What is an apostille and do I need one to move to Spain?

An apostille is an international certification under the Hague Convention that authenticates a public document (such as a birth certificate or criminal background check) for use in another country. Spain requires apostilles on most civil documents issued abroad, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, and criminal background checks. Bank statements and employment letters generally do not need an apostille, though some consulates ask for notarization instead. Get the apostille done in your home country before you leave: it is far harder to arrange from Spain.

What is a sworn translation (traducción jurada) in Spain?

A sworn translation is a translation produced by a traductor jurado: a translator officially certified by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Spain does not accept standard certified translations from other countries. All foreign documents submitted to Spanish authorities must be translated by a jurado translator. The correct order is apostille first, then sworn translation, since the translator will typically translate the apostille stamp as well. Keep the original apostilled document and the sworn translation together, as Spanish offices usually require both.

What is the NIE number in Spain and when do I get it?

The NIE (Numero de Identidad de Extranjero) is the foreigner identification number issued by Spain, in the format X-0000000-Z. You need it for almost everything in Spain: opening a bank account, signing a rental contract, registering as self-employed (autonomo), and more. You obtain it after arriving in Spain on your visa, either in person at an Oficina de Extranjeria with a cita previa appointment, or via a gestor. After your NIE, the next step is empadronamiento (registering at your local town hall), followed by applying for your TIE residency card within 30 days of entry.

Relocation

Where to Start When Moving to Spain: Your First Practical Steps

Q: What is the first step when moving to Spain from the UK or US?

The first step is choosing your visa path. For non-EU nationals (UK, US, Australian, Canadian), the main options are the Non-Lucrative Visa (for those with passive income or savings), the Digital Nomad Visa (for remote workers earning from clients outside Spain), and the standard work visa (tied to a Spanish employer). Everything else, including your documents, timeline, and tax situation, depends on which visa you are applying for. Getting this decision right first saves months of wasted preparation.

Q: What documents do I need to move to Spain?

The core documents required for most Spanish long-stay visas are: a valid passport (with at least 1 year of validity remaining), a birth certificate, a criminal background check from every country you have lived in for the past 5 years, proof of income or savings, private health insurance with no co-pays covering Spain, and proof of accommodation in Spain. Marriage certificates are required if applicable. Most of these documents will need an apostille and a sworn translation into Spanish.

Q: When do I become a Spanish tax resident?

You become a Spanish tax resident if you spend more than 183 days per year in Spain, or if your main economic interests are based in Spain. This is independent of what your home country classifies you as. Once you are a Spanish tax resident, you must declare your worldwide income in Spain. The US, UK, and most other countries have double taxation treaties with Spain, but the specific terms vary by country and income type. You may also be required to file the Modelo 720, a declaration of foreign assets above 50,000 euros per category. Tax planning before your first year in Spain is strongly recommended.

By Alisa Zinko, Licensed Immigration Professional · August 2026 · 8 min read

Moving to Spain sounds simple until you actually start. Then suddenly you are staring at a list of unfamiliar words (NIE, TIE, empadronamiento, apostille) and wondering which one comes first.

Here is the order that actually works, plus the document prep that trips up almost everyone.

Step 1: Choose Your Visa Path First

Everything else, your paperwork, your timeline, even your tax situation, depends on this. The main routes for non-EU citizens are:

Non-Lucrative Visa: for those living off passive income or savings, with no right to work for a Spanish company.
Digital Nomad Visa: for remote workers employed by (or contracting for) a company outside Spain. Currently the most popular route for working-age applicants.
Work Visa: tied to a job offer from a Spanish employer.
Family Reunification (reagrupacion familiar): if you have a Spanish citizen or legal resident as a spouse or close family member.

Get this decision right first. Switching paths mid-process usually means starting over.

Not sure which applies to you? Read the full comparison of the Non-Lucrative Visa and the Digital Nomad Visa, or book a session and get a direct answer for your situation.

Step 2: Apply for Your Visa

Applications for most long-stay visas happen at the Spanish consulate covering your place of residence, not in Spain itself.

The exception is the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), which can also be requested from within Spain if you enter on a tourist stay and apply before it expires. This route is often faster and more effective than going through the consulate: it skips consulate wait times and is processed through the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas), which tends to move quicker.

Whichever route you take, the application only moves as fast as your documents are ready. That is where most delays actually happen.

Step 3: Get Your Documents in Order

This is where most people lose weeks. Spanish bureaucracy has specific rules about which documents need translation, which need an apostille, and which need both.

Documents you will typically need

Valid passport (with enough validity remaining, usually at least 1 year beyond your planned stay)
Birth certificate
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Criminal background check from every country you have lived in for the past 5 years
Proof of income or savings (bank statements, employment contract, pension letters)
Private health insurance policy with no co-pays, covering all risks in Spain
Proof of accommodation in Spain

Apostille: what it is and what needs one

An apostille is an international certification that authenticates a public document (like a birth certificate or background check) for use in another country under the Hague Convention. Spain requires it for most civil documents issued abroad.

Document	Apostille required?	Notes
Birth certificate	Yes	Always
Marriage certificate	Yes	Always if applicable
Criminal background check	Yes	Required from all countries of residence in past 5 years
Bank statements	Usually not	Some consulates ask for notarization instead
Employment letter	Usually not	Employer letterhead and signature are generally sufficient
Health insurance policy	No	Policy document in English usually accepted

Get the apostille done in your home country before you leave. It is far harder and slower to arrange from Spain.

Sworn translation (traduccion jurada): the rule most people miss

Spain does not accept just any translation. Documents must be translated by a traductor jurado: a translator officially certified by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A regular certified translation from your home country will generally not be accepted.

Apostille first, translate second. A jurado translator will typically translate the apostille stamp as well. If you reverse the order, you have to start again.
Keep both the original apostilled document and the sworn translation together. Consulates and Spanish offices almost always want to see both.

Step 4: NIE, Empadronamiento, and TIE After You Land

Once you have arrived in Spain on your visa, there are three administrative steps to complete, in this order:

Step 01

NIE (Numero de Identidad de Extranjero)

Your foreigner ID number, needed for almost everything in Spain: opening a bank account, signing a lease, buying a car, registering as self-employed. You apply in person at an Oficina de Extranjeria with a cita previa appointment, or through a trusted gestor. Read the full step-by-step NIE guide.

Step 02

Empadronamiento (Padron Registration)

Registering at your local ayuntamiento (town hall) as a resident of that municipality. Required for accessing healthcare via the public system, enrolling children in school, and several other local services. You need proof of your address in Spain (a lease contract or a letter from your landlord confirming you live there).

Step 03

TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)

Your physical residency card. Applications must be submitted at the Oficina de Extranjeria, usually within 30 days of entering Spain. You will need your NIE and proof of empadronamiento before applying. The TIE is the document you will use to prove your legal residency status for the duration of your stay.

Step 5: Understand Your Tax Position Early

This is the step people skip, and then regret. If you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain, or your main economic interests are here, you are a Spanish tax resident regardless of what your home country says.

What this means in practice

Double taxation treaties: Check whether your home country has a treaty with Spain and how it treats your specific type of income. The US, UK, and most other countries each have different treaty terms, so the result is not the same for everyone.
US citizens: The US taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of residency. You will likely need to file in both countries, even if you owe nothing extra in the US thanks to foreign tax credits and exclusions.
Pensions: How your pension is taxed depends heavily on the treaty and the type of pension (state, private, government). Some pensions are taxable only in the source country; others become taxable in Spain once you are resident.
Investment and rental income: Treated differently under each treaty. A blanket assumption rarely holds. Get advice specific to your income profile.
Modelo 720: A mandatory declaration of foreign assets above 50,000 euros per category (bank accounts, securities, real estate), filed annually between January 1 and March 31. The old disproportionate penalty regime was struck down by the EU Court of Justice in 2022, so fines are now more measured, but the filing obligation is fully in force. Undeclared assets can be treated as unjustified capital gains if discovered.

Plan your tax position before you move, not after your first tax year closes. Retroactive fixes are expensive.

The Correct Order, Summarised

Phase	What to do	When
Before anything else	Choose your visa path	As soon as you decide to move
Home country	Apostille your documents, then get sworn translations	Before applying for your visa
Visa application	Apply at consulate (or in Spain for DNV)	Once all documents are ready
After arrival	NIE, then empadronamiento, then TIE	Within 30 days of entry
Before first tax year closes	Clarify tax residency and treaty position	Ideally before you move

Skipping ahead, especially on documents, is what turns a 3-month process into a 9-month one. The order matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first step when moving to Spain from the UK or US?

Choosing your visa path. For non-EU nationals, the main options are the Non-Lucrative Visa (passive income or savings), the Digital Nomad Visa (remote workers), and the standard work visa (Spanish employer). Everything else depends on this decision.

What documents do I need to move to Spain?

The core documents are: a valid passport, birth certificate, criminal background check (from every country of residence in the past 5 years), proof of income or savings, private health insurance with no co-pays, and proof of accommodation in Spain. Most will need an apostille and a sworn translation into Spanish.

What is an apostille and do I need one for Spain?

An apostille is an international certification under the Hague Convention that authenticates a public document for use in another country. Spain requires apostilles on birth certificates, marriage certificates, and criminal background checks. Get them done in your home country before you leave.

What is a traduccion jurada (sworn translation)?

A translation produced by a translator officially certified by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Standard certified translations from other countries are not accepted by Spanish authorities. The correct order is: apostille first, then sworn translation.

What is the NIE number and when do I get it?

The NIE (Numero de Identidad de Extranjero) is your foreigner ID number in Spain, needed for banking, leases, employment, and more. You get it after arriving on your visa, at an Oficina de Extranjeria. It is the first step of your post-arrival admin, before empadronamiento and the TIE.

When do I become a Spanish tax resident?

When you spend more than 183 days per year in Spain, or when your main economic interests are based in Spain. Once resident, you must declare your worldwide income in Spain. Tax planning before your first year is essential, particularly if you have foreign pensions, investments, or rental income.

Not sure where you stand?

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