Moving to Spain: your relocation checklist
How to move to Spain: the visa and residency routes, cost of living, banking, healthcare and taxes you'll deal with, organized by phase. Generate a free plan tailored to your passport, family, and budget below.
Consumer prices run about 8% below the EU average, the average advertised salary is about €46,256 a year and English proficiency is rated “moderate” (EF EPI).
Moving from the United States? See the Spain from the USA guide.
Budgeting the move? See the cost of living in Spain.
Spain at a glance
Live and regularly refreshed data, each fact with its source.
Climate · Madrid
Jan 7° · Jul 28°
Open-Meteo
Air quality · Madrid
AQI 93 · Moderate
WAQI
Prices vs EU average
−8%
Eurostat 2025
Internet
~200 Mbps median
Ookla
Messengers
No known issues
OONI, 6 months to July 2026
Foreign-born residents
18.5% of population
World Bank 2024
Population
49.4M
World Bank 2025
Population density
97 / km²
World Bank 2023
Unemployment
10.4%
World Bank 2025
Avg advertised salary
€46,256 / yr
Adzuna, June 2026
English proficiency
moderate
EF EPI
Safety advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
U.S. State Dept
Currency
EUR
ISO 4217
Timezone
UTC+2
Open-Meteo
Beckham regime
24% flat tax on Spanish employment income up to ~€600k · 6 years
For people who move to Spain for work (including digital-nomad-visa holders); apply within 6 months of registering with social security.
Verified June 2026 · Agencia Tributaria
Getting set up in Spain: key steps & official resources
The main immigration, tax, healthcare and housing bodies you'll deal with, with the official portals and typical costs. Curated and hand-verified — last reviewed June 2026. Figures are approximate; always confirm the current numbers on the official site.
- Foreigner ID number is the NIE; residence card is the TIE, handled via Extranjería / Oficina de Extranjeros (www.inclusion.gob.es) and Policía Nacional.
- You must register your address (empadronamiento / padrón) at the local Ayuntamiento — it's needed for many other procedures.
- Tax authority is the Agencia Tributaria / AEAT (sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es); public healthcare and social security run through the Seguridad Social (www.seg-social.es) with a tarjeta sanitaria.
- Spain launched a Digital Nomad Visa under the 2023 Startups Law. Main housing portals: Idealista (www.idealista.com), Fotocasa (www.fotocasa.es). Emergency number is 112.
- Key figures (approximate — verify current values): the Digital Nomad Visa requires income around 200% of the SMI (~€2,700–2,800/month); the NIE application fee (form/tasa 790-012) is roughly €10–17; rental deposits are legally 1 month (fianza) but landlords often ask 1–2 months extra guarantee; empadronamiento at the Ayuntamiento is free.
The Spain relocation checklist at a glance
1Before you go
- Confirm which visa or residency route fits your situation
- Gather and, where needed, apostille/translate key documents
- Sort out international health insurance for the gap period
- Budget the move and notify your bank of the relocation
2First week
- Register your address with the local authority
- Get a local SIM / mobile number
- Start the local bank account application
- Locate the nearest clinic and pharmacy
3First month
- Complete residency registration and get your ID number
- Enroll in the healthcare system or private insurance
- Set up utilities and a long-term rental contract
- Understand your tax residency obligations
4First 90 days
- Exchange or apply for a local driving license if required
- Build a local support network and language basics
- Review and optimize banking, taxes, and insurance
- Handle school enrollment or childcare if you have kids
This is a general outline. Your personalized plan above adapts every step to where you're moving from, your visa status, and your situation. Always verify official requirements: this is not legal or immigration advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to move to Spain?
It depends on your passport and why you are moving: tourist entry rules are different from working, studying or joining family. Generate a free plan above and we check the visa route for your exact passport and situation, using a 238-country visa matrix.
Does Spain have a special tax regime for newcomers?
Yes: Beckham regime. 24% flat tax on Spanish employment income up to ~€600k · 6 years. For people who move to Spain for work (including digital-nomad-visa holders); apply within 6 months of registering with social security. Status: active, verified June 2026 against Agencia Tributaria.
What is the weather like in Spain?
In Madrid, average daily temperatures run about Jan 7° · Jul 28° (Open-Meteo historical data, 2025). Regional climates can differ a lot; a city-level plan uses data for your exact destination city.
Can I use WhatsApp and Telegram in Spain?
Network measurements over the last six months show Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal, Facebook Messenger working normally in Spain (OONI, 5 January 2026 to 7 July 2026). This reflects measured reachability, not an official policy statement.
What do jobs pay in Spain?
The average advertised salary is about €46,256 a year (Adzuna job listings, June 2026). For a benchmark role like software engineer, the median advertised band starts around €70,000. Advertised salaries skew toward roles that are posted online, so treat this as a signal, not a guarantee.
How high are taxes on salaries in Spain?
The OECD tax wedge is about 41% (2025): that is the share of what a job costs an employer that goes to income tax and social contributions for a single average worker. It is not your personal income-tax rate, but it is the honest way to compare countries.
How current is this data?
Climate, inflation and life expectancy were refreshed 12 July 2026; prices, taxes and air quality 7 July 2026; messenger reachability 7 July 2026. Tax regimes are hand-verified against official government sources. Every fact on this page shows its source.