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@jfranknichols

It sounds like a great adventure... good luck!

I reckon you're right that a "permanent" address is needed. In particular, to get your TIE, you'll have to get your padron certificate, and make an online appointment at the correct immigration office near your address. I believe the rental contract is not strictly required for a NLV, but I believe it's quite common for those applying in USA to be asked for it anyway.

The usual option is to a buy a place or have a long term rental contract. My suggestion would be to rent the cheapest, smallest studio possible (maybe a few hundred euros per month) with no intention of ever staying there (perhaps a night or two at a pinch). In any case, once you have your TIEs, the permanent address has served its purpose, so you could give notice to your landlord and end the rental (i.e. you're not on the hook for a full year).

Alternatively, if you have any friends or acquaintances with property in Spain, they might be happy to provide some kind of letter confirming that they're providing you with accommodation for a year (and, ideally, going to the padron office with you to translate/confirm).

@jfranknichols

you will need a bank account opened as soon as possible and you can stay in spain living out of your RV for the duration of your visa (tourist visa = 90 days.  After that you will need to rent or buy a property to show residency.

I live just north of Barcelona in a small fishing village which is only 40 minutes by car and 55 minutes by train to go to Barcelona.  Great weather, good food, nice people…

Message me anytime if you would like.

cheers,

lmf

@Lmflmf1

Thank you our desire (plan) is to live in the RV full time as soon as we arrive, hence my coming over first and being the RV, outfitting it and parking it someplace (maybe dealer lot?) and the returning to the US, getting our NLV at the Miami consulate, and returning to Spain with everything and my wife. Then live in the RV full time.

I will have my NIE before coming over, and will open bank accounts and buy the RV etc. To get our TIE (residency) we will need a long term rental agreement (I have heard/read). Barcelona is one of the POE's we are considering, along with Magala.

Thanks

Frank

Another question, the NLV requires proof of income, can we just have the bank print out our SS deposits over ht past year and then notarize it, then Apostle it?

@jfranknichols

As an American who moved from US to Mexico in 2016, then from Mexico to Spain in 2023/2024, I have to be honest.  What you are describing to me sounds extremely difficult and not well thought out.  We had difficulty and unbelievable stress and we are very comfortable financially, we both speak Spanish AND were able to hire consultants every step of the way to go through the Golden Visa process.  I don't want to de-rail your dreams but have you thought about a move to Costa Rica?  It is closer to the US, there are huge American expat communities, it's cheaper and I am sure the Visa process is easier.  If not Costa Rica, Panama? Even Mexico like San Miguel de Allende.

My partner and I in the last year were stunned (still are) at how complicated our move has been despite us having decades of world travel, medical, healthcare, financial, corporate AND small business expertise, are trilingual, in great health and financial security.  A move abroad is NOT something to take lightly and is not as easy as what social media portrays as just a "fun adventure" for nomadic types or even just people wanting an exciting new chapter or "fresh start".

@jfranknichols

I'm not sure, but I think they'll prefer to see bank/brokerage statements and/or some kind of official letter confirming your entitlement to $x of monthly pension/social security income. I don't think account statements need to apostilled or translated. A pension letter probably would need a certified translation. Note that (a) if you have over 30k euros in savings then that's sufficient for the NLV, and (b) BLS (who process most Spanish visas for the embassies these days) have full requirements listed for each type of application, so you should read these carefully to see exactly what you need.

For proof of income, I obtained a benefit statement from IRS, online.  That was accepted.  I don't recall getting it apostilled, just translated.

HI, I just got my NLV visa in Spain and the process was easier as thought. You can text me directly to share my experience and contacts.

Another thought for you:

As a US passport holder, you can come to Europe/Spain for 90 days.  Come for 90 days under that, no need for NIE, rent an RV, see what you can see in 90  days and then decide.

If I were wanting to see lots of Spain, I would rent a small, cheap pied a terre, and take trains all over Spain.  This is very doable, we live in Valencia and have gone to 10-12 cites via train. 

We've also driven, and when we did, wished we had taken the train instead