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Spain DNV — Miami

Applying for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa from Miami

Miami is one of the busiest Spanish consulate locations in the USA for DNV applications. Most Florida-based applicants will find the UGE route — fly to Spain first, apply in around 20 working days — faster and simpler than the consulate route.

Apply via UGE (recommended) → Ask about the Miami consulate route
Recommended — fly to Spain first

UGE route from within Spain

Enter on US passport, apply via UGE — fastest available route

~20
working days processing
3 yr
permit directly
  • ✓ No consulate appointment required
  • ✓ Enter Spain on US passport — up to 90 days visa-free
  • ✓ Direct flights Miami–Madrid available year-round
  • ✓ We handle the full submission electronically
  • ✓ Government tasas included in our package

Total time in Spain before approval is typically 6–10 weeks depending on document readiness.

Alternative — if you cannot travel first

Miami Consulate route

Consulate General of Spain, Coral Gables

2–4+
months typical
1 yr
initial visa
  • ✓ Apply without travelling to Spain first
  • – High volume — one of the busiest US consulates for DNV
  • – Processing can extend beyond 4 months in peak periods
  • – In-person appointment required
  • – Government tasas paid separately by client

Must reside in the Miami consulate's jurisdiction. Converts to 3-year permit after arrival in Spain.

If you use the Miami consulate

Consulate General of Spain in Miami

Miami's consulate handles one of the largest volumes of DNV applications of any Spanish consulate in the USA. The city's strong Spanish-speaking community and close cultural ties to Spain make it a significant hub for DNV enquiries — and that volume shows in processing times.

Consulate General of Spain in Miami

2655 Le Jeune Rd, Suite 203
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Jurisdiction: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands

A significant DNV hub — and a busy consulate

Miami's position as a Latin American and international gateway means it has one of the highest concentrations of Spain-connected residents of any US city. Many Miami applicants have existing ties to Spain — family, previous residency periods, prior visas. If you already hold an NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) or have had previous Spanish permits, some paperwork may already be in the system. Your case manager will check what can be carried forward and what needs to be renewed.

That said, Miami's Spanish-speaking community and high volume of applicants means the consulate sees significant traffic. Processing has historically been in the 2–4 month range, but can extend further during peak application periods. Appointment slots fill quickly.

Puerto Rico and USVI applicants

Residents of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands fall within the Miami consulate's jurisdiction. As US citizens, Puerto Rican and USVI applicants need the DNV in the same way as mainland US residents — US citizenship does not confer EU or Spanish residency rights. The same FBI background check requirement applies, and the UGE route is equally available for those who can travel to Spain first.

The better option for most Miami residents

Why the UGE route makes sense from Miami

Miami to Madrid is a direct long-haul flight. For applicants with the flexibility to spend 6–10 weeks in Spain, the UGE route is dramatically faster than waiting for the Miami consulate — and results in a 3-year permit directly rather than a 1-year entry visa.

The UGE route — how it works for Miami residents

Fly to Spain, apply in ~20 working days

  • Book a direct flight to Madrid — Miami has good connections year-round
  • Arrive in Spain and open your case with My Spanish DNV immediately
  • We handle document preparation, translation, and electronic submission
  • Decision typically within 20 working days of submission
  • 3-year permit issued directly — no conversion step on arrival
  • Total time in Spain before approval: typically 6–10 weeks
Documents needed — same for both routes

What Miami applicants need to prepare

  • Valid US passport — minimum 1 year validity beyond end of permit period
  • FBI background check, apostilled by the US Department of State
  • 3–6 months of bank statements showing income of at least €2,849/month
  • Employment contract or freelance income documentation
  • Private health insurance valid for Spain
  • Certified Spanish translations of all documents not in Spanish
⚠

FBI background check: start this before anything else

The FBI Identity History Summary must be apostilled by the US Department of State. The FBI takes 3–10 weeks to process; third-party channelers can reduce that to 1–2 weeks, but the apostille step still follows. For Miami applicants who may already have Spanish documents, we will advise on whether any existing criminal record certificates (from Spain or elsewhere) can supplement or replace elements of your pack — but the FBI check is almost always required regardless.

Why Miami applicants have a distinct advantage

Florida's tax position, Miami's direct flights, and a strong DNV applicant profile

Miami offers two structural advantages for Americans moving to Spain: no Florida state income tax liability on departure, and one of the shortest direct transatlantic routes to Madrid. Combined with Miami's internationally connected professional community, this makes South Florida one of the most practical US cities to move to Spain from.

The Florida tax advantage

No state income tax — a clean departure

  • Florida has no state income tax — departing residents face no ongoing Florida state liability
  • Unlike California or New York, there is no aggressive domicile test from a Florida tax authority
  • Once you establish domicile in Spain, your Florida state tax obligations end
  • Combined with the Spain-US double taxation treaty, Florida-based applicants typically have the cleanest US tax departure picture of any US state
  • You still file US federal tax (Form 1040) — that obligation continues for all US citizens regardless of residence
Miami's applicant profile

Who applies from Miami — and why they qualify

  • International finance and banking professionals with Latin American client portfolios working remotely
  • Real estate, legal, and consulting professionals in South Florida's international services sector
  • Tech workers who relocated to Miami during and after the pandemic and want to continue moving
  • Cuban-American and Latin American US citizens with prior Spanish ties or existing NIEs
  • Puerto Rican US citizens (covered by Miami consulate jurisdiction)
  • Retirees and semi-retirees with passive income seeking European residency

Questions & answers

Miami applicants — DNV FAQ

The Consulate General of Spain in Miami typically processes Digital Nomad Visa applications in 2–4 months, though this can extend further during peak periods. Miami is one of the highest-volume consulates in the US for DNV applications, which contributes to longer processing times. For most Florida-based applicants, the UGE route from within Spain is significantly faster at around 20 working days of processing time.
The Consulate General of Spain in Miami serves: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. You must apply at the consulate for the jurisdiction where you reside. If you live in Florida but near the Georgia border, confirm your state of residence — it determines your consulate jurisdiction.
Having an existing NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) can simplify some aspects of the process, as your identity is already registered in the Spanish system. However, it does not replace the need for a full DNV application and all required documentation. If you have previous Spanish permits or documents, your case manager will advise on what can be reused and what needs to be renewed or obtained fresh.
Yes — and this is the recommended approach for most Miami-based applicants. US citizens can enter Spain without a visa for up to 90 days. From within Spain you can apply via the UGE, with typical processing of around 20 working days. Direct flights from Miami to Madrid (MIA-MAD) operate year-round and take approximately 9 hours — one of the shortest transatlantic routes from the US mainland to Spain, which makes the UGE route particularly practical for Miami residents.
Yes, significantly so for state tax purposes. Florida has no state income tax, which means Florida residents departing for Spain face no ongoing Florida state tax liability after changing their domicile to Spain. By contrast, California and New York both apply aggressive domicile tests and can continue to pursue income tax from former residents who maintain connections to those states. From a state tax perspective, Florida is one of the best US states to be departing from when moving to Spain — there is no state-level equivalent of California's FTB or New York's state tax authority pursuing you after departure.
No — the DNV is a Spanish immigration permit, and the eligibility requirements (income, remote work, documentation) apply equally to all applicants regardless of their background or cultural ties. Miami's large Latin American community means many applicants arrive with existing cultural familiarity with Spain, prior Spanish travel or residency, and sometimes existing NIEs. These can smooth some practical aspects — but the formal application requirements are identical. If you are a US citizen of Latin American heritage, you apply as a US citizen — your heritage does not affect your eligibility or documentation requirements.
If you have held prior Spanish residency, the main consideration is whether you were a Spanish tax resident within the 5 years preceding your DNV application — being a former Spanish tax resident within that period affects your eligibility for Beckham Law, though not the DNV itself. If you have an existing NIE, it remains on file in the Spanish system and can be referenced. Prior Spanish residency is generally an advantage in terms of familiarity with the system, but the DNV application itself requires full documentation regardless of prior permits. Your case manager will review your specific history during onboarding.
Yes. Puerto Ricans are US citizens and follow exactly the same DNV application process as mainland US citizens. They are not EU nationals and cannot freely live and work in Spain without a permit — the DNV is the appropriate route for Puerto Rican remote workers. Puerto Rican applicants fall within the Miami consulate's jurisdiction. The same FBI background check requirement applies (apostilled by the US Department of State), and the UGE route is equally available for Puerto Rican applicants who can travel to Spain to apply from within.
Yes — Beckham Law (Régimen Especial de Impatriados) taxes qualifying employed workers at a flat 24% on Spanish-source income up to €600,000 for up to six years, instead of standard progressive Spanish IRPF rates of up to 47%. For employed professionals in Miami's finance, international trade, real estate, or technology sectors moving to Spain, this is a potentially significant tax advantage. Americans must also comply with US federal tax obligations, so cross-border tax advice is essential. Beckham Law is a separate process from the DNV application — you will need a Spanish tax adviser.
Yes. The USA taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live — moving to Spain does not change this obligation. You must continue to file a US federal income tax return (Form 1040) every year, and file FBAR (FinCEN 114) annually if your overseas accounts exceed $10,000 at any point in the year. The Spain-US double taxation treaty prevents double taxation on the same income, but both filing obligations remain. Florida residents have no state return to file, which simplifies the US filing picture relative to California or New York residents.

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