Moving to Spain for a tech job means a few rounds of paperwork. Most of it is simple once you know the order. This checklist covers what to do before you move, in your first weeks, and in your first six months.
Spanish offices often need an appointment (cita previa), booked online. Book early, because slots can go fast in big cities.
Before you move
- Sort out your right to work. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens don’t need a work permit (Real Decreto 240/2007). Everyone else needs one before starting work. For most tech jobs that is the EU Blue Card or the Highly Qualified Professional permit. See our work visa guide.
- Collect your documents. Keep your passport, degree certificates, employment contract, birth or marriage certificates (if family is coming) and a criminal record certificate together. Some documents must be translated into Spanish. The Spanish consulate in Washington, for example, asks for a Spanish translation of documents in other languages. Ask your consulate whether yours also need legalisation or an apostille.
- Arrange health insurance if your permit needs it. Permits under Ley 14/2013 require public health cover or private health insurance with an insurer authorised in Spain (article 62.3).
- Book temporary housing. A few weeks in a short-term rental gives you time to visit flats in person.
- Ask your employer what they handle. Some employers pay for relocation help, temporary housing or an immigration lawyer. Jobs on our board show relocation support where the employer offers it. Browse jobs you can apply for from abroad.
First weeks in Spain
1. Get your NIE and ID card
The NIE (número de identidad de extranjero) is your foreigner identity number. You use it for almost everything: your job, bank, tax and rental contract. For foreigners, the NIE also works as your tax ID (NIF) (Real Decreto 1065/2007, article 20).
- Non-EU citizens: you usually get an NIE with your permit. If your permit lasts more than six months, you also need a TIE (tarjeta de identidad de extranjero), your residence card. Apply in person at a police station, normally within one month of arriving or of your permit being granted (Real Decreto 1155/2024; Ley 14/2013, article 76.2). Check the exact deadline in your decision letter.
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: if you stay more than three months, register within three months of arriving at the foreigners’ office (oficina de extranjería) or police station in your province. You get a registration certificate on the spot, showing your NIE (Real Decreto 240/2007, article 7).
2. Register at the town hall (empadronamiento)
- Everyone living in Spain must register on the padrón (the local population register) of the town where they usually live (Ley 7/1985, article 15).
You do this at your town hall (ayuntamiento). Bring your passport or ID and proof of address, such as your rental contract; each town hall lists the documents it accepts. You will often be asked for a padrón certificate (certificado de empadronamiento) in other procedures, so register as soon as you have an address.
3. Social Security
- Your employer must register you with Social Security (afiliación and alta) when you join (General Social Security Law, article 139). Ask HR for your Social Security number and a copy of your registration.
- If your permit comes under Ley 14/2013 (for example the HQP permit or Blue Card), your passport is enough to register with Social Security during your first six months if you don’t have an NIE yet (article 76.5).
Note the start date on your Social Security registration. It starts the clock for the Beckham Law deadline (see below).
4. Open a bank account
- Anyone legally resident in the EU has the right to open a basic payment account (cuenta de pago básica) with a Spanish bank that offers payment accounts, even without a fixed address (Real Decreto-ley 19/2017, article 3).
Banks must check your identity. Bring your passport and your NIE if you have it. Your employer will need your IBAN for your salary.
5. Healthcare
- Foreigners legally and habitually resident in Spain have the right to public healthcare, unless they have to be covered another way (Ley 16/2003, article 3).
Healthcare is run by each region. Once you are registered, apply to your regional health service for a health card (tarjeta sanitaria) and pick a local health centre. Some employers also offer private health insurance as a benefit. Check your contract.
6. Get a digital certificate
- A digital certificate lets you do most government paperwork online, including tax and Social Security. The Spanish mint (FNMT) issues certificates free of charge to anyone with a DNI or NIE (FNMT). You confirm your identity in person at a registration office, or use the video identification option. Check the FNMT page for current options and prices.
Renting a flat
Long-term rentals of a main home follow the Urban Leases Act (Ley 29/1994). Key points:
- Deposit: the legal deposit (fianza) is one month’s rent (article 36). Landlords can ask for an extra guarantee, but for contracts of up to five years (seven if the landlord is a company) it can’t be more than two months’ rent.
- Agency fees: the costs of property management and of drawing up the contract are paid by the landlord, not the tenant (article 20).
- Length: if the contract is shorter than five years (seven if the landlord is a company), it renews every year until it reaches that length, unless you give at least 30 days’ notice that you want to leave (article 9).
Short-term and furnished “seasonal” rentals follow different rules. Read the contract carefully before you sign. Our Madrid cost of living guide covers what to budget.
First six months
- Decide on the Beckham Law. If you moved for work and weren’t a Spanish tax resident in the last five years, you may be able to pay a flat 24% income tax on salary up to €600,000. You must opt in within six months of the start date on your Social Security registration (IRPF regulation, article 116). Our tax guide explains who qualifies and how to apply.
- Give your employer your personal details for tax. This helps them withhold the right amount of tax from your salary.
- Bring your family. Family members of HQP and Blue Card holders can apply with you or later (Ley 14/2013, article 62.4).
- Learn some Spanish. You don’t need it for many tech jobs, but it makes paperwork and daily life easier. See how to get a tech job in Spain without Spanish.
Quick reference
| Task | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit (non-EU) | UGE / Spanish consulate | Before you start work |
| TIE (non-EU) | Police station | Usually within one month |
| EU registration certificate | Foreigners’ office or police | Within three months |
| Padrón | Town hall | As soon as you have an address |
| Social Security | Employer | When you start |
| Bank account | Any bank | First weeks |
| Health card | Regional health service | After registration |
| Beckham Law (form 149) | Agencia Tributaria | Within six months of Social Security start date |
Still looking for a job? Browse visa sponsorship jobs or jobs in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Málaga.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the NIE and the TIE?
The NIE is your foreigner identity number, used for your job, bank, tax and rental contract; it also works as your tax ID. The TIE is your physical residence card. Non-EU citizens whose permit lasts more than six months apply for it in person at a police station, normally within one month.
Do I have to register on the padrón in Spain?
Yes. Everyone living in Spain must register on the padrón of the town where they usually live. Go to your town hall with your passport or ID and proof of address, such as your rental contract. Other procedures often ask for a padrón certificate, so register as soon as you have an address.
How long do EU citizens have to register in Spain?
If you stay more than three months, register within three months of arriving, at the foreigners’ office or police station in your province. You get a registration certificate on the spot, showing your NIE. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens don’t need a work permit to take a job in Spain.
Can my employer register me with Social Security before I have an NIE?
If your permit comes under Ley 14/2013, such as the HQP permit or Blue Card, yes: your passport is enough to register during your first six months. Your employer must register you when you join. Note the start date on your registration, because it starts the six-month clock for the Beckham Law.
Can I open a bank account in Spain without a fixed address?
Yes. Anyone legally resident in the EU has the right to a basic payment account (cuenta de pago básica) with a Spanish bank that offers payment accounts, even without a fixed address. The bank must check your identity, so bring your passport and your NIE if you have it.
How long is a rental contract in Spain?
For a main home, if the contract is shorter than five years (seven if the landlord is a company), it renews every year until it reaches that length, unless you give at least 30 days’ notice that you want to leave. The deposit is one month’s rent, and agency fees are paid by the landlord.
This checklist is general information, not legal advice. Procedures vary by region and city, so check with the office that handles your case.