Checklist for moving to Spain from Latin America in 2026: visas, paperwork, and settling in

If you're planning to move to Spain from Latin America in 2026, this checklist will guide you through every step: from visas to municipal registration, health insurance, renting a home, opening a bank account, and cultural adaptation. Spain has specific requirements depending on your region, tight deadlines, and varying rules based on your country of origin. For example, in 2026, the digital nomad visa requires a remote work contract with a non-Spanish company and a minimum monthly income of €2,520 (2.2 times the Spanish minimum wage). Use this list in Foco to track each task with deadlines, priorities, and automatic reminders.

What this checklist covers

All the legal, logistical, and practical steps to settle in Spain in 2026: visas (student, work, digital nomad, or non-lucrative), municipal procedures like empadronamiento (registration), healthcare access, opening a bank account without tax residency, and tips for renting in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia. It also includes steps to validate your university degree, hire private health insurance (mandatory for some visas), and adapt to local customs like meal times or waste management.

In Foco, each task can have start and due dates, priorities (set legal deadlines like empadronamiento within 3 months as urgent), reminders, and attached notes (e.g., a call recording with the embassy or photos of documents). Use Panorama mode to see all your moving tasks alongside other projects, or Foco mode to focus solely on this one. The Kanban view lets you organize tasks by stage (before traveling, first 30 days, first 6 months), and the calendar syncs with Google Calendar to avoid missing appointments at immigration offices or banks.

• Check if your country requires a tourist visa to enter Spain (list of exempt countries on the MAEC website) and calculate how long you can stay without a residency permit (90 days for most Latin Americans)
• Choose the right visa based on your situation: work (employment contract in Spain), self-employment, digital nomad (remote work for a foreign company), student (enrollment in a recognized institution), or non-lucrative (proof of savings)
• Gather visa documents: passport valid for at least 1 year, application form, passport-sized photos, apostilled criminal record certificate (no older than 3 months), private health insurance covering Spain (minimum €30,000), proof of financial means (varies by visa), and, if applicable, employment contract, university enrollment, or letter from your foreign employer
• Book an appointment at the Spanish consulate in your country (wait times may exceed 2 months in 2026; use the official MAEC appointment website)
• Translate all non-Spanish documents into Spanish (certified translator recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• Apostille public documents (criminal record, university degree, birth certificate) at your country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Purchase private health insurance that meets visa requirements (companies like Sanitas, Adeslas, or DKV offer policies for foreigners; ensure repatriation coverage)
• Arrange temporary accommodation for your first 30 days (Airbnb, hostels, or shared flats on Idealista or Badi) and sign a lease of at least 6 months for empadronamiento (you’ll need a provisional NIE or passport)
• Apply for your NIE (Foreigner Identity Number) at the Immigration Office or police station in your Spanish city (appointment required; bring form EX-15, passport, proof of fee payment (Model 790 code 012), and a copy of your rental contract)
• Register at your local town hall (empadronamiento) to access public healthcare, enroll children in school, or apply for residency (bring passport, NIE, rental contract, and completed registration form)
• Open a bank account without tax residency (banks like BBVA, CaixaBank, or N26 allow accounts with a passport and NIE; some require proof of income or employment contract)
• Apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you’re an EU citizen or the Individual Health Card (TSI) at your local health center (requires empadronamiento and NIE; some regions allow online applications)
• Validate your university degree if you’ll work in a regulated profession (doctor, lawyer, engineer) through the Spanish Ministry of Education (process may take 6-12 months; bring apostilled degree, study program, and fee payment)
• Register in your town hall’s municipal census if staying over 6 months (renew every 2 years; required to renew NIE or access social benefits)
• Register as self-employed at the Tax Agency if working freelance (form 036 or 037; requires NIE and Spanish bank account)
• Join expat communities in your city (Facebook, Meetup, or groups like 'Latinos in Madrid' or 'Venezuelans in Barcelona') for practical advice and networking
• Learn Spanish meal times: lunch between 14:00 and 15:30, dinner after 21:00, and siestas in small towns (shops may close between 14:00 and 17:00)
• Familiarize yourself with recycling rules: yellow bins (packaging), blue (paper), green (glass), and brown (organic); some cities fine for incorrect sorting
• Get a mobile SIM card with data (companies like Vodafone, Movistar, or Yoigo offer prepaid options for foreigners; bring passport and NIE)
• Learn basic Spanish phrases: '¿Me cobras, por favor?' (asking for the bill), '¿Tienen menú del día?' (affordable lunch menu), or '¿Dónde está la parada de metro más cercana?' (asking for the nearest metro stop)