Spain, topic by topic
Seven chapters that apply to everyone. Start at the beginning or jump to what you need.
Bureaucracy
Spain runs on two ID numbers, a town-hall registration, and patience — get the sequence right and everything else moves faster.
Free–€16 NIE application fee (Modelo 790-012) Read bureaucracy 02Banking
You cannot get far in Spain without a bank account, and you cannot get a bank account without an NIE — plan the order carefully.
NIE Required before any account opens Read banking 03Visas & Immigration
The Golden Visa is gone; the Non-Lucrative and Digital Nomad visas are now the two main non-EU doors, alongside a major 2025 regulatory overhaul.
Abolished Golden Visa — ended April 3, 2025 Read visas & immigration 04Work
Spain’s minimum wage keeps climbing, but so do social security costs — especially for the self-employed, where the tiered autónomo system is a frequent shock.
€1,221/mo SMI minimum wage, 14 payments (2026) Read work 05Education
Public school is free and well-regarded; international schools in Madrid and Barcelona charge private-school-in-a-major-city prices; university is a bargain for EU residents and reasonable even for non-EU students.
Free Public school (colegio público) Read education 06Housing
Spain is mid-crisis on housing affordability — rents hit record highs through 2026, and a proposed tax targeting non-EU buyers is still just a proposal, not law.
+4.2% National rent growth, year to June 2026 Read housing 07Cost of Living
Spain remains one of Western Europe’s better value-for-money countries — noticeably cheaper than the UK, France, or Germany on daily costs, with rent as the main exception in the two biggest cities.
~20-30% Cheaper than UK/Germany on average costs Read cost of livingSources & how current this is
Government
Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones — ExtranjerÃaSeguridad Social — Social Security registration & autónomo ratesMinisterio de Sanidad — public healthcare rulesSede Electrónica — NIE/TIE appointments (cita previa)Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores — visa categories & consulatesSpanish immigration and tax rules have moved unusually fast since 2025 — the Golden Visa was abolished, the Digital Nomad Visa and the revised Beckham Law regime (both from 2023) matured, and a major Reglamento de ExtranjerÃa reform landed in May 2025 with further regularization measures rolling out into 2026. Confirm income thresholds, IPREM-linked figures, and contribution tiers on the official sites above before filing anything, since several update annually or mid-year.