Buying insurance in Spain without an NIE or Spanish bank account

Key rules

• Ask first: Each insurer decides for itself whether to accept a passport, a foreign IBAN or a card, so ask before you apply.
• Payment: If direct debit from your foreign account is refused, pay by card, bank transfer or through a broker.
• Mortgage: A lender will require full documentation, so do not rely on a policy bought without an NIE.
• NIE: Getting your NIE soon is the lasting fix.

Can you buy insurance without an NIE or Spanish bank account?

Sometimes. Many insurers ask for an NIE and a Spanish IBAN, but some accept a passport, a foreign IBAN or a card payment. It depends on the insurer and the product, so ask before you fill in a long form.

Passport instead of NIE

Some insurers will sell you a policy with just your passport. Others insist on an NIE, most often for home, life and car policies. The documents list below shows what insurers usually ask for.

Foreign bank account

Many insurers accept an IBAN from another eurozone country for direct debit. Some insist on a Spanish account. If yours is refused, you have three other routes:

• Pay by card. This is common for the first payment and for an annual premium.
• Pay by bank transfer.
• Pay through a broker.

Workarounds that work for some people

• English-language brokers. They can place a policy with an insurer using your passport. They also deal with payment questions.
• Online insurers that take card payment. These are often the quickest if you have no Spanish account.
• International health insurance. It does not depend on Spanish paperwork in the same way.
• Travel or expat policies. These suit your first weeks or months.

Where you will hit a wall

Some insurers still require an NIE for home, life or car cover, and a Spanish IBAN for direct debit. A mortgage lender will want full documentation, so a policy bought without an NIE may not be enough for them. Check with your lender before you buy.

The long-term fix

Get your NIE as soon as you can. Once you have it, and ideally a Spanish account, more insurers will deal with you and you can move any temporary policy to a regular one. The decision and checklist below help you pick a route.

Choosing between options

How should you buy insurance if you have no NIE or Spanish bank account?

• Go through an English-language broker: You want help and have only a passport. The broker places the policy with an insurer for you.

• Buy online and pay by card: The product is simple and the online insurer accepts card payment and a passport.

• Choose an international health, travel or expat policy: You need cover now and the insurer does not require an NIE or a Spanish IBAN.

• Wait and get your NIE first: You need home, life or car cover that still requires an NIE, or a mortgage lender will ask for full documentation.

If the insurer accepts your passport and a card or your eurozone IBAN, buy now through a broker or online. If it requires an NIE or a Spanish IBAN, or a lender is involved, get your NIE first.

Documents insurers ask for when you buy a policy

Documents insurers ask for

• Passport, NIE (foreign ID number) or DNI (Spanish ID card). A passport is usually the ID you show if you have no NIE yet.

• Address of the property you are insuring, with the title deed or lease. For home insurance, the property itself usually serves as proof of address.

• An empadronamiento certificate (proof you are registered at your town hall), if the insurer wants more than the property address. This is rarely needed.

• Bank details (IBAN) for the premium. Many insurers accept a eurozone IBAN for direct debit, but some insist on a Spanish account. If yours is refused, pay by card, bank transfer or through a broker.

• For car insurance, a claims-history certificate (certificado de siniestralidad) from your previous insurer, so you keep your no-claims discount. A letter from a foreign insurer confirming claims-free years is often accepted, ideally in Spanish or English.

• For home insurance, be ready to answer a claims-history question on the form. A certificate is asked for less often.

• For life insurance, a health questionnaire and the details of your beneficiaries. If a lender asks for the policy to be linked to your mortgage, bring the loan details too.

Checklist

• Ask the insurer whether it accepts a eurozone IBAN for direct debit, or insists on a Spanish account.

• Ask which other payment methods it offers, such as card payment or bank transfer.

• Check whether the insurer will sell you the policy with a passport and no NIE for the product you want.

• Ask a broker to place the policy for you if the insurer refuses your IBAN or your passport.

• Pay the first premium and any annual premium by card if direct debit is refused.

Frequently asked questions

What can I pay with if an insurer refuses my foreign IBAN?

You can usually pay by card, by bank transfer or through a broker instead of direct debit. Cards are common for first payments and for annual premiums. Ask the insurer which of these it offers before you choose a policy.

Which kinds of insurance can I buy without an NIE?

Health, travel and expat policies are the easiest to buy without an NIE, especially from international health insurers or online insurers that take card payment. Some insurers still ask for an NIE on home, life or car policies. An English-language broker may place a policy for you with just your passport.

Will a mortgage lender accept insurance bought without an NIE?

No, a mortgage lender will require full documentation, so a workaround policy will not be enough for that purpose. Getting your NIE soon is the long-term fix, and it makes every other insurance purchase simpler.