How to Move to Spain [2025 Edition]

So you wanna move to Spain, huh? Join the club. You’re gonna love it!

I’ve been living in Spain since February 2019 and I’ve since fallen in love with this incredible country. From the vibrant culture and relaxed way of living to the stunning landscapes and world-renowned cuisine, Spain has got it all.

But I’ll admit: Between getting my visa denied (and later approved)… to dealing with all of the bureaucracy (and paperwork)…. to finding a place to live… getting my permanent residency wasn’t a cakewalk. And I had to figure a lot of stuff out on my own. The hard way.

So in this guide, I’m going to outline the steps you need to take to move to Spain – and everything that I learned along the way. Hope it helps!

But first…

Are you sure you really want to move to Spain?

Before you respond “well, DUH,” lemme explain….

I’m asking that because I know it’s easy to idealize a country from afar and then when you get there, realize that maybe it’s not as perfect as you imagined.

No country is perfect obviously. But you need to determine what’s important to you and what you’re able to live without.

What drew me to Spain more than anything was the relaxed way of living and work/life balance. Before the consulate general of New York approved my visa (more on that whole ordeal in a bit), he asked me “why do you want to move to Spain?”

My response?

“Because in Spain, people don’t live to work. They work to live.”

Here, most people work the bare minimum that they have to – and spend the rest of their time enjoying life.

Long lunch breaks, 3-hour siestas and street parties are the norm in Spain. Even in major cities like Madrid and Barcelona.

Here are a few more reasons why I love living here:

The delicious food and wine (and the fact that eating out is surprisingly affordable!)
The sunny year-round weather (well, in most parts of Spain)
The rich history and culture
The stunning natural beauty, from hidden calas (coves) and white-sand beaches to beautiful mountains
The universal healthcare system (for a small monthly fee, ALL of your healthcare costs are covered – except for medications)

But life in Spain isn’t always perfect.

Here are some things to know before you make the move:

1. Spanish salaries are no bueno

If you want to move to Spain, I highly recommend either running your own freelance business (like me) or working remotely for a US-based company – because Spanish salaries are not good and the unemployment rate is 12.29% (as of early 2024).

Minimum wage (as of 2024) is €1,134 ($1,214 USD) and the cost of housing has skyrocketed in the last few years since COVID.

Most people can’t afford to live on their own since the rents are so high (at least in major cities like Barcelona and Madrid), so they have to have flatmates. If you’re comparing to a city like New York or San Francisco, then yeah, Barcelona and Madrid are cheap. But they aren’t as affordable as they might seem at first glance, especially when you factor in salaries.

So that’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning on working in Spain. If not, keep reading…

2. Apartments are old and poorly insulated

I’ve lived in about ten (?) apartments in Barcelona over the years, and most of them have had thin walls and poor insulation.

(Fun fact: Someone once told me the Spanish designed them this way intentionally to drive up electricity bills.)

The majority of apartments in Spain (or at least Barcelona) don’t have AC or heating either. That, combined with the poor insulation, means they tend to get unbearably hot and stuffy in the summer (which makes it hard to sleep).

Meanwhile, the winters are coooold. To stay warm, I stay bundled up in a sweatshirt and fuzzy socks and cling to a hot water bottle most of the time. I’ve adapted – but I definitely long for the days when I had central heating and air (and life indoors felt a bit more comfortable!).

Poorly insulated apartments also mean that the walls and doors tend to be paper thin so you can hear just about everything outside. And in noisy cities like Barcelona, that’s not ideal. I’ve lived in apartments where I could hear everything from the streets (including conversations). So I had to sleep with ear plugs, a noise machine and a fan – and I would still sometimes be woken up at 2AM by drunk tourists screaming on the street. Not ideal.

If you want a nice, modern, well insulated apartment (with heating and AC), then you can expect to pay a lot more for it (both in rent and the electricity bill).

3. Bureaucracy is a pain

For example…

Getting a cita previa (appointment) for residency can take ages. The main online appointment system shows no time slots available 95% of the time. When a time slot becomes available and you click it, it often disappears. So you have to keep trying until you finally luck out (or pay someone – or a bot- to do it for you).

There are a lot of hair-pulling moments when it comes to getting your documents in order. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

4. Taxes are high

At least compared to the US. So be prepared to give up a lot of your salary to la hacienda (aka tax collectors). Good news is that you know your tax dollars are actually going somewhere (funding healthcare, education, safety etc).

Still convinced that you wanna move to Spain? Ok, let’s dive into things.

1. Determine where you want to live in Spain (and why)

Do you want to live in a big city like Barcelona or Madrid? A smaller coastal town or one in the mountains?

I chose Barcelona because I wanted to be in a bigger city but one that was close to the mountains and sea. I loved Barcelona’s cosmopolitan vibe and its proximity to beautiful beaches (Costa Brava, I’m talkin’ to you!) and medieval mountain towns.

(BTW, if you’re thinking about living in Barcelona, here are some things to know.)

But I considered Madrid for other reasons – people are supposed to be more open and friendly and there’s more of a Spanish culture (which is quite distinct from the Catalan culture in Barcelona). While Madrid doesn’t have the beach, there are some beautiful medieval towns to visit close by (like Segovia, Avila and Toledo).

If you prefer a smaller, more laid-back coastal city, then you might want to consider Valencia or Malaga. They used to be known for being very affordable but the cost of living (or at least housing) has increased a LOT in both cities over the last few years. All the same, they’re still cheaper than Madrid and Barcelona.

If you’re a nature-lover, then you could consider a place in the Canarias like Tenerife or Gran Canaries (a digital nomad hotspot). The cost of living is much cheaper there as well, but take into account that the islands are much further from mainland Europe so if you want to travel, it will be more of a hassle.

There’s also Mallorca, an island known for its breathtaking beaches and calas, dramatic cliffs and picturesque villages.

Here are a few other popular spots in Spain that you might want to consider:

San Sebastián: Small coastal city with stunning beaches and world-class dining. Great for foodies and nature lovers, but it can be pricey.
Sevilla: A vibrant, culturally rich city with flamenco, lots of history, and sunny weather. It’s affordable compared to other major cities, has a lively social scene, and offers a mix of modern and traditional lifestyles. Summers can be very hot.
Alicante: A coastal city with a relaxed Mediterranean vibe, known for its beaches and mild climate. It’s affordable, has good public transport, and a growing expat community. Ideal for those seeking a mix of city life and seaside tranquility.
Granada: A historic and scenic city nestled near the Sierra Nevada mountains. Affordable living with free tapas culture (you get one free tapas with every drink you order) and a large student population. It’s ideal for those who love history, nature, and a laid-back lifestyle.
Cadiz: Ancient port city with a relaxed atmosphere and strong maritime culture. Affordable with great beaches and a vibrant carnival scene. It’s smaller and quieter than major cities.
Tarifa: A small, laid-back town at the southernmost tip of Spain, known as a kiteboarding and windsurfing paradise. It offers a relaxed, bohemian lifestyle with stunning beaches and views of Morocco. Life here is quiet and affordable, but the strong winds may not appeal to everyone. Great for outdoor lovers and those seeking a slower pace of life.

And those places are just scratching the surface! If you’re unsure (or want to get more ideas), I would browse Reddit threads like r/GoingtoSpain to get some feedback from people.

2. Plan out your budget

Once you have an idea of where you want to live, you can start planning out your budget. Barcelona and Madrid are two of the most expensive cities in Spain, so keep that in mind if you want to live there.

To give you an idea…

As of December 2024, you can expect to pay at least 1000 euros for a studio in Barcelona. And that’s if you don’t mind living in an old apartment in a less desirable neighborhood. Whereas if you live in a small town like Tarifa (in the south of Spain), 700 euros will get you a nice, modern one-bedroom apartment. You can check out a site like Idealista to get an idea of the prices of accommodation.

In Barcelona, landlords often require two months of rent for deposit, PLUS one month of agency fees and the first month of rent. So you’ll have to put down 3-4 months of rent for an apartment. Unless you rent a bedroom in a shared flat of course, in which case you can expect to put down one month’s deposit and one month’s rent.

When I first moved to Barcelona in 2019, I was paying 500 euros per month for a nice bedroom in a shared flat. Now, I’m seeing prices closer to 700-800 euros per month. The housing crisis is out of control in Barcelona and that’s one of the reasons why I’m considering moving.

Groceries, on the other hand, are pretty affordable in Spain (yup, even Barcelona). I spend a lot on groceries but that’s because I try to shop mostly organic. If that’s you, then you can expect to spend around 100-150 euros per week on groceries. Otherwise, you should budget at least 50 euros a week on groceries.

Eating out is also affordable and will set you back anywhere from 10 euros to 50 euros a person per meal, depending on where you go. I highly recommend taking advantage of the menu del dia, which is the lunch menu many restaurants have during weekdays. You can get an appetizer, main dish, dessert and drink for 15-17 euros per person (sometimes even less).

3. Research Spanish visa requirements

In case you’re not sure what visa you want to apply for, here’s a brief overview of the long-term visas you can apply for (thanks ChatGPT lol):

Student Visa: If you’re enrolled in a Spanish school (can include a language school)
Work Visa
- Highly Skilled Professional Visa: If you have a job offer from a company
- Entrepreneur Visa: If you’re planning to start a business in Spain
- Self-Employed (Autónomo) Visa: If you’re a freelancer or entrepreneur starting your own business
Non-Lucrative Visa: If you can support yourself financially without working for a Spanish company
Family Reunification Visa: If you have relatives legally residing in Spain
Digital Nomad Visa: If you’re a remote worker employed by a non-Spanish company
Working Holiday Visa: Available to young adults from specific countries, this permits travel and short-term employment. Eligibility and availability depend on bilateral agreements.

After five years, you can apply for permanent residency. Just make sure you fully understand the eligibility requirements (which seem to be always changing — but from what I understand, you can’t spend more than 10 months outside of Spain within the five-year period).

Once you get your permanent residency, you can leave Spain for up to 12 months at a time — but you must stay in Spain 2.5 out of 5 years.

But back to the visas…

The digital nomad visa is the most popular option for remote workers these days. You can apply for the visa in the US or in Spain — but if you apply in the US, your visa will only be valid for one year. Whereas if you apply in Spain, you can get 3 years.

I had the non-lucrative visa (until I became a permanent resident). This was before the digital nomad visa was even available. The non-lucrative visa requires you to have at least 400% of the IPREM in savings and/or investments. As of 2024, this equals approximately €28,800.

When I applied, I only had $5,000 in savings. BUT I had consistent income from my remote job which my lawyer had said would be enough. Well, it wasn’t. My visa was rejected and I had to appeal.

My family members transferred me the money I needed to show, and while the consulate raised a few eyebrows, my visa application was approved in the end.

That said, remote workers are now reportedly excluded from applying for the non-lucrative visa.

If you apply, make sure you have the amount they require in savings (around 28,800 euros as of 2024). Or at least in savings and stocks combined.

If there’s anything I’ve learned after living in Spain, it’s that a) lawyers don’t know everything. And b) nothing is black and white. What works for one person might not work for you. You might not check all the boxes but get lucky and the person reviewing your application is in a good mood that day so your visa gets approved. Or… the opposite could happen.

Before I applied for my permanent residency, I spoke with five different lawyers, who all told me that my residency would likely be rejected because I didn’t meet the requirements.

But then I spoke with another lawyer (who I had used in the past and liked) and she told me that it *would* be approved. Well… she was right! To my surprise, my permanent residency was approved in April of 2024.

Psst: Want to move to Spain but don’t have a source of income?

You might want to consider becoming a nomad copywriter (like moi). Or check out this list of digital nomad career options.

4. Get private health insurance

At least for the visa I had (non lucrative), you’ll have to get private health insurance *before* you apply for your visa.

If you live in Spain, you’ll be able to access the public healthcare system as well (but if you don’t work in Spain and contribute to social security, then you’ll have to pay a fee each month to get access). The medical care at public hospitals tends to be better than private hospitals. The downside is that there is often a long wait to access specialists.

Private health insurance, on the other hand, will give you access to specialists quickly and without having to go through a GP.

There are a bunch of healthcare companies to choose from. I recommend Sanitas because they have a very easy-to-use app with telehealth visits and they provide coverage outside of Spain (up to $30,000 for emergency visits in the USA). They also allow for monthly payments (which isn’t the case with every health insurance company).

I’m paying 78 euros per month (78.31 to be exact) and that covers me for *everything* (except for medication). So all doctor appointments, hospital visits, surgery and procedures are covered.

My plan includes 6 doctor visits per year with no copay. For visits 7-10, the copay is 4 euros per visit. Visits 11-15 have a copay of 7 euros each. And after 15 visits, the cost is 10 euros per visit.

For the last two years, I had DKV Seguros, which also had pretty good coverage. With DKV, *all* of my visits were covered (no copay at all). The downside is I believe you have to pay everything at once (they don’t allow monthly payments).

I once visited the eye doctor when I was in the US and had to pay $350 out of pocket for the appointment. It took some back and forth and a lot of paperwork but DKV did reimburse me for the visit a month or so later.

Another time I had to go to urgent care in the USA and didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket – DKV covered the entire visit upfront (but you have to contact them before you go to ensure coverage).

That said, the DKV app can be pretty misleading at times. One time, I ended up paying 100 euros out of pocket for an eye doctor visit because the app led me to believe that the doctor was covered — but turns out, they weren’t included in my plan.

There are other companies out there. I would shop around and compare prices and coverage before committing to a plan. Make sure that the plan includes international coverage if you plan on traveling outside of Spain.

5. Apply for a visa

Once you have your health insurance, you can apply for a visa. Depending on the visa you’re applying for, you may be able to apply for it in Spain (like the digital nomad visa). With the visa I applied for (the non lucrative) visa, you have to be outside of Spain when you apply.

You’ll have to show a clean criminal record, a certificate of good health and proof of sufficient funds. You’ll also have to have all documents officially translated by a certified translator.

I hired a lawyer for around 1200 euros to help with the process, so I didn’t have to worry about pulling all the documents together, finding a translator etc. But to be honest, I don’t know if it was really worth it. Although she did help me with the appeal when my application was denied.

If you hire a lawyer, just don’t pay much more than what I did. I’ve found that many services that cater to foreigners charge waaaay more than they should. So don’t let people take advantage of you just because you’re a foreigner.

If you decide to do it yourself, there’s a lot of paperwork involved and you’ll have to get some documents officially translated – but I don’t think it’s too complicated.

If you have any questions or want advice, I recommend you check out subreddits like Going to Spain and Facebook groups like Expats in Spain or Spain Immigration and Residency Questions.

6. Get to know Spanish culture

Before you move to Spain, there are a few things you should know about Spanish culture…

Let’s start with the food. Breakfast (or desayuno) is typically light. Popular options include tostadas (toast), pastries, and bocadillos (sandwiches). And believe it or not, it’s not uncommon for some to pair their morning meal with a beer (yup, you read that right lol).

Lunch is the most important meal of the day and typically happens between 2-4PM. In Madrid, people normally eat dinner at 9-11PM. While in Barcelona, people eat a bit earlier – normally 8-10PM. Meal times are long and social and tend to involve lots of tapas or shared plates (and vino of course).

Oh and in certain parts of Spain, like Granada, you’ll get a free tapas with each drink you order!

Spain is also famous for its siesta culture. Many businesses shut down from 2-5PM, especially in smaller towns.

The Spanish love to spend time outdoors and on the streets. When my friend visited Spain from Portugal she commented “the Spanish really know how to live. They’re always out, eating and enjoying life.” Take botellón, for example — the Spanish tradition of sitting and drinking on the streets.

That pretty much sums up Spanish culture in a nutshell.

Check out this Reddit thread for more things to know about Spanish culture.

7. Learn the basics of Spanish

I highly recommend learning at least the basics of Spanish before moving to Spain. Although if you live in Barcelona, you could get away with just speaking English since the city is packed with foreigners and tourists – and most locals speak English. I’ve heard of people who have lived in Barcelona for years and still don’t speak a lick of Spanish. But I don’t recommend that.

Nowadays, there are so many ways to learn too: online courses, Duolingo, Youtube videos, social media… You can also watch movies and TV shows in Spanish with English subtitles. Once you feel confident and have the basics down, you can put Spanish subtitles. This helps a LOT with comprehension!

Personally, I like to learn languages the old fashioned way:

1. Buy a grammar book

2. Study all the basic conjugations for major verbs

3. Study the most important vocabulary and phrases (and write everything down in a notebook as you learn)

4. Watch Youtube videos and TV shows or movies in Spanish

5. Get out there and practice! Find Spanish-speaking friends who don’t speak English – and then you’ll be forced to learn.

8. Secure accommodation

Once your visa is approved (and you set foot in Spain), you can start looking for a place to live. Woohoo!

In order to get your NIE and residency card (aka your TIE), you’ll need to get empadronamiento (more on that below), for which you will need to have an address. But it’s kinduva catch 22 – because in order to rent an apartment in Spain, you will likely need your NIE.

One option is just to rent a place temporarily on Airbnb or Badi (for private rooms). Or you could check out Facebook groups of people subletting their apartments (or rooms) for the short term. But not everyone will agree to this so just make sure beforehand that you can use their address for “empadronamiento.” If you know people in Spain, you could also borrow their address temporarily until you get everything sorted.

When I arrived in Barcelona, I ended up just renting a room in a shared flat (through the app, Badi) and was able to get empadronamiento that way.

If you’re interested in sharing a flat with people, you can check out Idealista and Badi. If you want to rent a flat on your own, check out Idealista and Fotocasa.

You could also join housing-related Facebook groups, especially if you’re in a big city like Barcelona or Madrid. For example, I’m part of the groups Rooms/flats for rent in Barcelona and Barcelona Housing and Rooms, Apartments for Rent, Sublets, Roommates Habitacio, to name a few.

If you’re going to a popular spot in Spain, you’ll find that most rentals are short-term.

Holiday destinations (like Cadiz and Mallorca) offer short-term rentals from September to June. That way, landlords can jack up the prices for the summer.

Most rentals in Barcelona are short-term as well (up to 11 months). There’s a reason for this…

For short-term rentals, the tenant is responsible for paying agency fees (which are 10% of the annual rent). Whereas for long-term rentals, a new law was recently implemented that states that landlords have to pay the agency fees.

So to get around this, landlords in Barcelona pretty much only offer short-term rentals now. Win-win for them.

If you put down a big deposit, just be careful because many landlords will find ANY excuse to not give back the deposit at the end. When you move in somewhere, make sure that you have a contract in writing that states the conditions of the lease and take photos and videos of everything when you move in.

One more thing…

Be careful of scams. Not sure about other cities in Spain but there are a LOT of scams in Barcelona! Be wary of any prices that are super low. Never give money to somebody without seeing a place or meeting them in person. And if you decide to rent an apartment (and put down the deposit), make sure to get the ID of the person who you are giving money to. It hasn’t happened to me but I’ve heard a lot of stories of people who have put down the deposit – and even been handed the keys to an apartment – only to get scammed in the end.

9. Get a SIM card

Phone plans are cheap in Spain (at least compared to the US). I had a phone plan with Orange and got scammed, so I don’t recommend going that route.

Instead, I would get a prepaid plan (prepago) and pay each month. As much as the phone providers will want to make you think otherwise, it’s cheaper that way. And you won’t end up with unexpected charges.

I pay 15 euros per month with Vodafone and that gives me 100GB per month. Actually this month I got 240GB! Not sure why, but hey — I’ll take it lol.

When I travel to the US and throughout the EU, I get 10GB with my plan. You can go to any Vodafone store to get a SIM card or sign up here.

10. Get empadronamiento

Once you have an address, you can get empadronamiento (which is a city hall registration informing the city where you live). You’ll just need to fill out an application (which you can get from the city hall – aka the “ajuntamant” in Barcelona) and bring the housing contract of where you’re living, along with your passport.

It’s super easy and normally doesn’t take long.

The NIE on the other hand…

Well that’s a whole other story.

11. Get your NIE and TIE

A NIE is a unique number assigned to all foreigners in Spain. This number will never change, even if you leave Spain and come back. Your TIE is a residency card that you will have to get after you get your NIE – and then renew every few years (or however long the card lasts).

You’re meant to apply for your NIE within the first three months of arriving in Spain. You can apply for an appointment for a NIE and TIE here (keep in mind the site only works in Spain).

As mentioned earlier, this is the not-so-fun part of living in Spain. There is a lot of demand for appointments and only a couple slots that open per day. So you will have to try over and over again to get an appointment. I recommend trying all different hours of the day, especially early in the morning and on weekdays like Mondays or Tuesdays. Then check throughout the day to see if there are any cancellations.

If you have a lawyer, they should help you get an appointment (but make sure of this before you hire them – they may charge extra).

I used a bot called Robotcita because I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of trying over and over again to get an appointment (and I didn’t want to pay 100+ euros for someone to get me an appointment). With that website, you pay at least 25 euros, depending on when you want an appointment. If you can wait a month or longer, then you’ll get a cheaper price. Whereas if you want an appointment ASAP, you’ll have to pay more.

12. Sign up for the public healthcare system

As an immigrant in Spain, you can access the public healthcare system. But if you aren’t working in Spain (or contributing to the system), you’ll have to pay a monthly fee to access (60 euros per month for those under 65 and 157 euros per month for 65 and over).

If you think you may need it, I recommend signing up when you arrive since that will give you access to the best medical care. The private healthcare system is great if you don’t want to wait long and want immediate access to specialists. But the public healthcare system tends to have the best doctors.

I had a friend who got really sick and she first went to a private hospital that was covered by her insurance – but they had to transfer her to the public hospital in Barcelona since the medical care was better there. But since she didn’t sign up for public healthcare, she was stuck with a $10,000 bill at the end of her stay.

You can easily avoid this type of situation by signing up for public healthcare. In Barcelona, that’s CAP Salut. You can apply online or in person at the nearest CAP center. All you’ll need to show is your empadronamiento certificate and NIE card. You can find out more here and apply here.

13. Open a bank account

I highly recommend opening a bank account in Spain since it will make life easier. Or at least open an account like Revolut or Wise, so you aren’t charged foreign transaction fees.

If you have your own flat or get a phone plan, you’ll need a Spanish bank account to pay bills. It’s also useful if you need to transfer money to small businesses and friends. In Spain we use Bizum (which is like the equivalent of Zelle in the US) and you can transfer money immediately to another account using the recipient’s phone number.

I used to have Sabadell but they charged me monthly fees so I switched to BBVA – which doesn’t charge any fees. I’ve been with them for the past few years and had a great experience overall. Highly recommend!

When opening a bank account in Spain, you can walk into any local branch. You’ll need your passport, NIE and perhaps other documents.

14. Understand your tax obligations

If you live in Spain more than 183 days of the year, then you’ll have to pay taxes. But Spain and the US have a tax treaty that prevents double taxation. So if you’re a US citizen paying taxes in the US, you’ll only have to pay the difference to Spain. Not sure how it works for other countries.

Residents are taxed at progressive rates (19% to 47%) depending on the region and income.

Here’s a quick summary:

Taxable income	Rate
0-12,450	19%
12,451-20,200	24%
20,201-35,200	30%
35,201-60,000	37%
Over 60,000	45%
300,000 and beyond	47%

One tax benefit is Beckham’s law, which allows certain foreigners living in Spain to pay a flat tax rate of 24% for up to five years (instead of being taxed on their worldwide income).

I set up a S-corp for my business to reduce the amount of taxes I pay. So (to. my understanding), I set myself a salary as an “employee” of my own business — and then pay taxes based on that salary. I have an American friend who makes $300k+ year but only paid a couple thousand to the hacienda because he has this type of business set up.

But I’m not a tax expert by any means – I recommend speaking to an accountant after you arrive in Spain so that you aren’t hit with any hidden surprises at the end of the year!

15. Enjoy your new life in Spain!

Once you’re settled in, you’ll probably want to start building a social circle. I recommend using the app Bumble BFF (particularly for women) and attending Meetup events. That’s how I’ve made friends. There’s also the Amigos app, which is like a last-minute hangout app.

If you work remotely, you could join a coworking space. I use the app Croissant, which gives me access to a variety of coworking spaces in different cities around the world (including Barcelona). I love it because the hours roll over from month to month, which works well for me because I travel so much. But if you join just one coworking space, you’ll be able to join a community and probably will have an easier time making friends.

Hope that helps. Mucha suerte!

Are you sure you really *want* to move to Spain?