Retiring to the Costa Brava?
Cadaqués, L'Escala, Empuriabrava, Begur… You've made the decision. What's left is a chain of legal steps — visa or EU registration, NIE, padrón, healthcare, taxes — that need doing in the right order. We guide you through all of them, from before you leave home until you're settled in.
First, the question that changes everything: what's your citizenship?
The phases of the procedure, in order
Each phase with its legal basis. The order matters: several steps depend on the previous one.
1. Non-lucrative residence visa (non-EU citizens only)
Applied for at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence. You must show sufficient passive income — as a guide, around 400% of the IPREM index per year (roughly €2,400 per month, plus 100% more for each family member; the figure is updated annually) —, comprehensive health insurance with no co-payments, a criminal record certificate and a medical certificate. It does not allow you to work.
Arts. 46–51, Royal Decree 557/2011. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: this phase does not apply to you.
2. NIE and residence registration
The NIE is your foreigner identity number: without it there's no bank account, no property purchase, no utility contract. EU citizens also apply for the registration certificate (residence beyond 3 months), showing resources and health cover; non-EU citizens apply for the TIE (the physical card) within one month of entry.
Art. 101, RD 557/2011 (NIE); art. 7, RD 240/2007 (EU registration); art. 210, RD 557/2011 (TIE).
3. Empadronamiento — registering with your town hall
Registering on the padrón of your municipality (Cadaqués, Castelló d'Empúries, L'Escala…) is free and unlocks almost everything else: your health card, residence certificates, reduced rates on certain taxes.
Arts. 15–17, Law 7/1985 on Local Government.
4. Access to healthcare
If you receive a state pension from an EU country — or from the UK, under the Withdrawal Agreement — the S1 form from your country gives you access to the public system (CatSalut) funded by your home state. Otherwise, you keep your private insurance or, after a year on the padrón, can consider the convenio especial (public health buy-in).
Regulations (EC) 883/2004 and 987/2009; RD 576/2013 (convenio especial).
5. Taxes: plan before you move
Spend more than 183 days a year in Spain and you become a Spanish tax resident, taxed here on your worldwide income. How your pension (state or private), property or investments are taxed depends on the double-taxation treaty with your country — and on decisions best taken before the move, not after. Also on the list: the foreign-assets declaration (form 720) and Catalonia's wealth tax.
Art. 9, Spanish Income Tax Act; applicable double-taxation treaty; form 720.
6. Driving licence, bank, inheritance
EU driving licences remain valid; non-EU residents generally have 6 months to exchange theirs (where an agreement exists — the UK has one) or obtain a Spanish licence. And if you buy property or hold assets, it's the moment to review your will and the law governing your estate — you can opt for the law of your nationality.
Arts. 15 and 21, RD 818/2009; Regulation (EU) 650/2012, art. 22 (choice of succession law).
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Get started →Frequently asked questions
Can I work in Spain on a non-lucrative visa?
No. Non-lucrative residence expressly excludes any employment or professional activity in Spain (art. 46, Royal Decree 557/2011). It is designed precisely for retirees and people living on their own income.
Does Spain's golden visa still exist?
No. The residence visa for real-estate investment was abolished in April 2025. For retirees, the standard route today is the non-lucrative residence visa.
I receive a UK state pension. Do I get public healthcare in Spain?
Yes. Under the Withdrawal Agreement, UK state pensioners can register an S1 form in Spain, giving access to the public health system (CatSalut in Catalonia) funded by the UK. EU state pensioners use the same S1 mechanism.
When do I become a Spanish tax resident?
Generally, once you spend more than 183 days of the calendar year in Spain, or when your main economic interests are located here (art. 9 of the Spanish Income Tax Act). Tax residents are taxed on worldwide income, subject to the applicable double-taxation treaty.
How is my foreign pension taxed in Spain?
It depends on the double-taxation treaty between Spain and your country. As a general rule, private and occupational pensions are taxed in your country of residence (Spain), while many government-service pensions remain taxable only in the paying country. Check your specific treaty before you move — not after.
Note
This page is general information, not legal advice on your specific case. Figures such as the IPREM are updated yearly and consular requirements vary by country. Before taking decisions with tax or immigration consequences, get advice on your specific situation.