Everything the admin side of moving to Spain throws at you, in plain language. Start here, then open the detailed guide for each step.
The whole administrative path, in the order it actually happens: the visa and the papers to prepare before you fly, the NIE, finding a flat, the empadronamiento, social security and the health card, the TIE, Cl@ve, your first tax return and the bank account. One page, with the traps marked and the timings that are realistic rather than official.
Landlords in Barcelona and Madrid pick the applicant who calls first with a complete file. Get your NIE, payslips, work contract and last bank statements into a single PDF before you start viewing, so you can apply the moment you find the right flat.
You need a NIE to sign a lease and open a bank account, and an empadronamiento (padrón) for almost every other procedure. Book the cita previa as early as you can, because appointments are released in batches and vanish within minutes.
How to get your NIE in Barcelona
The most common scam is a below-market flat with a deposit request before any viewing. Never pay before you visit in person, and check any Idealista listing against real neighborhood prices in seconds.
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