# Moving to Spain — Official Task Guide > Maintained by Relokato (relokato.com/spain) > Generated: 2026-08-30 · Not legal or immigration advice --- ## Immigration & Visa ### Obtain FBI/national background check + apostille Published as a document requirement on Spain's non-EU residence routes. Spanish missions and the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE-CE) generally require the certificate to… **Source:** Hague Apostille Authorities — ### Apostille birth certificate (and marriage certificate if applying with spouse) Vital records do not expire but must carry a valid apostille. US users: state-issued vital records (birth, marriage) get the state-level apostille from the issuing state's Secretary of State. FEDERAL… **Source:** US Dept of State — Office of Authentications (federal docs) — ## Housing ### Sign long-term lease (LAU 1994 — 5-year tenant default) Standard residential lease (vivienda habitual) under LAU 1994 gives the tenant a 5-year minimum (7 years if landlord is a company), with annual rent updates capped to the IPC index. Expect to pay 1… **Source:** BOE — Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos — ## Financial ### File Modelo 720 if foreign assets exceed €50,000 in any of three categories Annual informative declaration of assets and rights located abroad. Mandatory if, on 31 December, the aggregate value in ANY of the three categories exceeds €50,000: (i) accounts held in financial… **Source:** AEAT — Modelo 720 FAQ (English) — ### Get Spanish tax ID (NIF) and register with Hacienda For non-EU residents your NIE doubles as your NIF. Register your tax residency with the Agencia Tributaria within 30 days of becoming resident — Modelo 030 (census declaration). Spain considers you… **Source:** AEAT — Modelo 030 — ## Post-Arrival ### Obtain NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) at your local Comisaría de Policía Go to your local Comisaría de Policía Nacional (extranjería desk) within your first weeks in Spain. The NIE is required for almost everything that follows: empadronamiento, opening a Spanish bank… **Source:** Policía Nacional — NIE (EX-15) — ### Empadronamiento — register at your local Ayuntamiento (town hall) This is the single most important first step. The 'padrón municipal' certificate is required for almost every other registration: TIE, NIF update, public healthcare, driver's licence exchange, school… **Source:** Ayuntamiento de Madrid — Empadronamiento — ### Apply for the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) within 30 days of entry or of permit approval The physical residence card for non-EU residents. Book a 'toma de huellas' (fingerprinting) appointment at the Oficina de Extranjería or a Comisaría de Policía Nacional via citaprevia.gob.es. Bring… **Source:** Cita Previa — Extranjería — ### Register at local Centro de Salud (public health centre) Healthcare is delivered by the autonomous community (SERMAS in Madrid, CatSalut in Catalonia, and so on). Bring NIE/TIE, padrón, and the Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual (TSI) request form. Whether you… **Source:** Sistema Nacional de Salud — --- ## About this guide Relokato maintains official-source relocation task lists for people moving abroad without corporate HR support. Every task in this guide links to the government or institutional source it came from. This is not legal, immigration, tax, or professional advice. Verify all requirements with official authorities or a licensed professional before acting. **Tools:** [Visa checker](https://relokato.com/tools/visa-checker) · [Cost calculator](https://relokato.com/tools/cost-calculator) © 2026 Goldmark Digital LLC d/b/a Relokato