Getting by in week one without a Spanish number, account or contract

Key rules

• Prepaid SIM: Your original passport is enough to buy a prepaid SIM.
• Bank account: Banks differ on whether a passport alone is enough, so ask several and try an online bank.
• Proof of address: A booking, short rental contract or host's letter with ID and deed can serve as first proof.
• Padrón: Many town halls refuse hotels and tourist rentals, so ask before you go.

Phone: your passport is enough

You can buy a prepaid SIM with just your passport. Go to an operator store or a phone shop and take the original, not a copy. The shop records your name and passport number against the line, and may scan the document. The SIM usually works at purchase or soon after.

Online purchases often ask for a photo of your ID or a video check, so a shop is quicker in week one. Some operators limit how many lines one ID can hold. Rules differ by operator, so confirm with the shop before you pay.

Money: try a passport-only account, then an online bank

Many banks ask for an NIE and proof of address before they open an account. Some insist on both. Others will open a non-resident account with a passport alone. Policy varies by bank and even by branch, so ask at more than one.

If branches refuse, try an online bank. They tend to be more flexible. An NIE can usually be obtained quickly, so you may only need to bridge a short gap. Until then, rely on the cash and foreign card you arrived with.

Short rentals usually need only a passport too. Some utilities accept a passport at first, but they will ask for an NIE later. Each company sets its own rules.

Proof of address: what to collect

Banks and offices accept different papers. These are the common ones:

• A short-term rental contract, or a hotel or Airbnb booking. Banks may accept this as a first proof.
• A letter from your host, with a copy of their ID and the property deed.
• A utility bill in your name.

Keep every one of these. Immigration offices and town halls are usually stricter than banks.

The padrón from temporary lodging

The padrón is the town hall's register of residents. It depends on where you actually live, not on how long your lease is. So you can register from temporary lodging if it is your usual address.

Town halls usually want your passport, the application form and proof you may live in the home, such as a contract or the owner's signed authorization. Many refuse tourist rentals and hotels. Some accept a host's signed authorization. Ask your town hall what it accepts before you go. Ask for a host's letter now, since it is the paper most likely to work.

The documents list, checklist and questions below cover the details.

Documents you need

• Passport, original: enough to buy a prepaid SIM, and the main ID for a short rental or a non-resident bank account.

• Short-term rental contract or hotel or Airbnb booking, as a first proof of address that banks may accept.

• Host's letter with a copy of their ID and the property deed, as proof of address or a signed authorization for the padrón (the town hall residents list).

• Utility bill in your name, as another proof of address.

• Padrón application form, filled in, if your town hall accepts your temporary address.

Checklist

• Ask your bank or a bank that takes non-resident customers whether it opens an account with a passport only.

• Try an online bank if branch banks insist on an NIE and proof of address.

• Keep your booking or short-term rental contract as proof of address.

• Ask your town hall whether it accepts your temporary lodging for the padrón and what paper it wants.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a Spanish prepaid SIM with only my passport?

Yes, a passport is enough to buy a prepaid SIM in Spain, because the shop must record your name and ID number. Take the original document, since shops may scan or copy it.

Can I open a Spanish bank account in week one without an NIE?

Sometimes, but most banks ask for an NIE and proof of address for a resident account. Online banks are more flexible, and some banks open non-resident accounts with a passport. Policy varies by bank and branch, so ask before you go.

Can I register on the padrón from a short-term rental?

Yes, you can if the rental is your usual address, because the padrón depends on where you actually live, not on lease length. Bring your passport, the form and a contract or the owner's authorization. Many town halls refuse hotels and tourist rentals, so ask yours first.

What can I use as proof of address before I have a long-term contract?

A short-term rental contract, a hotel or Airbnb booking, a host's letter with a copy of their ID and the property deed, or a utility bill can work. Banks tend to be more relaxed than the padrón and immigration offices. Ask each office what it accepts.