The 5 first steps when arriving in Spain

Moving to Spain is a wonderful adventure, but local bureaucracy can quickly become overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. Here are, in order of priority, the 5 procedures to complete in your first months.

1. The NIE — Número de Identificación de Extranjero

This is THE number one procedure, without which nothing else is possible. The NIE is your Spanish tax identification number. You will need it to buy or rent property, open a bank account, sign an employment or energy contract, register a vehicle… in short, for everything.

How to get it: book an appointment via the official cita previa de Extranjería portal with form EX-15, your passport and the tasa 790-012 paid at a bank (€9.84 in 2026). The NIE is issued on the day.

2. Empadronamiento — municipal registration

The empadronamiento is your registration on the municipal register (padrón) of your town. It is compulsory as soon as you reside in Spain, even temporarily. It unlocks your right to the SIP card (healthcare), local benefits, school enrolment for children, and is required for many procedures.

How to do it: book an appointment at the Ayuntamiento (town hall) with your passport and proof of address (lease, purchase deed or even a declaration from the person hosting you). Free, issued on the day.

3. The SIP card — Seguro de Salud

The SIP card is your access pass to the Spanish public health system. Without it, no GP, no specialist, no free emergency care. It is issued by the health centre (centro de salud) in your neighbourhood, upon presentation of the empadronamiento and NIE.

If you are from another EU country and still covered by your home country, request form S1 from your national social security authority before leaving — it will allow you to receive care in Spain via European coordination.

4. EU Residency Certificate (for EU citizens)

If you are an EU citizen staying in Spain for more than 3 months, you must register at the Registro Central de Extranjeros for your residency certificate. This is the same office as the NIE (Policía Nacional). You will receive a green document with your NIE and Spanish address.

5. Open a Spanish bank account

A local bank account is essential from the first weeks: to pay bills, receive your salary, pay local taxes or set up direct debits. Most Spanish banks open an account upon presentation of the NIE and passport.

Tip: if you don’t have your NIE yet, some European online banks (N26, Revolut, Wise) can open an account immediately with your Belgian or French passport, as a temporary solution.

In what order?

NIE → Empadronamiento → SIP → EU Residency → Bank. To find out more, read our detailed guides to the NIE and the empadronamiento.