Moving to Spain
A practical first-30-days checklist for newcomers to Spain — the NIE and empadronamiento, banking, healthcare, groceries, telecom, transport, and housing, with links to the official sources you actually need.
Last updated:
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €)
- Capital
- Madrid
- Official language
- Spanish (Castilian); regional co-officials in Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia, Valencia
- Dialing code
- +34
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2) summer (Canary Islands UTC+0/+1)
Read in another language
English(English)
Get registered with Spanish authorities
In Spain almost every step depends on the NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) and the empadronamiento (registering at your home address with the local town hall). Get both as early as possible — banking, employment, healthcare, and any consumer contract require them.
1.Apply for your NIE
The NIE is a foreigner identification number used for tax, banking, and any contract. EU citizens apply via the Oficina de Extranjeros or a designated police station; non-EU citizens typically receive it as part of the residence visa process. You can also apply from a Spanish consulate before arrival, which is the fastest path for many.
Apply for an NIE — official2.Empadronamiento at the town hall
The padrón is the municipal register of residents. Within 3 months of moving to a permanent address, register at your local Ayuntamiento with passport, NIE, and proof of address (rental contract or a notarised letter from the homeowner). The certificado de empadronamiento is required for the public health card, school enrolment, and many regional benefits.
Empadronamiento explained — Madrid example3.Get a Spanish social security number
A Número de Afiliación a la Seguridad Social (NUSS) is required for any formal employment. Your employer can request it on your behalf, or you can apply directly via the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social. With it, you become eligible for the public healthcare system once your employer pays the first month's contributions.
Apply for a social security number — TGSS4.Register with public healthcare (SNS)
Once you are paying social security (or covered as a dependant), apply for the Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual (TSI) at your regional health authority. Bring your empadronamiento certificate and proof of social security registration. Healthcare is regional — the card is issued by Madrid, Catalonia, Andalusia, etc., not by the central government.
Spanish health system overview
Open a bank account
Spanish banks accept newcomers with a passport and an NIE. Online banks (BBVA, Openbank, ING, N26, Revolut) open from a phone in days; high-street banks (Santander, CaixaBank, Sabadell) take a branch visit but are useful for cash and in-person services.
1.Open an online bank account
Openbank (Santander's digital arm), N26, Revolut, and ING all open free Spanish-IBAN accounts in 1–3 days from a passport, NIE, and a video-ident call. Direct salary deposit is the easiest way to avoid maintenance fees at most banks.
2.Add a high-street account if you need cash and branches
CaixaBank, Santander, BBVA, and Banco Sabadell have the densest branch and ATM networks. Many small shops, cafés, and rural businesses still prefer cash; an account at one of the big four guarantees fee-free withdrawals. Many high-street banks waive monthly fees if salary is direct-deposited above a minimum (typically €600–800/month).
3.Set up domiciliación for utilities and rent
Domiciliación is the Spanish equivalent of SEPA Direct Debit — rent, electricity, internet, gym, and most subscriptions are pulled from your account monthly. Banks can refund within 8 weeks if a company takes the wrong amount.
4.Move money in cheaply
Avoid your home bank for the initial transfer — fees of 3–5% are common. Wise and Revolut typically convert at near-mid-market rates with a flat fee under €10 for transfers up to €5,000.
Open a Wise multi-currency account
Find a place to live
Spain has tight rental markets in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga, and the Balearics. Expect a deposit (fianza) of 1–2 months' rent, the first month in advance, often a guarantor (aval) or extra months as a security deposit, and proof of income at 3x the monthly rent.
1.Search the right portals
Idealista is the dominant portal for both rentals and sales. Fotocasa and Pisos.com have broad coverage; Habitaclia is strongest in Catalonia. For flatshares (compartir piso), Idealista, Badi, and Spotahome carry the most options. Move quickly — desirable flats in central Madrid or Barcelona can have dozens of applicants the same day.
Browse rentals on Idealista2.Understand the contract types
Standard residential leases (contrato de arrendamiento de vivienda) run a minimum of 5 years for individual landlords (7 years for corporate landlords) under the Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos — meaning you can stay if you want; the landlord cannot terminate early without specific legal grounds. Short-term leases (contrato de temporada) lack these protections — read the type carefully.
Tenant rights — OCU3.Provide the income proof landlords ask for
Landlords typically ask for the last 3 payslips and a work contract, plus often a bank reference letter or a few months of statements. Newcomers without Spanish payroll yet often pay 6 months' rent up front, provide a guarantor, or use rental-deposit insurance via Avalado, Avalmadrid, or similar.
4.Watch for rent caps in stressed market areas
Catalonia (since 2023) and other regions are gradually rolling out rent caps in zones declared "tense markets" (zona tensionada) — new contracts cannot exceed an indexed reference rent. The rules are evolving; check the regional government site for your specific city before agreeing on a price.
Get a Spanish phone number and home internet
A Spanish phone number is the easiest way to receive two-factor codes from Spanish services. Prepaid SIMs are sold at supermarkets and tobacconists with a passport; postpaid contracts require an NIE and a Spanish IBAN.
1.Buy a prepaid SIM on day one
Prepaid SIMs from Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, Yoigo, Pepephone, and the supermarket-branded MVNOs (Carrefour Movil, Lowi, Simyo) cost €5–15 to start with €5–15/month for 10–30 GB and EU roaming. Bring your passport — registration is mandatory under Spanish anti-terror law.
2.Switch to a contract bundle once you have an NIE
Most Spaniards bundle mobile, fibre, and TV in a single monthly contract (convergente). Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and the discounter brands (Lowi from Vodafone, O2 from Telefónica, Pepephone from MásMóvil) compete on these bundles — typical fibre + 2 mobile lines + basic TV runs €40–60/month.
3.Compare home internet
Spain has one of Europe's best fibre networks — most urban addresses can get 600–1,000 Mbps fibre for €25–40/month. The fibre is operated by Movistar (Telefónica) or Orange in most cities; the wholesale market means many ISPs sell over the same line. Cable is rare; ADSL is being phased out.
Check fibre coverage — comparators
Where to buy food and household goods
Spanish supermarkets are dominated by Mercadona — a single chain with around 25% market share. Below it sit several mid-tier and discount chains, plus the still-vital tradition of small neighbourhood shops, weekly markets, and bakeries.
1.The default weekly shop: Mercadona
Mercadona is the runaway market leader. Its own-label "Hacendado" food and "Deliplus" toiletries account for around 70% of its shelves and tend to be high-quality at lower prices than equivalent named brands. Most Mercadonas open 9:00–21:30; many include a fresh fish counter, butcher, and bakery.
2.Discount chains: Lidl, Aldi, DIA
Lidl and Aldi run tight discount ranges; DIA is the largest Spanish-origin discounter. They are typically 10–25% cheaper than Mercadona on basics but with a narrower selection of fresh ranges. Worth visiting weekly for specific products if a store is convenient.
3.Mid-tier supermarkets: Carrefour, Eroski, Alcampo, Hipercor
Carrefour runs hypermarkets (Carrefour Hipermercado), supermarkets (Carrefour Market), and convenience stores (Carrefour Express); Alcampo is similar (Auchan-owned). Eroski dominates the Basque Country and northern Spain. Hipercor is El Corte Inglés's hypermarket arm and skews more upmarket.
4.Specialty: El Corte Inglés Gourmet, Sánchez Romero, neighborhood shops
El Corte Inglés has a Supermercado section in most stores carrying broader fresh and gourmet ranges. Sánchez Romero is Madrid's premium chain. The strongest specialty option remains neighbourhood-level: a fruit shop (frutería), a bakery (panadería), a butcher (carnicería), and the weekly mercadillo (street market) cover most fresh shopping at lower prices and higher quality than supermarkets.
5.Online delivery
Most major chains deliver — Mercadona has its own platform, Carrefour and Alcampo deliver in most cities, and Amazon Fresh covers Madrid and Barcelona. Glovo and Uber Eats handle 30-minute grocery delivery from a wide range of stores at a small markup.
Get around — public transit and driving
Spanish cities have excellent public transit and an extensive high-speed rail network (AVE) connects the major cities. Driving is on the right; EU/EEA licences are valid indefinitely. Non-EU/EEA licences must usually be exchanged within 6 months of becoming a resident.
1.Get a regional transit card
Each major city runs its own card and zone system: TMB / Hola Barcelona Travel Card in Barcelona, Tarjeta Multi or Tarjeta Transporte Público in Madrid, EMT in Valencia. Most accept contactless payment from a debit card or phone wallet for single tickets; monthly passes (abono) need an account in the operator's app or a physical card.
2.Use Renfe for intercity travel
Renfe runs the AVE (high-speed) and intercity rail network. AVE links Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Málaga, Valencia, and many more in 2–3 hours from Madrid. Two competitors (Iryo and Ouigo) now run on the busiest corridors at lower prices. Book through Renfe, Iryo, Ouigo, or Trainline.
Book trains — Renfe3.Driving licence: convert or sit a Spanish test
EU/EEA licences are valid indefinitely. Non-EU/EEA licences are valid for 6 months from the date you register as a Spanish resident; after that you must exchange or take Spanish theory and practical tests. Spain has bilateral exchange agreements with Switzerland, the UK, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Japan, Korea, and several others — check the DGT site for your specific country.
Foreign driving licences — DGT4.Long-distance buses and discount fares
ALSA, Avanza, and Movelia connect every town and city by coach — typically half to a third of the rail price for the same route. The 2025–26 Tarifa Plana fare-discount programme has been replaced by lower headline prices on regional rail (Cercanías, Media Distancia) and discounted Renfe season tickets for commuters.
Topic deep dives
Once you have the basics in place, these in-depth guides cover the parts of life that come up after the first month — and the social norms newcomers most often notice.
Other countries
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get an NIE?
A few days from a Spanish consulate before arrival; 1–4 weeks from the Oficina de Extranjeros once in Spain (longer in Madrid and Barcelona). Booking a cita previa appointment is the bottleneck — slots sometimes open at midnight or in the early morning and fill within minutes. Use a gestor (paid administrative agent) for €60–150 if your case is complex.
Can I open a bank account before my NIE arrives?
Yes — many banks open a non-resident account (cuenta no-residente) with just a passport and a non-resident certificate, charging a small monthly fee. Convert it to a resident account once your NIE comes through.
Do I need to learn Spanish?
In tourist-heavy areas (the Balearics, Costa del Sol, parts of Barcelona) and tech-sector jobs you can survive with English. For the long term, Spanish is essential for healthcare appointments, school administration, official letters, and small-town daily life. Free or subsidised Spanish classes are offered by most municipalities and the Cervantes Institute.
Is private health insurance worth it?
For many newcomers, yes — at least temporarily. Private health insurance (Sanitas, Adeslas, DKV, Mapfre) costs €40–80/month for younger adults and dramatically reduces specialist wait times. Public healthcare is excellent for emergencies and chronic care; private speeds up everything else.