Moving to Spain: the honest checklist.

SIX TO TWELVE MONTHS OUT

Decisions, not paperwork.

1. Pick the visa route before the town.
2. Check the income threshold honestly. Marginally over is not comfortably over.
3. Season your bank statements across about six months.
4. Decide the schooling question early. Popular international schools have waiting lists.
5. Get documents apostilled, not too early and not too late.

THREE MONTHS OUT

The application itself.

1. Book the consulate appointment immediately. Availability, not processing, is the bottleneck.
2. Arrange compliant private health insurance.
3. Get the criminal record check translated by a traductor jurado.
4. Prepare proof of accommodation.

THE FIRST NINETY DAYS

Arriving is not the same as being resident.

1. Get your NIE and TIE card. Nothing works without it.
2. Register on the padrón at the town hall.
3. Open a Spanish bank account.
4. Register with a local doctor.
5. Exchange your driving licence if it applies.

WHAT ACTUALLY GOES WRONG

The five failures we see most.

• Choosing the town on a two-week holiday. Visit in winter, or rent for six months before buying.
• Buying property before getting residency. The Golden Visa closed in April 2025.
• Underestimating tax. Over 183 days generally makes you tax resident on worldwide income.
• Using the estate agent’s lawyer. Independent representation is not optional.
• Assuming English is enough. Not at the town hall, the tax office or parents’ evening.

Coaching and guidance only, not legal advice. Not an immigration lawyer or agent. Every pathway goes through the official channel of the destination country.