Essential links for moving to Spain

Bookmark this page. When you’re planning and executing your move to Spain, you’ll return to these websites repeatedly. Rather than searching each time, having them organized in one place saves hours of frustration. This guide collects the most essential resources across every category you’ll need.

Government and official portals

The Spanish government runs most services through online portals, though navigating them requires patience. The most important site is the Sede Electrónica at sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es, where you’ll book appointments for your NIE, TIE, and residency applications. Check this site frequently—appointments release at unpredictable times and fill quickly.

For tax matters, the Agencia Tributaria at sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es handles everything from filing returns to obtaining tax certificates. You’ll need this for annual tax filing and various official processes throughout your time in Spain.

Social Security services, including healthcare registration and autónomo enrollment, run through inclusion.seg-social.es. The traffic department (DGT) at sede.dgt.gob.es handles driver’s license exchanges and vehicle registration.

Banking and money transfers

Managing money between countries is one of the first practical challenges you’ll face. Traditional Spanish banks like Sabadell, BBVA, and CaixaBank offer comprehensive services but require NIE numbers and in-person appointments. Digital banks like Openbank, N26, and Revolut let you get started faster with fewer requirements.

For international transfers, Wise at wise.com consistently offers the best exchange rates and lowest fees. Revolut works well for multi-currency needs and occasional transfers. When you’re moving significant amounts, compare rates across CurrencyFair and OFX as well—the savings on large transfers justify the extra research.

Service	Best For	URL
Wise	Regular international transfers	wise.com
Revolut	Multi-currency, occasional use	revolut.com
Openbank	Fee-free Spanish account	openbank.es
Sabadell	Expat-friendly traditional bank	bancsabadell.com

Housing search

Finding housing in Spain happens primarily through two portals. Idealista at idealista.com has the most listings and should be your first stop. Fotocasa at fotocasa.es serves as a good secondary source with some different inventory.

For shorter stays or when you need verified, furnished rentals, Spotahome at spotahome.com and HousingAnywhere at housinganywhere.com offer more security than standard listings. They verify properties and provide more protection for international renters who can’t easily visit in person.

If you’re interested in coliving—a popular option for digital nomads and those wanting built-in community—check coliving.com for a directory of options across Spain.

Healthcare resources

Spain’s healthcare system ranks among the world’s best, but accessing it requires understanding the public-private divide. For private insurance, the major providers include Sanitas at sanitas.es, Adeslas at segurcaixaadeslas.es, ASISA at asisa.es, and DKV at dkvseguros.com.

If you’re a digital nomad or frequent traveler, SafetyWing at safetywing.com offers nomad-specific coverage, though verify it meets Spanish visa requirements. For comprehensive international coverage, Cigna Global serves expats worldwide.

Finding open pharmacies (farmacias de guardia) when you need medication after hours can be done through local listings or the Farmacias.com app.

Employment and income

Job searching in Spain centers on InfoJobs at infojobs.net, the country’s largest job portal with the most listings. LinkedIn remains essential for professional roles and positions at international companies.

Platform	Focus	URL
InfoJobs	Largest Spanish job board	infojobs.net
LinkedIn	Professional, international	linkedin.com/jobs
Tecnoempleo	Technology roles	tecnoempleo.com
Remote OK	Remote positions	remoteok.com

For freelancers, the Spanish equivalent of self-employment (autónomo) requires registration through Social Security. Resources like Malt at malt.es connect freelancers with European clients specifically.

Learning Spanish

Language learning resources range from free apps to immersive schools. Duolingo at duolingo.com provides free, gamified basics. Babbel at babbel.com offers more structured courses. For conversation practice with native speakers, iTalki at italki.com connects you with tutors at various price points.

In-person language schools like Don Quijote and Enforex operate locations throughout Spain if you prefer classroom immersion.

Expat communities

Connecting with other expats provides support, local knowledge, and friendship during your transition. The Expat Forum Spain at expatforum.com/spain hosts active discussions on every topic imaginable. InterNations at internations.org organizes events and professional networking.

Facebook groups remain incredibly useful—search for “Expats in [your city]” to find local communities. These groups provide real-time answers and recommendations from people living your situation.

For English-language news about Spain, The Local at thelocal.es covers stories relevant to expat life.

Transportation

Getting around Spain is easy thanks to excellent public transit. Renfe at renfe.com operates all national rail including the AVE high-speed trains. Book in advance for the best prices on long-distance routes.

For intercity buses, ALSA at alsa.com covers most routes affordably. Budget airlines like Vueling, Ryanair, and Iberia connect Spanish cities and European destinations cheaply if you book ahead.

Emergency contacts

Save these numbers in your phone before you need them. The universal emergency number 112 connects you to police, fire, and medical services. Operators often speak English or can transfer you to someone who does.

Service	Number
All emergencies	112
National Police	091
Guardia Civil	062
Medical emergency	061
Domestic violence	016
Suicide prevention	024

Your first-week checklist

When you first arrive, these are the sites you’ll use immediately. Bookmark them now so they’re ready when you need them.

Start with the Sede Electrónica for NIE appointments—check multiple times daily as slots appear unpredictably. Open Idealista to begin your housing search, even if just to understand the market. Set up Wise for money transfers if you haven’t already.

Find your city’s padrón appointment system, as you’ll need census registration for many other processes. If you don’t have one yet, research Spanish bank options—Sabadell and Openbank are good starting points.

These links represent hundreds of hours of accumulated expat knowledge. Keep this page bookmarked and refer back as you progress through your move—each phase of settling in brings new needs and these resources will see you through all of them.