Closing out your life in Spain

Start with "Leaving Spain: what to close and what to leave alone". It sets out the sequence and shows which registrations lapse by themselves, so you do not waste effort on them.

From there, pick the pages that match what you still have to do:

• Booking offices and appointments around shortages and closures.
• Deciding what to do with your NIE and residence card.
• Collecting the records you will need later.
• Ending utilities, phone and internet.
• Ending insurance.
• Ending a job or self-employment.
• Clearing fines, debts and fees before they follow you.

Tax residency, bank closing, ending a tenancy, selling property and public healthcare cover are covered elsewhere.

Key rules

• Keeping records: Keep tax returns, receipts and payslips for at least 4 years, and keep pension and contribution records indefinitely.
• TIE absence: A non-EU temporary residence card can lapse after more than 6 months outside Spain in a year, and no formal surrender is required.
• Insurance notice: To stop an annual home, car or private health policy renewing, give the insurer notice at least one month before the policy expiry date, in a way that leaves proof.
• Self-employed baja: If you are self-employed, request the Social Security baja within three natural days of stopping, and file the tax census closure within one month.
• Resignation notice: If your agreement or contract sets no other period, resignation notice is usually 15 days, given in writing.
• Bank last: Close your Spanish bank account last, after every direct debit, refund and final tax payment has gone through.

Closing out your life in Spain: the whole process, step by step

• Plan around slow periods and book appointments (Planning around appointment shortages and office closures): Several weeks before you leave; schedule tasks before July or in September, as August and Christmas to 6 January are slow

• Collect the records foreign bodies ask for, such as vida laboral, tax residence and criminal record certificates (Spanish records to collect before you leave): Before you leave; time-sensitive certificates are best requested close to when you need them

• Give insurers notice for home, car and private health policies (Ending home, car and private health insurance when you leave): At least one month before the policy expiry date, in a way that leaves proof

• Resign and agree your final pay (Ending a job or self-employed (autónomo) activity before you leave): Give 15 days' written notice unless your agreement or contract sets another period

• If self-employed, close your Social Security registration and tax census (Ending a job or self-employed (autónomo) activity before you leave): Request the Social Security baja within three natural days of stopping, and file the tax census closure within one month

• Cancel electricity, gas, water, phone and internet, and return equipment (Ending utilities, phone and internet without extra charges): In the weeks before you leave; ask for written confirmation and a final meter reading

• Leave your NIE and residence card (TIE) as they are; non-EU residents should know the absence limit (What happens to your NIE and residence card (TIE) after you leave?): A non-EU temporary residence card can lapse after more than 6 months outside Spain in a year, and no formal surrender is required

• Deal with fines, vehicle and debts that can follow you (Fines, debts and fees that can follow you abroad): Before you leave; paying a traffic fine within 20 days gives a 50% reduction

• Check for unwanted direct debits and ask your bank for refunds (Ending utilities, phone and internet without extra charges): Within 8 weeks for an authorised direct debit, and within 13 months for an unauthorised one

• Close your Spanish bank account last (Closing bills, bank and records, bank last): After every direct debit, refund and final tax payment has gone through

• Keep your records (Spanish records to collect before you leave): Keep tax returns, receipts and payslips for at least 4 years, and pension and contribution records indefinitely

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Certificado de empadronamiento — Spanish records to collect before you leave
• Tax residence certificate — Spanish records to collect before you leave
• Your ID — Ending utilities, phone and internet without extra charges

Income and work

• Certificate of being up to date with tax obligations — Spanish records to collect before you leave, Fines, debts and fees that can follow you abroad
• Informe de vida laboral — Spanish records to collect before you leave
• Vida laboral report — Leaving Spain: what to close and what to leave alone

The home and the lease

• Your contract number and the address of the supply — Ending utilities, phone and internet without extra charges

Payments and receipts

• A written receipt or confirmation of your baja from the provider — Ending utilities, phone and internet without extra charges
• Proof that the car was sold or transferred — Ending home, car and private health insurance when you leave

Other documents

• Social Security portable documents for your destination — Spanish records to collect before you leave

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Closing out your life in Spain: questions that cross several articles

Which Spanish registrations do I have to cancel myself, and which end on their own?

Most need you to act: self-employment, utilities, insurance, bank and vehicle all need active cancellation or notice. Your Social Security number never lapses, and your residence card needs no formal surrender. Read Leaving Spain: what to close and what to leave alone, then What happens to your NIE and residence card (TIE) after you leave?.

Which Spanish ties should I keep open after leaving?

Keep a Spanish bank account, your digital certificate or Cl@ve, your Social Security number and your NIE if you have property, income or pension claims. The bank account should be closed last, once everything has cleared. See Leaving Spain: what to close and what to leave alone and Closing bills, bank and records, bank last.

Do I have to tell the traffic authority (DGT) when I move abroad with a car or licence?

No, there is no general duty to report a move abroad for a driving licence, and it stays valid until it expires. A car stays registered in Spain, so road tax, insurance and inspection still apply unless you request a deregistration for export. Read Fines, debts and fees that can follow you abroad and Leaving Spain: what to close and what to leave alone.

Which closing tasks can I do online without an appointment?

Many can be done online with Cl@ve or a digital certificate, such as the vida laboral, tax certificates and tax returns, and the self-employed Social Security baja. Padrón baja often needs an in-person visit. See Planning around appointment shortages (cita previa) and office closures and Spanish records to collect before you leave.

Do I need to hand in my residence card when I leave Spain for good?

No, a non-EU resident has no general duty to hand in the card or tell immigration when leaving permanently. The authorisation simply lapses, though telling the foreigners' office can help avoid problems on re-entry if you have long-term residence.