Spain, step by step.

Find a place to live without getting scammed

A real address lets you register at the town hall (padrón) and do almost everything else. A written contract protects you.

Who it's for

Anyone renting a room or a flat.

Where

With the owner or an agency; the agency fee is paid by the owner, not you

What they usually ask for

• See the place before paying
• Written contract with the owner's name and ID
• Deposit of 1 month's rent (plus an extra guarantee of up to 2 months)
• Receipt for every payment

TipCommon scam: a listing on a known site, the chat moves to WhatsApp, and you pay a deposit before getting keys; people have lost €2,400. Ask before signing if you can register (padrón) at that address.

Empadronamiento

It records where you live at the town hall. It unlocks healthcare, school, the TIE card and, later, proof of how long you have been in Spain.

Who it's for

Everyone who lives in Spain, with or without residence papers.

Where

Town hall (ayuntamiento) where you live; in Valencia, by appointment

What they usually ask for

• Valid passport or TIE
• Rental contract with last receipt, deed or other proof you live there
• If others are already registered there: written permission from a registered adult

TipMany room owners refuse to let you register, and some charge €50–300 for it, which is illegal and can bring a fine. If the owner refuses, ask the town hall: it can accept other proof, such as utility bills, or check in person.

NIE

It is your foreigner number in Spain. Contracts, banks, taxes and most paperwork ask for it.

Who it's for

Anyone without an NIE yet; people who came with a residence or study visa already get it with the visa.

Where

National Police station or Foreigners' Office, by appointment; abroad, at the consulate

What they usually ask for

• Valid passport and a copy
• EX-15 form
• Fee payment (form 790, code 012)
• Reason for the request (for example, a job offer)

TipThe appointment is free. Bots grab slots and resell them for €15–100; there were arrests in Alicante, Murcia and Valencia in 2024. Never pay for one: try early, on several days, and accept another town in the same province.

TIE appointment booked

The TIE is the card that shows your status in Spain. You give your fingerprints, then come back to collect the card.

Who it's for

People with a visa or permit for more than 6 months, or family members of EU citizens.

Where

National Police station in your province, by appointment; within 1 month of arriving or of getting the permit

What they usually ask for

• Passport
• EX-17 form (or EX-19 for EU family members)
• Recent photo
• Fee paid (form 790, code 012)
• Padrón certificate and your permit decision

TipIn Valencia, people report 2 weeks to several months to get a slot, and some book in another town in the province to go faster. Check your name on the TIE on the spot: fixing an error later took a new appointment and over a month.

Bank account

To get paid, pay rent and bills. There is a basic account that banks cannot refuse without a reason.

Who it's for

People living in Spain without a Spanish bank account yet.

Where

Any bank branch

What they usually ask for

• Passport or TIE
• NIE, if you have it
• A written request for the "cuenta de pago básica" if the bank refuses a normal account

TipEach branch asks for different things: if one says no, try another. The basic account costs at most €3 a month; ask in writing and, if refused, get the refusal in writing to complain to the Banco de España.

Social Security number (Seguridad Social)

It lets you be registered at work, count time toward a pension and access healthcare and benefits.

Who it's for

People who will work with a contract or as self-employed and have no number yet.

Where

Online at Import@ss; your employer can also request it

What they usually ask for

• NIE or ID document
• Mobile phone and email
• Home address
• Without Cl@ve: photo of your ID and a selfie

TipHaving the number is not the same as being registered: check your work history (vida laboral) to see if your employer registered you. For household work, the employer registers you, whatever the hours.

Health card (tarjeta sanitaria)

It lets you be seen at your health centre and pay less for medicines. In the Valencia region it is called SIP.

Who it's for

People living in Spain; people without legal residence have their own application since 2026.

Where

Your local health centre (or online with Cl@ve)

What they usually ask for

• NIE, TIE or passport
• Recent padrón certificate
• If you work and are registered: INSS document showing your right

TipSince March 2026, people without legal residence get a provisional document as soon as they apply, valid across Spain. Some old pages still ask for 3 months of padrón; ask at the health centre desk.

Set up Cl@ve or a digital certificate

It is your key for online paperwork: Social Security, taxes, health, appointments. It saves queues.

Who it's for

People who already have an NIE and want to do things online.

Where

Online (video ID) or at a registration office (Tax Agency, Social Security), by appointment

What they usually ask for

• NIE (certificate or TIE)
• Passport
• Phone that receives SMS
• For the certificate: code sent by email

TipThe NIE number alone is not enough for the digital certificate: bring your passport with your TIE or NIE paper. Your details must match your passport exactly.

Work as self-employed (autónomo)

If you regularly work for yourself, registering as self-employed counts toward your contributions and lets you invoice.

Who it's for

People who regularly work for themselves and are allowed to do so.

Where

Import@ss (Social Security) and the Tax Agency, before you start

What they usually ask for

• NIE and Social Security number
• Registration with the Tax Agency (activity code)
• Start date and business address
• Estimate of what you will earn
• Bank account for the monthly fee

Income tax return (IRPF)

Each year, between April and June, you settle the previous year's tax. Sometimes you get money back.

Who it's for

People who earned over €22,000 from one payer, over €15,876 from several, or were self-employed with any income.

Where

Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria), online or by appointment

What they usually ask for

• NIE
• Cl@ve, digital certificate or reference number
• Payslips or contract details
• Bank account

Renew your residence permit

Your permit expires. Applying on time keeps the current one valid while your request is decided.

Who it's for

People whose temporary residence permit is about to expire.

Where

Foreigners' Office (online or in person); apply in the 2 months before it expires

What they usually ask for

• Official renewal form
• Passport and TIE
• Proof of the reason for the permit (contract, contributions, means)
• Fee paid

TipIn Valencia, people reported waiting over 4 months just to get a card-renewal appointment. Start early and keep the receipt: it shows your permit is still valid.

Renew your padrón every 2 years

If you don't, the town hall can remove you and you lose proof of how long you have lived here.

Who it's for

People from outside the EU without long-term residence.

Where

Town hall where you are registered

What they usually ask for

• Valid passport or TIE

TipPadrón history is the most common proof of how long you have been in Spain. Being removed by mistake leaves a gap that is hard to explain later.

Exchange your driving licence

After 6 months as a resident, a non-EU licence stops being valid for driving. If your country has an agreement, you swap it without a test.

Who it's for

Drivers with a licence from an agreement country (Brazil and most of Latin America; Venezuela is not on the list).

Where

Traffic office (Jefatura de Tráfico, DGT), by appointment

What they usually ask for

• Original valid licence
• TIE or residence document
• Exchange form (modelo 03)
• Fee (€28.87 for car or motorbike)

Permanent or long-term residence

After 5 years, you can live and work in Spain with no end date, like Spanish citizens, and stop renewing your permit.

Who it's for

People who have lived in Spain legally and continuously for the last 5 years.

Where

Foreigners' Office; then the TIE at the National Police

What they usually ask for

• Passport and TIE
• Proof of 5 years of residence
• Official form and fee

TipTrips matter: absences of up to 6 months in a row and 10 months in total over 5 years don't break the count. Keep tickets and stamps.

Bring your family

Lets you bring your spouse, children and, in some cases, parents to live with you. Spouse and children can work.

Who it's for

People who have lived legally in Spain for at least 1 year and applied to stay 1 more year.

Where

Foreigners' Office; then a visa at the consulate in your family's country

What they usually ask for

• Your permit and TIE
• Documents proving the family link
• Enough steady income (base: 150% of IPREM for 2 people)
• Suitable housing

TipIn Valencia, some reunification cases reportedly took almost a year. Get documents from your home country ready early (legalised and translated).

Citizenship

It gives you a Spanish passport and the same rights as any Spaniard, including voting.

Who it's for

People with legal, continuous residence: 2 years for Latin American countries and Portugal, 10 years as the general rule (other periods exist).

Where

Ministry of Justice, online or in person

What they usually ask for

• Passport and TIE
• Birth certificate and criminal record from your home country
• Instituto Cervantes tests (CCSE; language, if Spanish is not your native language)
• Fee (form 790, code 026)

TipBrazilians need 2 years but must also pass the Spanish exam (DELE A2), since Brazil is not Spanish-speaking. It means 2 years of legal residence: time without papers does not count.