Setting your first-week order for your situation

Terms used

• Padrón — The padrón is the register of residents kept by your town hall. Its certificate proves where you live.
• TIE — The TIE is the residence card issued to non-EU foreigners staying long term in Spain.
• NIE — The NIE is the foreigner's identification number used for work, tax, banking and contracts.
• Cl@ve — Cl@ve is the online identity system used to access Spanish public services.
• IBAN — The IBAN is your bank account number, needed for direct debits and utility contracts.
• Modelo 790 código 012 — Modelo 790 código 012 is the fee form paid for the EU registration certificate.

Key rules

• TIE: If you enter on a long-stay visa, you must apply for the TIE within one month of entering or of your authorization starting.
• EU registration: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying more than three months must register, but not before the three months.
• Padrón: The padrón has no fixed legal deadline, but you need proof of address and some town halls require an appointment.
• Cash: If you carry more than 10,000 euros in cash, you must declare it when entering Spain.

The order in one line

Get proof of address first, then the padrón, then everything that asks for the padrón. Your citizenship decides which official registration follows. Children and ongoing treatment move one task each to the front.

Why this order works

Each task unlocks the next, so the order is not a matter of taste.

1. Proof of address (a rental contract or title deed) unlocks the padrón.
2. The padrón certificate from your town hall unlocks the health card, school enrolment, and often the TIE or EU registration and a bank account.
3. Your residence document unlocks the rest. For non-EU residents that is the TIE, which opens banking, contracts, driving licence exchange and Cl@ve. For EU citizens it is the registration certificate with your NIE, which opens work, tax and bank services.
4. A bank account is needed to pay many fees and to set up direct debits for utilities. Utilities and mobile contracts ask for a NIE or passport and an IBAN.

If you skip a step, you will be turned away at the next one. Requirements differ by office and region, so check the list at your own town hall.

What must happen in the first days

• Proof of address. Everything else depends on it.
• Padrón. It has no fixed legal deadline, but almost everything else needs it. Some town halls require an appointment, so book as soon as you have your proof of address.
• TIE appointment, if you entered on a long-stay visa. You must apply for the TIE within one month of entering or of your authorization starting. Appointments can be hard to get, so book as soon as you arrive. Late applications can bring a fine.
• Cash. If you carry more than 10,000 euros in cash, you must declare it when entering Spain. The details are on the page that covers arrival.

What can safely wait

• Bank account, Spanish SIM and utilities in your name.
• Driving licence exchange. For non-EU residents this is generally within six months.
• Public healthcare registration, unless you are on ongoing treatment. It needs the padrón and a social security number anyway.

How the order changes

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. You need no visa. Do the padrón, then register at the Oficina de Extranjería or a designated police station, by appointment. You must register if you stay more than three months, but not before. You get a certificate showing your NIE. Bring your passport or ID, form EX-18, the fee form (Modelo 790 código 012), and proof of work, self-employment, sufficient funds with health insurance, or study. Documents differ somewhat between provinces.

Non-EU citizens. Arrive with the correct visa. Book TIE fingerprinting straight away. The TIE usually follows the padrón and address proof, so line these up inside the one-month window. Your visa is the first link in the chain, so check it is the right type before you travel.

Households with children. Do the padrón, then contact the regional education authority. It asks for the padrón, ID or passport, and vaccination and school records, apostilled and translated if needed. Places are allocated in set periods, but late admissions are possible. Ask what applies in your region.

Ongoing treatment. Move health access up to the front. Apply through the regional health service as soon as you have the padrón and social security number. If you hold an S1 or EHIC, use it where it applies. Bring a medical report and prescriptions. If you are on a visa, keep private insurance as a backup until the public card arrives.

If you have not confirmed your route or housing

Do not wait for everything to be settled.

• No housing yet. You cannot get the padrón, so the TIE or EU registration may stall. Use the days to book the TIE fingerprint appointment (if it applies), gather your passport and records, and secure an address. Ask the town hall what proof of address it accepts.
• Unsure which route applies to you. Ask the immigration office or your visa paperwork which one covers you before you book anything. The one-month and three-month limits depend on visa type.
• Unsure about local rules. Ask your town hall and regional health or education office. Each sets its own rules.

The decision, timeline, documents, checklist and FAQ below turn this order into steps for your case.

Choosing between options

Which task should lead your first week?

• Padrón, then EU registration: You are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen: you work without a visa, register on the padrón, then get the registration certificate with your NIE if you stay over three months.

• Visa, padrón, then TIE: You are a non-EU citizen: arrive with the right visa, book TIE fingerprinting, and complete it within one month of arrival or approval, after the padrón and address proof.

• School enrolment alongside the padrón: You have children: enrol them through the regional education authority once you have the padrón, ID or passport, and their vaccination and school records.

• Health access first: You are on ongoing treatment: arrange access early through the regional health service, or use an S1 or EHIC where applicable, with private insurance as a backup for visa holders.

Start with the task that has a deadline for your citizenship, then add children's school or health access if they apply to your household.

Timeline and deadlines

• Book your TIE fingerprint appointment as soon as you arrive (non-EU, long-stay visa): in your first days, as appointments can be hard to get

• Apply for the TIE in person: within one month of entering Spain or of your authorization starting (latest 30 days after entry date)

• Register on the padrón once you have proof of address: early in your stay; there is no fixed legal deadline

• Arrange health access if you are on ongoing treatment: early, once you have the padrón and social security number

• Register as an EU, EEA or Swiss resident and get the certificate showing your NIE: after three months, not before, if you stay longer

Documents you need

• Passport or ID, needed for the EU registration, school enrolment and utilities.

• Form EX-18, the application form for the EU registration certificate (EU, EEA and Swiss citizens only).

• The fee form Modelo 790 código 012, paid for the EU registration (EU, EEA and Swiss citizens only).

• Proof of work, self-employment, sufficient funds with health insurance, or study, for the EU registration.

• Proof of address, such as a rental contract or title deed, needed to register on the padrón.

• Padrón certificate, issued by your town hall, needed for the health card, school enrolment and often the TIE or a bank account.

• Vaccination and school records for children, apostilled and translated if needed.

• Medical report and prescriptions, if you are on ongoing treatment.

Checklist

• Get proof of address, such as a rental contract or title deed, because the padrón needs it.

• Book your padrón appointment if your town hall requires one.

• Book your TIE fingerprint appointment now if you entered on a long-stay visa.

• Ask the regional education authority about school enrolment if you have children, once the padrón is done.

• Leave the bank account, SIM, utilities and driving licence exchange for after the urgent tasks.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wait to register on the padrón until after my first week?

Yes, the padrón has no fixed legal deadline, so it can follow your first-week urgent tasks. Do it early anyway, because the health card, school enrolment and often the TIE or a bank account need the certificate.

Can I open a Spanish bank account after the first week?

Yes, a bank account, a Spanish SIM and utilities in your name can usually wait beyond week one. Note that utilities and mobile contracts need a NIE or passport and an IBAN, and a bank account is needed to pay many fees.

How long do I have to exchange my driving licence?

Non-EU residents can generally exchange a driving licence within six months, so it does not belong in week one. You need your TIE first, since the TIE unlocks the exchange.

Do children need to wait for the padrón before school enrolment?

Yes, the regional education authority asks for the padrón, so register your household first.