If you’re planning to move to Spain in 2027, now is a good time to turn “one day we’ll live in Spain” into a plan. The move itself is mostly paperwork done in the right order, and most delays come from doing step four before step two.
This checklist takes you from six months out to your first month in Spain. Every figure is sourced and linked, and the amounts quoted are the ones in force in 2026. Rules change, so check the linked pages again before you apply.
Six months before: choose your route
Everything else depends on the legal basis for your stay.
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens don’t need a visa. You register as a resident once you’re in Spain.
- Non-EU citizens need a visa or residence permit that fits their situation. The most common routes are:
- The digital nomad visa, for people working remotely for companies outside Spain. In 2026 the main applicant must show €2,442 a month gross, which is 200% of the 2026 minimum wage (SMI) of €1,221 (Real Decreto 126/2026, BOE; Ministerio de Inclusión). Our digital nomad visa service can help with the application.
- The non-lucrative visa, for retirees and people living on savings or passive income, who can’t work in Spain. The 2026 requirement is €2,400 a month (400% of the IPREM) for the main applicant, plus €600 for each family member (Ministerio de Inclusión; SEPE, IPREM amounts).
- The student visa, if you’re coming to study. Our student visa guide covers the basics.
One route is gone: the investor or “golden” visa. Ley Orgánica 1/2025 abolished it, and since 3 April 2025 new applications aren’t possible (Plataforma ONE). Buying property no longer gives you a right to residence.
Watch the 2027 figures. The digital nomad threshold is linked to the SMI and the non-lucrative one to the IPREM. Both can change for 2027, so confirm the amounts your consulate uses when you apply.
Four to five months before: gather your documents
Visa files are where most time is lost. Typical requests include a valid passport, a criminal record certificate, proof of income or funds, private health insurance and, for some routes, a medical certificate. Many official foreign documents need an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation into Spanish.
Order criminal record certificates and apostilles early, because they have validity windows and can take weeks. If you’d like a second pair of eyes on the file, VisaReady (€99) is our document preparation service for Spanish visa applications.
Three months before: get your NIE and apply
Your NIE number
The NIE is the foreigner identification number you’ll need for almost everything, from a rental contract to a bank account. You apply with form EX-15 and pay the fee with Modelo 790, código 012, which is €9.84 in 2026 (Policía Nacional, fee portal). Our NIE guide walks through each step. If you’re in Alicante and want help with the appointment, we offer NIE appointment booking (€120) or booking with personal assistance (€150).
Submit your visa application
Most visas are applied for at the Spanish consulate for the country where you live legally. Processing times vary by consulate and route, so build in a buffer. Once a visa is granted, you usually have one month to collect it.
Travel rules if you’re visiting first
If you’re planning a scouting trip first, note that the EU’s ETIAS travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers isn’t operating yet, and the EU says it will announce the start date several months before launch (ETIAS, official site).
One to two months before: find a home
Rent is usually the biggest cost. In Alicante, Idealista’s average asking rent was €13.9 per square metre a month in September 2026 (Idealista, 1 October 2026), which works out at about €695 a month for a 50 m2 flat. If you’re thinking of buying, start with finding the perfect home in Spain.
For a long-term lease, budget for the legal deposit of one month’s rent on top of the first month (Ley 29/1994, art. 36, BOE).
Your first month in Spain
Register on the padrón
Register at your address on the padrón municipal as soon as you have one. It’s a legal duty for everyone who lives in a municipality, and you’ll need it for healthcare, schools and many other steps. In Alicante you can register online through the town hall’s Sede Electrónica (you need a digital certificate or electronic DNI) or in person with an appointment (Ayuntamiento de Alicante). If you’d rather not do it yourself, our padrón service costs €150.
Apply for your TIE
If you arrive on a consular residence visa, such as the non-lucrative visa, you must apply in person for your TIE (foreigner identity card) within one month of entering Spain (Ministerio de Inclusión). Digital nomad visa holders don’t need one during the visa’s first year.
Healthcare, bank and driving licence
Once you’re on the padrón, you can apply for your regional health card where you’re entitled to public healthcare. Open a Spanish bank account with your NIE and passport. If your driving licence is from outside the EU and EEA, it’s only valid for six months after you become resident.
If you’d like local help with these first steps, Relocate and Reconnect supports newcomers in Alicante.
Before the end of your first year: tax
Living in Spain for more than 183 days in a calendar year generally makes you a Spanish tax resident, taxed on your worldwide income (Agencia Tributaria). If you’re moving for work, Spain’s special regime for newcomers, often called the Beckham law, may let you pay a flat 24% on work income up to €600,000. You must apply with Modelo 149 within six months of your Social Security start date, so don’t leave it late. The Agencia Tributaria explains who qualifies.
Make it feel like home
Paperwork is only half of moving. The other half is building a life: friends, routines and a sense of belonging. Language exchanges, sport and community events help most. Our Play Pádel. Meet People. sessions (€5) are an easy start.
If you’d like help with the whole move, the Relocation Pack handles a non-lucrative visa application from document preparation, translations and apostilles to padrón registration and TIE appointment booking, and Relocate and Reconnect adds coworking, coliving and our community in Alicante.
FAQ
How far ahead should I start planning a move to Spain in 2027?
Around six months ahead is comfortable for most non-EU visa routes, because documents, apostilles and consulate appointments all take time.
Can I still get a golden visa for Spain?
No. The investor visa was abolished, and new applications haven’t been possible since 3 April 2025.
What’s the first document I need in Spain?
For most people it’s the NIE number, since landlords, banks and many official procedures ask for it.
