First Steps After Arriving in Spain: Your Checklist

You’ve made it to Spain. Now comes the practical work of establishing your life here. The first few weeks involve a mix of bureaucracy, setup tasks, and settling in. Here’s what to prioritize and in what order.

Week 1: Immediate priorities

Secure your accommodation

If you haven’t already signed a long-term lease, your first priority is finding stable housing. You need an address for almost everything else.

If you’re in temporary accommodation:

• Start apartment hunting immediately
• Ideally secure a rental within your first 2 weeks
• You can use your temporary address for some registrations, but permanent housing simplifies everything

Get a Spanish SIM card

You’ll need a local phone number for:

• Apartment applications
• Bank accounts
• Government appointments
• Two-factor authentication

Options:

• Prepaid: Available at phone shops and supermarkets (Vodafone, Orange, Movistar). Quick setup, just need passport.
• Contract: Requires NIE and bank account. Better rates but wait until you have those.

For your first weeks, prepaid is fine. You can switch later.

Open a Spanish bank account

You’ll need this for:

• Paying rent
• Receiving salary or transferring funds
• Direct debits (utilities, phone, etc.)
• Many visa requirements

Process:

1. Book appointment at bank (online or phone)
2. Bring passport, NIE (if you have it), proof of address
3. Some banks accept foreigners without NIE initially

Recommended banks for expats:

• N26 or Revolut (digital, easy setup)
• Sabadell, BBVA, Santander (traditional, good English support in major cities)

Week 1-2: Essential bureaucracy

Register on the padrón (empadronamiento)

The padrón is the municipal register. This is perhaps your most important early task because you need it for almost everything else.

What you need:

• Passport
• Rental contract or landlord authorization
• Completed form (available at town hall)

How to register:

1. Book appointment at your local Ayuntamiento (town hall)
2. Attend with documents
3. Receive your empadronamiento certificate

This certificate proves your address and is required for:

• TIE card application
• Healthcare registration
• School enrollment
• Many other official processes

Apply for your TIE card (if applicable)

If you entered Spain on a long-term visa, you must apply for your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) within 30 days of arrival.

Process:

1. Book appointment (cita previa) online—do this immediately as slots fill up
2. Gather documents (passport, visa, padrón, photos, fee payment)
3. Attend appointment for fingerprinting
4. Return to collect card (typically 30-45 days later)

Don’t miss the 30-day deadline. Book your appointment as soon as you arrive, even before you have all documents ready.

Get your NIE (if you don’t have one)

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your foreigner identification number. If you entered on a long-term visa, you likely received it already. If not, or if you’re an EU citizen, you may need to apply separately.

EU citizens: Apply for your EU registration certificate, which includes your NIE.

Non-EU citizens: Your NIE should be on your visa or will be assigned with your TIE.

Week 2-4: Healthcare and utilities

Register for healthcare

Once you have your padrón:

If eligible for public healthcare:

1. Visit your local Centro de Salud
2. Bring padrón, passport/TIE, Social Security number (if employed)
3. Register for your Tarjeta Sanitaria (health card)
4. You’ll be assigned a primary care doctor

If you have private insurance:

• Contact your insurer to understand their provider network
• Register with a primary care doctor in their network
• Save emergency contacts and nearest hospital information

Set up utilities

If your rental doesn’t include utilities:

Electricity:

• Contact the current provider or choose a new one
• You’ll need: NIE, bank account (for direct debit), rental contract
• Main providers: Endesa, Iberdrola, Naturgy

Gas:

• Similar process to electricity
• Often same provider as electricity

Water:

• Usually through municipal company
• Landlord may handle or transfer to your name

Internet:

• Main providers: Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, MásMóvil
• Contract requires NIE and bank account
• Installation can take 1-2 weeks

Many landlords leave utilities in their name and add costs to rent. Clarify this in your rental agreement.

Get a phone contract (optional)

Once you have your NIE and bank account, you can switch from prepaid to a contract plan for better rates. Compare:

• Movistar, Vodafone, Orange (main carriers)
• Pepephone, Lowi, O2 (budget carriers with good coverage)

Month 1-2: Settling in

Learn the neighborhood

Invest time in understanding your local area:

Find your essential spots:

• Nearest supermarket (Mercadona, Carrefour, Lidl, local shops)
• Pharmacy (look for the green cross)
• Bakery (panadería)
• Health center (Centro de Salud)
• Bank branch
• Post office

Transportation:

• Nearest metro/bus stops
• How to get to city center
• Where to find taxis or rideshares

Get a transport card

Most Spanish cities have rechargeable transport cards:

Madrid: Tarjeta de Transporte Público Barcelona: T-Casual or T-Usual Valencia: SUMA card Others: Check local transport authority

Monthly unlimited passes are usually best value if you’ll use public transport regularly.

Register with your embassy (optional but recommended)

Most embassies allow citizens to register their presence. Benefits:

• Emergency contact in crisis situations
• Voting information for home country elections
• Updates on local safety or policy changes

Get Spanish driving license (if needed)

If you plan to drive:

EU licenses: Valid indefinitely, but register with DGT after 2 years of residency.

Non-EU licenses: Generally valid for 6 months after establishing residency. Then you must exchange or take Spanish test.

Start the process early if you need to exchange—it can take months.

Ongoing: Building your life

Find your community

Isolation is a common challenge for newcomers. Actively seek connection:

Expat groups:

• Facebook groups for your city
• InterNations events
• Meetup.com gatherings
• Coworking communities

Local integration:

• Language exchange (intercambio) events
• Sports clubs or gyms
• Hobby groups
• Neighborhood associations

Start learning Spanish

Even in tourist areas, Spanish opens doors:

Options:

• Formal classes (Escuela Oficial de Idiomas is cheap and good)
• Private tutors (iTalki, local listings)
• Language exchange partners
• Apps (supplementary only)

Commit to regular practice from the start. It gets harder to prioritize later.

Understand the schedule

Spain operates on a different schedule than you may be used to:

Meals:

• Lunch: 2-4pm (main meal of the day)
• Dinner: 9-11pm

Shops:

• Many close 2-5pm (siesta hours)
• Sunday closures common
• Supermarkets often have longer hours

Work:

• Often 9am-2pm, then 5-8pm (split shift)
• Increasingly, continuous schedules (9am-6pm)

Social:

• Meeting for drinks at 10pm is normal
• Weekend nights go very late

Adjust your expectations and embrace the rhythm.

Checklist summary

First week

• Secure long-term accommodation
• Get Spanish SIM card
• Open bank account
• Book TIE appointment (if applicable)
• Book padrón appointment

First month

• Complete padrón registration
• Submit TIE application
• Register for healthcare
• Set up utilities (or confirm landlord handles)
• Get transport card
• Learn neighborhood essentials

First 2-3 months

• Receive TIE card
• Get phone contract (if switching from prepaid)
• Start driving license process (if needed)
• Find community/social groups
• Enroll in Spanish classes
• Register with embassy (optional)

Common mistakes to avoid

Missing the TIE deadline: The 30-day window is strict. Book your appointment on day one.

Not getting padrón early: You need this for almost everything. Don’t delay.

Underestimating bureaucracy time: Spanish admin takes longer than you expect. Start processes early and expect delays.

Isolating yourself: It’s easy to hide away while dealing with logistics. Force yourself to meet people from the start.

Fighting the schedule: You’ll be frustrated trying to do things at “normal” hours. Adapt to Spanish timing.

Ignoring Spanish: The longer you delay learning, the harder it gets. Start immediately.

Getting help

When you’re stuck:

Gestoría: Professional administrators who handle bureaucracy for a fee. Worth it for complex situations.

Expat forums: Others have faced your exact problem. Search and ask.

Town hall information offices: Most have oficinas de atención al ciudadano that can guide you.

Your consulate: For passport issues, emergencies, or complex legal questions.

The first weeks are intense, but once you’ve completed the essential bureaucracy, life settles into a much easier rhythm. Focus on the must-dos, be patient with the process, and remember that thousands of expats have navigated this successfully before you.