Spain is often presented internationally through visas, tax regimes and relocation rankings. Sometimes the clearest explanation of its appeal is much simpler: somebody spends enough time here to experience everyday life and discovers that they really like it.
That is the picture Chloë Grace Moretz gives after spending several months in Madrid in 2026.
SEVERAL MONTHS IN MADRID
She came to Spain for a project. Madrid became part of the experience.
Moretz spent several months in Spain between February and June while filming Found Alive, directed by Spanish filmmaker Carlota Pereda. During that period she lived in Madrid's Barrio de las Letras.
In an interview published by El País in August 2026, she spoke particularly warmly about Spanish people, food and the quality of everyday life she experienced here.
Her comments are personal rather than statistical, but that is precisely what makes them interesting: they describe Spain not as a destination on a ranking, but as somewhere actually lived.
WHY THIS MATTERS
A visa gets you into a country. It does not tell you whether you will want to stay.
For somebody considering a move, the legal route is only one part of the decision. Everyday life matters too.
Spain offers very different versions of that life: the scale and energy of Madrid, the Mediterranean rhythm of Valencia, the international character of Barcelona, the coast around Málaga and Alicante, or island life in the Canaries.
There is no single version of the “Spanish lifestyle”. That variety is part of the attraction.
FROM A STAY TO A MOVE
What if Spain becomes more than somewhere you visit?
Some people first experience Spain through work, study, travel or an extended stay. For others, that temporary experience becomes the reason to consider something more permanent.
If you are thinking about living in Spain for longer, the legal route depends on what you plan to do here, where your income comes from, your nationality and who is moving with you.
TWO COMMON ROUTES
Working remotely and living without working are different legal situations.
DIGITAL NOMAD VISA
For eligible non-EU nationals who want to live in Spain while continuing qualifying remote work connected principally to businesses outside Spain.
NON-LUCRATIVE VISA
For eligible non-EU nationals who want to live in Spain without carrying out professional or employment activity.
Not sure which situation sounds like yours?
