Spain

Main residence routes

EU citizens register at a police station or foreigners office for a green EU registration certificate. Non-EU citizens need one of these routes:

• Digital nomad visa: for remote workers and freelancers with mostly foreign clients. You need income of at least 200% of the Spanish minimum wage, about 2,760 euros a month in 2025, and at least three months' prior work relationship.
• Non-lucrative visa: for people who will not work in Spain, with passive income or savings of at least 400% of IPREM (2,400 euros a month, or 28,800 euros a year, plus more for dependants).
• Highly qualified professional and EU Blue Card: fast-track permits for skilled roles, processed by UGE.
• Work permit (cuenta ajena): requires a Spanish employer and usually a labour market test.
• Student visa: allows part-time work up to 30 hours a week.

The investment golden visa was abolished in April 2025. A 2025 immigration reform also updated the arraigo routes for people already living in Spain.

After you arrive

Within a month of arrival, most permit holders apply for their TIE card at a police station, where fingerprints are taken.

The job market

Unemployment has fallen but remains higher than the EU average. Madrid and Barcelona offer the most international roles, especially in tech, consulting, finance and multinational headquarters.

• In demand: software engineering, data, digital marketing, healthcare, hospitality and English teaching
• Salaries: the minimum wage is 1,184 euros a month in 14 payments (2025), and many graduate roles pay 22,000 to 30,000 euros gross a year
• Contracts: a 2022 labour reform made permanent contracts (indefinido) the norm

Where to look

• LinkedIn, InfoJobs and Indeed
• Tecnoempleo for tech roles
• Language academies for teaching jobs

Tax regime for newcomers

The special regime for inbound workers (known as the Beckham Law) can let qualifying new residents pay a flat 24% on Spanish employment income up to 600,000 euros for six years. Remote workers on the digital nomad visa may also qualify.

The rental market

Demand far outstrips supply in Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. Inland cities and smaller towns remain much more affordable.

How renting works

• Listings are on Idealista, Fotocasa and Habitaclia
• Long-term leases (LAU) usually last up to five years at the tenant's option
• The legal deposit (fianza) is one month's rent for unfurnished homes, but landlords often request extra guarantees
• Since 2023, agency fees must be paid by the landlord, not the tenant
• Landlords may ask for payslips, an employment contract or a bank guarantee

Seasonal and room rentals

Temporary contracts (alquiler de temporada) are common for furnished flats, but offer fewer protections.

The public system

Spain's national health system (SNS) is run by the regions. If you work and pay social security, you and your dependants are covered. After registering, you receive a tarjeta sanitaria (health card) and a local health centre (centro de salud).

• GP and hospital care are free at the point of use
• Prescriptions carry a co-payment based on income
• Dental care is mostly not covered for adults

Private insurance

Private cover is popular for shorter waits and English-speaking doctors. Policies from Sanitas, Adeslas, DKV, Asisa and Mapfre often cost 50 to 120 euros a month.

Other options

Residents who do not qualify through work can sometimes join the public system through the convenio especial, a monthly paid agreement available in many regions after a period of residence.

Typical monthly costs

• Rent: 1,200 to 1,600 euros for a one-bedroom in central Madrid or Barcelona, far less in cities such as Valencia's suburbs, Zaragoza or Seville
• Groceries: 250 to 350 euros per person at Mercadona, Lidl, Día or local markets
• Utilities: 90 to 150 euros, higher with air conditioning in summer
• Transport: monthly passes are heavily subsidised, often 20 to 40 euros

Budget examples

• A single person renting alone in Madrid or Barcelona needs about 2,000 to 2,400 euros a month
• A couple in Valencia or Seville can live well on 2,200 to 2,800 euros

Eating out

The menú del día, a three-course lunch with a drink, usually costs 12 to 16 euros and is one of the best deals in Europe.

High-speed rail

Spain has Europe's longest high-speed network. Renfe (AVE), Ouigo and Iryo compete on routes such as Madrid to Barcelona (about 2.5 hours), Seville, Málaga and Valencia, so fares can be very low if booked early.

City transport

• Madrid and Barcelona have extensive metros, buses and suburban trains
• Monthly passes are subsidised and affordable
• Valencia, Bilbao, Seville and Málaga have metro or tram systems

Buses

ALSA and other operators link towns and villages that trains do not reach.

Driving

Motorways are good and many former toll roads are now free. EU licences are valid, while many non-EU licences must be exchanged within six months of residency, if your country has an agreement with Spain.

Daily life

Spanish life is lived outdoors and in company. People meet for tapas, vermouth on Sundays and long lunches. Evenings start late and streets stay lively well past midnight, especially in summer.

Regional identity

Spain is diverse. Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia and Andalusia each have their own culture, food and sometimes language. Respect for regional identity goes a long way.

Festivals

• Semana Santa (Easter week) processions
• Las Fallas in Valencia and the Feria de Abril in Seville
• Local fiestas in almost every town each summer

Social customs

• Two kisses on the cheek are a common greeting between friends
• August is holiday month and many businesses close or slow down
• Children are welcome in restaurants, even late in the evening

Schools

School is compulsory from 6 to 16, and free public preschool is available from age 3. There are three main types:

• Public (pública): free, taught in Spanish and the regional language where applicable
• Concertada: privately run but state-funded, with modest fees
• Private and international: British, American, French, German and IB schools, typically 6,000 to 20,000 euros a year or more

In Catalonia, public schools teach mainly in Catalan, and similar systems exist in the Basque Country, Galicia and Valencia.

Universities

Leading universities include the Complutense and Autónoma in Madrid, the University of Barcelona and Pompeu Fabra, plus top business schools such as IE, IESE and ESADE. Public tuition is moderate.

Childcare

Public nursery places (escuela infantil) for under-3s are often free or low cost, but places are limited.

Your NIE

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your foreigner identification number. You need it for bank accounts, contracts, taxes and buying property. It appears on your TIE card once you have residence.

Opening a bank account

• Major banks include Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank and Sabadell
• Non-residents can open a non-resident account, often with higher fees
• Look for accounts with no maintenance fees if you have your salary paid in
• Bring your passport, NIE, proof of address and employment or income evidence

Paying for things

• Bizum is the instant payment app used by almost everyone
• Contactless card payment is standard
• Cash is still useful in small bars and markets

Taxes

The tax year follows the calendar year and returns (la renta) are filed between April and June through the Agencia Tributaria.

Everyday rules

• Carry ID: police can ask for identification, so carry your TIE or passport
• Empadronamiento: register with the town hall where you live and update it when you move
• Tax residence: you become resident if you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain

Public behaviour

• Drinking alcohol in the street (botellón) is banned in many cities
• Smoking is banned indoors in public places and on many terraces
• Noise rules are enforced at night in residential areas

Property and rentals

Holiday rentals need a licence and registration, and many cities strictly limit new licences.

Driving

The blood alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l, or 0.3 g/l for new and professional drivers. Fines can be issued on the spot.

Airports

• Madrid Barajas (MAD): the main hub, with Iberia and strong Latin American links
• Barcelona El Prat (BCN): many European and long-haul routes
• Málaga, Alicante, Valencia, Palma and the Canary Islands for sun and low-cost flights

Getting around

• High-speed trains between major cities
• Ferries to the Balearic Islands and Morocco
• Cheap domestic flights to the Canary Islands

Weekend ideas

• Toledo and Segovia from Madrid
• The Costa Brava and Girona from Barcelona
• The Picos de Europa, Granada's Alhambra and San Sebastián's food scene

Schengen

With a Spanish residence permit you can travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.