Your first 90 days in Spain: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Empadronamiento comes first: without the padrón certificate the TIE, healthcare and school steps stall, and some landlords resist letting tenants register at the address.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Empadronamiento (municipal register) at the town hall, then the TIE residence card at the police station
TIE within 1 month of entry; padrón as soon as a home address exists
Cita previa (appointment) slots for TIE fingerprinting are scarce in Madrid and Barcelona; the padrón certificate is a prerequisite for most other steps.
Get your NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero)
The foreigner ID number doubles as the tax ID — needed for a lease, bank account, utilities and any signed contract.
Assigned with the residence visa (printed on it) or via a Spanish consulate before arrival; otherwise requested at an Oficina de Extranjería or designated police station.
Open a bank account
Banks ask for the NIE, passport and a Spanish address; several also offer 'non-resident' accounts on a passport alone. US persons clear FATCA checks at the major banks, and Wise/Revolut commonly bridge the first weeks.
Enrol in healthcare
Workers are enrolled via social security and then register at the local health centre; non-working residents (e.g. non-lucrative visa) must hold full private insurance and can later buy into the convenio especial public scheme.
Sort your driver's license
A US licence is valid only 6 months after residency and the US has no exchange agreement with Spain — after that it is the full Spanish process: theory exam plus practical test, with the theory available in English.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Spain: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Spain?
Empadronamiento (municipal register) at the town hall, then the TIE residence card at the police station — TIE within 1 month of entry; padrón as soon as a home address exists. Cita previa (appointment) slots for TIE fingerprinting are scarce in Madrid and Barcelona; the padrón certificate is a prerequisite for most other steps. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the NIE and do I need one?
NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is Spain's personal tax/ID number. The foreigner ID number doubles as the tax ID — needed for a lease, bank account, utilities and any signed contract. Assigned with the residence visa (printed on it) or via a Spanish consulate before arrival; otherwise requested at an Oficina de Extranjería or designated police station.
Can I drive in Spain on a US license?
A US licence is valid only 6 months after residency and the US has no exchange agreement with Spain — after that it is the full Spanish process: theory exam plus practical test, with the theory available in English. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Spain?
Workers are enrolled via social security and then register at the local health centre; non-working residents (e.g. non-lucrative visa) must hold full private insurance and can later buy into the convenio especial public scheme. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Spain's system treats foreign residents.