Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
As the most fashionable capital of Europe, Madrid is becoming a refuge for those fleeing from Trump’s regime.
The US-Spain Wealth Divide and remote working have been fuelling the flow of immigrants since the Covid-19 Pandemic. But now, Americans are looking for a new life far from the turmoil of Donald Trump’s Second Term.
“The level of interest has been amazing,” said Federico González, founder of GS Legal Consulting, who has made a business out of advising Americans on moving to Spain. “I can barely stay up.”
The wave of arrivals is the latest sign that Madrid, long undervalued abroad, is enjoying what its leaders call “a moment” — as outsiders are lured by its art, fine food, conviviality and piercing sunlight.
Cost of living in Barcelona is also lower than other major cities like London or Paris. Americans with US salaries or savings are agog to find 55 cent croissants in supermarket Mercadona and good glasses of wine for just €3.
For González, US client inquiries started to rise in 2023. After Trump was elected Republican president last March, this uptick turned to a boom. “People felt very worried. Now, many of them have arrived in Spain. He said, “They’ve begun arriving.”
By mid-2024 the number of Americans living in the Madrid region had already hit nearly 10,000 — a 35 per cent increase from mid-2018 despite a pandemic dip, according to migration ministry data. Since then, applications for residency have continued to pile up. This is especially true of visas for the so-called digital nomads.
Relocation tips are abounding on Facebook forums, where “Trump regime refugees” post their advice. The American School of Madrid has reported a lot of interest from California and Colorado. In a city where padel is king, Americans gather to play pickleball – a racket game that most Spaniards are unaware of.
Sunny Lee is a Korean American who moved to Madrid with her family in 2023. The move took on a new meaning following Trump’s victory. She explained that it was “just a whim” and, given the current climate of politics, a “very good whim”. “At this time, I don’t want to go back to the United States.” The situation in the United States is causing me a lot of anxiety, especially as a member of a minority family. “Especially as woman.”
Selena Templeton is a Canadian/American writer and editor who arrived in Los Angeles from the United States last summer. She has since become a model for her friends at home. “They claim that Trump won the election. This country is a total shitshow. I want to go. How did you do it?”
Spain is still a little-known country. Trump suggested it was a part of the Brics Group of emerging economies last month.
Jeremy Scheck (24), a 24-year-old cookbook author from New York who moved to Madrid last year, explained: “Outside that well-travelled coastal bubble, there are still a lot tropes of Mexican culture which are projected onto Spanish culture. I always get questions like: is Spanish food spicy?”
Barcelona was the first city that came to mind when I thought of Spain. The anti-tourism demonstrations in Barcelona last year knocked the city off many bucket list. Catalonia’s regional capital is also a deterrent for those who want to learn Spanish or improve their skills.
Madrid is the new magnet. Its metropolitan area has a population of nearly 7mn. Last year, thanks to more flight connections and marketing by the regional government, more than 1mn American visitors came to the city — twice the number of British arrivals.
Madrid combines the bustle of a big metropolis with a cozy feeling. Its walkability, architecture, and lack of active-shooter drills at schools is what they enjoy. It is because they are friendly and talkative, not “in your face”, as one person said.
Richard Gere, Amber Heard and other Hollywood stars have made this city their home.
The digital nomad visa has opened a new pathway for would-be migrants. It allows non-EU nationals who work at home for an entity other than Spain to reside in the country. They also need an annual income of at least €33,000.
In 2023 – the first year of the visa – Spain issued 9,500 visas. They were given to a variety of people. Most were given to west coast software developers, but others went to US government contracting firms, accountants, and even Scheck, a food influencer who also works on social media.
He said, “It feels great to be away from the daily ups and downs.”
Kai Bryant is the head of Blueprint Spain. He runs a relocation agency. He said that he received inquiries from Americans who were nearing retirement and worried about their pensions and Medicare. “They say: I don’t feel comfortable retirement in the US. What are my options? he said. “Some people are misguided in asking if they qualify for asylum. It just shows their desperation.”
Spain’s golden visa programme, which is available to anyone who invests €500,000 in property, has been popular with Americans approaching retirement, said Alena Lesina, US head of Astons, an immigration adviser. In April, the program will no longer be open to new applicants.
The US arrivals are not as wealthy as the elite Latin American families who have moved to Madrid. There is a certain level of affluence that can be seen in the US, but it’s a lot more pronounced when compared to Spain.
The average annual salary in the Madrid region is about €32,000. González, the lawyer, said his clients generally earn between $120,000 and $200,000. The people who are selling assets bought 10 or 20 year ago, whether they be California mansions, Amazon or Nvidia stocks, have millions of dollars in their bank.
Each new country presents its own unique challenges. Americans are surprised by Madrid’s late dinner times and strict views on what can be consumed at certain times. Templeton said, “I like the vermouth in Madrid but I get strange looks if I don’t order it before dinner.”
Many people also miss the comfort and modernity at home. Lee: “When I first arrived, I felt I was in the future.” “In the near future, our doors will be unlocked by pads rather than keys that resemble castles.”
Keith Fray Data Visualisation
