Opening a Spanish bank account before you move

Key rules

• NIE: No law names the NIE as a condition, but nearly all banks ask foreigners for one.
• Remote opening: Some banks open non-resident accounts online or by video, but many require a branch visit.
• Fees: Non-resident accounts often cost more and offer fewer products, so ask for the bank's fee tariff first.

Can you open an account from abroad?

Sometimes. It depends on the bank, on whether you have an NIE, and on the fees and restrictions that come with a non-resident account. A bank can refuse to open a non-resident account, and you can then try another bank or use a money app until you arrive.

From abroad you bring your passport, your non-resident NIE, proof of your address abroad and the reason for the account. You count as a non-resident if you have no TIE or EU registration certificate and spend fewer than 183 days a year in Spain.

What banks ask for

Banks must identify you, and a valid passport or EU/EEA national ID card is enough as identification. In practice, nearly all banks also ask foreigners for an NIE, because they need your tax number to report interest and balances to the Spanish tax agency.

A few banks accept a passport only, and a few offer short-term accounts. Treat that as the exception and ask first.

Opening a Spanish bank account has no government fee and no official form; each bank sets its own account charges.

Getting the non-resident NIE

Apply at the Spanish consulate in the country where you live, or at a police station in Spain if you are visiting. Use form EX-15, give the reason, such as opening a bank account, and pay €9.84 in 2026 with modelo 790 código 012. Getting an NIE before you move covers the steps.

Online banks and money apps

Bankinter, Sabadell, CaixaBank, Santander and BBVA have non-resident desks, and Openbank opens non-resident accounts online. ING, imaginBank and EVO Banco ask for a valid NIE and often Spanish tax residence, so they suit you once you are in Spain.

Money apps such as Wise and Revolut work before you arrive, but they are apps, not Spanish banks, and do not replace a Spanish bank account.

What it costs and what you give up

Non-resident accounts often cost more than resident ones. Look for maintenance, card, transfer and inactivity fees, and minimum balances. Every Spanish bank must give you its published fee tariff, so ask for it and compare.

Expect limits on products. Credit cards, overdrafts, loans and investment services are often limited or unavailable. Non-residents can get a mortgage, usually at a lower loan-to-value than residents. Banks also report more on non-resident accounts to the tax authorities under international tax-reporting rules.

When it is worth it

Opening early gives you a Spanish IBAN for rent deposits and utilities, but costs higher fees, limited products and extra paperwork, and needs conversion to a resident account later. Open one early if you need to pay Spanish bills, pay a rent deposit, buy property or receive payments in Spain before you arrive.

When you become resident

Tell the bank and show your TIE or EU registration certificate; some banks let you do this online and others need you in person. Some banks ask you to reopen the account. A bank can restrict or close an account if your status changes and you have not told it, or if your documents are not renewed. Ask at the start what the bank will want from you at that point.

If you are a non-EU citizen

Banks often ask non-EU applicants for a TIE, which you will not have before you arrive. Offer your passport and non-resident NIE instead.

• UK citizens with Withdrawal Agreement rights count as non-EU for opening a non-resident account.
• A student or au pair: Banking as a student, au pair or short-stay resident covers a limited stay.

Timeline and deadlines

• Get your non-resident NIE and ask banks whether they open accounts from abroad: before you contact the bank to apply

• Open the non-resident account online, by video or at a branch: before you move, if you need a Spanish IBAN early

• Update the account with your TIE or EU registration certificate: as soon as you become resident

Documents you need

• Passport, or an EU/EEA national ID card, to identify you. It must be valid.

• Non-resident NIE, your Spanish tax identification number, issued by the police or a Spanish consulate.

• Proof of your address abroad: a foreign utility bill, bank statement or official document.

• The reason for the account, such as a visa application or a property purchase.