Your First Month
You have landed. Now tackle the paperwork: NIE, empadronamiento, bank accounts, SIM cards, and surviving the first 30 days. Step-by-step guides from a family who has been through every queue.
NIE & Documents
Book your appointment, gather documents, pay the fee, and get your number - our step-by-step process.
Banking & Admin
Open a bank account, register at the town hall, and get your healthcare sorted.
Healthcare
Public vs private healthcare, how to register, and what to do in emergencies.
4 Guides in This Stage
Tackle these roughly in order for the smoothest first month.
Empadronamiento Barcelona: How to Register [2026]
Step-by-step guide to getting your empadronamiento (padron) in Barcelona. Appointment booking, documents needed, and why you need it for healthcare, schools, and more.
Healthcare in Spain for Expats: Complete Guide [2026]
How to access healthcare in Spain. Public CatSalut registration, TSI card, private insurance options, emergency care, and what we learned the hard way.
NIE Barcelona: Complete Appointment Guide [2026]
Step-by-step guide to getting your NIE in Barcelona. Appointment booking, required documents, costs, and tips from someone who went through it three times.
Opening a Bank Account in Spain as a Foreigner [2026]
How to open a Spanish bank account without a NIE. CaixaBank, BBVA, N26 compared. Documents needed, online vs branch, and our experience.
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Before You Move
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Settling In
Get everything in one place
- ✓ Pre-move and first-month checklists
- ✓ Document templates in Spanish and Catalan
- ✓ Phone scripts for appointments
- ✓ Lifetime updates