Guides

Practical

NIE, padrón, bank accounts, healthcare and the rest of the paperwork.

• NIE Number in Spain 2026: How to Get One, Fee and What It's For

  The NIE is Spain's foreigner ID number. How to get it with a visa or separately with form EX-15, the €9.84 fee on modelo 790-012, and what you need it for.

• Empadronamiento (Padrón) in Spain 2026: How to Register

  The padrón is Spain's municipal register. Why you must join it, what town halls ask for, and volante vs certificado.

• Opening a Bank Account in Spain as a Foreigner: Rules and Documents

  What Spanish banks must check before opening your account, the legal right to a basic payment account and its €3 monthly fee cap, and the documents to bring.

• Healthcare in Spain for Expats 2026: Public Access, S1, Insurance

  How foreigners get Spanish healthcare: through work, the UK S1, the convenio especial at €60 or €157 a month, or private insurance, plus the tarjeta sanitaria.

• Renting in Spain as a Foreigner 2026: Contract, Deposit, Fees

  A standard Spanish home lease runs 5 years (7 if the landlord is a company), with a one-month deposit. Who pays agency fees, rent updates and your rights.

• Driving in Spain With a US or UK License: The 6-Month Rule

  A US or UK license is valid in Spain for 6 months after you become resident. UK licenses can be exchanged without a test. US licenses cannot.

• Shipping Belongings to Spain: Customs Relief Rules 2026

  Household goods can enter Spain duty and VAT free if you lived outside the EU 12 months and owned them 6 months. How to claim it, plus pets.

• Moving to Spain Checklist 2026: Step-by-Step Timeline

  A dated checklist for moving to Spain on a non-lucrative visa: documents, the 1-month TIE deadline, first-month tasks and the first renewal.