Spain

Spain is a member of the European Union and has the most LGBT-friendly laws in Europe, according to the LGBT Equality Index. It is also a lower-cost option in the EU.

Why Spain?

Legal gender recognition

In 2023, Spain passed the most progressive transgender rights law in the EU, the Ley Trans. It allows anyone 16 or older to self-identify with any gender, including a nonbinary gender option. Children 12 or 13 years can update their gender with a judge's approval, while children 14 or 15 can update their gender with their parents' approval.

Anti-discrimination laws

Spain has laws preventing discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in work and housing. In practice, however, there can be subtle discrimination like landlords offering less favorable leasing terms to LGBT couples.

Public healthcare

Spain has a strong public healthcare system that ranks pretty highly. Private insurance is optional and offers direct access to specialists and a dedicated set of clinics. See Spain/Healthcare

Immigration pathways

Spain has immigration options for digital nomads, entrepreneurs, retirees, and skilled workers (see below).

The visa criteria for digital nomads and entrepreneurs have an especially lower bar of entry than other EU countries.

Spain's aging population is causing a high demand for labor and the ruling Socialist Party has been promoting immigration to close this gap. Recently, the government has even given amnesty/regularization for undocumented immigrants who arrived before Dec 31, 2024.

On the other hand, there is growing concern among Spaniards around immigration, especially as it relates to competition for jobs and contributing to housing scarcity.

English Language

Basic English is spoken in major cities. While staff at restaurants and stores may speak some English, communicating with folks around banking, government services, and other non-tourist activities is difficult without knowing Spanish (but not impossible if you have a translator app).

Many expats

Spain is one of the more popular choices due to its climate, seaside towns, and visa options. It's also popular with Latin American nationals as Spain offers them a quicker path to residency and citizenship.

Why not Spain?

While Spain is less expensive and has great beaches and weather, it can present some culture shock and is, like other Western countries, facing a growing far-right movement.

Racism

Slavery in the Spanish Empire was not fully ended until 1886. Spain's history has been a continual theme of purging non-Christian groups such as Muslims, Jews, and Roma. The country was isolated during the dictatorship of Franco from 1936-75 and did not experience immigration by people of color until the 1980s with most arriving in the last three decades. Spain has never officially confronted systemic racism, but it tends to be a different "brand" of racism than the US. Anecdotally, people of color tend to experience micro-aggressions or long stares, but a lesser degree of violence and outright hostility. Appearing as a US tourist seems to shift peoples' attitudes.

Anti-immigrant Sentiment

Historically, Spain has had a very liberal immigration policy meant to bring in younger workers to offset an ageing population. Recently, the problems of inflation, housing, and an expanding gap between rich and poor has compounded feelings of resentment toward foreigners who are seen as contributing to rising costs and strain on the system.

Originally, the Vox party sprang up in response to the Basque and Catalan independence movements. Recently, however, Vox has become an attractor for many forms of political resentment, including anti-immigration. The party is actively calling for a "reconquista" of Spain to expel all migrants (the dog whistle pointing mostly toward North African Muslims) and they have fanned the flames of violence leading to outright mob attacks and lynchings of North African communities around Murcia. Despite this, major cities and coastal resort towns are generally safe (and are home to many people of color). So far, around 50% of people have a positive view of immigration but Vox is normalizing anti-immigrant discourse.

Legal issues

Spain seems to thrive on bureaucracy so navigating government forms, applications, and requirements will be challenging. For example, it may take a longer time than the legal maximum year of waiting to receive residency. Consider hiring an immigration lawyer for any help with your visa/status.

Given all this bureaucracy, in Spain there is what's called a Gestor, a person whose sole job is to help you fill out forms correctly and can act on your behalf when attending appointments at government agencies.

Required documents and rules for applications also tends to vary greatly by region or even by staff member.

Housing issues

The major cities are all facing housing shortages. Finding a rental in Barcelona, for example, requires renters to jump on listings as soon as they come available. Due to landlords trying to skirt housing regulations, there is a glut of short term rentals that have high fees and induce frequent turnover.

Anecdotally, queer couples may face housing discrimination in that landlords don't see queer relationships as "stable" enough such that they won't consider cheaper, long-term rentals.

Visa issues

Spanish visas require an extra level of bureaucracy as all application documents need to be apostilled and translated by translators officially recognized by the government.

The residence registration (TIE/NIE) process once you arrive is also a bit complicated (see Spain/Arrival).

Long path to naturalization

It takes 5 years to get permanent residence (which is standard for EU countries) but it takes a whopping 10 years to get citizenship, far above the amount for other countries. So Spain can either be a stepping stone to the rest of the EU or a long-term investment.

Political Situation for Trans People

While Spain's 2023 Gender Law (Ley Trans) is the most progressive in Europe (and perhaps the world), the far right has of course been pushing to eliminate it, the center-right (PP) party wants to curtail many rights, and the center-left (PSOE) socialist party is falling for the "protecting women in sports" story. The PP's platform includes a statement that the Gender Law "erases women." Vox wants to eliminate the Gender Law and opposes gay marriage (but supports gay civil unions).

Rights for trans folks will vary a bit by autonomous community as well. Catalonia has consistently been on the forefront for LGBT protections and is currently one of the communities banning conversion therapy. At the same time, Madrid tends to have more reactionary laws like their rollback in 2023 of pieces of the Gender Law that prevented workplace discrimination.

Historically, PP had established a "firewall" against Vox, refusing to cooperate on any votes. Since the beginning of 2025, that firewall is collapsing and as the PP loses support, it is now cutting deals with Vox on some votes and for appointing officials in regional governments. PP and PSOE's current strategy seems to be "let Vox into government and the people will see how terrible they are and not vote for Vox again." Vox continues a strategy of not talking about their policies too much but relying on people's frustration with constant corruption accusations against PP and PSOE politicians to drive protest votes for Vox.

It is likely that POSE will lose its razor-thin majority in national elections (to be held in 2026 or Aug 2027 at the latest). If trends continue, PP will have to form a coalition with Vox.

The Spanish Supreme Court meanwhile is reviewing the Ley Trans and they are starting to pick apart some of the edges around the age of being able to declare sex.

The political conversation, however, seems to be extremely mild w.r.t. LGBT rights compared to the US. Even the PP seems to have a basic set of morals around LGBT rights (though they think the Ley Trans goes too far).

Access to Trans Healthcare

Trans healthcare (informed consent HRT, certain transition surgeries) is provided by the public system. Catalonia has the most progressive trans health care via the TRANSIT program.

Spain's national health system covers gender-affirming surgeries, with each autonomous community responsible for providing these services in its territory. The coverage includes various procedures such as vaginoplasty, breast augmentation, facial feminization surgery, mastectomy, and phalloplasty.

Languages Spoken

• Castellano (Castillian Spanish) is the official language for all national government dealings but some regions have co-official languages, such as Basque, Catalan, and Galician.
• English is commonly spoken in touristy areas and by younger Spaniards.
• Learning Spanish is recommended for daily life. Without a certain degree of fluency in Spanish (or a local language), navigating daily life (healthcare, banking, personal care, etc.) can be difficult.

Community and Social Support

• ACATHI - immigrant/refugee support
• Olympe Abogados - legal support
• COGAM - migrant rights
• Migrantie - migrant rights
• España Abogados - legal support

Immigration policy

Following is a quick summary of options. For more details on each type of visa, see Spain/Visa.

• Study Visas covers any stay exceeding 90 days for studies, training, internships or voluntary work.
• Student Visa as an Au Pair
• Job-Seeker Visas cover recent graduates looking for work
• Telework / Digital Nomad Visas cover those who can prove certain levels of non-Spanish income
• Entrepreneur Visas cover self-employed people who can prove a certain level of savings to get their business started.
• Highly Skilled Worker / Company Transfer Visas
• EU Blue Card is similar to above with more flexible relocation options to other EU countries
• Non-working/Non-lucrative Visas who can show they have enough money to live in Spain for a year without making any Spanish income
• North American Language and Culture Assistants Program NALCAP
• Family Reunification Visas for spouses and children of the above visa holders

Claiming Asylum

This should only be considered as a last resort as no application for asylum has yet been approved for trans US-Americans. See Spain/Visa#Claiming_Asylum_/_Refugee_Status

Paths to Citizenship

There are pathways via familial relationships and ancestry. See Spain/Visa#Citizenship_pathways for details.

Medical Inadmissibility

Some types of visas (particularly around family reunification) require medical certificates from a doctor declaring that the applicant "does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions to public health according to the specifications of the International Health Regulations of 2005."

Apostilles and Sworn Translations

Spain recognizes Hague Apostilles meaning your FBI background check will need to be apostilled by the US State Department and other state-level documents will need to be apostilled by their respective home states.

Furthermore, every document needed must include a sworn Translation by a translator recognized by the Spanish consulate. Here is a directory of approved translators

LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities

• Barcelona
• Madrid

Top Trans-friendly Cities

• Barcelona
• Madrid - considered a LGBT capital of Spain, however, Madrid's autonomous community government has less robust protections for LGBT and especially trans folks.

Cost of Living

• The cost of living in Spain is relatively low but incomes are also lower. The average annual income is €28,000
• Rent varies by city but in Barcelona you can expect to pay €700-€1100 for a studio/1BR
• Public transport is great in the cities, all connected by high speed rail.
• Healthcare is free for those employed by Spanish companies. Private insurance is required, otherwise.
• Grocery prices in Spanish major cities are overall slightly lower than major cities in the US.
• Education

Housing Access & Cost

Housing access and cost vary by region.

Barcelona

The rental market is extremely tight in Barcelona. Landlords cater to the short-term / tourist rental market, meaning there is a continuous stream of high-priced rentals available for 3-11 months while lower cost long-term rentals make up only 20% of listings and applicants face lots of competition with others to secure a lease.

See Spain/Barcelona#Housing for details.

Arriving in Spain

For information on all the immigration paperwork and guides on daily ncessities, see Spain/Arrival. For integrating culturally, see Spain/CultureIntegration.

Law Enforcement ("How bad are the cops?")

The major danger from cops centers around racism. Sex work is decriminalized in Spain.

Recent incidents:

• Catalonian police admit to racist attack but avoid jail time

Ease of Travel to Other Countries

Spain is well connected to Portual and France. It is in the Shengen Area, which means in theory it has no border controls with other countries within that agreement. However, Spain temporarily institutes border controls at all ports of entry, such as in June/July of 2025 for the Fourth UN International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville

The southern border with Gibraltar and Morocco is heavily policed.