fee €104.05 (modelo 790, código 026) ⚠️ (La Razón, Oct 2026)
Cheapest passive route
Non-lucrative (€28,800/yr) ✅
Digital nomad
Teletrabajo de carácter internacional (Ley 28/2022): 200% SMI ≈ €34,188/yr ✅ (RD 126/2026)
Dual citizenship
Renunciation declaration required (formal) — see flag. Spain does not verify loss; residual art. 25.1.a risk ✅
Risk rating
Low (legal stability) / High (time): predictable EU system, but 10 years to citizenship and a renunciation formula
1. Route overview
Route
Spain status name
Minimum money (2026)
Can work?
Leads to long-term residence?
Verdict
Passive income
Residencia temporal no lucrativa
400% IPREM = €28,800/yr ✅
No ✅
Yes, 5 yrs ✅
Featured
Remote worker
Teletrabajo internacional (DNV)
200% SMI ≈ €34,188/yr ✅ (RD 126/2026); +75% first family member, +25% others ⚠️
Remote; ≤ 20% Spanish clients ❓
Yes ❓
Workers
Entrepreneur
Emprendedor (Ley 14/2013)
Business plan ❓
Yes
Yes ❓
❓
Golden visa
—
Abolished 2025 ❓
—
—
Not available ❓
Family
Familiar de ciudadano español
—
Yes
Yes
Marriage shortcuts
2. Featured route: Residencia no lucrativa
2.1 Steps and where to go
#
Step
Where
Online or in person
Fee
Time
1
FBI record (last 5 years ❓) → US DoS apostille ✅ (travel.state.gov)
FBI / DoS
Online + mail
❓
❓
2
Medical certificate ❓
Doctor
In person
❓
—
3
Private health insurance from an insurer operating in Spain, no copays ❓
Insurer
Online
❓
—
4
Proof of funds/income ≥ 400% IPREM ✅: last 3 months of statements, bank certificate (Dec 31 balance, 12-month average, sworn translation), proof of periodic income, latest tax return ✅
Banks
—
—
—
5
Sworn translations (traductor jurado) ❓
Translator
—
❓
❓
6
Apply for the visa at the Spanish consulate for your US jurisdiction ❓
Consulate
In person
❓
❓
7
Enter Spain; apply for the TIE within 1 month ❓
Policía Nacional
In person
❓
❓
8
Renew (initial 1 yr; renewals under RD 1155/2024 ❓)
Extranjería
Online
❓
❓
9
Year 5: larga duración ✅
Extranjería
—
❓
❓
10
Year 10: nationality application (€104.05 ⚠️), DELE A2 + CCSE, then oath and renunciation declaration ✅
Ministerio de Justicia / notary
Online + notary
❓
❓
2.2 Documents
✅ Washington consulate list (Spanish Consulate Washington, checked Oct 9, 2026; other US consulates may differ ⚠️): national visa form + photo; passport valid ≥ 1 yr, issued < 10 yrs ago; proof of residence in the consular district; form EX-01; fee form 790-052; notarized affidavit (reasons, no-work commitment, Spanish address); means ≥ 400% IPREM; Spanish-authorized health insurance with no copays or limits, 1 yr; medical certificate issued within 90 days; FBI record issued within 6 months, apostilled, sworn Spanish translation (plus any country lived in > 180 days in the last 5 yrs); disclaimer form.
Fees (from Jan 1, 2026): visa US$140 for US citizens + residence-permit fee US$13 ✅, paid at BLS (BLS service charge extra ❓). Decision period 3 months; visa valid 1 yr; apply for the TIE within 1 month of entry ✅.
Spanish tax residence ✅: > 183 days in the calendar year (sporadic absences count unless you prove tax residence elsewhere), or main center of economic interests in Spain; presumed if spouse and minor children live there (Ley IRPF art. 9) (AEAT, checked Oct 9, 2026). Worldwide income, wealth tax and Modelo 720 ❓ (not re-checked).
US–Spain income tax treaty exists ✅ (IRS treaty list, checked Oct 9, 2026). US–Spain totalization agreement in force (since Apr 1, 1988) ✅ (SSA agreements list, checked Oct 9, 2026).
2.6 US tax side
FBAR if foreign accounts aggregate > US$10,000 at any time in the year; Form 8938 for filers living abroad if specified assets > US$200k at year-end or > US$300k at any time (single; US$400k/600k joint) ✅ (IRS 8938 vs FBAR, checked Oct 9, 2026). Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116) ❓ applicability depends on facts. Treaty-position specifics ❓.
3. Non-lucrative details
400% IPREM for the holder; +100% IPREM per family member ⚠️ (secondary sources).
Reglamento de Extranjería: RD 1155/2024 (BOE Nov 20, 2024) ✅ (BOE); in force May 2025 ❓.
4. Family and marriage
Nationality after 1 year of residence when married to a Spaniard (CC art. 22.2) ❓ (not fetched).
Renunciation still applies to US-only spouses ✅ (art. 23 applies to acquisition by residence regardless of track).
5. Digital nomad
International telework visa/permit (Ley 28/2022, Startups Law) ❓; income 200% SMI ⚠️.
6. Naturalization
6.1 Which rule applies
10 years legal, continuous residence immediately before filing for US nationals ✅ (secondary); 2 years for Ibero-Americans, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, Sephardic ✅.
Acquisition requires (CC art. 23): (a) oath/promise of fidelity to the King and obedience to the Constitution and laws; (b) renunciation declaration (US not exempt); (c) registration in the Registro Civil ✅ (BOE).
The oath and renunciation can be made before the Registro Civil, a notary, or a consul ✅ (DGSJFP).
6.2 Documents
Not fetched this session ❓ (birth certificate apostilled/translated, FBI record, residence proof, DELE/CCSE, fee 790-026).
6.3 Exam and language
CCSE (constitutional and sociocultural knowledge) and DELE A2 (exempt for nationals of Spanish-speaking countries — not the US) ✅ (Instituto Cervantes FAQ, per search summary ⚠️).
6.4 Renunciation mechanics (detail)
What you sign: a declaration "que renuncia a su nacionalidad anterior" ✅. Spain does not require you to file anything with the US ✅ (Scornik Gerstein).
US loss requires a voluntary act with intent to relinquish; formal US renunciation is a separate in-person procedure at a US post ✅ (travel.state.gov).
Puerto Rico-born applicants: RTVE lists Puerto Rico among Ibero-American countries ⚠️ — check whether PR birth exempts a US citizen from both the 10-year rule and the renunciation.
7. Physical presence and absences
Stage
Rule
Source
Long-term residence
≤ 6 months per absence, ≤ 10 months total over 5 years
✅/⚠️ Hoja 49
Naturalization
"Continuous" residence; absence limits ❓
❓
After naturalization
3 years of exclusive use of US nationality → loss of Spanish nationality
✅ CC art. 25.1.a
Tax residence
> 183 days in calendar year, or center of economic interests ✅
Renunciation rule long-standing; political debate in 2025–26 (parliamentary question) ✅.
Rating: LOW (legal) / HIGH (time).
10. Common mistakes and tips
Assuming the 2-year Ibero-American track applies to US citizens. It doesn't.
Panicking about the renunciation: it is a formal declaration Spain doesn't verify — but don't use only your US passport afterwards (art. 25.1.a).
Working on a non-lucrative permit.
Long trips that break continuity before year 5.
12. Open questions we are still researching
IPREM 2026 from the official text (SMI 2026 ✅ €1,221/mo, RD 126/2026, Oct 9, 2026)
Consulate document list and fees; TIE fee
RD 1155/2024 renewal terms
CC art. 22 text (10/2/1-year tracks) and absence rules
Nationality fee 2026 from Ministerio de Justicia
Puerto Rico-born exemption
AEAT tax points (treaty ✅ exists; totalization ✅ in force since Apr 1, 1988; FBAR/8938 ✅ — Oct 9, 2026)
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