I’ve decided to move to Spain to be with my boyfriend (he has dual citizenship). I’d like to move in the next four or five months, and am having a hard time figuring out what paperwork/legalities I need to complete in order to move. There seem to be a million sites with varying levels of information (and some is very outdated!). I do not have a job (would be looking for that too, but one step at a time).

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

It depends on the way you want to move. You can apply for a tourist VISA (3 months), student permit, residence and work permit, residence, get married…

For what you told, I understand you want to come as a resident with work permit. Have you called to the Spanish Consulate of your country/state yet?

You can have a look at my signature website and maybe it can help you a little.

But you have to hurry if you want to move in 4/5 months, because as we say in Spain: “palace things go slowly”. 😜

http://www.spainexpat.com/spain/spanorama/ try here aswell

consulate in your area aswell

jurdy

Hello,

Legally you cant just “move” to Spain as an American citizen. You are allowed only 3 months in the country with an automatic 3 month visa (the same one that allows the Europeans into the US for 3 months without actually applying for any visa). If you intend on staying longer, you need a visa. For that, you need to contact the Spanish consulate in the US. There are 3 or 4, I believe, and it is a PAIN in the butt, be prepared.

I dont know how much things have changed since I did it, but when I was a student in Spain (I am now a legal resident, married to a Spaniard) I was required to go in person to the San Francisco Spanish consulate to apply for my Student visa (I am from WASHINGTON STATE).

not only that but the papwerwork that they required was ridiculous.

Anyways, you cant just move to Spain. You need a student visa, work visa (almost impossible unless you work for some cool company that can sponser you), retirement visas, business visas (if you are going to make a big investment in Spain), etc.

Other than that, your only option is to go to Spain for a limit of 3 months, leave Spain, go back to Spain…. that is your only legal option. Unless, of course, you get married, Which is what I eventually had to do to stay with my husband in Spain.

It used to be that you could, as an American, enter Spain and overstay your 3 months with no problems. They never even looked in our passports to see if we had the correct visas and never gave Americans problems. This, however, is changing and the last couple times I entered the country they directly ask me if I am a resident and to see my residency card. I also heard of an American recently that was denied access to Spain when he was trying to return from vacation (to the US) because they examined his passport and saw that he had been living here illegally (more than 3 months).

Another important thing to know is that when you send your things here, if you do so, they will pass through customs and likely be stopped. I sent a cargo shipment when I came. When customs contacts you for delivery of your items you will also have to show them that you are in the country legally, if not, I dont think they will deliver your items.

So yea, 3 months max is what you have.  Unless you want to sign up to study Spanish for a year or something, then you could apply for a student visa. This IS a pain to get, but it will allow you to be in Spain legally for a longer amount of time.

Contact the Spanish consulate, although all the available visas and information is online.

Good luck.

Kim