Complete Spain Moving Checklist — Everything You Need to Do in 2026

Why the order matters more than you think

Moving to Spain as a non-EU national is genuinely achievable — tens of thousands of people do it every year. But it is not a process you can approach casually or figure out as you go. Spain's bureaucracy is layered, sequential, and surprisingly unforgiving about order of operations. Miss a step, do things in the wrong sequence, or let a deadline slip, and you can find yourself facing delays that set you back months.

The classic mistake is thinking you can sort things out once you arrive. You can't — not all of them. The visa must be obtained before you move, from the Spanish consulate in your home country. The TIE (your residency card) must be applied for within 30 days of arriving. The empadronamiento (local registration) needs to come before the TIE appointment. And most of this requires a valid Spanish address, which means having accommodation sorted before you land.

Then there is the health insurance question. Your DGSFP-compliant health insurance certificate is needed for your visa application — which means it needs to be in your hands before your consulate appointment, not after. And because some insurers take up to a week to issue the certificate while others (notably Sanitas) issue it the moment you activate the policy, this is an item that needs to go on your planning list early. The certificate timing guide covers this in detail.

The other common mistake is underestimating how long the consulate appointment stage takes. In the major cities — London, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto — appointment slots fill up weeks in advance. Some people report waiting 6 to 8 weeks just for an appointment. Factor that in when you are working backwards from your intended move date.

This checklist is structured by phase: 3 to 6 months out, the visa application itself, arrival and the first 30 days, the first three months, and then the ongoing year-one milestones. Work through it in order. Each phase builds on the last. By the end, you will have a clear picture of what to do, when to do it, and what to watch out for at each stage.

One more thing before we start: this guide covers the most common routes — primarily the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) and the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), with notes where the process differs for other visa types. If you are an EU or EEA national, the process is significantly different and much simpler — this checklist is primarily for non-EU nationals.

Phase 1 — 3 to 6 months before you move

This is the planning and preparation phase. Nothing is irreversible yet, but the decisions you make here shape everything that follows. Give yourself a full 3 to 6 months for this phase — more if you are coming from the US, Canada, or Australia, where certain steps (apostilles in particular) can take longer than expected.

Decide your visa category

This is the foundational decision and it needs to be right. The main options for non-EU nationals moving to Spain for the long term are:

• Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV): For people who do not need to work in Spain — retirees, people with passive income from investments, savings, or rental income. You cannot work in Spain (including remotely for a foreign employer) on this visa. The income threshold for a single applicant is approximately €28,800 per year in 2026 (based on 400% of the IPREM), with an additional amount per dependent. This is Spain's most popular visa for English-speaking retirees and early retirees.
• Digital Nomad Visa (DNV): Introduced under Spain's Ley de Startups, this visa allows you to work remotely for foreign clients or employers while living in Spain. Minimum income is approximately €2,760 per month for a single applicant in 2026 (200% of the SMI). You must have been working for your employer or clients for at least 3 months before applying.
• Student visa: For full-time study at a recognised Spanish institution. Limited work rights attached.
• Family reunification: If you have a Spanish or EU-citizen spouse, parent, or child already legally resident in Spain, you may be eligible. Requirements vary.
• Work visa: Sponsored by a Spanish employer. Relatively rare for people initiating their own move; most people come via NLV or DNV.

If you are in any doubt about which visa applies to your circumstances, take advice from an immigration specialist before you start gathering documents. Getting this wrong — applying for the wrong visa, or applying without meeting the requirements — costs you an appointment slot, months of time, and potentially your consulate's confidence in your application. Platinum Legal Spain offer specialist immigration advice and are worth speaking to before you begin.

Check your financial requirements in detail

Once you have identified your visa category, work out exactly what evidence you need to provide. For the NLV:

• Income evidence: bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months, pension income letters, dividend records, rental income statements
• The statements must typically show passive income — not employment income — meeting the threshold
• Large lump-sum savings can substitute for regular income in many consulates, but the exact amount required and the evidence format vary by consulate — check with your local consulate or an immigration specialist

For the Digital Nomad Visa, you will also need a work contract (for employees) or evidence of existing client relationships and income (for freelancers), plus proof the work is remote and the clients/employer are based outside Spain.

Get your health insurance certificate — start here, start early

Your Spanish visa health insurance certificate is required at your consulate appointment. It must be issued by a DGSFP-registered insurer, cover all of Spain with no copayments and no waiting periods, and be written in Spanish. Getting this wrong — presenting a certificate from a non-compliant insurer, or a certificate with errors — can result in your application being rejected.

Timing matters here. Some insurers take 4 to 5 business days to issue the certificate. Sanitas — the most popular choice among NLV applicants — issues the certificate by email the moment you activate the policy, which means you can have it within minutes. See the certificate timing comparison for all six major insurers.

Plan to sort your health insurance 4 to 8 weeks before your consulate appointment. This gives you time to research options, get a quote, compare policies, and — if there are any errors on the certificate — get them corrected before the appointment. Use the comparison tool to get a personalised quote across the main DGSFP-approved providers.

Gather and apostille your documents

This is the step that takes longer than people expect, especially from the US, Canada, and Australia. The documents typically required for an NLV application include:

• Criminal record certificate: Must be recent (typically within 3 to 6 months of your appointment). In the UK, this is the ACPO certificate via the DBS. In the US, it is the FBI Identity History Summary. Both require apostilling.
• Apostille: In the UK, apostilles are issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office — currently taking around 5 to 10 working days. In the US, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State in the state where the document was issued — timelines vary wildly, from 5 days in some states to 6+ weeks in others. Check your specific state's current processing time and add buffer.
• Birth certificate (apostilled): Not always required, but some consulates ask for it as evidence of identity
• Marriage certificate (apostilled): Required if including a spouse on the application
• Passport: Valid for at least 12 months beyond your intended visa duration. Many consulates require 6 months validity beyond the visa end date — check your consulate's specific requirements.

Order your criminal record certificate first, as it often has the longest processing time. In the US, allow up to 12 weeks from start to apostilled certificate if you hit delays. Getting this wrong — arriving at your consulate appointment with a certificate that is out of date, missing an apostille, or translated incorrectly — means your application is rejected.

Get passport photos

Simple but worth doing early. Spanish visa photos have specific requirements: 32mm x 26mm, recent, white background, facing forward, no glasses. The specifications are on your consulate's website. Get more than you need — consulates, the Extranjería, and the bank will all ask for photos at different points.

Book your consulate appointment as early as possible

This cannot be overstated: consulate appointment slots fill up months in advance at major Spanish consulates. The Spanish Consulate in London, the Consulate General in New York, the Consulate in Miami — all of these run with significant demand and limited availability. In peak periods (January to March, when many people plan spring moves), slots can disappear within minutes of becoming available.

Some consulates release appointment slots at a specific time each day or week. Find out your consulate's system and set reminders. A missed or unavailable slot can add months to your timeline.

Notify your home-country obligations

Before you move, notify the relevant institutions in your home country:

• Tax authority: In the UK, notify HMRC you are leaving. In the US, note that US citizens remain liable for US tax regardless of where they live — speak to a cross-border tax specialist.
• Pension providers: Ensure they have a payment method that works internationally
• Employer: If leaving employment, handle notice periods and PAYE/payroll implications properly
• Banks: Some UK/US bank accounts close or restrict access when they discover you have moved abroad — check your account terms or open an international-friendly account (Wise, Revolut, Starling) before you go
• State benefits / pension: Notify the relevant department if you receive any government payments

Research your destination in Spain

Spain is large and enormously varied. Andalucía is not the same as Catalonia, and the Costa del Sol is not the same as Valencia or Madrid. Cost of living, climate, English prevalence, expat community size, healthcare infrastructure, transport links back to your home country — all differ significantly.

Popular destinations for English-speaking expats include: Málaga and the Costa del Sol, Alicante and the Costa Blanca, Valencia, Barcelona, Madrid, the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria), and the Balearics (Mallorca, Menorca). Each has its own rental market, cost of living, and expat density. Research before you commit — ideally visit for a month before applying for the visa.

Open an international bank account or Spanish-compatible account

Opening a proper Spanish bank account before you arrive requires NIE and empadronamiento, which you only get after arrival. However, you can prepare:

• Wise: Provides a Spanish IBAN before you move. Very useful for initial transactions, rental deposits, and receiving money.
• N26 or Revolut: EU-backed accounts that operate without a Spanish address. Good bridge solution.
• Openbank (Santander's online bank): Some reports of being able to open before arrival — worth exploring.

Having a Spanish IBAN before you arrive means you can sign rental contracts that require one and set up direct debits from day one.

Arrange pet transport if relevant

Moving with pets to Spain (from non-EU countries) requires planning well in advance. Requirements include an ISO-standard microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (with a wait period of 21 days after vaccination before travel), and an EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC) or EU Pet Passport if coming from certain countries. From the UK post-Brexit, you need an AHC issued by an Official Veterinarian within 10 days of travel. Check the specific rules for your country and work backwards from your travel date — some steps cannot be rushed.

Phase 2 — The visa application

Once your documents are gathered and your consulate appointment is booked, the visa application phase begins. This is the most formal and highest-stakes stage of the process before you move.

Compile your application dossier

Every consulate has slightly different requirements and different preferred formats. Always check your specific consulate's official requirements page — and check it again the week before your appointment, as requirements occasionally change. As a general guide for the NLV, your dossier will include:

• Completed application form (EX-01 or equivalent — download from the consulate's website)
• Valid passport (original plus photocopy of every page)
• Passport photos (consulate-specific size — usually 2)
• Proof of sufficient economic means: bank statements, pension letters, investment account statements — typically covering the last 3 to 6 months
• Health insurance certificate from a DGSFP-registered insurer with no copayments, covering all of Spain
• Criminal record certificate with apostille (and certified Spanish translation if required by your consulate)
• Tasa (fee) payment: the visa fee must be paid — either via bank transfer in advance or at a designated payment point. Consulates usually specify the exact payment method. Do not show up without the tasa paid.
• Marriage certificate with apostille (if including spouse)
• Proof of accommodation in Spain: a rental contract, property purchase deed, or letter from a host

Present originals and photocopies of everything. Some consulates want documents in a specific order. Some want documents hole-punched and fastened; others want them loose. When in doubt, call your consulate directly and ask — they will tell you.

Attend your consulate appointment in person

NLV and most other Spanish long-stay visa applications must be made in person. Bring everything on the list, arrive early, and have both originals and copies of every document. The consular officer will review your dossier, take your biometric data, and retain your original passport (they need to affix the visa vignette to it). You will typically not get your passport back on the same day.

Be straightforward and calm at the appointment. If something is missing or unclear, consular officers will often tell you what to provide as a supplement rather than reject outright. Stay responsive to any supplementary requests they make.

Wait for a decision

Processing time varies by consulate but is typically 1 to 3 months. The Spanish Consulate in London states a 30-day target but often takes longer. US consulates vary significantly by city. During this period, you cannot travel to Spain on holiday and enter without your passport (which the consulate holds). Plan accordingly.

If your application is approved, you will be notified and invited to collect your passport with the visa vignette. If it is rejected, you will receive a written explanation and have the right to appeal. Rejections most commonly occur due to insufficient income evidence, missing or incorrectly apostilled documents, or health insurance that does not meet the specifications. An immigration specialist can often successfully appeal a rejection if the reason is correctable.

Collect your visa vignette

Once approved, you will collect your passport with the visa vignette affixed. This vignette typically shows a validity period — often 90 days — during which you must enter Spain. Note carefully: this vignette is not your TIE. It is the entry document that allows you to enter Spain as a long-stay resident. Your TIE — the residency card — is what you apply for once you are in Spain. Many people confuse these two and are surprised to discover there is more bureaucracy to do after they land.

Phase 3 — Arriving in Spain (the critical first 30 days)

The clock starts when you arrive. You have 30 days from entry to begin your TIE registration process. This is not optional and it is not flexible. In those first weeks, you also need to get your NIE, set up your empadronamiento, open a bank account, and get the basics of daily life sorted. It is a busy month — plan for it.

Confirm your NIE number

Your NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is your Spanish tax identification number. For most NLV applicants, the NIE is assigned as part of the visa process — check your visa documentation and it should be there. If it is not, or if it is unclear, you can apply for a NIE at the Policía Nacional or Extranjería office after arriving, but doing so requires a cita previa (appointment), which adds time. Clarify this before you arrive if possible.

You will need your NIE for almost everything in Spain: opening a bank account, signing a rental contract, buying a car, registering with a doctor, and of course the TIE. Do not wait until you need it to find out whether you have one.

Register with the Ayuntamiento — empadronamiento

Empadronamiento is your registration with the local town hall (Ayuntamiento). It proves that you live at a specific address in Spain and is required for your TIE application, your bank account, registering with a doctor, enrolling children in school, and a long list of other things. Without it, much of Spanish life becomes inaccessible.

To get empadronamiento you need:

• Your passport (original)
• Your visa or TIE (or proof of application)
• Proof of address: a rental contract in your name, a property deeds document, or — in some ayuntamientos — a declaration from your landlord confirming you live there

Book a cita previa with your local Ayuntamiento as soon as you have your accommodation confirmed. In larger cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga), appointments can take 1 to 2 weeks to obtain. In smaller towns it can often be done same week or walk-in. Allow for this when planning your first week.

The certificate you receive — the volante de empadronamiento or certificado de empadronamiento — is what you take to your TIE appointment. Keep multiple copies and note that it has an expiry for official purposes (typically 3 months), so use it promptly.

Apply for your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)

This is the most important administrative task in your first month. The TIE is your Spanish residency card — the physical proof that you are a legal resident of Spain. Without it, many things in Spain that you might take for granted become very difficult: proving your residency, renewing your visa, accessing public services, and a range of everyday transactions.

To apply for your TIE, you need to book a cita previa at either the Oficina de Extranjería (immigration office) or the Comisaría de Policía Nacional (national police station) — depending on which handles TIE applications in your province. The system for booking is the sede electrónica (the Spanish government's online appointments portal).

Be warned: cita previa slots for TIE applications are in high demand in popular expat areas like Málaga, Alicante, and Barcelona. Check the booking system the moment you arrive and book the first available slot. In some provinces, you may find nothing available for several weeks — book anyway and keep checking for cancellations.

Documents needed for your TIE appointment:

• Completed EX-23 form (or the relevant form for your visa type — check the Extranjería's current requirements)
• Original passport plus photocopy
• Original visa vignette (in your passport) plus photocopy
• Certificado de empadronamiento (from your Ayuntamiento)
• Passport photos (typically one or two — check current requirements)
• Tasa 790-012 (the fee payment form) — available from the AEAT website, pay at a Spanish bank before your appointment
• Health insurance certificate — some Extranjería offices ask for this again at the TIE stage

After your appointment, the TIE typically takes 4 to 8 weeks to be ready for collection. You will receive an SMS to your Spanish mobile number (another reason to get a Spanish SIM early). Keep all your appointment documentation as proof of your legal status while you wait.

Open a Spanish bank account

With your NIE and empadronamiento in hand, you can open a full Spanish bank account in branch. The main banks are:

• Banco Santander: Extensive branch network, English-speaking staff in tourist areas, Cuenta Online available digitally
• BBVA: Good mobile banking, competitive on fees, decent English-language app
• CaixaBank: Largest branch network in Spain, good for rural areas
• Banco Sabadell: Known for being expat-friendly, has dedicated services for international customers
• ING España: No-fee digital bank with a good app; requires slightly less documentation to open

Shop around on fees — Spanish banks vary significantly on monthly maintenance charges, card fees, and transfer costs. If you are receiving a foreign pension or investment income, check how international transfers are handled and what exchange rate margins are applied. Many expats use Wise alongside their Spanish bank account to manage currency exchange efficiently.

Sort your mobile and internet

A Spanish mobile number is practically essential from day one — the government's SMS notification system (for TIE readiness, cita previa confirmations, and other official communications) will text your Spanish number. Get a SIM on arrival.

Main mobile operators in Spain: Movistar, Orange, and Vodafone are the big three (with the best coverage in rural areas). For cheaper options: MásMóvil, Yoigo, and Lebara are popular. Lebara in particular is widely used by expats for its low monthly costs and good international call packages.

For home broadband, the main providers are Movistar (Fusión), Orange, Vodafone, and MásMóvil/Yoigo. Fibre optic (fibra) is widely available even in medium-sized towns — Spain has very good fibre coverage by European standards. Speeds of 300Mbps to 1Gbps are standard at reasonable prices.

Register with a GP

How you access healthcare in Spain depends on your insurance arrangement:

• Private health insurance (NLV applicants): Your insurer will have a network of médicos de cabecera (GPs), specialists, and hospitals. Use your insurer's app or online directory to find your nearest in-network GP and register with them. Sanitas, Adeslas, Caser, and other major insurers all have good digital tools for this. Compare the major insurers here.
• Public health system (via Social Security contributions): If you are working in Spain and contributing to the Social Security system (as an autónomo or employed worker), you will be entitled to access the Spanish public health system (Seguridad Social). Register at your local centro de salud with your TIE and Social Security number.

Do not leave this until you need it. The process of registering with a GP is straightforward but takes a small amount of time, and you want to know who to call before you get ill.

Phase 4 — The first three months

With the critical bureaucracy of Phase 3 underway, the first three months are about settling in, establishing your financial and administrative life in Spain, and making sure your ongoing legal obligations are in order.

Understand your Spanish tax position

If you spend 183 or more days in Spain in a calendar year, you will almost certainly be considered a Spanish tax resident. Spanish tax residents are required to:

• File an annual Renta (income tax return, IRPF) with the Agencia Tributaria (AEAT). The filing period is April to June for the previous calendar year.
• Declare worldwide income — Spain taxes residents on their global income, not just Spanish-source income
• File Modelo 720 if you hold assets abroad worth more than €50,000 — this is Spain's foreign asset declaration

Engage a gestor or asesor fiscal (tax professional) in Spain before your first tax year ends. Spanish tax returns are not trivially simple for expats with foreign income, pensions, and investments. The gestor will also know whether any double taxation treaty between Spain and your home country applies to reduce your overall tax burden. This is particularly important for US citizens, who remain subject to US tax as well as Spanish tax and need specialist cross-border advice.

Register as autónomo if self-employed or freelancing

If you are working in Spain — including as a digital nomad working for Spanish clients, or as someone who has switched from the DNV's remote work setup to taking Spanish clients — you will need to register as autónomo (self-employed).

Registration involves:

• Registering your economic activity with the Agencia Tributaria (AEAT) via Modelo 036 or 037
• Registering with the Social Security system (RETA — the self-employment Social Security regime)
• Paying the monthly cuota de autónomos — in 2026, new autónomos on the tarifa plana scheme start at approximately €80/month for the first year, rising gradually
• Filing quarterly IVA (VAT) returns if applicable via Modelo 303, and quarterly IRPF prepayments via Modelo 130

A gestor will handle all of this for you. The monthly cost of a gestor is typically €50 to €150 and is worth every cent when you are navigating Spanish tax compliance for the first time.

Set up your ongoing direct debits

Once your Spanish bank account is open and running, get the important direct debits set up:

• Health insurance premium — if you have not already arranged this via card payment
• Home broadband and mobile
• Electricity (luz) — Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy, and Holaluz are the main providers; some offer English-language customer service
• Water (agua) — usually municipal, handled through the Ayuntamiento or local water company
• Community fees (comunidad) if you own or rent in an apartment building
• IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, Spain's council tax equivalent) if you own property

Sort transport and driving

If you need a car:

• Driving licence exchange: EU licence holders can continue using their EU licence in Spain. Non-EU licence holders — UK, US, Canadian, Australian, etc. — have different arrangements. The UK has a bilateral agreement with Spain allowing an exchange without taking a test. US and Canadian licences must be exchanged within 6 months of becoming resident, and require passing the Spanish driving test if no bilateral agreement exists for your state or province. Check the current rules for your specific nationality and act within the deadline.
• Spanish car insurance: Mandatory for all vehicles on Spanish roads. Use a comparison site (Rastreator, Acierto) or work with an English-speaking insurance broker. Your UK or US no-claims history may or may not be recognised — ask specifically.
• ITV: The Spanish equivalent of the MOT. Required for all vehicles over 4 years old. If you are importing a vehicle from the UK or elsewhere, it must pass ITV and be re-registered on Spanish plates.

Children's schooling

If you are moving with children, school registration needs to be sorted promptly:

• State schools (colegios públicos): Free, Spanish-medium teaching. Your children will learn Spanish fast. Registration is handled through the local Consejería de Educación. You will need empadronamiento proof and TIE (or evidence of application).
• Concertados (subsidised schools): Partially funded by the state, often bilingual (Spanish-English or other), popular with expat families for the balance of cost and quality.
• Private international schools: English-medium, expensive (€10,000–€25,000 per year), concentrated in expat-heavy areas. Common choices include British schools and American schools in Madrid, Barcelona, and along the Costa del Sol.

Popular expat areas often have waiting lists for preferred schools. Start the process before you arrive if possible.

Invest in your Spanish

This is on the practical checklist, not just a cultural nicety. Spain is a Spanish-speaking country. In expat-heavy zones like Torrevieja or Marbella you can get by in English, but across most of Spain — including healthcare, government offices, utility companies, and everyday social interactions — Spanish is required. Even basic Spanish will make your life significantly easier from day one.

Apps like Duolingo and Babbel work for building foundations. Italki is excellent for conversation practice with native speakers. Many towns have language exchange groups (intercambios) where Spanish locals want to practise English and will swap conversation time. Group Spanish classes at a local academia are a good way to meet people while learning the language.

Phase 5 — Ongoing (year one and beyond)

Once you are settled, the focus shifts to maintaining your legal status, managing your ongoing obligations, and building your life in Spain. These are the milestones that matter across your first year and beyond.

TIE renewal

Your initial TIE is typically valid for one year (for first-time NLV holders) or two years (for DNV holders). You must apply for renewal before it expires — the recommended window is 60 days before the expiry date. The process is similar to the initial TIE application: cita previa at the Extranjería, updated documents, tasa payment.

One key difference at renewal: you may be asked to demonstrate that you have continued to meet the income requirements and have not worked illegally in Spain (for NLV holders). Have your bank statements, income evidence, and a clean criminal record ready. Cita previa slots fill fast — start looking 60 to 90 days before your card expires.

Annual health insurance renewal

Your health insurance policy will renew annually. Do not just auto-renew without reviewing — premiums can increase, your circumstances may have changed (new dependents, changed health needs, different budget), and new policies may offer better value. Use the annual renewal point to compare the market. Our 2026 health insurance comparison covers the key options.

Also note that you will need an updated certificate for your TIE renewal — this is another area where Sanitas's instant certificate is useful, as you can generate a fresh certificate whenever you need one without waiting.

Annual Renta (Spanish tax return)

The Spanish income tax return (Renta) is filed April to June for the previous calendar year. If you have a gestor, they will handle this for you — but you need to gather your documents: income evidence for all sources, Spanish and foreign, and any receipts or expenses if you are autónomo. Even if your gestor manages the filing, review the return before it is submitted. As a Spanish tax resident you are personally responsible for the accuracy of your return.

Check each year whether your double taxation treaty position has changed, particularly if you receive UK pension income, US Social Security, or other foreign-source income with specific treaty treatments.

Driving licence exchange deadline

Non-EU nationals who did not exchange their driving licence in the first 6 months of residency will find themselves unable to legally drive in Spain on their foreign licence after that window closes. If you have not done this, act promptly. The exchange process involves booking at the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico), providing your current licence, TIE, NIE, and photos, and — for nationalities without a bilateral agreement — registering for the Spanish driving test. Do not put this off.

Residency milestones

As your time in Spain accumulates, new rights become available:

• 3 years: Some family reunification applications become easier. NLV holders may be eligible to apply for a DNV or other permit type depending on circumstances.
• 5 years: You become eligible for the larga duración (long-term residency) permit. This is significantly more stable than annual or biennial renewals and is worth applying for when you qualify. It removes the ongoing income demonstration requirement (though you must still meet a residency threshold).
• 10 years: Eligibility for Spanish nationality (naturalización). Requirements include 10 years of legal residency, passing Spanish language (DELE A2 minimum) and culture (CCSE) tests, renouncing your existing nationality in most cases (dual nationality is available for nationals of some countries, including Latin American countries and the Philippines), and demonstrating good civil standing.

Keep a folder — physical or digital — of every document, certificate, and correspondence related to your Spanish residency from day one. You will refer back to it repeatedly over the years, and at the 5-year and 10-year milestones you will need evidence of continuous residency.

Frequently asked questions