How much of your savings to commit to the move

Terms used

• IPREM — The IPREM is a yearly public income index that Spain uses to set visa funds requirements.
• Fianza — The fianza is one month's rent, held as security for the lease.
• ITP — The ITP is the regional transfer tax paid when you buy a resale home.
• IVA — The IVA is Spain's value-added tax, 10% on new-build homes.
• AJD — The AJD is a regional stamp duty paid on documents such as new-build purchases.
• Gestoría — A gestoría is an agency that handles paperwork and administrative procedures for a fee.

Key rules

• Order: Set your visa funds, upfront costs and reserve before you commit any cash.
• Reserve: Size the reserve after totalling your commitments, and keep it in liquid euro accounts.
• Home sale: Sale proceeds take months, so do not rely on them for early payments.
• Visa funds: Money you show for a visa must stay in your accounts, so do not spend it.

The short answer

Do not put every liquid euro into a deposit or a purchase. Set three things first: the funds you must show (if a visa asks for them), your upfront costs, and a reserve. Then commit cash. Whatever is left after those three is what you can freely spend.

Step 1: Check the floors

If you are a non-EU applicant for a non-lucrative or digital nomad visa, the consulate sets a minimum amount you must show. The non-lucrative visa asks for 400% of IPREM per year for the main applicant and 100% of IPREM for each dependant. IPREM is a yearly public index, and it was 7,200 euros a year in 2025. That made the non-lucrative figure 28,800 euros for the main applicant and 7,200 for each dependant. The digital nomad visa uses a monthly minimum-wage-based figure, with extra for dependants. Confirm the current numbers with your consulate before you plan around them.

This money has to stay visible in your accounts. Treat it as untouchable, not as spending money.

Step 2: Add up your upfront costs

If you rent, the cash needed at signing is 2 to 4 months of rent, including a one-month fianza and often an extra guarantee of up to two months. Madrid and Barcelona often sit at 2 to 3 months. Competitive markets such as Málaga and Palma often ask for 3 to 4. If an agency is involved, ask who pays its fee. Since the 2023 housing law, the landlord usually pays it.

If you buy, expect to pay on top of the price:

• Resale homes: about 10 to 14%, mostly ITP, a transfer tax set by region at roughly 6 to 11%.
• New builds: about 11 to 15%, made up of 10% IVA plus AJD, a stamp duty of roughly 0.5 to 1.5%.
• Notary fees of about 0.2 to 0.5% and land registry fees of about 0.1 to 0.3%.
• A gestoría at about 300 to 600 euros, plus a lawyer at about 1% if you use one.
• Valuation and mortgage costs if you borrow.

Regional rates change, so ask your regional tax agency for the current ones.

Setup and arrival costs come on top: visa and document fees, translations, flights, shipping, furnishing, utilities set-up, and private health insurance if your visa requires it.

Step 3: Size your reserve last

Work out your reserve after you total the deposits, purchase costs and setup spending, not before. Keep it in liquid euro accounts. It must not double as your rental deposit, purchase costs or setup money.

Step 4: Check how fast your money moves

Plan transfers early, because not all savings are equally quick to reach you:

• Bank current and savings accounts: 1 to 5 working days by international transfer.
• Fixed-term deposits: you can usually break them early, but the contract sets an interest penalty.
• Listed shares and ETFs: cash arrives in about 3 to 5 days after you sell, because trades settle two business days later in most markets.
• Pensions: private and workplace plans are often locked until retirement age, and early withdrawals can bring tax and penalties. Check your origin country's rules.
• A home sale takes months. Do not count on its proceeds for a deposit you must pay soon.

What to hold back

Keep an emergency reserve of 3 to 6 months of essential expenses. Keep 6 to 12 months if your income is irregular, you are self-employed or you have dependants.

The timeline, documents, checklist and FAQ below cover the order of payments and the evidence you will need.

Timeline and deadlines

• Move money from bank accounts to your euro account by international transfer: 1 to 5 working days before you need it

• Sell listed shares or ETFs and wait for the trade to settle: 3 to 5 days before you need the cash

• Work out your reserve after totalling deposits, purchase costs and setup spending: before you commit any money to a deposit or purchase

• Pay the first month, the fianza and any extra guarantee: when you sign the lease

• Plan for a property sale to free up cash: months before you need the money

Documents you need

• Bank statements, savings certificates or pension proof showing your funds, if you apply for a non-lucrative or digital nomad visa as a non-EU citizen

• Income contracts showing your earnings, as an alternative way to prove funds for a digital nomad visa

• Lease contract that states the one-month fianza and any extra guarantee or aval of up to two months

Checklist

• Work out the visa funds you must show, if you are a non-EU applicant: 400% of IPREM per year for the main applicant and 100% for each dependent on the non-lucrative visa

• Ask the landlord to confirm the deposit: a one-month fianza, with any extra guarantee of up to two months

• Set aside cash for the first month plus the deposit before you sign, and ask who pays any agency fee

• Compare the 2 to 4 months of rent most cities ask for with the market you are moving to

• Ask the regional tax agency for the current transfer tax rate if you plan to buy a home

• Add notary, land registry and gestoría costs to the purchase budget

• Keep your reserve of 3 to 6 months of essential expenses, or 6 to 12 months if your income is irregular, in a liquid euro account, and leave it out of deposits and purchase costs

Frequently asked questions

How fast can I get money from my investments into my Spanish account?

Listed shares and ETFs usually give you cash in about 3 to 5 days, because trades settle two business days after the sale in most markets. Bank accounts are usable within 1 to 5 working days by international transfer. Pension accounts are the slowest, and early withdrawals often carry tax and penalties at home.

How much extra cash does buying a home need on top of the price?

Buying a resale home adds about 10 to 14% of the price in taxes and fees, and a new build about 11 to 15%. The biggest part is the transfer tax on resale (ITP, set by region at roughly 6 to 11%) or 10% VAT on a new build. Notary, land registry and a gestoría (paperwork agent) add the rest.

How much savings do I need to show for a non-lucrative visa?

For the non-lucrative visa you need 400% of IPREM, the public yearly indicator, for the main applicant, and 100% for each dependent. Using the 2025 figure, that is about 28,800 euros for you and 7,200 for each dependent. Bank statements, savings certificates and pension proof are accepted.

Can the money I hold as a reserve also pay my rental deposit?

No, your reserve should sit in liquid euro accounts and stay apart from deposits, purchase costs and setup spending. Total those commitments first, then size the reserve on top of them.