Does your home-country credit history count in Spain?

Terms used

• CIRBE — The CIRBE is the Bank of Spain's register of the loans and debts people and companies have with Spanish lenders.
• Asnef-Equifax — Asnef-Equifax is a private list of people with unpaid debts, which Spanish lenders check.
• BADEXCUG — BADEXCUG is a private list of defaults and unpaid debts that Spanish lenders check.
• Aval — An aval is a guarantee from another person who agrees to repay your debt if you cannot.
• NIE — The NIE is the identification number Spain gives to foreigners.
• Padrón — The padrón is the register of residents kept by your town hall; its certificate proves your address.

Key rules

• Foreign scores: Spanish lenders generally do not recognise credit scores or reports from your home country.
• Starting point: You begin with no Spanish score, so income and savings evidence matter most.
• Bank programmes: Only some banks' expat programmes may weigh a foreign banking relationship, and only as a supporting document.
• Guarantor: A guarantor who is a Spanish resident with income can help when you have no local history.

Does your foreign score carry over?

Mostly no. Spanish lenders generally do not recognise foreign credit scores or reports. They check Spanish records instead, so as a newcomer you start with no score at all. That is not a bad score. It is an empty file, and you can make up for it with evidence.

The records lenders use are CIRBE, the Bank of Spain's register of loans and debts, and two private default lists, Asnef-Equifax and BADEXCUG. A clean foreign history does not appear in any of them.

Where your foreign history can still help

A few banks run expat, international or non-resident programmes. These may take your foreign banking relationship into account. This is most likely if you already bank with the same group in your home country.

Treat this as a bonus, not a right. Conditions vary case by case. The bank will usually still ask for proof of income and residence, and your foreign report is only a supporting document. Ask the bank directly whether it has such a programme before you apply.

Online lenders mostly score on Spanish data, so your foreign history is unlikely to help there.

What to offer instead

Bring as much of this as you can:

• Recent payslips and an employment contract, ideally a permanent one.
• A letter from your employer confirming your job and pay.
• Foreign bank statements, usually for the last 6 to 12 months.
• Your foreign tax return or equivalent.
• Proof of any savings or deposits you hold with the lender.
• A guarantor (aval): a Spanish resident with income who agrees to cover the debt if you do not pay.
• Your NIE and residence documents.
• A rental contract or a padrón certificate (proof you are registered at your town hall) as proof of address.

Stable pay, savings held with the lender and a guarantor carry the most weight when you have no local history. The documents list below shows what to prepare, and the questions below it cover which banks to try.

Build a Spanish record

Over time, a Spanish bank account, regular payments and a small product handled well create the history lenders look for. Start with the bank where your salary is paid.

Documents you need

• Recent payslips and an employment contract, ideally a permanent one, from your employer.

• A letter from your employer confirming your job and pay.

• Foreign bank statements, usually for the last 6 to 12 months, from your home-country bank.

• Your foreign tax return or equivalent, from your home tax authority.

• Proof of any savings or deposits you hold with the lender.

• Your NIE and residence documents.

• A rental contract or a padrón certificate (proof of your registration at the town hall) as proof of address.

Which documents a lender asks for varies, so confirm the exact list and format with the lender before you apply.

Frequently asked questions

Which Spanish banks might take my foreign banking history into account?

A few banks run expat or non-resident programmes that may look at your foreign banking history, including Banco Sabadell, CaixaBank and Openbank. BBVA and Santander may also do so if you already bank with the same group abroad. Conditions are case by case and the foreign report only supports your application.

Will online lenders look at my foreign credit report?

No, online lenders mostly score you on Spanish data, so a foreign report rarely helps there. You are better off applying to a bank with an expat programme, or offering payslips and a guarantor.

Can a guarantor help me get credit without a Spanish credit history?

Yes, a guarantor (aval) can help if they are a Spanish resident with income. They promise to pay if you cannot, which gives the lender something your missing history does not.