Spain/Arrival

Practical information on getting legal documents and daily necessities.

Communication

Cell phones & SIM cards

• How does one buy/access SIM cards?

• Are there providers that are particularly easy/cheap/work well for international folks (e.g. that don't yet require a local bank account/address,…)

• What's the format of phone numbers / how do phone numbers work

Transport/Travel

• How does one move around in the country?

• How does public transport work?

• Renting a car/driving?

Public Transport

• How does one buy tickets?

• Are there national/local passes

• Any gotchas?

Driving

• how to drive

• Is driving neccessary?

• how to rent/buy a car

• are US licenses accepted? for how long? etc

Biking

• is there a biking for transport culture?

• how to buy/rent a bike

• how to bike safely

Money

• How to open a bank account:

• Norms around paying cash/card

• are checks a thing?

• how to wire money (USians are not used to wire transfers)

Shopping for necessities (groceries etc)

• types of shops

• opening hours

• how to pay in them

• where to find products one might be used to from the US

Housing

• Where to look for places to rent/buy (websites, agents, ..)

• What documents will I need?

• What to look out for (scams, best practices)

• What are renter protections in the country?

• What are the costs of estate agents, needed money for deposits, etc.

Utilities

• how does one get/pay for water/electricity/internet…

Documentation

Once you secure a visa/permit to enter Spain, there are several identity numbers and documents you'll need. Which documents you get and the order in which you're able to obtain these depends on how you enter Spain.

Here's a summary of what each document gets you:

• NIE: Mostly for tax purposes but can act as an ID on many gov and business forms
• Digital Certificate: This crazy thing lets you log into government websites
• Empadronamiento: Reigistration with the town hall that unlocks government services like health care, library card, etc.
• TIE: Official ID and travel in/out of Spain
• NUSS: Social security (pension, welfare, healthcare)
• Vida Laboral: Proof of employment history in Spain, some landlords require it
• TSI: ID card for access to public healthcare
• EHIC: European Health Insurance Card, giving you access to healthcare in any EU country

NIE

A Número de Identificación de Extranjero (NIE) is an ID number assigned to a foreigner. You receive this number when your non-tourist visa, such as a residence or work permit, is approved. It can also be obtained when buying real estate or conducting business in Spain.

Digital Certificate / Cl@ve

You will notice many government websites require a digital certificate to log in. The idea sounds cool - use existing computer operating system and internet browser technologies to seamlessly prove identity. But in practice it's extremely confusing.

There are services like Cl@ve that attempt to create an easier alternative to the digital certificate by offering a username/password + SMS 2FA login. However, redditors claim a digital certificate enables access to more services. (Aster: and it seems to be true, adding a beneficiary to social security via the web doesn't seem to be possible without a digital certificate)

All told, your certificate is just a file containing an SSL certificate signed by the Spanish mint. The way you obtain it is by downloading the Certificado Digital app, proving your identity, and downloading the file from the app onto your computer.

If you already have your TIE, you can simply tap your card on your phone when the app asks you to. If you don't have a TIE yet, you can use the app to generate a request for an in-person identity verification at any Agència Tributària (tax agency) office. They will give you a number to enter into the app that allows you to download the certificate.

Empadronamiento

Known as the "padron" for short, this is your registration of residence with your local town hall. This assigns your local Centre d'Atenció Primària (CAP - the public "urgent care" facility), schools, and other services.

This document is required if you are staying in Spain longer than 180 days.

Documents needed:

In theory, you need your NIE, your passport, proof that you live at an address, and proof that the address actually exists. In contributor Aster's experience at a Barcelona town hall, only her passport and proof that she lived at her address were required.

For proof that you live at an address, they will accept a lease with your name + signature on it. For proof of a valid address, they would ask for a utility bill (which can be in your landlord's name).

TIE

If you are staying in Spain longer than 6 months, The Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) proves your legal residence in Spain and allows you to travel in and out of the country without needing a Schengen visa attached to your passport. The TIE will show your residency status and NIE. For all the details, see the Reddit TIE guide

You have to register for two appointments with the CNP (Cuerpo de Policía Nacional) at a station in the province where you live.

Fingerprinting Appointment

The first appointment involves proving you paid your taxes and taking your fingerprints. It's extremely difficult to find appointments, so expect weeks of searching and times that are only available weeks in the future. In fact, demand is so high that many folks opt to hire gestors who either use automated bots to schedule appointments or bribe officials to get appointments. It's an unfortunate situation where paying money gets you access.

A requirement for your TIE is paying the tax. You have to fill out a form online and a PDF with a unique barcode is generated. You then need to go to an ATM and initiate a payment. It will require you to scan the barcode or type in the number and your NIE. Once paid, you will get a receipt. DON'T LOSE THIS.

Documents Needed:

• Form EX-17 or MI-TIE (depending on visa type), signed (original and copy)
• Paid tax form - Tasa modelo 790 Código 012, signed (original and copy)
• Receit from paid tax (original and copy)
• Photo for your ID - be aware that you need a 32x26mm photo which is smaller than the common passport photo size. May Foto stores in Spain offer this photo service.
• Original passport and full copy (including your entry stamp into Spain/Schengen area)

Note: as of 2025, an Empadronamiento is no longer required, verified by contributor Aster's lawyers.

Card Appointment

You'll be notified when your card is ready and you'll have 40+ days to collect it. You need to schedule another appointment for this but they are much easier to get than the first.

NUSS

A Número de la Seguridad Social (NUSS) is assigned to anyone who can access the social security (healthcare, retirement, unemployment, etc) system. If you are on a student or work permit you will be granted access. You are required to provide your NUSS to any Spanish employer.

Once you have a NIE you can use that number and your passport to sign up for your NUSS here. You'll need to download the TA1 form, fill it out, sign it in ink, scan, and upload the form when you apply online.

Since the NUSS controls access to healthcare, any family members who also need access need to be added as beneficiaries of the one who is employed. To do this online you'll need to install the clunky Autofirma app. Aster had luck with providing her digital certificate file to the app. It was unable to read certificates from the system keychain or from her browser.

Vida Laboral

If you are employed by a Spanish company or organization, your employer will register your job in the social security system. Since the government tracks this, they can provide your full official job history report. You can log into the social security webiste (requires a Digital Certificate or Cl@ve) to download this document any time.

Some landlords require a Vida Laboral as part of the lease application process.

TSI

A Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual (TSI) is your health card which gives you access to the public health care system. You can get this card if you are enrolled in social security (which for foreigners means you are a student or have an employment contract with a Spanish company). If you aren't enrolled in social security you'll need private health insurance.

In order to get this card you need to register with your town hall (see Empadronamiento above). You can then apply for the card online.

Daily Necessities

• Hardware: Ferreteria, Bauhaus
• Closest thing to a Super Target: Carrefour
• Appliances: Calbet
• Department store: Corte Ingles
• Dollar store/odds and ends: Anything called "Bazaar"

Accessing Healthcare

There are 4 levels of healthcare in Spain:

• Farmacias offer OTC and prescription meds, as well as informal advice for minor maladies.
• Centre d'Atenció Primària (CAP) is for non-emergency visits.
• Hospitals provide emergency rooms.
• Specialists provide specialist consultations.

Farmacia

These are located on nearly every block in large cities. They do not, however, provide any traditional or herbal medicines.

CAP

These are very efficient public health centers. You check in at the front desk and tell them what is troubling you. They will assign you a room to visit at a certain time (could be just a 15min wait on a slow day). When the doctor is ready they will open the door and call for you. The doctor can then recommend a specialist, provide prescriptions, and post a notification to your employer (if employed by a Spanish company) to excuse your absence.

If you have social security (public health insurance) these visits are free. If you have private insurance you will pay a small fee.

In Catalonia, on your first visit, they will initiate the registration for web/mobile access to the patient portal, La Meva Salut.

Hospitals

Aster's coworker mentioned that going to the emergency room with private insurance is not something that will have astronomical costs like in the US.

Specialists

Some specialists work for the public system but waiting times to see them can be longer than seeing a private specialist. Some private clinics include Barnaclinic and Privaclinic.