Spain (ES)

Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy of 17 autonomous communities stretching from the sun-scorched Andalusian coast to the Pyrenean peaks, renowned for its passionate flamenco and football culture, world-famous gastronomy from tapas to Michelin-starred restaurants, 300+ days of sunshine on the Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands, and a relaxed Mediterranean pace of life that consistently ranks it among Europe's most desirable destinations for expats.

Capital: Madrid

Region: Europe

Language: Spanish

Currency: EUR (€)

Cost of living: Affordable (index 55)

Emergency: 112

Key Documents Checklist

Gather these before and after moving to Spain.

Passport

Valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay. Bring the original + 3 photocopies. Non-EU arrivals need an empty stamp page.

NIE application form (EX-15 / EX-18)

Número de Identidad de Extranjero — mandatory tax/identity number for any foreigner doing almost anything administrative in Spain. Apply at Oficina de Extranjería, Comisaría de Policía Nacional, or a Spanish consulate abroad.

Birth certificate Apostille required Translation required

Required for empadronamiento (in some town halls), marriage registration, family reunion, citizenship applications, and school registration. Must be recent (under 3–6 months old).

Marriage / civil partnership certificate Apostille required Translation required

Required for family reunion visa, registering dependents, shared tax returns, and property purchases as spouses.

Children's birth certificates Apostille required Translation required

Required for school enrolment, family reunion visa (reagrupación familiar), child benefits, and inclusion in your residence permit.

University / professional qualifications Apostille required Translation required

Degree certificates and transcripts — essential for regulated professions (medicine, law, architecture, engineering, teaching, nursing). Submit for homologación or equivalencia via the Ministerio de Universidades.

Criminal record certificate (antecedentes penales) Apostille required Translation required

Required for most non-EU long-stay visas, residence permits and work permits. Must cover all countries where you lived in the past 5 years, be under 3–6 months old, apostilled and sworn-translated.

Employment contract or job offer

Required for the cuenta ajena work permit, Blue Card, and sponsored non-lucrative residence.

Driving licence

EU/EEA licences are valid until expiry. UK licences exchangeable. Non-EU licences must be exchanged or tested within 6 months of empadronamiento — country-specific bilateral rules apply.

Proof of private health insurance

Mandatory for the non-lucrative visa, digital nomad visa, and student visa. Must have no copayments, full coverage in Spain, and minimum coverage of €30,000+. EHIC/GHIC for short EU stays only.

Proof of financial means

Bank statements (last 6–12 months) + IPREM multiples. Non-lucrative visa 2026: ~€2,400/month for main applicant + ~€600/month per dependent.

Empadronamiento certificate (certificado de empadronamiento)

Proof of registered residence at your Spanish address. Issued by the Ayuntamiento (town hall). Required for almost every other procedure: NIE, healthcare card, driving licence exchange, school enrolment.

Rental contract or property deed

Required for empadronamiento. Landlords do not always want to provide a copy — town hall may accept a signed authorisation + utility bill.

Pet EU passport + rabies vaccination

Microchip + rabies vaccine at least 21 days before travel. For non-EU arrivals: EU Health Certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, plus rabies titer test for some origin countries.

Padron índice (from former Ayuntamiento)

If moving between Spanish municipalities, you need to baja and re-empadronar at the new one within 3 months.

What is an Apostille?

An apostille is an official certification that validates a document for international use. It is issued by a designated authority in the country where the document was issued (usually a court or government office). Required for documents from Hague Convention member states.

Certified Translations

Certified translations must be done by a sworn/authorised translator. In Spain, only translations by officially registered translators are accepted by government offices. Keep originals — they may be returned after verification.

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