Siempre me ha parecido trágico que tengas que renunciar a la nacionalidad estadounidense o te van a seguir cobrando impuestos incluso aunque estés en otro país.
A principal driver of the misconception is that American tourists go to Spain for a holiday; se enamoran; and expect that living in Spain is going to be the same as their 2 week holiday there. It creates impossible expectations – no country can be as fun of a place to live as it is to holiday.
Coming from NZ, I see the exact same thing happen. Many fall in love with NZ as they go around spending their strong USD currency. Then they get here, earn a NZ wage and have to live and work (and not holiday) and it falls apart for many.
A lot of these points are basically ‘i didn’t prepare properly before coming to Spain’. Also, 8400 euros for medical insurance for 2…i’m sure someone is ripping them off
This article is bullshit.
Sure, there are some complications for getting the NIE, but it’s definitely not something that will take that many months.
With the income this article claims, you can live like a fucking king in Spain.
And I have **never** benefitted from connections in the Spanish bureaucratic system. And I got many grants, economic help and many other benefits from the system.
The article depicts a Spain that perhaps reflects the Spain 20 years ago… Not Spain today.
And don’t get me wrong. I could not care less if you decide not to come to our country (actually better, rich immigration is having a negative effect on our living expenses).
But don’t believe this bullshit.
To be honest, it would be lovely. at least for the locals, that is.
Not that i’m crying or anything. (I’m a local, btw)
Expats lmao, you mean immigrants?
iNdUsTrY dAtA YoU wOnT lIkE
“They have to pay taxes in both countries simultaneously” what is this 1850?
The foreign earned income exclusion and the foreign tax credit were both enacted around 100 years ago which prevent double taxation.
This is a great ad to tell everyone to avoid this company at all costs.
American immigrants… let’s call it what it is. I am an American immigrant.
Bringing American solutions to the Spanish problems, that was the mistake.
But it made me think: it’s so easy to commit the same sin. I have been looking very hard to find housing that meets my standards, even thought about buying land so I could build what I like (nothing crazy, btw). Maybe I should just give in and get used to how millions of spaniards live instead of trying to replicate the space and comfort I have abroad.
A married American couple can *each* earn $126,000 without paying US taxes. I’m 59 and private health insurance for my wife (40) and me is €1950. They’re paying *quadruple* that? We’ve lived here for seven years (in the same city as this moronic couple) and know about 15 other American couples who’ve lived here about as long. Not one has moved back. And our immigration attorney says that less than 20% of US immigrants leave Spain, but some of these move elsewhere within Europe, and others never planned to stay forever anyway.
A pointless and ridiculous piece.
So a combination of unpreparedness and shit advice leads to failure? Who would’ve thought?
Read it. Yeah, it makes sense.
B2 Spanish is definitely nice to have but something you can live without. Preparation and patience worth more imo
People need to remember that at the end of the day, real life here involves the same routines. Work, Gym, Food, weekend, repeat. Just with A LOT less money and very far from friends and family.
Most Americans should prefer having their nice home with triple the salary. Life here is nice, but it is not a vacation.
“We thought we could bring American solutions to Spanish problems. We were wrong about everything. The successful expats we met had become different people — they’d adapted so completely that they barely seemed American anymore. We weren’t willing to do that.”
This is so bad I’d almost think it’s not true. Hard to believe these people would be so stupidly arrogant.
There’s a lot more in the article that is questionable or complete bullshit.
Immigrants, you mean Immigrants.
That tax info simply isn’t true. Look up foreign earned income.
Boo fuck’n hoo
American immigrants. The article talks about American immigrants in Spain.
“So here’s the brutal truth about why Americans crash and burn in Spain — and why the industry keeps selling you lies.”
Sorry, but if an author writes so poorly and cringey you cannot expect anyone to read it.
This article is “based on (his) client base”. Interesting, but I question the overall data.
We need it to be 99%
Well, some things apply a little for me as well but the numbers are strange. On the other side I’m not american nor expat. It’s way cheaper to be an immigrant.
This article is full of cherry picked BS. The author is obviously not doing their job if they help Americans relocate to Spain.
Just a few examples from the article without digging too deep:
– Not sure how Jennifer and Mark were even working and generating $240K annual income in Spain on tourist visas, this seems highly illegal
– I would assuume that the relocation expert would handle all of the appointments for NIE, Padron, etc. Assuming that the author who runs a relocation company does not offer this to their clients, a couple with $240K annual income could have easily hired a gestor to handle a large aspect of the bureaucratic component
– the Jennifer and Mark NIE issue – one can easily get an NIE at the consulate before even stepping a foot in Spain (NIE blanco) and then once can open a bank account in Spain. Even more easily, you can open a non-resident account at Banco Santandar without a NIE and convert to a resident account later. Or you can open a Spanish Revolut Bank account with NIE blanco from the consulate or Wise account with no issue. NIE balnco can be transitioned to verde if the couple has a right to work in Spain in the future
– The tax numbers calculated do not add up. Spain has higher taxes, that;’s for sure because they finance a lot of things that are otherwise paid out of pocket. But ignoring that, apparently in author’s example, Jennifer and Mark US tax burden was 17.5% , or $42.5K on the income of $243K. In the exaple above, the author cites $31K US federal tax and $15K US social security tax. That is $46K right there intaxes they woudl have also pay in the US. The 17.5% figure is an obvious fabrication, where are their state taxes, property taxes, etc? Additionally, paying Spanish social security also adds to their retirement (but not if they leave before accruing enough credits), but not sure how they are paying Spanish social security tax if on tourist visa, unless they were on DNV and beckham’s law?
– The cost of quality private coverage is quoted at €8.4K annually for a couple over 40 . If someone choses to overspend that is their fault. As an example, I am getting quotes of $370 a month for a high quality Sanitas health plan with international doctors, $0 copay, $0 deductible and dental for a family of 4. My annual premium outlay in the US is $14K a year (for health, dental and vision) does not include employer portion) with an out of pocket max of $5K for the family.
– The financial aspect ignores lower living costs in Spain. It does depend on which city you pick, with Madrid and Barcelona being more expensive, but compare the housing costs to New York, Miami and what you get for an equivalent location is meaningfully cheaper
– The language and social aspect is real, but that comes with relocating to any country. Going to an English speaking country would be easier, but the financial aspects would not be favorable
Two and a half years with no plans to leave. We definitely had some advantages compared to the examples in that article though. We had work visas and got healthcare right away plus bank acccounts before we came. And we spoke the language fluently. A lot of truth in there though. Bureaucracy is incredible. Taxes are painful. Culture is not very welcoming to outsiders especially those that dont speak the language.
The first two years were tough for sure especially with how much less I was making compared to what I could easily make in USA. Then my wife and I had trouble conceiving and had to go through IVF and we didn’t have to pay a cent. And then my daughter was born and had to spend 10 days in the neonatal ward and also had no bill. Then experiencing 16 weeks paid maternity and paternity leave. Then having very affordable daycare options. It validated the whole experience and now I can’t imagine having to go back to USA
Expats? You mean inmigrants? Why use a different term when its the same?
Every time I go to Spain, I say “I’d like Spanish life but not Spanish salary”.
How is this a shocker to anyone, really? Do Americans really expect for everything to go well when they move to a country they don’t even speak the language of? That’s beyond delusion, tbh.
La mayoría de los inmigrantes americanos en España no se van a los dos años como muy tarde, porque la mayoría son Hispanoamericanos y no gringos
31 comments
Siempre me ha parecido trágico que tengas que renunciar a la nacionalidad estadounidense o te van a seguir cobrando impuestos incluso aunque estés en otro país.
A principal driver of the misconception is that American tourists go to Spain for a holiday; se enamoran; and expect that living in Spain is going to be the same as their 2 week holiday there. It creates impossible expectations – no country can be as fun of a place to live as it is to holiday.
Coming from NZ, I see the exact same thing happen. Many fall in love with NZ as they go around spending their strong USD currency. Then they get here, earn a NZ wage and have to live and work (and not holiday) and it falls apart for many.
A lot of these points are basically ‘i didn’t prepare properly before coming to Spain’. Also, 8400 euros for medical insurance for 2…i’m sure someone is ripping them off
This article is bullshit.
Sure, there are some complications for getting the NIE, but it’s definitely not something that will take that many months.
With the income this article claims, you can live like a fucking king in Spain.
And I have **never** benefitted from connections in the Spanish bureaucratic system. And I got many grants, economic help and many other benefits from the system.
The article depicts a Spain that perhaps reflects the Spain 20 years ago… Not Spain today.
And don’t get me wrong. I could not care less if you decide not to come to our country (actually better, rich immigration is having a negative effect on our living expenses).
But don’t believe this bullshit.
To be honest, it would be lovely. at least for the locals, that is.
Not that i’m crying or anything. (I’m a local, btw)
Expats lmao, you mean immigrants?
iNdUsTrY dAtA YoU wOnT lIkE
“They have to pay taxes in both countries simultaneously” what is this 1850?
The foreign earned income exclusion and the foreign tax credit were both enacted around 100 years ago which prevent double taxation.
This is a great ad to tell everyone to avoid this company at all costs.
American immigrants… let’s call it what it is. I am an American immigrant.
Bringing American solutions to the Spanish problems, that was the mistake.
But it made me think: it’s so easy to commit the same sin. I have been looking very hard to find housing that meets my standards, even thought about buying land so I could build what I like (nothing crazy, btw). Maybe I should just give in and get used to how millions of spaniards live instead of trying to replicate the space and comfort I have abroad.
A married American couple can *each* earn $126,000 without paying US taxes. I’m 59 and private health insurance for my wife (40) and me is €1950. They’re paying *quadruple* that? We’ve lived here for seven years (in the same city as this moronic couple) and know about 15 other American couples who’ve lived here about as long. Not one has moved back. And our immigration attorney says that less than 20% of US immigrants leave Spain, but some of these move elsewhere within Europe, and others never planned to stay forever anyway.
A pointless and ridiculous piece.
So a combination of unpreparedness and shit advice leads to failure? Who would’ve thought?
Read it. Yeah, it makes sense.
B2 Spanish is definitely nice to have but something you can live without. Preparation and patience worth more imo
People need to remember that at the end of the day, real life here involves the same routines. Work, Gym, Food, weekend, repeat. Just with A LOT less money and very far from friends and family.
Most Americans should prefer having their nice home with triple the salary. Life here is nice, but it is not a vacation.
“We thought we could bring American solutions to Spanish problems. We were wrong about everything. The successful expats we met had become different people — they’d adapted so completely that they barely seemed American anymore. We weren’t willing to do that.”
This is so bad I’d almost think it’s not true. Hard to believe these people would be so stupidly arrogant.
There’s a lot more in the article that is questionable or complete bullshit.
Immigrants, you mean Immigrants.
That tax info simply isn’t true. Look up foreign earned income.
Boo fuck’n hoo
American immigrants. The article talks about American immigrants in Spain.
“So here’s the brutal truth about why Americans crash and burn in Spain — and why the industry keeps selling you lies.”
Sorry, but if an author writes so poorly and cringey you cannot expect anyone to read it.
This article is “based on (his) client base”. Interesting, but I question the overall data.
We need it to be 99%
Well, some things apply a little for me as well but the numbers are strange. On the other side I’m not american nor expat. It’s way cheaper to be an immigrant.
This article is full of cherry picked BS. The author is obviously not doing their job if they help Americans relocate to Spain.
Just a few examples from the article without digging too deep:
– Not sure how Jennifer and Mark were even working and generating $240K annual income in Spain on tourist visas, this seems highly illegal
– I would assuume that the relocation expert would handle all of the appointments for NIE, Padron, etc. Assuming that the author who runs a relocation company does not offer this to their clients, a couple with $240K annual income could have easily hired a gestor to handle a large aspect of the bureaucratic component
– the Jennifer and Mark NIE issue – one can easily get an NIE at the consulate before even stepping a foot in Spain (NIE blanco) and then once can open a bank account in Spain. Even more easily, you can open a non-resident account at Banco Santandar without a NIE and convert to a resident account later. Or you can open a Spanish Revolut Bank account with NIE blanco from the consulate or Wise account with no issue. NIE balnco can be transitioned to verde if the couple has a right to work in Spain in the future
– The tax numbers calculated do not add up. Spain has higher taxes, that;’s for sure because they finance a lot of things that are otherwise paid out of pocket. But ignoring that, apparently in author’s example, Jennifer and Mark US tax burden was 17.5% , or $42.5K on the income of $243K. In the exaple above, the author cites $31K US federal tax and $15K US social security tax. That is $46K right there intaxes they woudl have also pay in the US. The 17.5% figure is an obvious fabrication, where are their state taxes, property taxes, etc? Additionally, paying Spanish social security also adds to their retirement (but not if they leave before accruing enough credits), but not sure how they are paying Spanish social security tax if on tourist visa, unless they were on DNV and beckham’s law?
– The cost of quality private coverage is quoted at €8.4K annually for a couple over 40 . If someone choses to overspend that is their fault. As an example, I am getting quotes of $370 a month for a high quality Sanitas health plan with international doctors, $0 copay, $0 deductible and dental for a family of 4. My annual premium outlay in the US is $14K a year (for health, dental and vision) does not include employer portion) with an out of pocket max of $5K for the family.
– The financial aspect ignores lower living costs in Spain. It does depend on which city you pick, with Madrid and Barcelona being more expensive, but compare the housing costs to New York, Miami and what you get for an equivalent location is meaningfully cheaper
– The language and social aspect is real, but that comes with relocating to any country. Going to an English speaking country would be easier, but the financial aspects would not be favorable
Two and a half years with no plans to leave. We definitely had some advantages compared to the examples in that article though. We had work visas and got healthcare right away plus bank acccounts before we came. And we spoke the language fluently. A lot of truth in there though. Bureaucracy is incredible. Taxes are painful. Culture is not very welcoming to outsiders especially those that dont speak the language.
The first two years were tough for sure especially with how much less I was making compared to what I could easily make in USA. Then my wife and I had trouble conceiving and had to go through IVF and we didn’t have to pay a cent. And then my daughter was born and had to spend 10 days in the neonatal ward and also had no bill. Then experiencing 16 weeks paid maternity and paternity leave. Then having very affordable daycare options. It validated the whole experience and now I can’t imagine having to go back to USA
Expats? You mean inmigrants? Why use a different term when its the same?
Every time I go to Spain, I say “I’d like Spanish life but not Spanish salary”.
How is this a shocker to anyone, really? Do Americans really expect for everything to go well when they move to a country they don’t even speak the language of? That’s beyond delusion, tbh.
La mayoría de los inmigrantes americanos en España no se van a los dos años como muy tarde, porque la mayoría son Hispanoamericanos y no gringos
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