Your first week in Spain: what must happen and what can wait

Terms used

• TIE — The TIE is the residence card for non-EU foreigners, issued after you apply in person and give fingerprints.
• NIE — The NIE is the foreigner identification number you use for tax, work and official paperwork in Spain.
• Padrón — The padrón is the town hall's register of the people who live in the municipality.
• Oficina de Extranjería — The Oficina de Extranjería is the immigration office that handles foreigners' registrations and permits.

Key rules

• Residence card: With a long-stay visa, book your fingerprint appointment straight away, because appointments can be scarce.
• EU registration: If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, registration is required after three months and not before.
• Padrón: Registering has no fixed legal deadline, but healthcare and other steps depend on it, so do it early.
• Cash: Declare cash above 10,000 euros when you enter or leave Spain.

The short answer

Very little is truly urgent in week one. The tasks with a clock on them are the residence card if you came on a long-stay visa, and registration if you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. Everything else can slip by days or weeks without a penalty. The timeline below shows the order.

If you entered on a long-stay visa

You must apply for the residence card (TIE) within one month of entering Spain or of your authorization starting. The count starts on whichever applies to you.

• Book your fingerprint appointment in your first days. Appointments can be hard to get, so don't wait.
• You apply in person at the police or immigration office, and your fingerprints are taken there.
• A late application can bring a fine. In practice offices often accept it with a warning or a small fine, but don't plan on that.

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

You must register and get the registration certificate showing your NIE if you stay more than three months. Don't do it before then. It is not a week-one task. You book an appointment at the Oficina de Extranjería or a designated police station. Required documents vary a little by province, so check yours. The documents list below shows what to bring.

What is useful in week one but has no deadline

The padrón is your registration at your town hall. It has no fixed legal deadline, and you can usually do it in week one if you have proof of address and your passport or ID. Some town halls require an appointment, which can add days or weeks. Do it early, because other steps depend on it.

What can wait

These can wait beyond week one:

• Public healthcare. You need your padrón and social security first, so it follows those.
• Bank account, Spanish SIM and utilities in your name. Useful, but not urgent.
• Driving licence exchange. If you are a non-EU resident, this generally has to be done within six months.

Delays on these can mean losing access to some services, but not an immediate fine.

One thing to check at the border

If you carry more than 10,000 euros in cash, you must declare it when entering or leaving Spain. This is a day-one item.

A rare extra

Some non-EU short-stay visitors staying in private lodging who did not pass a border check may need to declare their entry in person within 3 working days. This is rarely applied. If it might apply to you, ask the local police office.

If your case is different from the ones above, the planner and the FAQ below can help you sort your week.

Timeline and deadlines

• Book your residence card (TIE) fingerprint appointment if you entered on a long-stay visa: as soon as you arrive

• Register as a resident and get your registration certificate with your NIE (EU, EEA and Swiss citizens): after three months of staying, not before

Week-one planner: day by day after you land

The week runs best if you book appointments on day 1 and keep offices for weekdays. Offices are closed on weekends, and on Sundays many small shops are too.

This plan assumes you land on a Monday. If you land on another day, keep the order and push anything office-related to the next weekday.

The plan

What to book on day 1

• Non-EU with a long-stay visa: you must apply for the residence card (TIE) within one month of entering or of your authorization starting. Fingerprint appointments in big cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga and Valencia have often had no free slots for weeks. Book the moment you land and check the booking system daily.
• EU, EEA or Swiss citizens: nothing is due in week one. You register only if you stay more than three months, and not before the three months have passed.
• Everyone: the padrón has no fixed legal deadline, but you need it for many other steps. Padrón appointments have usually come sooner than police ones, from days to a few weeks.

Check for holidays before you commit

Every office and most shops close on national holidays. The ones still ahead this year:

• 1 November, a Sunday in 2026
• 6 December, a Sunday
• 8 December, a Tuesday
• 25 December

Regions add or swap some days, and each town adds up to two local holidays. Check your region's and your town hall's calendar for the current year. If a holiday falls on a Tuesday, such as 8 December, many people also take Monday off, so expect busier and slower offices that week.

If you land at a weekend

• Friday afternoon: treat Monday as day 1 for appointments. Use the weekend only for groceries and the SIM.
• Saturday or Sunday: buy food at a large supermarket or in a tourist area, since small shops may be shut. Start the plan on Monday.

Documents you need

• Passport or national ID, needed for the padrón and for EU registration.

• Proof of address for the padrón: a rental contract, ownership deed or owner's authorization, shown at your town hall.

• Form EX-18, the application form for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens registering after three months.

• Fee form Modelo 790 código 012, paid for the EU registration.

• Proof of work, self-employment, or sufficient funds with health insurance, or proof of study, for EU registration at the Oficina de Extranjería or a designated police station.

• Registration certificate showing your NIE, which you receive from the Oficina de Extranjería or police station once you register as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I miss the deadline to apply for my residence card?

Late applications can lead to a fine under the Foreigners Law, though offices often accept them with a warning or a small fine. Book your fingerprint appointment as soon as you arrive, because appointments can be hard to get.

Which tasks can I leave until after the first week?

You can usually leave public healthcare registration, a bank account, a Spanish SIM and utilities in your name until after week one. Healthcare registration needs your padrón registration and social security first. If you are a non-EU resident, you generally have six months to exchange your driving licence.

Can I register on the padrón in my first week?

Yes, you can usually register in week one if you have proof of address and your passport or ID. Proof of address means a rental contract, ownership deed or owner's authorization.