Housing: renting, buying and the trust trap

Mistake 1. Renting without a contract in Spain

Many newcomers are convinced that renting an apartment in Spain is just as simple as in their home country. Unfortunately, it is not.

Most landlords require an official Spanish employment contract (contrato de trabajo español). Without it, they may hesitate to rent to you, even if you are ready to pay.

What to do:

If you work remotely, prepare a contract with your employer in advance and open an account with a Spanish bank to show regular income.

If you do not have an official contract, landlords often ask you to pay rent and a deposit for 6–12 months in advance.

Yes, it may seem difficult, but in Spain financial transparency is the primary criterion for trust.

Mistake 2. Choosing an agent

One of the typical mistakes is to contact 5–10 agencies at the same time. It may seem that this speeds up the process. In reality, it is the opposite. Agencies see that you are “looking everywhere” and do not take you seriously.

Solution:

Choose one professional agency you can trust to handle the search on a turnkey basis. Almost all companies, including EspanaTour, work with a single real estate database (MLS), which allows them to show you properties even if they are already listed by another agency. This saves time, energy and nerves.

2. Finances and paperwork: bureaucracy without panic

Mistake 1. Carrying cash without declaration

Spain strictly regulates cash circulation. Any amount over EUR 10,000 must be declared upon arrival (via the “red channel”).

If you fail to do this, the money can be confiscated and your bank account may be blocked.

What to do:

Open an account with a Spanish bank in advance – Sabadell, Santander, La Caixa. These banks are traditionally foreigner-friendly.

Transfer funds by bank wire from your account in your home country – this automatically confirms their legal origin.

Keep all documents related to the source of funds: income declarations, tax returns, purchase and sale contracts.

Mistake 2. Unprepared documents

Moving with the idea “I’ll sort everything out on the spot” is a reliable way to get stuck at the very beginning.

What you need to do before moving:

Get an apostille for all important documents (diplomas, certificates, references).

Order a sworn translation (Traducción Jurada) in Spain. Banks and government institutions often do not accept translations done abroad.

Mistake 3. No NIE

NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your key to life in Spain. Without it you will not be able to:

Buy or rent property,

Open a bank account,

Sign contracts, take out insurance or connect to the internet.

You can obtain an NIE at the Spanish consulate in your home country or apply for it at the local police station after arrival. The sooner you take care of it, the smoother your adaptation will be.

3. Adaptation and logistics: subtle but important nuances

Schools and children

Incorrect assumptions about registration dates are a common problem for families with children. Applications to public schools are accepted from March to May.

If you arrive later, your child may be offered a place in another district or even another town. That is why families planning to move by September start the process in advance – sometimes six months ahead.

Healthcare: speed and quality

Yes, Spain’s public healthcare system is high quality, but waiting times can stretch to several weeks.

You may have to wait up to 3 months to see a specialist.

For a scheduled operation – around 4 months.

The solution is clear: get private health insurance. This is not a luxury, but a necessity. A full family policy will cost around EUR 180–200 per month, but you will be able to see doctors and visit clinics immediately.

Car: is it worth bringing your own?

At first glance, bringing your own car seems like a logical idea. In practice, it is expensive and pointless.

Customs procedures for a foreign car in Spain are complicated and costly.

Technical standards (ITV) are stricter than in many EU countries.

Insurance for cars with foreign plates is more expensive and limited.

It is easier – and more economical – to sell your car at home and buy a car with Spanish registration after you arrive.

And if you live on the coast, say between Torrevieja and Alicante, it is really hard to manage without a car: buses are infrequent and distances are deceptively long.

The main rule: prepare, don’t improvise. Moving to Spain is not a spontaneous adventure, but a project that requires a systematic approach. Documents, finances, housing, insurance – all of these are links in the same chain.

We often tell EspanaTour clients: “Spain likes order.” Everything is possible here – you just need to know the rules of the game. And if you approach the process wisely, adaptation will be stress-free and the country will truly become your home, not a string of bureaucratic trials.