Your paperwork in Spain, step by step, in your language
Documents, deadlines, fees and common mistakes for each procedure, with the official source quoted and the date it was reviewed. For people who have just arrived or just been granted legal status.
General information from official sources. This is not legal advice.
Official sources
Every fact links to the BOE, the ministry or the official website, with the date it was checked.
In 7 languages
Spanish, Arabic, French, English, Romanian, Chinese and Ukrainian.
Checklist and reminders
Tick off what you already have and get an email before each deadline.
Where do I start?
Choose your situation and we will show you the recommended order of procedures.
The guides
How to register your address in Spain (empadronamiento)
Empadronarte means signing up in the padrón municipal: the official list of the people who live in each town. It is compulsory for everyone who lives in Spain, also if you do not have legal status, and it opens the door to the health card, school, social services and many immigration procedures. Registering is free in Madrid, in Barcelona and in most town halls. What usually takes longest is getting the appointment; with the right papers, you do it in one visit or online.
Renew your residence permit (including the Real Decreto 316/2026 permit)
Your temporary residence permit (autorización de residencia temporal) has an end date. To stay in Spain legally, you apply for renewal (or a change to another permit) in the 2 months before it expires or, at the latest, in the 3 months after. You pay the immigration fee (modelo 790 código 052, the official payment form) and, once the permit is granted, the fee for the TIE card (modelo 790 código 012). If you apply on time, your permit stays valid while you wait for the answer. If you have the permit from the 2026 extraordinary regularisation, it is not renewed in the same way: after one year you must change (modify) it to another permit.
Social Security number (NUSS / NAF)
The Número de la Seguridad Social (NUSS, Social Security number) identifies you in the Spanish Social Security system. When you start working, that same number becomes your affiliation number (NAF, número de afiliación). You need it for a company to register you, to work as self-employed (autónomo) and for many benefit procedures. It is free and it is given by the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS, the Social Security General Treasury): online in Import@ss (the TGSS online portal) or at a TGSS office. With a digital certificate or Cl@ve it is faster; without a digital ID, the TGSS first checks your identity and it takes longer.
Public health card (tarjeta sanitaria individual, TSI)
The tarjeta sanitaria individual (TSI, individual health card) is the card you use for public health care: family doctor, health centre, specialists and prescriptions. It is issued by the health service of your autonomous community (region) and applying is free. Usually you need to be registered in the padrón (empadronamiento) and to have your right to health care recognised. If you are in Spain without legal residence, you also have this right: since 13 March 2026, Real Decreto 180/2026 sets a common procedure, with a temporary document that gives you access from the day you apply and an answer within a maximum of 3 months.
Open a bank account
In Spain you have the right to open a basic payment account (cuenta de pago básica), even if you do not have a residence permit yet. You can use it to receive your salary, pay bills, take out cash and use a debit card. The maximum fee is 3 € a month, and it is free if you are in a vulnerable situation. If the bank says no, it must give you the reasons in writing within a maximum of 10 working days.
Get your degree or diploma recognised (homologación or equivalencia)
To use a qualification from another country in Spain, you need official recognition. University degrees are recognised by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities) (fee 166,50 €, decision within a maximum of 6 months). Secondary school (ESO), Bachillerato (upper secondary) and vocational training (Formación Profesional, FP) qualifications are recognised by the Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes (Ministry of Education). You almost always need an official translation and an apostille or legalisation.
Driving licence: exchange (canje) or theory test
If you live in Spain with a driving licence from another country, you have two paths. If your licence is from the EU/EEA, it stays valid while it is in date. If it is from a country with an agreement (convenio) with Spain (for example Morocco, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia or Ukraine), you can exchange it (canje) without a test for fee 2.3 (28,87 €), and you can only drive with it for 6 months from when you have legal residence. If your country has no agreement, you must get the B licence in Spain: fee 2.1 (94,05 €), theory test and practical test.
Path to Spanish nationality by residence
You can apply for Spanish nationality if you have lived in Spain legally and without breaks for a certain time: 10 years in general, 5 if you are a refugee, 2 if you are from an Ibero-American country, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal (or Sephardic), and 1 year in special cases. Usually you must pass two Instituto Cervantes exams (CCSE and DELE A2) and pay a fee of 104,05 €. You apply online on the e-office of the Ministerio de Justicia (Ministry of Justice). The law gives 1 year to decide, but in practice it usually takes longer; after that you have 180 days to swear or promise (jura o promesa).
Prices
Free: the full empadronamiento guide and the summary of every guide.
4,99 €/mes · 19,90 € · 12 meses
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