What's the very first thing I should do after arriving in Spain?

Register your address (empadronamiento) at your local town hall as early as possible. Many later steps — opening a bank account, healthcare registration, TIE applications — ask for this certificate as proof of address.

Planning Your Move

The first 30 days in Spain

A realistic order of priorities for your first month after arriving in Spain.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-15Empadronamiento is often achievable within the first week or two; TIE and NIE appointments can take longer to secure depending on local demand, so book as early as possible.

This guide is not yet verified by Tuchati's editorial review — treat it as a helpful starting point, not a final legal answer.

Overview

Your first month in Spain is when most of the essential admin needs to happen — and several steps depend on completing an earlier one first. This guide lays out a sensible order so you're not stuck waiting on something you could have started sooner.

Requirements

Relevant to anyone who has just arrived in Spain, regardless of visa category

Step-by-step process

Register your address (empadronamiento) at your local town hall as early as possible — many later steps require this certificate as proof of address
Apply for your TIE (foreigner ID card), if your visa/residency status requires one, generally within the first month of arrival
Get your NIE, if you don't already have one from your visa process
Open a Spanish bank account, since you'll need one for rent, utilities, healthcare co-payments and more
Register for healthcare — your route depends on your situation (employee, self-employed, EU citizen with an S1, or private insurance)
Set up mobile, internet and utilities if you haven't already

Required documents

Passport
Visa/residency approval, if applicable
Rental contract or proof of address, for empadronamiento

Common mistakes

Trying to open a bank account or register for healthcare before empadronamiento, when many providers ask for it as proof of address
Underestimating appointment wait times for TIE and NIE processes in high-demand areas — book the moment you're eligible to

Practical tips

Prioritise appointment-dependent steps first — paperwork itself is rarely the bottleneck, appointment availability is
Keep both physical and digital copies of every document and certificate you receive during this month — you'll be asked to show them again in unrelated processes

How Tuchati can help

If your first month feels overwhelming, Tuchati can help you sequence these steps correctly for your specific situation and keep track of what's done and what's pending.