Moving to Spain
Everything you need to move to and settle in Spain — visas and residency, taxes, healthcare, housing, schools, banking, and the realities of daily life as an expat.
15 guidesVisas & Residency
15 guidesTaxes for Expats
14 guidesCost of Living & Budgets
13 guidesBanking & Money
12 guidesHealthcare & Insurance
12 guidesHousing & Where to Live
12 guidesWorking, Business & Remote
12 guidesFamily, Schools & Education
12 guidesMoving Logistics
10 guidesDaily Life & Infrastructure
12 guidesCulture, Language & Integration
11 guidesThe Emotional Side of Moving Abroad
Featured Guides
Banking & MoneyUS Citizens Banking in Spain: FBAR, FATCA & Why Some Banks Turn Americans Away
Why some Spanish banks refuse Americans, which ones welcome you, and what FBAR and FATCA mean for your Spanish IBAN as a US citizen abroad.
Cost of Living & BudgetsSpain's Public Healthcare (SNS) vs Private Insurance: Which Costs Less for Expats?
Compare Spain's public SNS healthcare and private insurance costs for expats — who qualifies, what you'll really pay, and which option fits your situation.
Taxes for ExpatsAutónomo Taxes in Spain: The Income-Based Cuota System and What Freelancers Really Pay
Spain's income-based autónomo cuota ties your monthly social security payment to real earnings. Here's how the brackets, IRPF and IVA actually work.
Visas & ResidencyRenewing Your Spain Digital Nomad Visa: The 6-Month Presence and Spanish Bank Deposit Traps
Two traps sink most Spain Digital Nomad Visa renewals: the 183-day physical presence rule and how you use your Spanish bank account. Here's how to avoid both.
Culture, Language & IntegrationThe Spanish Daily Rhythm: Meal Times, the Midday Pause, and Why Dinner at 10pm Isn't Crazy
Understand Spain's daily rhythm — from 3pm lunches and the midday pause to 10pm dinners — and learn how to adjust without losing your mind or your sleep.
Moving LogisticsShipping Your Belongings to Spain: Removals, Customs, and the Menaje de Casa Exemption
A practical guide to shipping belongings to Spain: choosing movers, using the menaje de casa customs exemption, and avoiding costly paperwork mistakes.
About Moving to Spain
Thinking about moving to Spain? Whether you're relocating as a remote worker on the digital nomad visa, retiring on a non-lucrative visa, moving freely as an EU citizen, or simply chasing a sunnier life, this is your complete, practical guide to making the move. We cover the parts that actually matter — visas and residency, taxes, healthcare, banking, where to live, schools, and the day-to-day realities of expat life across Spain's very different regions.
Below you'll find in-depth guides organized by topic, from the digital nomad visa and the NIE/TIE process to the Beckham Law tax regime and the honest emotional side of adjusting to life abroad. New here? Start with Visas & Residency and Cost of Living, then work through the rest as you plan. One important note: rules differ sharply by autonomous community — taxes especially — so we flag where your region changes the answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreigner move to and live in Spain?
Yes. EU/EEA citizens have freedom of movement and simply register. Non-EU options include the digital nomad visa (for remote workers, from the 2023 Startup Law), the non-lucrative visa (for those with sufficient passive income), and student and work visas. Note the Golden Visa investor route was abolished in 2025. See our Visas & Residency guides.
What is Spain's digital nomad visa?
Introduced under the 2023 Startup Law, it lets non-EU remote workers live in Spain while working mainly for non-Spanish companies (self-employed people can qualify if under ~20% of income comes from Spanish clients). It requires proof of income tied to the Spanish minimum wage (the threshold tracks the annual SMI, so confirm the current figure), plus private health insurance. Qualifying holders can opt into the Beckham Law tax regime. Confirm requirements with the Spanish consulate or the UGE.
Was Spain's Golden Visa abolished?
Yes. Spain ended its Golden Visa (residency-by-investment, including the €500,000 property route) effective 3 April 2025 under Organic Law 1/2025. Many websites still wrongly present it as active — buying property no longer grants residency. See Visas & Residency.
How does tax residency work in Spain?
You're generally a Spanish tax resident if you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain or your main centre of economic interests is there (the tests are alternative). Residents are taxed on worldwide income (IRPF); the Beckham Law regime can let qualifying new arrivals be taxed only on Spanish-source income for several years. Wealth tax varies dramatically by region. Confirm with the Agencia Tributaria or a gestor. See Taxes for Expats.
What is healthcare like in Spain?
Spain's public health system (SNS) is well regarded and accessed via social-security contributions; those not yet covered can pay into the convenio especial scheme or take private insurance (often required for visas). Many expats use private cover for speed and English-speaking doctors. See Healthcare & Insurance.
Do I need to speak Spanish to live in Spain?
It helps significantly for paperwork, daily life, and integration, though English is widely spoken in major cities and coastal expat hubs. Note several regions also have co-official languages (Catalan, Basque, Galician). See Culture, Language & Integration.