Europe · Capital Madrid
Sunshine, late dinners and a digital nomad visa to match.
LanguagesSpanish, Catalan, Galician, Basque
CurrencyEUR
Population49M
EnglishLocal language helps a lot
Overview
A sunny, social country with great quality of life, strong public services and a reputation for slow bureaucracy.
Spain regularly tops rankings for quality of life and life expectancy. People come for the climate, the food, the outdoor lifestyle and the mix of big cities, beaches and mountains. It is also a popular base for remote workers and retirees.
Newcomers usually register their address at the town hall (empadronamiento), get their NIE or TIE, open a bank account and register with social security or private health insurance.
Last reviewed September 2026
Visas
Remote workers use the digital nomad visa, retirees the non-lucrative visa, and employees an employer-backed work permit.
EU citizens register at a police station or foreigners office for a green EU registration certificate. Non-EU citizens need one of these routes:
The investment golden visa was abolished in April 2025. A 2025 immigration reform also updated the arraigo routes for people already living in Spain.
Within a month of arrival, most permit holders apply for their TIE card at a police station, where fingerprints are taken.
Last reviewed September 2026
Jobs
Opportunities in tech, tourism, teaching and international companies, though salaries are modest and Spanish matters.
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.
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.
Last reviewed September 2026
Housing
Rents have risen sharply in the big cities and coastal hotspots. Expect deposits, guarantees and competition.
Demand far outstrips supply in Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. Inland cities and smaller towns remain much more affordable.
Temporary contracts (alquiler de temporada) are common for furnished flats, but offer fewer protections.
Last reviewed September 2026
Healthcare
An excellent public system for workers and residents who contribute, with affordable private insurance widely used.
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).
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.
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.
Last reviewed September 2026
Cost of living
Everyday costs are reasonable, but rents in Madrid and Barcelona take a big share of local salaries.
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.
Last reviewed September 2026
Transportation
One of the world's best high-speed rail networks, cheap city passes and good intercity buses.
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.
ALSA and other operators link towns and villages that trains do not reach.
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.
Last reviewed September 2026
Lifestyle
Social, outdoor and family-centred, with late evenings, festivals and a love of good food.
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.
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.
Last reviewed September 2026
Education
Free public schools, subsidised concertada schools and many international schools, plus respected universities.
School is compulsory from 6 to 16, and free public preschool is available from age 3. There are three main types:
In Catalonia, public schools teach mainly in Catalan, and similar systems exist in the Basque Country, Galicia and Valencia.
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.
Public nursery places (escuela infantil) for under-3s are often free or low cost, but places are limited.
Last reviewed September 2026
Banking
Open an account with your NIE, then use Bizum and cards for almost everything.
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.
The tax year follows the calendar year and returns (la renta) are filed between April and June through the Agencia Tributaria.
Last reviewed September 2026
Laws
Register your address, carry ID and learn the local rules on drinking in public and holiday rentals.
Holiday rentals need a licence and registration, and many cities strictly limit new licences.
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.
Last reviewed September 2026
Travel
Excellent flight and rail connections, islands on your doorstep and easy access to the rest of Europe and Latin America.
With a Spanish residence permit you can travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Last reviewed September 2026
Beaches, design and a buzzing startup scene by the sea.
Mediterranean city with beaches, a strong remote-worker scene and moderate rents.
Historic Andalusian capital with hot summers, low costs and a slower pace of life.
2 reviews
Universitat de Barcelona, Spanish language courses· Barcelona
I enrolled in the university's Spanish courses for foreigners during my first year in Barcelona. The placement test was accurate, and the classes followed the European framework levels, which made progress easy to measure. Teachers were well trained and patient, and classmates came from all over the world. The price per term was reasonable compared with private academies. Classes are in the morning, which suited my US time zone schedule. Registration was a bit confusing online, and groups can be large at lower levels. I went from A2 to B1 in two terms.
A year ago I moved from Portland, Oregon to Barcelona on Spain's digital nomad visa, keeping my job as a UX researcher for a US software company. Here is my honest review of year one. The visa I appl…
Visas, jobs, housing or daily life: people on the ground usually answer within a day.
Ask a questionQualified teachers
Clear level structure
Confusing online registration
Large beginner groups
Paid cita previa booking seller, Barcelona· Barcelona
Desperate for a fingerprint appointment for my TIE, I paid 60 euros to a person advertising appointments in an expat group. They booked a slot, but at the wrong police station and for the wrong procedure, so I was turned away. When I asked for help, they stopped replying. Later I learned that reselling public appointments is a problem the authorities are actively tackling. I eventually found my own appointment after checking the official website every morning for 11 days. Save your money, check the official portal early in the day, or use a registered gestor with a real office.
Replied quickly at first
Booked the wrong procedure
No refund