Spain
Relocating to Spain.
After moving to Spain for work, the first weeks are a chain of registrations. In order: empadronamiento (registration in the municipal register), TIE (foreigner's identity card), resguardo (the receipt of the application), certificado de registro (EU citizen's registration certificate), TGSS (Social Security Treasury). Each step unlocks the next, so the order matters. Settio builds this plan for every person you move, with deadlines and a portal in their language.
After arrival
The registrations, in order
- 1Register in the padrón at the ayuntamiento (empadronamiento)empadronamiento: registration in the municipal register
- 2TIE: fingerprints at the police by appointment (cita previa)TIE: foreigner's identity card
- 3Collect the TIEresguardo: the receipt of the application
- 4EU citizen's registration: the certificado de registrocertificado de registro: EU citizen's registration certificate
- 5Get the Social Security numberTGSS: Social Security Treasury
- 6Register at the health centre for the tarjeta sanitariatarjeta sanitaria: health card
- 7Open a bank account
- 8Register for Cl@ve, the digital identityCl@ve: the State's digital identity
Authorities
Who does what in Spain
Extranjería (the immigration authorities (UGE-CE and the Oficinas de Extranjería))
The UGE-CE decides the Ley 14/2013 routes; the Oficina de Extranjería of each province the general regime; the police issue the TIE
Official websiteAgencia Tributaria (Tax Agency (AEAT))
Income tax and the special regime for inbound workers
Official websiteSEPE (State Public Employment Service)
The catálogo de ocupaciones de difícil cobertura and the national employment situation
Official websiteOther countries
Official sources
- Ley 14/2013 (international mobility), consolidated, BOE: the UGE-CE decides within 20 days of the electronic filing, else the authorisation is granted by silence, and the decision may be challenged by recurso de alzada (art. 76.1); the TIE when the authorisation is longer than six months (art. 76.2); renewal for two years, filed late up to 90 days after expiry (art. 76.3); the company's registration at the UGE-CE valid three years, changes within 30 days (art. 76.4); visas decided in 10 working days (art. 75.5); family members may apply jointly (art. 62.4)
- Ley 39/2015, consolidated, BOE: days are working days unless the law says otherwise (art. 30.2); recurso de alzada within one month (art. 122); recurso de reposición within one month (art. 124)
- Ley 29/1998 (administrative courts), art. 46, BOE: two months for the recurso contencioso-administrativo
- Real Decreto 1155/2024, Reglamento de extranjería, in force 20 May 2025 (BOE): the employer files the general-regime authorisation at the Oficina de Extranjería of the workplace's province, decided in three months, silence means refusal (art. 77); the visa asked for within one month of the notification and issued within one month (art. 40); Social Security registration within three months of entry, the TIE within one month (art. 77, 209); renewal in the two months before expiry or the three months after (art. 80); the catálogo de ocupaciones de difícil cobertura (art. 75)
- Ley Orgánica 4/2000 (foreigners act), art. 32, BOE: long-term residence after five years of temporary residence
- Real Decreto 240/2007 (EU citizens), art. 7, BOE: registration in the Registro Central de Extranjeros within three months of entry, the certificado de registro issued at once
- Código Civil, art. 22, BOE: nationality by residence after ten years; two for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal
- Ley 20/2011 (civil registry), art. 46 and 47, BOE: the hospital reports the birth within 72 hours; otherwise the parents declare it within ten days
- Ley 7/1985 (local government), art. 15, BOE: everyone living in Spain registers in the padrón of the municipality where they live
- Estatuto de los Trabajadores, art. 31, BOE: two extraordinary payments a year
- Ley 35/2006 (income tax), art. 93, BOE: the special regime for workers moving to Spain: not resident in the five previous years, the year of the move and the five following, 24 % up to €600,000
- Agencia Tributaria, the option for the special regime: modelo 149 within six months of the start of the activity in the Social Security registration
- Agencia Tributaria: modelo 149 (communication of the option)
- Real Decreto 87/2025, salario mínimo interprofesional for 2025: €1,184 a month (BOE)
- Real Decreto 126/2026, salario mínimo interprofesional for 2026: €1,221 a month (BOE)
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What is the first thing to do after moving to Spain?
Register in the padrón at the ayuntamiento (empadronamiento). It unlocks the steps after it.
How does Settio help with relocation in Spain?
Settio builds the step-by-step plan for each person moving to Spain, checks documents before filing, tracks deadlines and gives the person a portal in their own language.
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Informational only. This guide is not legal advice. Always verify requirements with official government sources before acting. Facts checked 3 October 2026. About this information