Your LLC in Texas has clients, a bookkeeper and a bank account that works. You do not want to close it. You just want to run it from a flat in Barcelona instead of an office in Austin. Can you?
Yes. Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa is designed for people who keep working for companies outside Spain, including their own US company. But moving turns one tax system into two, and your LLC, your Social Security and your IRS filings all need a plan.
1. The Visa: Running Your Own Company From Spain
- Show the company is realRegistration documents, tax returns and invoices showing it has operated for at least one year.
- Show your role and incomeThat you own and run it remotely, with income of at least €2,849 a month in 2026.
- Show your profileA university degree or three years of relevant professional experience.
- Keep Spanish work limitedClients in Spain can be at most 20% of your activity.
Owning your company often raises one question from caseworkers: who certifies your role if you sign everything yourself? We explain how to solve that in our guide to proving qualifications when you are your own boss.
2. Taxes: Two Countries, One Plan
United States
Who filesEvery US citizen, wherever they live ReliefFEIE (Form 2555) or foreign tax credits (Form 1116) AlsoFBAR and FATCA reporting of foreign accountsSpain
Who filesTax residents: more than 183 days a year, or centre of interests ReliefThe Spain and US tax treaty, and possibly the Beckham Law AlsoForm 720 for foreign assets over €50,000A key point many owners miss: Spain may classify your LLC differently from the IRS. A structure that is simple in the US can create unexpected tax results in Spain, so review it before you become a Spanish tax resident.
3. Social Security: Which System Covers You?
Spain and the US have a Social Security agreement. In broad terms, employees sent temporarily by a US employer can stay in the US system with a certificate of coverage, while self-employed people are generally covered by the country where they live. Your answer depends on how you are paid by your own company.
Example
Mark owns a marketing consultancy in Florida with six US clients. He applied for the Digital Nomad Visa with his company records, contracts and three years of tax returns. Before moving, he reviewed with us how Spain would treat his LLC and how he would pay himself, so his first Spanish tax return held no surprises.
Employed by a US company rather than running your own? See our guide for US W-2 employees.
Why This Is Harder Than It Looks
- Applying with a company that is less than a year old.
- Signing your own employment letter with no independent proof of your role.
- Assuming the FEIE solves everything, when Spanish tax may be higher.
- Moving without checking how Spain treats your LLC.
Try Our Free Tax Calculator
Estimate what you would pay in Spain before you move. Our team reviews the answers and replies with a provisional estimate.
Estimate My Spanish Taxes →Your company can keep running from Austin while you live in Barcelona. The visa, the taxes and the structure just need to be planned together.
Talk to a Lawyer Before You Move
If you own a US business and want to run it from Spain, that is exactly what a consultation is for. At MigratioLex, we review your specific case, not a generic checklist. We respond within 24 hours, in English, French or Spanish.
Book Your Initial ConsultationThis article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. US figures refer to the 2026 tax year. Based on Law 14/2013, the Spain and US tax treaty and the Spain and US Social Security agreement. The example is illustrative.
