How to Move to Spain: The Complete Expat Guide 2026

oficinaamposta26
21 jul
5 min de lectura

Actualizado: 24 jul

Spain is consistently ranked as one of the best countries in the world to live in — and it's easy to see why. Stunning weather, world-class food, affordable cost of living, incredible culture and a healthcare system that rivals anywhere in Europe.

But moving to a new country is never simple. There are visas to apply for, documents to gather, banks to open and healthcare to sort out. After 15 years helping expats make the move to Spain, I've put together the most complete guide you'll find anywhere.

Bookmark this page — you're going to need it.

Step 1 — Choose the Right Visa

The first decision you need to make is which visa is right for your situation. Spain offers several options for non-EU citizens:

Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)The most popular choice for retirees and anyone with passive income. You don't need to work in Spain — you just need to prove sufficient financial means (approximately €2,400/month for a single person) and have private health insurance with zero copayments.

Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) Introduced in 2023, this visa is perfect for remote workers and freelancers who work for companies or clients outside Spain. You need to prove income of at least €2,646/month and have private health insurance.

Student Visa For anyone studying in Spain for more than 90 days. Requires proof of enrollment at a recognised institution and private health insurance.

Golden Visa For investors who make a significant financial investment in Spain — typically purchasing property worth at least €500,000. Private health insurance is also required.

EU Citizens If you're an EU citizen you have the right to live and work in Spain freely. However you still need to register as a resident (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la UE) and private health insurance is strongly recommended.

Step 2 — Get Your Health Insurance Sorted First

This is the step most people leave too late — and it's the one that causes the most problems.

Private health insurance is mandatory for almost every Spanish visa. And here's the critical part that most people don't know: your insurance needs to be active before you submit your visa application — not after.

What your policy must include:

✅ Zero copayments (for NLV and most other visas)
✅ Full medical coverage across Spain
✅ Primary care and specialist access
✅ Hospitalisation and surgery
✅ Emergency care 24 hours a day
✅ Repatriation coverage
✅ From a Spanish insurer authorised by the Dirección General de Seguros

As an exclusive DKV agent with 15 years of experience I specialise in exactly this — getting expats the right health insurance for their visa quickly, simply and in English. Policy active in less than 24 hours. All documentation provided immediately.

📱 WhatsApp me directly: +34 611 72 42 91

Step 3 — Gather Your Documents

Every visa requires a slightly different set of documents but these are the core ones you'll need for most applications:

🛂 Valid passport (at least 1 year validity remaining)
📋 Completed visa application form
📸 Passport photos
🏥 Private health insurance certificate
💶 Proof of financial means (bank statements, pension, investments)
🏠 Proof of accommodation in Spain
👮 Criminal record certificate (apostilled and translated)
🏥 Medical certificate
📄 All documents translated into Spanish by a certified translator

Top tip: start gathering these documents at least 3 months before your planned move. Some of them — particularly the criminal record certificate — can take weeks to obtain.

Step 4 — Apply at Your Local Spanish Consulate

You must apply for your visa at the Spanish consulate in your home country — you cannot apply from within Spain.

Key things to know:

Book your consulate appointment as early as possible — waiting times can be several weeks
Bring originals AND copies of every document
Processing time is typically 1-3 months
You cannot enter Spain on a tourist visa while waiting for your residency visa to be approved

Step 5 — Find Your Home in Spain

Spain's property market offers incredible variety — from city apartments in Barcelona and Madrid to countryside villas in Andalucía and coastal homes on the Costa Brava.

Popular expat destinations:

🏙️ Barcelona — Cosmopolitan, vibrant, international
🏙️ Madrid — The capital, buzzing with culture and nightlife
☀️ Valencia — Perfect weather, beach lifestyle, affordable
🌊 Costa del Sol — Popular with British and northern European retirees
🏔️ Costa Brava — Beautiful coastline, close to France
🌿 Andalucía — Traditional Spain, stunning villages, warm climate

Whether you rent or buy, make sure your accommodation is confirmed before your visa application — you'll need proof of where you'll be living.

Step 6 — Open a Spanish Bank Account

You'll need a Spanish bank account for paying rent, utilities and day-to-day expenses. Most banks require:

Your passport or NIE number
Proof of address in Spain
Sometimes proof of income

Popular banks with English-speaking services: Sabadell, BBVA, Santander, CaixaBank. Some expats also use online banks like Revolut or Wise for day-to-day spending while they get settled.

Step 7 — Get Your NIE Number

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your tax identification number in Spain. You'll need it for almost everything — opening a bank account, buying property, signing a rental contract, working legally.

You can apply for your NIE:

At the Spanish consulate in your home country before you move
At a Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) in Spain
At some police stations in Spain

Step 8 — Register as a Resident (Empadronamiento)

Once you arrive in Spain you need to register at your local town hall (Ayuntamiento). This is called the empadronamiento and gives you a certificate of residence (padrón municipal).

You'll need this for:

Accessing public services
Enrolling children in school
Registering with a public health centre
Many administrative procedures

Step 9 — Sort Your Spanish Healthcare

As an expat in Spain you have two options for healthcare:

Public healthcareIf you're employed and paying social security contributions, you're entitled to use Spain's public healthcare system. It's excellent — but waiting times for specialists can be weeks or months.

Private healthcareFor most expats, private health insurance is the better option. No waiting lists, English-speaking doctors available, access to over 50,000 specialists nationwide.

With DKV you get the best of both worlds — world-class private healthcare at an affordable price, with all the documentation you need for your visa sorted immediately.

Step 10 — Embrace the Spanish Way of Life

The admin is done. Now comes the good part.

Spain has a quality of life that's hard to match anywhere in the world. Long lunches, late dinners, afternoon siestas, warm evenings on a terrace with friends. The Spanish work to live — not live to work.

A few tips for settling in:

🗣️ Learn some Spanish — even basic phrases go a long way
🤝 Join expat groups and local communities
🕐 Adapt to Spanish timing — lunch at 2-3pm, dinner at 9-10pm
☀️ Embrace the slower pace — it's one of the best things about Spain
🎉 Participate in local festivals and traditions

The One Thing You Can't Afford to Get Wrong

Out of everything on this list, health insurance is the step where most expat dreams get derailed. The wrong policy means a rejected visa. A delayed policy means a missed consulate appointment. The wrong documentation means starting the whole process again.

After 15 years and hundreds of successful visa applications, I know exactly what each Spanish consulate requires — and I make sure my clients get it right first time.

Spain is consistently ranked as one of the best countries in the world to live in — and it's easy to see why. Stunning weather, world-class food, affordable cost of living, incredible culture and a healthcare system that rivals anywhere in Europe.

But moving to a new country is never simple. There are visas to apply for, documents to gather, banks to open and healthcare to sort out. After 15 years helping expats make the move to Spain, I've put together the most complete guide you'll find anywhere.

Bookmark this page — you're going to need it.

Step 1 — Choose the Right Visa

The first decision you need to make is which visa is right for your situation. Spain offers several options for non-EU citizens:

Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)The most popular choice for retirees and anyone with passive income. You don't need to work in Spain — you just need to prove sufficient financial means (approximately €2,400/month for a single person) and have private health insurance with zero copayments.

Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) Introduced in 2023, this visa is perfect for remote workers and freelancers who work for companies or clients outside Spain. You need to prove income of at least €2,646/month and have private health insurance.

Student Visa For anyone studying in Spain for more than 90 days. Requires proof of enrollment at a recognised institution and private health insurance.

Golden Visa For investors who make a significant financial investment in Spain — typically purchasing property worth at least €500,000. Private health insurance is also required.

EU Citizens If you're an EU citizen you have the right to live and work in Spain freely. However you still need to register as a resident (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la UE) and private health insurance is strongly recommended.

Step 2 — Get Your Health Insurance Sorted First

This is the step most people leave too late — and it's the one that causes the most problems.

Private health insurance is mandatory for almost every Spanish visa. And here's the critical part that most people don't know: your insurance needs to be active before you submit your visa application — not after.

What your policy must include:

✅ Zero copayments (for NLV and most other visas)

✅ Full medical coverage across Spain

✅ Primary care and specialist access

✅ Hospitalisation and surgery

✅ Emergency care 24 hours a day

✅ Repatriation coverage

✅ From a Spanish insurer authorised by the Dirección General de Seguros

As an exclusive DKV agent with 15 years of experience I specialise in exactly this — getting expats the right health insurance for their visa quickly, simply and in English. Policy active in less than 24 hours. All documentation provided immediately.

📱 WhatsApp me directly: +34 611 72 42 91

Step 3 — Gather Your Documents

Every visa requires a slightly different set of documents but these are the core ones you'll need for most applications:

🛂 Valid passport (at least 1 year validity remaining)

📋 Completed visa application form

📸 Passport photos

🏥 Private health insurance certificate

💶 Proof of financial means (bank statements, pension, investments)

🏠 Proof of accommodation in Spain

👮 Criminal record certificate (apostilled and translated)

🏥 Medical certificate

📄 All documents translated into Spanish by a certified translator

Top tip: start gathering these documents at least 3 months before your planned move. Some of them — particularly the criminal record certificate — can take weeks to obtain.

Step 4 — Apply at Your Local Spanish Consulate

You must apply for your visa at the Spanish consulate in your home country — you cannot apply from within Spain.

Key things to know:

Book your consulate appointment as early as possible — waiting times can be several weeks

Bring originals AND copies of every document

Processing time is typically 1-3 months

You cannot enter Spain on a tourist visa while waiting for your residency visa to be approved

Step 5 — Find Your Home in Spain

Spain's property market offers incredible variety — from city apartments in Barcelona and Madrid to countryside villas in Andalucía and coastal homes on the Costa Brava.

Popular expat destinations:

🏙️ Barcelona — Cosmopolitan, vibrant, international

🏙️ Madrid — The capital, buzzing with culture and nightlife

☀️ Valencia — Perfect weather, beach lifestyle, affordable

🌊 Costa del Sol — Popular with British and northern European retirees

🏔️ Costa Brava — Beautiful coastline, close to France

🌿 Andalucía — Traditional Spain, stunning villages, warm climate

Whether you rent or buy, make sure your accommodation is confirmed before your visa application — you'll need proof of where you'll be living.

Step 6 — Open a Spanish Bank Account

You'll need a Spanish bank account for paying rent, utilities and day-to-day expenses. Most banks require:

Your passport or NIE number

Proof of address in Spain

Sometimes proof of income

Popular banks with English-speaking services: Sabadell, BBVA, Santander, CaixaBank. Some expats also use online banks like Revolut or Wise for day-to-day spending while they get settled.

Step 7 — Get Your NIE Number

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your tax identification number in Spain. You'll need it for almost everything — opening a bank account, buying property, signing a rental contract, working legally.

You can apply for your NIE:

At the Spanish consulate in your home country before you move

At a Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) in Spain

At some police stations in Spain

Step 8 — Register as a Resident (Empadronamiento)

Once you arrive in Spain you need to register at your local town hall (Ayuntamiento). This is called the empadronamiento and gives you a certificate of residence (padrón municipal).

You'll need this for:

Accessing public services

Enrolling children in school

Registering with a public health centre

Many administrative procedures

Step 9 — Sort Your Spanish Healthcare

As an expat in Spain you have two options for healthcare:

Public healthcareIf you're employed and paying social security contributions, you're entitled to use Spain's public healthcare system. It's excellent — but waiting times for specialists can be weeks or months.

Private healthcareFor most expats, private health insurance is the better option. No waiting lists, English-speaking doctors available, access to over 50,000 specialists nationwide.

With DKV you get the best of both worlds — world-class private healthcare at an affordable price, with all the documentation you need for your visa sorted immediately.

Step 10 — Embrace the Spanish Way of Life

The admin is done. Now comes the good part.

Spain has a quality of life that's hard to match anywhere in the world. Long lunches, late dinners, afternoon siestas, warm evenings on a terrace with friends. The Spanish work to live — not live to work.

A few tips for settling in: