In this month’s Americans in Spain newsletter we look at the new US ambassador Trump has picked for Spain, scams to watch out for when moving here, and how having dual American-Spanish citizenship is under threat.
Welcome to The Local’s “Americans in Spain” newsletter for members, featuring all the news and practical information you need as an American resident, visitor or second-home owner in Spain. You can sign up to receive it directly to your inbox before we publish it online via the link below.
More Americans are moving to Spain than ever before. The Local is keeping close coverage of travel and life hacks.
First off, let’s talk about getting here. There are loads of new flights between Spain and North America.
I have a positive bias (for good reason) towards Delta, so we’ll start with them. Delta Airlines announced a new route between Barcelona and Seattle, beginning operations in May 2026 with three flights weekly.
The airline will also begin daily flights between Madrid and Boston from May 16th. JetBlue has announced a new route from Barcelona to Boston, beginning on April 16th.
Advertisement
From March 29th, Iberia will begin operating a daily flight between Madrid and Newark Liberty International Airport (not my favourite NY airport, but it has the easiest public transport into the city). United Airlines will begin flying from Galicia to New York from mid-May through mid-September.
Air Canada will launch a new direct flight from Palma to Montreal, beginning mid-June. Iberia will fly directly from Madrid to Toronto beginning in June. Air Transit began direct flights between Valencia and Montreal last year and will operate in the winter and spring months beginning this February.
Now, let’s talk about living in Spain. If you’re applying for a Digital Nomad Visa, you can likely expect an increase to the required income.
The amount you must earn as a digital nomad is linked to Spain’s minimum wage, which is set to increase by the end of January.
Advertisement
The new requirement is projected at €2,893.32 per month instead of the current €2,763 per month, but this is yet to be confirmed.
READ ALSO: The reasons why Spain is a top choice for American digital nomads
Moving anywhere means bureaucracy, and Spain’s is famously messy. One of the first frustrations Americans (and all foreigners) encounter is the dreaded cita previa appointment, which you need for visa and residency processes.
The country has struggled to crack down on a worsening cita previa scam, which sees fraudsters booking all available appointments and then selling them on the black market. Fortunately, Spanish authorities are reviewing a plan to require a personalised code or passkey to prevent the scam bots from succeeding.
READ ALSO: How to get a ‘cita previa’ (appointment) in Spain when it seems impossible
Getting your hands on a Spanish visa or residency permit may soon be easier, but citizenship could become more complicated — at least for those tied to their American passport. Republican Senator Bernie Moreno (Ohio) has introduced “The Exclusive Citizen Act” to Congress.
If passed, the bill would preclude dual citizenship, requiring Americans to “owe sole and exclusive allegiance to the United States.”
Advertisement
In addition to prohibiting Americans from dual citizenship, the bill would require any American currently with dual citizenship to either renounce their second citizenship (be it Spanish, French, or otherwise) or their US citizenship.
One very public official will soon be making his home in Madrid. Benjamin León Jr. finally won Senate approval as the next U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and the Principality of Andorra — nearly one year after Trump nominated him.
The new US Ambassador to Spain – Cuban-American businessman Benjamín León Jr. Source: US Embassy in Madrid.
Authorities insist the delay had nothing to do with the chilly diplomatic relationship between the two countries. The Cuban American businessman will waste no time amplifying Trump’s message on Spanish soil.
During his appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in mid-October, León Jr. said he would work to “reverse” the “great mistake” made by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in refusing to allocate 5 percent of GDP to military spending.
The arrival of a US ambassador comes amidst heightened friction between Spain and the United States.
Advertisement
The social democratic coalition government, led by Pedro Sánchez, has been outspoken in its opposition to Donald Trump, including the recent grab of Venezuela’s government and its oil.
A former colony of Spain, there are many cultural links with Venezuela, and over 600,000 Venezuelan residents in Spain.
READ ALSO: Venezuelans in Spain rejoice at prospect of return home
There are also economic links. Spain is the country’s fourth-largest trading partner, dealing in gold, coffee, chocolate, and oil.
It’s uncertain what the effects will be, although during an interview on Spain’s Antena 3 TV channel, economist Eduardo Bolinches insisted petrol prices won’t be affected. For businesses, there’s greater uncertainty. If Venezuela achieves a peaceful transition of power and greater stability, the international market could benefit.
However, if the United States takes over and controls exports, it could lock international firms out of the market.
On a positive note, affordable housing may become more accessible, at least in Catalonia. The regional government is the first in Spain to tackle the temporary or seasonal rental loophole in the Spanish Housing Law.
Under the new regulations, duration will no longer determine categorisation and legal standing of a flat. If you are renting a home, you’re entitled to the broad protections offered under the Spanish Housing Law.
READ MORE: Catalonia passes Spain’s first law banning temporary rental trick
The cita previa scam isn’t the only pitfall to watch out for. The housing market is filled with them, which brings me to my monthly oops. Here’s your warning not to make the same mistakes.
When I moved here, I signed an 11-month lease for my apartment. It was everything a girl from Pittsburgh could dream of.
At just 32 square metres, it had a private terrace of equal size. There were views of the sea everywhere you looked. At first, I paid €950.
The next year, I re-signed for €1,100. The year after that, there was another increase. What’s more, each time I signed, I
paid ten percent of the total rent to the rental agency.
I never would have noticed the scam if the building hadn’t been sold. The new owners insisted on a 40 percent rent increase. It was a twofold scam.
First, by issuing concurrent seasonal leases, they were evading fair housing laws. But the big scam was with the rental agency, and it’s one you should be on alert for. The agency wanted me to keep renewing so they could charge commission
each time.
Under the new law, this is highly illegal for many reasons. Now, agency fees are the landlord’s responsibility, so you should never be charged. If you renew, you also shouldn’t be charged. In short, if a rental agency is charging you commission, it’s illegal. Now, you know.
READ MORE: Do I have to pay the estate agent a commission when renting in Spain?
