Moving to Spain: Step by Step 2026

In short: Moving to Spain is very doable for Germans and Austrians, but the order is what matters. First region and budget, then the NIE early on, followed by your flat, Padrón, bank account and health insurance. If you go about it this way, you save yourself repeat trips and weeks of waiting.

Why is the order so important?

In Spain, one document builds on the next. You need the NIE for your tenancy agreement, bank account and work. You need the tenancy agreement to register at the town hall. And without that registration you get neither a health card nor a school place. If you start with the wrong step, you end up at the same counter twice.

We know every one of these administrative steps from our own experience. The following order is the one that leaves you with the least idle time.

The ten steps in the right order

Each step links to the relevant in-depth article with documents, forms and costs. All amounts: as of October 2026.

1. Decide on region and budget

   First think about how you want to live: city or coast, mainland or island. Then do the maths honestly. Rents vary a lot: in Granada asking rents are 10.8 € per m², in Málaga 16.5 € and in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 14.6 € (Idealista, September 2026). You’ll find the comparison of places under Where in Spain? and the figures for your budget under Cost of living in Spain. Plan savings to cover about six months of living costs, plus deposit and removal.

2. Trial stay

   Rent something in your preferred place for one to three months, ideally once in summer and once in winter. In Seville the average daily maximum temperature in July and August is around 36 °C, while a coastal town can feel deserted in January. For this period you usually sign a seasonal contract (contrato de temporada). The legal deposit there is two months’ rent.

3. Apply for the NIE

   The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your personal number with all Spanish authorities. It comes early because you need it for your tenancy agreement, account and work. You have two routes: before the move via a Spanish consulate in Germany or the Embassy in Vienna, or in Spain at the Policía Nacional with an appointment (cita previa). You need the EX-15 form, passport or ID card, a short explanation and the payment receipt for 9.84 €. The consulates state waiting times of around two to five weeks. The guide is under Applying for the NIE.

4. Rent a flat

   Now you look for your everyday home. Make sure you get a normal residential tenancy agreement and not a seasonal or holiday contract. For residential lets, a deposit of one month’s rent is required by law; many landlords ask for additional guarantees and proof of income. Ask before signing whether you can register at the town hall with this flat. Portals, deposit and pitfalls: Finding a flat in Spain.

5. Registering at the town hall (Padrón)

   With the tenancy agreement you register with your municipality. This is called Empadronamiento, and the register is called the Padrón. You need your passport or ID card, the tenancy agreement and the latest rent receipt. The certificate will later be required by the health centre, the school and many other offices. Here’s how to go about it: Padrón and Empadronamiento.

6. Open a bank account

   A Spanish account makes rent, electricity and social security by direct debit easy. Good to know: there is a statutory basic account that may cost no more than 3 € a month. Set up Bizum straight away, since almost everyone here uses it to pay from phone to phone. Details: Opening a bank account and Bizum.

7. Sort out health insurance

   The route depends on your situation. If you are employed or self-employed in Spain, you enter the public system via social security (Seguridad Social) and then apply for the health card. Pensioners bring the S1 form from their health insurer. If you don’t work and have no S1, you initially need private insurance. The European Health Insurance Card only applies to temporary stays. All routes: Health insurance in Spain.

8. Sort out work and taxes

   Employees are registered with social security by their employer. Self-employed people register with the tax office (Hacienda) and with social security before starting their activity; for new founders there is a reduced starting contribution of 80 € a month for the first twelve months. The four routes to an income are under Working in Spain, and registration under Registering as an Autónomo. You are tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in a calendar year in Spain. Spain does not split the year: you are resident for the whole year or not at all. More on this: Taxes in Spain.

9. Deregistering in your home country

   In Germany you file your Abmeldung (deregistration) no earlier than one week before and no later than two weeks after moving out. In Austria the window is three days before to three days after moving out. You then need the Abmeldebescheinigung (deregistration certificate) for your health insurer, insurance policies and contracts. The full list: Abmeldung in Germany and Austria.

10. Settling into everyday life

    Finally come the things that make life easier. With the digital certificate or Cl@ve you handle official matters online. Your EU driving licence remains valid. If you bring a car, you have to re-register it: generally within 30 days, or within 60 days if you move with a tax exemption (see Car and driving licence). And then: language, neighbours, rhythm. More on this under Everyday life in Spain.

Timeline: when do you do what?

The plan is an example of a move with around a year’s lead time. If you are faster, you push the blocks together. The order stays the same.

To tick things off, there is the moving checklist.

Which documents should you bring?

Many things are a hassle to reorder from Spain. So pack these papers in your hand luggage and save scans of them.

• Passport and ID card (some offices explicitly require the passport)
• Birth certificates, marriage certificate and diplomas or certificates
• Abmeldebescheinigung (deregistration certificate) from Germany or Austria
• S1 form or proof of your health insurance
• Employment contract, payslips or pension notice as proof of income for landlords
• Driving licence and, if the car comes along, vehicle papers with the EU Certificate of Conformity (CoC)

For foreign documents, Spanish authorities may require an apostille and a sworn translation. Ask the relevant office before you spend money on translations.

Which mistakes cost the most time?

Most delays are not caused by the authorities but by the wrong order or the wrong document.

• NIE too late: without the number everything else stalls. Apply for it before the move or in the first week.
• Wrong tenancy agreement: with a holiday or seasonal contract many town halls refuse registration.
• Overlooking the 183 days: tax liability depends on your actual stay, not on your deregistration.
• Holiday card as a permanent solution: the European Health Insurance Card only covers necessary treatment during a temporary stay.
• Buying appointments: official appointments are free. The police are cracking down on the trade in appointments.

Checklist to tick off

All steps as a list. Your progress is saved in this browser.

Frequently asked questions