Good to know
Landing in Spain
The visa is one step. These are the things that follow — roughly in the order you will need them. Getting the sequence right avoids most of the delays people run into.
01
NIE — your foreigner's number
A tax and identification number for foreigners. You cannot buy property, sign a contract or open most bank accounts without it.
- Applied for at a police station in Spain or a consulate abroad
- Issued as a paper certificate, not a card
- The number is permanent and never changes
02
Empadronamiento — registering with your town hall
Registration on your municipality’s roll. It is usually the very first thing to do after arriving, and everything else depends on it.
- Needed for healthcare, schooling and most residency applications
- Requires a rental contract or deeds, plus your passport
- Free, and normally done at your local ayuntamiento
03
TIE — your residence card
The physical card proving your residence status. It must be applied for within 30 days of arriving on a long-stay visa.
- Requires a fingerprinting appointment at a police station
- Fee is around €16.50, plus the visa fee already paid
- Carries your NIE, photo and the type of permit you hold
04
Healthcare — public, private or both
Most visas require private cover with no co-payments. Once you work and pay contributions, public healthcare becomes available as well.
- Travel insurance is not accepted for visa purposes
- The policy must come from an insurer authorised in Spain
- Co-payments and waiting periods are the most common cause of refusal
05
Social security number
Required before you can be employed or register as self-employed, and the gateway to public healthcare.
- Applied for at a Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social office
- Autónomos pay monthly contributions from registration
- Some nationalities can rely on a certificate of coverage from home
06
Tax residency
Spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year and you become tax resident on your worldwide income.
- Progressive rates run from roughly 19% to 47%
- The Beckham Law offers a flat 24% to some new arrivals
- The Modelo 720 declares assets held abroad
07
Opening a Spanish bank account
Straightforward once you hold an NIE, and required for rent, utilities and most administrative fees.
- Non-resident accounts exist but carry higher charges
- Most banks want your NIE, passport and proof of address
- Direct debit is how utilities and taxes are normally paid
08
Digital certificate
Your legal electronic signature. Most residency applications made from inside Spain are filed with it.
- Requested online, then confirmed in person
- Used to file with the UGE-CE portal and the tax authority
- Valid for several years and renewable online
09
Converting your driving licence
EU licences carry over. Everything else depends on whether your country has an agreement with Spain.
- You have six months from becoming resident to sort it out
- Some countries convert directly, others require a Spanish test
- There is no agreement with the United States or Canada