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Move to Spain

NIE, TIE, padrón, EU registration, visas, and residency.

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Vacation in Spain

Short visits, entry rules, transport, places to stay, and practical trip planning in Spain.

Live in Spain

Healthcare, banking, taxes, digital access, and the key admin steps for everyday life in Spain.

Not legal advice. Always verify with official sources before filing.

1. Status 2. Goal 3. Result
Are you?
What are you trying to do?
Who are you joining in Spain?
How long do you plan to stay?

Entry rules and short stays

What this is for
Entry to Spain depends on your passport. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens can enter freely with a valid passport or national ID for any length of stay. Most other nationalities can enter Spain visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area — not just Spain. Some nationalities need a Schengen short-stay visa before travelling. Since April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is in force: non-EU visitors have their fingerprints and photo registered at the border on first entry instead of a passport stamp, and the system tracks the 90/180 allowance automatically — EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and non-EU holders of a Spanish residence permit or long-stay visa are exempt. ETIAS, a separate pre-travel authorisation for currently visa-free non-EU visitors, is expected later and not yet required — check the current status before you travel. Travel insurance is not legally required for EU citizens but is strongly recommended; it may be required for Schengen visa applicants.
Next 3 steps
  1. Confirm that your stay is an ordinary short visit rather than a move or residence plan.
  2. Check whether you are travelling as an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen or under Schengen short-stay rules for non-EU passports.
  3. If you are a non-EU visitor, expect biometric registration (fingerprints and photo) at the border under the EES on entry.
Official links
Spanish Government Spain: stays up to 3 months Official Spain government website European Union Check visa or ETIAS requirement Official European Union website European Union Entry/Exit System (EES) Official European Union website European Union Official EU 90/180 calculator Official European Union website

This app is a planning guide, not legal advice. Spanish immigration and administration rules, document lists, fees, and appointment labels can change. Always verify your procedure with official sources before filing.

Documents that often slow people down

Identity and civil records

  • Valid passport or EU national ID.
  • Birth, marriage, or partnership records where relevant.
  • Legalization or Hague apostille for many foreign public documents.
  • Sworn Spanish translations when documents are not accepted as-is.

Spain-side basics

  • Address in Spain and, when requested, padrón certificate.
  • Immigration appointment confirmation.
  • Correct EX form for your procedure.
  • Paid tasa receipt, often Modelo 790 with the matching code.

Money, health, purpose

  • Proof of economic means for routes that require it.
  • Health insurance or public coverage proof where required.
  • School admission, remote-work evidence, family link, or permit approval.
  • Criminal record certificate for some visas and residence routes.

Not every document applies to every route. The guide should help you narrow this down.

Official sources

This app is a planning guide, not legal advice. Spanish immigration and administration rules, document lists, fees, and appointment labels can change. Always verify your procedure with official sources before filing.

Last reviewed: July 2026