Relocating your family from the US to Spain is a big decision. Between visa paperwork, school applications, housing searches, and unpacking boxes, it can feel like a mountain of unknowns—especially if you don’t have someone on your side who truly understands what it means to start over in a new country.

At Livin’Valencia, we help American families navigate every step of this journey with care, clarity and experience. From visa advice before you leave, to school selection, home hunting, neighborhoods, administrative essentials and settling in—with you all the way, even remotely.

Here’s how we make your family immigration from the US to Valencia feel manageable, human, and grounded in reality.

Why Valencia is a smart choice for US families

Valencia offers a balance that many families crave: Mediterranean climate and outdoor lifestyle, but without the frenetic pace, cost, or congestion of Madrid or Barcelona.

• Quality of life: long sunny days, a walkable city, large green spaces such as the Turia Gardens, and easy access to beaches.
• Family-friendly infrastructure: playgrounds, bike lanes, parks, safe neighborhoods, and a slower pace of life make Valencia particularly attractive for children and parents alike.
• Cost advantage: generally lower housing and living costs than Spain’s biggest cities, yet strong international connectivity.

As we explain on our Family Relocation to Valencia page, what makes moving here realistic is having strong local support, both for everyday life and the more complex bureaucratic steps.

Visa and residency: planning ahead from the US

1. Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
If your family is planning to move without immediate employment in Spain, the Non-Lucrative Visa is a common option. You’ll need to apply for it from the US, prove sufficient financial means, private health insurance, and no criminal record. Livin’Valencia can connect you with trusted immigration lawyers to review your application, help you gather documentation, and advise on timing.

2. Digital Nomad or Work Visa
If one or more family members will be working remotely or relocating for a job, a digital nomad visa or a work visa may apply. In many cases, the visa application can be initiated from Spain or updated here once you’ve arrived—depending on your income sources, employer status, or contract. We partner with immigration-focused lawyers who can evaluate which visa route fits your situation best, and help you plan whether to apply in the US or from Spain.

Timing and sequencing
Starting early is key. Visa processing, translation of documents, health insurance procurement, and sometimes apostilles can take months. We work with you before you leave the US to build a timeline that anticipates each phase: visa application, arrival, housing, school enrollment, and local paperwork.

Renting vs. buying: what fits your family best

1. Renting
Pros: flexibility, lower upfront costs, easier to move if your needs evolve.
Cons: fluctuating rents, less stability for children, fewer options to personalize your space.

2. Buying
Pros: long-term stability, equity building, freedom to renovate, relative value compared with US cities.
Cons: higher upfront costs, legal complexity, longer commitment.

At Livin’Valencia we support you either way. Our Home Buying Service is purely buyer-focused and independent, while our relocation and rental support helps families who prefer to rent first and decide later.

Choosing where to live: Valencia city versus the suburbs

In the city
Pros: cultural life, walkability, transport, and proximity to schools and amenities.
Challenges: smaller apartments, less outdoor space, parking issues.

Family-friendly neighborhoods include Pla del Real, Ruzafa, El Cabanyal, and Camins al Grau.

Suburbs and satellite towns
Pros: larger homes, gardens, quieter streets, gated communities, strong family communities.
Popular areas include La Cañada, L’Eliana, Godella, and Rocafort.

We provide neighborhood tours (in-person or virtual) and side-by-side comparisons of commuting time, school proximity, green spaces, average property prices, and lifestyle trade-offs.

Schools and visa-relevant education options

International and English-language schools
Options include the American School of Valencia, British international schools, and bilingual programs. These ensure continuity for children and may support certain visa or residency pathways.

Bilingual local schools
Strong immersion options for families who want children to gain Spanish and Valenciano fluency. Many families combine bilingual or local schools with international programs depending on age and integration goals.

What we do
Our School Search service includes tailored advice, coordination of visits, application deadlines, paperwork support, and insights into the parent community. We help you decide which schooling path best balances continuity, integration, and visa requirements.

Building community, lifestyle and integration

Expat community
Valencia has a growing American expat presence. Families often find networks through schools, sports clubs, and community groups. Children adapt quickly with language immersion, while parents find balance through expat and local friendships.

Amenities that matter
Valencia excels in family infrastructure: the Turia Gardens, safe beaches, playgrounds, bike paths, healthcare facilities, and suburban sports clubs. We factor these lifestyle needs into every housing recommendation.

After arrival: administrative essentials

We help families with the following key steps once in Spain:

• TIE residency cards and immigration appointments
• Empadronamiento (municipal registration)
• Health insurance and healthcare setup
• Utilities, banking, phone, and internet
• School enrollment follow-up and extracurriculars
• Visa renewals and ongoing legal support

How Livin’Valencia works—with you every step

Here’s a realistic step-by-step of how we typically engage with a US family relocating to Valencia:

Pre-departure (remote)
We start with a 15-minute courtesy video call, then prepare detailed pre-move planning and a clear timeline with visa steps, housing strategy, and school planning.
Your benefit: you gain clarity early, anticipate potential delays, and approach your move as a project you can control.

Remote market and neighborhood research
We send tailored reports, compare renting vs buying, schedule virtual home tours, and review neighborhood amenities.
Your benefit: you don’t waste your time or money touring unsuitable locations.

Visa and legal coordination
We connect you with immigration lawyers and help you prepare documentation, deadlines, and timelines for the visa process.
Your benefit: you avoid bureaucratic surprises, application rejections, or delays.

Housing search & selection
Once arrival is near, we shortlist properties for rent or purchase, accompany or virtually guide home visits (if you cannot be present), review contracts, and negotiate terms.
Your benefit: you secure a home that matches your practical needs (space, schools, budget) and lifestyle priorities.

School search
In parallel, we research schooling options, coordinate introductions and visits, and advise on enrollment deadlines and paperwork.
Your benefit: you can enroll children quickly, with minimal delays or disruption.

Arrival coordination
We help with TIE appointments, empadronamiento, setting up utilities, banking, internet, health insurance, and school enrollment logistics.
Your benefit: you spend less time in frustrating queues and more time unpacking, exploring your new neighborhood, and helping your children settle.

Ongoing support
We remain available to answer questions, introduce you to tax experts, expat or parent networks, and recommend pediatricians, sports clubs, renovations, or furniture services.
Your benefit: you have a local partner to lean on, rather than feeling isolated or lost.

A realistic timeline example

Here’s a sample timeline to give you a sense of how the process might unfold for a US family of four relocating to Valencia:

Month -6 to -3 (before departure)
Video consultation with Livin’Valencia. Decide visa route and initiate the US visa application (Non-Lucrative or digital nomad/work visa). Begin school research and shortlist two or three international or bilingual schools. Start preliminary housing research: city vs. suburbs, rent vs. buy.

Month -3 to 0
Coordinate with immigration lawyers to review visa paperwork. Finalize school applications and deadlines. Begin virtual home tours of matched neighborhoods and housing stock. Commit to renting or buying strategy based on findings.

Arrival month
Land in Valencia and check into short-term housing. Begin home visits in person with Livin’Valencia’s accompaniment or remote guidance. Finalize housing lease or purchase contract. Apply for the TIE, register padrón, open bank accounts, and set up utilities.

Month +1 to +3
Children begin school. Move into permanent home, set up internet, phone, and health insurance. Enroll children in after-school activities, language classes, or sports clubs. Connect with expat and parent networks. Livin’Valencia provides ongoing support and helps troubleshoot any bureaucratic issues.

Most families feel settled after three to six months. Children are in school, parents understand local services, and the family has found its rhythm. Our role is to make that process smoother, faster, and far less stressful.

Why working with Livin’Valencia matters

Moving to a new country is not just a logistical challenge—it’s emotional, relational and deeply human. Many US families underestimate the hurdles: translating documents, navigating school waiting lists, choosing a home that fits a growing family, deciding how fast to integrate Spanish language, and finding someone you trust when things go wrong.

At Livin’Valencia, we:

• Have walked this route ourselves, so we know where the pitfalls are from real experience.
• Offer services designed precisely for family immigration from the US: visa coordination, school strategy, housing, neighborhood advice, and ongoing support.
• Act as your local partner, not your salesperson. Our fixed-fee model, independent buyer advocacy and long-term approach means our incentives are aligned with your family’s success.
• Work remotely when needed and in person when beneficial, adapting to your family’s timing and comfort level.

If you’re considering immigration from the US to Valencia with your family, let’s start with a free 15-minute consultation to explore your project. We’ll help you build a realistic timeline, chart a relocation path, and set expectations that make your transition feel less like a leap and more like a journey with a trusted guide.

Book your consultation here to begin your family’s move to Valencia with confidence, support and clarity.