In our first version of The Local’s Americans in Spain e-newsletter, we cowl the brand new passport checks at Spanish airports, fertility tourism, the massive inflow of anti-Trump Americans shifting to Spain, in addition to key adjustments to the Spanish non-lucrative visa.
Welcome to The Local’s “Americans in Spain” e-newsletter for members, that includes all of the information and sensible info you want as an American resident, customer or second-home proprietor in Spain. You can signal as much as obtain it on to your inbox earlier than we publish it on-line by way of the hyperlink beneath.
Dear Americans in Spain, I’m Jenny, and I’ll be protecting you up to date on our protection for Americans in Spain — together with a few of my first-hand experiences as a US nationwide residing in España.
This November, we cowl the rise in Americans coming to Spain, the convenience of accessing assisted fertility right here, how Americans overseas are standing as much as Trump, and lots extra.
Spain leads as the highest vacation spot for Americans this yr. Whether for trip or eternally, 70 p.c of Americans polled by Spain’s Tourism Ministry in New York say they plan to go to Spain within the subsequent three years.
Millennials (81 p.c) and “travellers with excessive buying energy” (76 p.c) confirmed particular curiosity.
READ MORE: Americans’ crush on Spain – 70% of US vacationers plan to go to in subsequent three years
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My chosen residence of Barcelona polled second as probably the most favoured vacation spot, simply 1 p.c behind Madrid.
It’s not simply the mainland; the Spanish islands are additionally feeling love from the States.
The model of tourism is altering, with a better concentrate on native experiences and holistic holidays. Spain is maintaining; this coming August 2026, Nobu, Ibiza Bay, is making ready for the primary complete photo voltaic eclipse seen from Ibiza in over 230 years with crafted celestial experiences.
Meanwhile, in Barcelona, domestically led Walks Devour Barcelona works intently with family-run institutions to place neighborhood on the centre of tourism.
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And it’s not simply leisure holidays attracting Americans; amidst restricted entry to assisted replica and uncertainty at residence, there’s a rising group of girls crossing the Atlantic for unrestricted care.
This month, I embarked alone fertility journey in Spain, selecting Institut Marquès to freeze my eggs.
“I was shocked to see an American affected person, however you’re the third I’m talking with this week,” Dr. Hans Arce advised me throughout our session in a swanky fertility clinic in Barcelona.
Between January and June 2025, visits from American girls quadrupled in comparison with the identical interval final yr. And at Tambre Clinic in Madrid, American girls searching for fertility therapies elevated 6 p.c this yr.
Why Spain? Cutting-edge expertise, inclusive laws, affordability, and entry that ladies can’t discover of their residence nation. A cycle of IVF might price me lower than a yr of Botox in New York.
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The medical workforce at Institut Marqués is top-notch, and the method is reasonably priced. In all, I’ll spend lower than €4,000 and achieve priceless peace of thoughts.
It’s additionally simply kinder. After some communication glitches (forgetting to say my physician was away and scheduling me with a non-English talking sub), the clinic’s supervisor gave me her private quantity.
Some Spanish fertility clinics even have partnerships with motels to scale back the price of staying, and others will provide help to plan your entire go to.
A document variety of Americans are taking their relationship with Spain from informal to dedicated.
My fellow expatriates are selecting Spain over some other European nation; 15,638 Americans obtained their Spanish residency final yr, up from 12,809 in 2023.
READ MORE: Record variety of Americans transfer to Spain
According to knowledge from Spain’s Immigration Observatory, as of June thirtieth 2025, there have been 48,713 US nationals residing in Spain.
Some of the surge appears linked to politics at residence. A new documentary, “Spain: The Americans fleeing Trump”, follows three Americans who moved to Spain.
While every has particular causes, they’re all geopolitically-related. The organisation, Democrats Abroad, helps them make their voices heard.
In parallel with protests within the US, they organised No Kings protests in main cities throughout Spain.
While extra Americans need to name Spain residence, the method could also be extra advanced than within the previous.
The non-lucrative visa (visado de residencia no lucrativa or NLV) has been a well-liked alternative amongst Americans shifting to Spain however attaining one could also be getting harder.
While there’s been no official change to the regulation, some consulates at the moment are asking for extra paperwork.
EXCLUSIVE: Why getting Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa is now harder
The Local Spain spoke with María De Castro, CEO of Spanish regulation agency CostaLuz Lawyers, who listed extra objects you could be requested for.
These embrace proof you’ve already stopped working, a short assertion of your intentions, and extra granular financial institution proof.
Whether coming for trip or eternally, be ready for brand new airport screenings.
In mid-October, Madrid-Barajas rolled out new long-awaited border procedures as a part of the brand new European Entry and Exit System (EES) for registering non-EU foreigners coming into the Schengen space.
Non-EU travellers will probably be photographed and fingerprinted upon arrival in a bid to raised observe when folks enter and depart the Schengen space. Seville, Tenerife North, and Burgos have additionally rolled out EES, and also you.
You can even now anticipate to move by means of EES at Malaga-Costa del Sol, Barcelona-El Prat and Alicante Airport. The EU expects full implementation by April 2026.
READ MORE: All the most recent information on EES passport checks in Spain
Finally, my month-to-month oops — hopefully you possibly can study from my errors as a foreigner making a residence in Spain.
The nation nonetheless has totally different areas with totally different languages; what we name Spanish, they name castellano.
So, if you wish to make an additional good impression, study a couple of key phrases within the area you’re visiting.
Fins a la pròxima edició, i salutacions des de Barcelona! (which in Catalan means “Until the subsequent version, and greetings from Barcelona!”).
