Wondering why and how to become a Resident of Spain? Here’s the article for you!

First of all, here’s a quick reminder of the law:

Anyone living in Spain for more than 3 months in total is required to become a resident, and is therefore subject to Spanish income tax (except in special cases, such as civil servants).

RESIDENT AND NON-RESIDENT

To find out how to become a resident of Spain, you first need to understand what this means.

A non-resident has a second home in Spain, but his or her official tax domicile is in another country. His or her stay in Spain may therefore not exceed 183 days per year.

A resident has his or her official domicile in Spain, and is therefore removed from the population register of his or her country of origin.

 

PERMANENT RESIDENCE

After having been a Spanish resident for 5 years, and if you are not responsible for any crimes in Spain, you can apply to become a Permanent Resident, which grants you almost the same rights as Spanish citizens, such as public services, education, etc.

 

 

BECOMING A RESIDENT AS A PENSIONER OR DISABLED PERSON

• Ask for the S1 or E121 document from the mutual insurance company in your country of origin, in order to access Spanish social security.
• An official document from the pension fund showing the amount of pension received.
• Obtain your NIE (Identification number for foreigners).
• Empadronamiento: having a tax address in Spain (property, rental or address with a third party).
• Opening a Spanish bank account is strongly recommended.

 

 

IMPORTANT: Some mutual insurance companies in the European Union require the de-registration document in order to provide the S1 or E121 document. This puts the applicant in the uncomfortable position of no longer being covered by the mutual insurance company in their country of origin, but still not being covered by Spanish social security, as the transition period can last several months. It is therefore strongly recommended to prepare for expatriation in advance, and to take out health insurance with a partner insurance company.

 

 

BECOMING A RESIDENT AS AN EMPLOYEE

• Obtain your NIE.
• Empadronamiento: have a tax address in Spain (property, rental or address with a third party).
• Open a Spanish bank account.
• Have a job in Spain.

  ( Residency can be established after 3 months for a full-time job, after 6 months for a part-time job, after one year for a quarter-time job. )

 

 

BECOMING A RESIDENT AS AN UNEMPLOYED PERSON

• Obtain your NIE.
• Empadronamiento: have a tax address in Spain (property, rental or address with a third party).
• Opening a Spanish bank account.
• Equity contribution of between €7,000 and €8,000 per person.
• Private medical insurance in Spain.

 

 

 

At Montesinos Falcón Real Estate, we can help you with all your administrative needs,

don’t hesitate to call on our services and advice!