Why are so many Americans moving to Spain?

People

They’re no longer looking for beaches, sunshine and paella. American families are moving to Spain in search of a quieter, more affordable and fulfilling life… and to get away from Trump

Ixone Díaz Landaluce

They had six criteria for choosing their destination: it had to have a moderate climate, neither too hot nor too cold; it had to be ... medium-sized so they didn’t need a car to get about; there had to be no tourists; it had to have plenty of green spaces, a good healthcare system and be welcoming to a gay couple like themselves. And based on all that, ChatGPT gave them the answer: Vitoria, the capital of the Basque Country, with a population of 260,000.

Lorraine and Terry arrived in the city last October. “It was raining, a dreadful day,” they say with a laugh as they stroll through the city with their little dog, Penny. In December, they found a flat in a central area, experienced an earthquake and a snowfall (which everyone assured them were unusual), and some neighbours invited them round for dinner on New Year’s Eve. Eight months on, they’ve made friends, travelled to the Canary Islands and Alicante, want to learn Spanish, have a butcher’s they trust, and are absolutely certain of one thing: “We want to stay in Vitoria for the rest of our lives. The people are friendly and we walk everywhere. Life here is wonderful.”

Lorraine and Terry are not an isolated case but rather indicative of a growing migration trend: an increasing number of American families are settling in Spain with the intention of staying permanently and, often, without any previous connection to this country. We are not talking about students, nor about people in their twenties seeking a life experience, but about young families with children, as well as recent retirees looking for a quieter and more affordable life. According to figures from the INE, almost 70,000 US citizens reside in Spain, a figure that has risen by 48 per cent since 2018 and which increased by 30 per cent in the period between 2021 and 2024 alone.

The Smiths miss their families and friends, but not their country. “I can’t imagine raising my children in the United States,” says Eric. And they’re in no doubt that Spain is where they want to live. Nor do they miss the big house or the garden.

“I hated having to look after all that grass. I love renting and not having a car,” says Jessica. “In a big house, everyone goes about their own business. I like bringing up my children in a flat because we spend more time together,” agrees her husband.

The Benítezs miss the NFL, baseball and spicy sauce. Little else. Alison is in no doubt: “We haven’t regretted it once. We want to live here forever. I firmly believe that the European dream is the new American dream. And for us, that means Spain.”

The American Dream no longer holds appeal for Spaniards

Obtaining a visa – let alone a green card or citizenship – to live and work in the United States has never been an easy task. But since the start of Trump’s second term, the obstacles have increased considerably, while the political climate in the country has become increasingly tense. As a result, interest among Spaniards - and particularly among younger people - in studying and working in the United States is no longer what it used to be.

On the one hand, families are increasingly less likely to send their teenage children to spend a school year in the country. According to a report by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), since 2023 this option has fallen by 16 per cent, and many of these students are choosing other destinations, such as Canada, the United Kingdom or Ireland, to complete that academic year. On the other hand, the revocation of visas for undergraduate and postgraduate students has led to an increasing number of researchers ruling out the American route, which until recently was essential for anyone aspiring to a research career at the highest level. All this is happening while many scientists who have been based in the United States for years, or even decades, are returning, supported by ‘brain-gain’ campaigns such as the Ministry of Science’s ATRAE programme, VISI-ON-BRAIN and Talent Bridge, run by the Government of Catalonia.

Even tourists are finding it increasingly difficult to travel to the country. In March, the United States announced that, although Spanish nationals will still be able to travel visa-free to visit the country, the conditions for ESTA – the mandatory authorisation required to cross the border – have been tightened. Among other things, the authorities can review travellers’ social media activity; travellers must also provide the telephone numbers they have used over the last five years and the email addresses they have used over the last decade.

Since Trump’s return to the White House last year, the United States has become less attractive to travellers, as noted by the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies (CEAV), among others. On top of bureaucratic hurdles, there is a perception of insecurity and hostility fuelled not only by episodes of political violence, but also by raids carried out by ICE, Trump’s immigration enforcement agency.