Moving to Spain — The Complete FAQ Hub

The most common expat routes are: NLV (passive income retirees), DNV (digital nomads / employed or self-employed remote workers), Student visa, HQP (highly qualified professional), Self-employed (Autónomo), Work visa, Family reunification, and EU Family Member. The Golden Visa investor route closed to new applications in April 2025.

Currently around EUR 28,800 per year for a single applicant and around EUR 36,000 per year for a couple, derived from the IPREM index, plus around EUR 7,200 per additional dependant. Consulates may apply variations. Verify the current threshold at application time.

Yes — you need to show qualifying remote-work income (employed or self-employed) above a minimum threshold (typically around 200% of the Spanish minimum wage as a baseline). You also need at least 3 months of relationship with the qualifying employer or client(s).

Yes — spouses, registered civil partners and dependants can typically come as dependants on the primary applicant’s visa, with proof of relationship and the additional financial threshold.

Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero — the foreigner identity card you collect once in Spain. Required within 30 days of arrival.

Registration at your local town hall (Ayuntamiento) confirming your residential address. Required for TIE, school enrolment, regional healthcare registration and many other services.

Non-EU applicants for NLV, DNV and Student visas generally need Spanish-regulated private health insurance — sin copago, sin carencias, annual upfront cover, repatriation where required, bilingual EN/ES certificate.

No co-payment — the policy doesn’t charge you for each medical visit or service. Required for NLV-compliant cover.

No waiting periods — cover begins from day one of policy activation. Required for visa-compliant cover.

Typically no — consulates generally require Spanish DGSFP-regulated cover, not home-country international plans.

Indicative monthly premium ranges (same Spain-wide framework): EUR 40–80 at 30; EUR 90–150 at 50; EUR 130–200 at 65; EUR 230–340 at 70. Age 75+ availability for new policies becomes very limited.

Yes — once you have residency, are working/contributing to social security, or have S1 entitlement (UK pensioners), you can access the public system. Private cover is often kept alongside for shorter waiting times and English-speaking specialists.

Yes — UK state pensioners can apply for an S1 with NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. Once registered with the local Spanish health centre, you access public healthcare on the same basis as a Spanish pensioner.

Generally when you spend 183+ days in Spain in a calendar year, or your main economic interests are in Spain. Tax residency triggers worldwide income reporting and Modelo 720 foreign asset declaration above thresholds.

The Special Expatriate Regime — a national regime allowing qualifying new arrivals to be taxed as non-residents for 6 years, at a flat 24% on Spanish-sourced income up to EUR 600,000. Election within 6 months of social security registration.

The headline test for tax residency — physical presence in Spain for 183+ days in a calendar year typically triggers tax residency. Sporadic absences count toward presence in some scenarios.

The annual declaration of foreign assets above EUR 50,000 in certain categories (bank accounts, securities/investments, real estate). Penalty regime has been refined by EU court rulings.

Yes — with regional adjustments. Madrid and Andalusia have implemented 100% regional rebates; other regions vary. The national solidarity tax above EUR 3 million per individual applies throughout Spain.

Generally yes — under the UK-Spain tax treaty most private pensions and state pension income are taxable in Spain once tax resident. Government-service pensions may remain UK-taxed. Specialist advice essential.

Yes — many Spanish banks offer non-resident accounts that can be opened in advance. You’ll need to switch to a resident account after empadronamiento. Some online-only banks (e.g. N26, Wise multi-currency) also serve as starter options.

Usually yes — for pensions, transfers and continuity. Notify your home bank of your Spanish address and tax residency change to maintain compliance.

Use a specialist currency transfer service (Wise, OFX, CurrencyFair, Moneycorp etc.) rather than a high-street bank. Better exchange rates and lower fees.

Rent first — for at least 6–12 months in your chosen area before buying. Avoids buying somewhere that turns out not to suit you, with reversal costs of ~10–15% of price.

Typically 10–15% on top of price: regional ITP (resale) or IVA + AJD (new build), notario, registro, abogado / gestoría, NIE process. Region-dependent.

If you want to leverage, yes. Non-resident mortgages typically limited to 60–70% LTV; resident mortgages up to 80%. Interest rates linked to Euribor.

The certificate confirming the property is fit for residential use. Required for utility connections and many resale transactions. Check before buying.

Three main routes: public schools (free, Spanish/Catalan/Galego/Euskera/Catalan-Balearic curriculum depending on region), concertado schools (semi-private with subsidies, often religious affiliation, mixed-language programmes), and private international schools (British, American, French, German curricula plus IB, in major cities and Costa zones).

For public/concertado: empadronamiento first, then apply at the regional education authority within the application window (typically March-May for September start). International schools have their own admissions windows.

Typically EUR 6,000–18,000+ per year per child depending on school and city. Madrid, Barcelona and the Costa del Sol have the highest tiers; smaller cities are more affordable.

EU/EEA licences are valid indefinitely. Non-EU licences (including UK post-Brexit) require exchange or re-test, with rules depending on bilateral agreements. UK licence holders should check the current UK-Spain reciprocity position.

No — Spanish-plated cars must be insured with a Spain-authorised insurer.

Strongly recommended for Spanish assets. Non-Spanish nationals can elect home-country law via EU Succession Regulation 650/2012.

See our dedicated Moving to Spain with Pets guide.