This guide covers moving to Spain in 2026, step by step: visas and residence routes, NIE and TIE registration, tax, healthcare and your first weeks.
What changed for people moving to Spain in 2025 and 2026
Three changes matter most: the Golden Visa has gone, the foreigners’ regulation was rewritten, and the 2026 minimum wage increase pushed up the digital nomad threshold. If you are reading older guides, check every figure against the list below.
| Change | Date | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Visa (investor residence) abolished | New applications closed 3 April 2025 | Buying property worth €500,000 no longer gives residence. Existing holders keep their permits until expiry. |
| New immigration regulation (Real Decreto 1155/2024) | In force 20 May 2025 | Revised permit durations, renewal rules and family reunification timings across most residence routes. |
| Minimum wage (SMI) set at €1,221 a month (14 payments) | Royal Decree 126/2026, published 19 February 2026, backdated to 1 January 2026 | The digital nomad income threshold rose because it is pegged to the SMI. |
| IPREM left unchanged at €600 a month | 2026 (budget rolled over again) | The non-lucrative visa threshold stays at the same figure as 2023 to 2025. |
| EU Blue Card salary floor updated | Applications from 30 January 2026 | Minimum gross salary of €41,356.36, or €33,085.09 for recent graduates meeting specific conditions. |
Correcting a common assumption: Many websites still describe Spain’s Golden Visa as an option. It is not. Since 3 April 2025, no new investor residence applications can be started, and buying property gives you no route to residence on its own. See The Golden Visa: what happened and what replaced it.
Spain visa routes at a glance
Most non-EU movers fit one of four routes: digital nomad, non-lucrative, employment, or study and family routes. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa; they register as EU residents after arrival. UK citizens have been treated as non-EU since 1 January 2021 and follow the same routes as Americans or Australians.
| Route | Best for | Can you work in Spain? | Key financial test (2026) | Initial permit length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital nomad (international teleworking) | Remote employees and freelancers working for non-Spanish clients | Yes, for foreign employers or clients; up to 20% of income may come from Spanish clients | 200% of the SMI for the main applicant (see conflict note below) | 1 year if applied for at a consulate; 3 years if applied for from inside Spain |
| Non-lucrative residence | Retirees and people with passive income or savings | No, and remote work is not permitted | 400% of IPREM: €28,800 a year, plus €7,200 per dependant | 1 year |
| Employment (sponsored work permit or EU Blue Card) | People with a Spanish job offer | Yes, for the sponsoring employer | Blue Card: €41,356.36 gross salary minimum (€33,085.09 reduced) | Varies by permit |
| Golden Visa (investor) | No one: closed to new applicants | Not applicable | Not applicable | Closed since 3 April 2025 |
Other routes exist — student visas, entrepreneur visas, family reunification, and residence for family members of EU or Spanish citizens — and are covered in our guide on how to get residency in Spain.
Which route? If you earn money from work you do while in Spain, the non-lucrative visa is the wrong choice, even if your employer is abroad. Spanish consulates state plainly that it does not allow remote work. Remote workers should look at the digital nomad visa instead.
The digital nomad visa
The digital nomad visa lets you live in Spain while working remotely for companies or clients based outside Spain, provided you earn at least 200% of the Spanish minimum wage. It was created by the Startups Law (Law 28/2022) and is officially called the international teleworking visa.
Core requirements, as listed by Spanish consulates:
- Income: 200% of the SMI for the main applicant. Add 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each additional family member.
- Work relationship: at least three months with the foreign company or clients before you apply, with evidence that remote work is permitted.
- Employer substance: the company must show real, continuous activity (company registry and tax filings).
- Qualifications: a university degree, or at least three years of relevant professional experience.
- Health insurance: cover equivalent to the Spanish public system from an insurer authorised in Spain, unless a social security agreement covers you. Travel insurance is not accepted.
- Clean criminal record and no prior refusal of entry.
Conflicting figures on the income threshold. Sources calculate 200% of the SMI in two different ways, and the difference is significant:
| Calculation method | Monthly figure (single applicant, 2026) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| SMI spread over 12 months (€1,221 × 14 ÷ 12 = €1,424.50), then doubled | approximately €2,849 | Used by most immigration law firms; the 2025 equivalent was about €2,763 |
| Monthly SMI (€1,221) doubled | approximately €2,442 | A literal reading of the UGE’s FAQ, which states the test as 200% of the SMI per month and quotes the SMI as €1,221 |
The Large Companies Unit (UGE) does not publish a converted euro figure, so it is not clear which method is applied in every case. Plan around the higher figure and confirm with the consulate handling your application or a visa lawyer. On the higher method, a couple needs about €3,917 a month.
For the full document list, timings and the in-Spain application route, read our Spain digital nomad visa guide.
The non-lucrative visa
The non-lucrative visa is for people who can support themselves without working: you must show 400% of IPREM, which is €28,800 a year for the main applicant in 2026, plus €7,200 for each dependant. Funds can come from savings, pensions, rental income or investments.
| Household | Annual funds required (2026) | Monthly equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | €28,800 | €2,400 |
| Couple | €36,000 | €3,000 |
| Couple plus one child | €43,200 | €3,600 |
Key conditions:
- No work of any kind in Spain, including remote work for a foreign employer. The consulate guidance says the visa does not allow teleworking.
- Comprehensive private health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain, with no co-payments, no excess, no waiting periods and no coverage limits. Travel insurance is rejected.
- Visa validity: 90 days to enter, after which you apply for your TIE within one month.
- Decision period: once the consulate forwards your file, the immigration authorities have one month to decide, and silence counts as a refusal. Allow longer overall, as appointments, document requests or an interview add time.
Watch the IPREM figure. IPREM has been frozen at €600 a month since 2023 because Spain has rolled over its 2023 budget, and Spain’s consumer organisation OCU confirms the €600 figure for 2026. If a new budget is passed, the threshold will rise, and consulates set their own document checks, so confirm the figure with your consulate before you submit.
Renewal. According to the Ministry of Inclusion’s current information sheet, a renewed non-lucrative permit lasts two years. You must show that you lived in Spain for more than 183 days in the year, and the authorities have three months to decide. Check the current position with the immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería) or a lawyer before you plan your second-year paperwork.
Work permits and the EU Blue Card
If you have a job offer from a Spanish employer, the employer normally applies for your work and residence permit; highly qualified roles can use the EU Blue Card, which in 2026 requires a gross annual salary of at least €41,356.36. A reduced threshold of €33,085.09 applies in specific cases, for example where the qualification was obtained in the three years before the application. These figures were set by Orden PJC/44/2026 and apply to applications submitted from 30 January 2026.
Standard work permits generally require the employer to show that the role cannot be filled from the local labour market, unless the job is on the shortage occupations list. Our guide to working in Spain as an expat explains the options, and jobs for English speakers in Spain covers where the realistic openings are. If you plan to be self-employed or set up a company, read how to start a business in Spain as a foreigner.
The Golden Visa: what happened and what replaced it
Spain’s Golden Visa ended for new applicants on 3 April 2025, when Organic Law 1/2025 removed the investor residence articles from Law 14/2013.
| Situation | What happens now |
|---|---|
| Application submitted before 3 April 2025 | Processed under the rules in force on the submission date |
| Existing Golden Visa holder | Permit valid until the expiry date in the original resolution |
| Renewal of an existing permit | Not clearly settled; take advice well before expiry and consider another route |
| New investor after 3 April 2025 | No investor route; must qualify under another route |
Former Golden Visa candidates who will work in Spain can look at the highly qualified professional route or the entrepreneur visa. Wealthy retirees usually find the non-lucrative visa is the closest substitute. Buying a home remains entirely legal for foreigners, but it is now a housing decision, not an immigration one. See how to buy property in Spain as a foreigner.
Your first weeks: NIE, TIE and empadronamiento
Once you arrive on a residence visa, you have one month to apply for your TIE residence card; you should also register on the padrón at your town hall as early as possible, because almost every later step depends on it.
What each document is:
- NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero): your foreigner identification number, used for tax, banking, contracts and property. It stays with you for life. Visa holders are usually assigned one during the visa process.
- TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero): the physical residence card that proves your legal status. It shows your NIE.
- Empadronamiento (padrón registration): your registration on the municipal register, which proves where you live.
| Step | Where | What you need | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Register on the padrón | Your ayuntamiento (town hall), by appointment (cita previa) | Passport, NIE, signed rental contract or deeds, application form | Usually free (check your municipality) |
| 2. Pay the TIE fee | Bank or online, using form 790 code 012 | Completed form from the National Police website | €16.08 for an initial temporary residence card |
| 3. Fingerprint appointment | National Police foreigners’ office (cita previa) | Passport, visa, photo, fee receipt, padrón certificate (often requested) | Included above |
| 4. Collect your TIE | Same police office, usually a few weeks later | Collection receipt | None |
Other TIE fees listed under form 790 code 012 include €19.30 for a renewal and €21.87 for a long-term residence card. These are set by ministerial order and do change, so check the current amount when you complete the form.
Appointments are the bottleneck. In large cities, TIE fingerprint appointments can be very hard to obtain, and a one-month deadline does not wait for you. Start checking for appointments the day you arrive. Many people use a gestor (a licensed administrative agent) or a relocation service for this step.
Padrón renewal for non-EU residents. Non-EU residents without long-term residence generally have to confirm their padrón registration every two years. If you ignore the letter from the town hall, you can be removed from the register, which can cause problems with renewals and healthcare.
UK nationals should note that a TIE exempts them from registering under the EU Entry/Exit System; holders of the older green residence certificate are treated differently, according to UK government guidance. Our moving to Spain from the UK checklist covers the UK-specific steps.
If your documents are not in Spanish, you will usually need sworn translations. See certified translation services in Spain.
Tax: residency, the Beckham Law and what to declare
You usually become a Spanish tax resident if you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain or your main economic interests are based there, and residents are taxed on worldwide income; the Beckham Law can reduce this to a flat 24% on Spanish employment income up to €600,000 for six tax years.
The Beckham Law (special regime for inbound workers, Article 93 of the Personal Income Tax Law):
| Feature | Rule |
|---|---|
| Tax rate | 24% on employment income up to €600,000; 47% above that |
| Duration | Year of arrival plus the following five tax years |
| Prior residence test | Not tax resident in Spain in the previous five tax years |
| Who can apply | Employees of Spanish companies, posted workers, qualifying digital nomads, certain directors and entrepreneurs; spouse and children can apply in some cases |
| Application | Form 149, generally within six months of starting the qualifying activity (for example, Social Security registration) |
| Annual return | Form 151 instead of the standard return |
| Foreign passive income | Generally not taxed in Spain under the regime, subject to case-by-case review |
Do not miss the six-month window. The Beckham Law is elective and the deadline is strict. If you file late, you are taxed under the normal progressive scale for the whole period. Speak to an expat tax adviser before you register with Social Security, not after.
The Beckham Law is not available on the non-lucrative visa, because it applies to income from work and the non-lucrative visa prohibits work.
Ordinary residents also need to declare foreign assets above set thresholds and may face wealth tax depending on their region. For the full picture, read taxes for expats living in Spain and, when you are ready to hire help, expat tax advisers in Spain.
Healthcare access for new residents
How you access Spanish healthcare depends on your status: workers and the self-employed get public healthcare through Social Security; UK state pensioners can use an S1; most other new arrivals must hold private health insurance, at least for their first year.
| Your situation | Route to healthcare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Employed or self-employed in Spain | Public system via Social Security | Register at your local health centre with your Social Security number |
| UK State Pension recipient | S1 form registered with the INSS | Cannot also join the convenio especial |
| Non-lucrative visa holder | Private insurance (required for the visa) | Must have no co-payments, excess or waiting periods |
| Digital nomad visa holder | Private insurance, or public cover if a social security agreement applies | Travel insurance not accepted |
| Resident for more than one year, not working | Possibly the convenio especial (public pay-in scheme) | Requires at least one year of continuous residence in Spain and padrón registration |
The convenio especial is a public scheme that non-working residents can join after a year of continuous residence. Royal Decree 576/2013 sets the fee at €60 a month for people under 65 and €157 a month for people aged 65 and over, and regions can charge more if they add services. It covers only the basic common portfolio of services, and the application process is run regionally, so check the fee and what is included with your regional health service.
Read healthcare in Spain for expats for how the system works, how to register for healthcare in Spain for the paperwork, and health insurance for expats in Spain for policies that meet visa rules. You can also compare providers in our insurance directory.
What it costs to live in Spain
Rent is the cost that has changed most: Spain’s average asking rent was €15.10 per square metre in September 2026, up 5.6% in a year, according to idealista data. For a typical 80 m² flat, that is roughly €1,200 a month nationally, and considerably more in Madrid.
| City | Average asking rent, September 2026 (€ per m²) | Annual change | Indicative rent, 80 m² flat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid (city) | 23.40 | +4.8% | about €1,870 |
| Barcelona (city) | 20.10 | −0.8% | about €1,610 |
| Málaga (city) | 16.50 | +3.9% | about €1,320 |
| Valencia (city) | 16.30 | +3.1% | about €1,300 |
| Spain (national average) | 15.10 | +5.6% | about €1,210 |
The indicative rents are our own multiplication of the per-square-metre figures and are asking prices, not signed contract rents. Smaller inland towns are much cheaper; coastal hotspots and the islands are not.
Two useful benchmarks: the 2026 minimum wage is €1,221 a month over 14 payments, and the non-lucrative visa assumes €2,400 a month is enough for one person. If you plan to live in Madrid or Barcelona on that figure, rent will absorb most of it.
For city-by-city budgets, read cost of living in Spain for expats. For the one-off costs of the move itself — visas, translations, removals and deposits — see how much does it cost to move to Spain?.
Housing, banking, schools and driving
Most expats rent first, open a Spanish bank account within the first weeks, and deal with schools and driving licences once their residence card is issued. For a shortlist of named agencies, see the best English-speaking real estate agents in Spain.
- Housing: long-term rental contracts usually need an NIE, proof of income and a deposit. Read renting in Spain, see best places to live in Spain, and when you are ready, how to find an English-speaking estate agent in Spain or browse our real estate directory.
- Banking: you can open a non-resident account before your TIE arrives and convert it later. See how to open a bank account in Spain and our banking directory.
- Schools: public school enrolment requires padrón registration. Families looking at English-language options should read international schools in Spain.
- Driving: the rules depend on which country issued your licence. See driving in Spain as a foreigner and how to exchange a UK driving licence in Spain.
- Removals: compare quotes early, because peak summer slots fill quickly. See best international moving companies for Spain.
A step-by-step moving timeline
Allow at least three to six months from deciding to move to holding your residence card, longer if you need apostilled and translated documents.
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| 6 months before | Choose your visa route; check income against the 2026 thresholds; start collecting criminal record checks and apostilles |
| 4 months before | Arrange compliant private health insurance; obtain sworn translations; book your consulate appointment |
| 3 months before | Submit your visa application (allow several weeks or more for a decision) |
| 1 to 2 months before | Arrange temporary accommodation; obtain removal quotes; take tax advice on the Beckham Law if you will be working |
| Week 1 in Spain | Sign a rental contract; register on the padrón; book your TIE fingerprint appointment |
| Within 1 month | Attend the TIE appointment |
| Months 1 to 3 | Open a resident bank account; register for healthcare; enrol children in school; file form 149 within six months if eligible |
| Ongoing | Confirm padrón every two years (non-EU); renew your permit on time; file Spanish tax returns |
Not sure whether Spain suits you at all? Read what is it like living in Spain as an expat? and is Spain a good place to live? for an honest look at bureaucracy, wages and housing pressure.
When to bring in a professional. If your income is close to a threshold, you have a past visa refusal, or you are moving with family members who are not your spouse or children, a Spanish immigration lawyer can save months. Browse visa lawyers in Spain in our directory.
Frequently asked questions
