First month in Spain: the correct order for all the paperwork
You've made it to Spain. You've got your flight paid for, your bags packed, and if you're lucky, a place to sleep already lined up. Now comes the hard part: figuring out which step goes first.
The Spanish system works like a chain of links. The first one unlocks the second, the second unlocks the third. If you try to start at the fourth, the bank asks for the first, Social Security asks for the second, and you end up going in circles for weeks without making any progress.
The first link is always the empadronamiento (local registration). Without it, nothing works.
The mistake most newcomers make
The most common trap: going to the bank before registering your address. Or trying to get your health card without having stopped by the town hall first. Or paying a gestor to get your NIE without having a registered address.
The result is always the same. They ask for the volante de empadronamiento (proof of registration) you don't have, you go home empty-handed, and you lose days.
What nobody tells you: registering your address is free. You can do it within your first three days of arriving. And you don't need a rental contract in your name — a signed declaration from the landlord confirming you live there is enough.
Step 1: Empadronamiento (address registration) — days 1 to 3
Cost: €0. Where: your local town hall (Ayuntamiento) or a citizen services office.
The empadronamiento is the official record that you live at a given address. It's the document that the rest of the Spanish system will ask you for almost everything you do this month.
What you need to bring:
- Your passport or national identity document
- Proof of your address: rental contract, property deed, or a signed declaration from the landlord
If you're staying with a family member or friend who is already registered at that address, they can authorize you by signing a simple declaration. The town hall cannot refuse your registration if you bring that declaration.
You'll receive the volante de empadronamiento the same day or within a few days. Keep it safe. You'll need it for every step that follows.
Step 2: NIE or TIE depending on your nationality — weeks 1 and 2
This step depends on where you're from:
| If you're an EU citizen | If you're a non-EU citizen |
|---|---|
| You need the EU Citizen Registration Certificate (known as the green NIE). Cost: €9.84. You apply for it at the police station or the Oficina de Extranjería. | If you arrive with a visa or residence permit, you need the TIE (Foreigner Identity Card). First time: €16.08. You apply at the Oficina de Extranjería within 30 days of arriving. |
For both steps, the volante de empadronamiento is required. That's why it comes first.
Critical deadline if you're from outside the EU: you have 30 days from entering Spain with a visa to apply for your TIE. Miss that window and you could face a fine. Book your appointment at Extranjería the same day you arrive — in Madrid and Barcelona, wait times can stretch to weeks.
Step 3: Social Security number — weeks 2 or 3
Cost: €0. Where: the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS) in your province, or online with a digital certificate.
Your Social Security number (NUSS) is what identifies you in the Spanish employment system. You need it before signing any work contract. Without it, your employer can't register you.
What you need to bring:
- Passport or identity document
- NIE or TIE from the previous step
- Volante de empadronamiento
You fill out form TA.1 at the TGSS. In most cases, they give you the number the same day.
Step 4: Bank account — weeks 2 to 4
Opening an account at a Spanish bank almost always requires:
- Passport or NIE
- Volante de empadronamiento
- At some banks: proof of income or a work contract
If you don't have a contract yet, neo-digital banks (Revolut, Wise, N26) are more flexible and open accounts with just your passport. Use them as a bridge while you sort out your traditional Spanish bank account.
A Spanish bank account is essential for receiving your paycheck, setting up direct debits, and collecting public benefits. Without one, many employers simply can't pay you. Get it sorted before the end of your first month.
Step 5: Health card — weeks 3 or 4
Cost: €0. Where: the nearest health centre to your registered address.
The health card — called SIP in the Valencia region, CIP in Catalonia, or tarjeta sanitaria individual everywhere else — gives you access to Spain's public healthcare system.
What you need:
- Passport or NIE
- Volante de empadronamiento
- Social Security number (if you're working or making contributions)
When you register, they assign you a GP. From there, you can book appointments, access emergency care at no cost, and be referred to specialists.
Your first month at a glance
| When | Step | Cost | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Address registration (empadronamiento) | €0 | Town hall |
| Weeks 1–2 | Green NIE (EU) or TIE (non-EU) | €9.84 or €16.08 | Police station / Extranjería |
| Weeks 2–3 | Social Security number | €0 | TGSS |
| Weeks 2–4 | Bank account | €0 | Bank or neo-digital |
| Weeks 3–4 | Health card |