Relocation and arrival in Spain

01What we do and what we coordinate

We are a law firm. We deal directly with everything that has legal content: your immigration status, your NIE and TIE, the review of housing contracts and any issue with the authorities.

Some practical tasks are better done by other professionals, such as finding a home or a school, arranging insurance or dealing with a bank. For these we work with trusted partners we work with regularly. You do not need to find them or explain your situation from scratch: we brief them and follow up on the result.

02The first month: TIE and padrón

If you entered Spain on a residence visa, you have one month from arrival to apply for your TIE, the physical card with your photo and fingerprint that proves your residence. The application and fingerprinting are done in person at the police station for your address, with an appointment, form EX-17 and proof of payment of the fee (form 790, code 012). In most cases your NIE was already assigned when the visa was processed.

The padrón is the town hall's register of residents. The law requires you to register in the municipality where you usually live, and the registration certificate is then needed for almost everything: health card, school places and other local formalities. You register with your passport and proof of your home, usually the tenancy agreement or title deed. Some town halls require an appointment.

03Social security, healthcare and insurance

The route depends on your permit. If you are employed by a company in Spain, the employer registers you and obtains your social security number. If you are self-employed, you register as autónomo. Once registered, and after joining the padrón, you can apply for a health card from your region's health service.

If your permit does not allow you to work, as with the non-lucrative visa, healthcare is covered by the private insurance you presented for the visa. Keep it in force: it is checked again on renewal. For digital nomads, cover depends on how you pay social security contributions; we review this with you before you arrive.

04Housing: renting or buying with a legal review

Many clients arrive in temporary accommodation and look for a permanent home once in Spain. Before you sign a lease, we review its length, deposit and any additional guarantees, rent reviews, costs and exit terms.

If you buy, we check the property's land registry entry, charges and debts, review the deposit contract before any money changes hands and review the deed before signing at the notary. Property search is handled by partners in the real estate sector; the legal review is ours.

05Bank account

You will usually need an account for rent, utility bills and, where relevant, your salary. Some banks allow you to open a non-resident account before you have your TIE and convert it later. Each bank applies its own identity and source of funds checks, so have proof of your income and residence ready.

06Schools for your children

Admission to state and state-funded schools is managed by each region, with its own deadlines and criteria, and usually requires padrón registration. Private international schools run their own admissions. We coordinate the search and application with partners and tell you which academic records to bring and whether they need formal recognition in Spain (homologación or convalidación).

07Driving licences: UK and US

According to the DGT, a licence issued outside the European Union can be used in Spain for a maximum of six months from the date the holder becomes normally resident here. After that you need a Spanish licence.

Since the 2023 agreement between Spain and the United Kingdom, a UK licence can be exchanged for the Spanish equivalent without a test. The United States, by contrast, is not on the list of countries with an exchange agreement, so residents with a US licence will need to obtain a Spanish licence by passing the relevant tests. Start early, because six months passes quickly. The rules can change, so we check them on dgt.es for your specific case.

Frequently asked questions