The blog
Spain, from the inside.
Paperwork, daily life, neighbourhoods, budget, culture: everything we wish we had known before unpacking.
The Beckham Law in Spain: can you really pay 24% tax?
Beckham Law Spain explained: the 24% rate up to €600,000, who qualifies, the six-month deadline for modelo 149, what you lose and the Basque exception.
6 min readBudgetTax residency in Spain: the 183-day rule, IRPF and what to declare
Tax residency in Spain explained: the 183-day rule, centre of interests, IRPF rates, the Renta campaign, modelo 720 for foreign assets, regional gaps.
6 min readFamily and workSchools in Spain for expat children: state, concertada and international
Schools in Spain for expat families: ages, free state places, admission by region, concertada vs private, regional languages and international schools.
6 min readPaperworkRenting in Spain: contracts, deposit, rent rises and your rights
Renting in Spain explained: the 5-year rule, the one-month fianza, agency fees you should not pay, rent increases and the October 2026 reforms to watch.
7 min readFamily and workRemote work in Spain: taxes, social security and the rules that apply
Remote work in Spain for EU citizens and non-EU nationals: residence, the teleworking visa, which social security applies, tax and the Beckham Law option.
6 min readPaperworkPadrón and Cl@ve: the two things to sort out first in Spain
Padrón Spain explained: how to register at the town hall, what the certificate is for, and how foreigners get Cl@ve and a free digital certificate.
6 min readPaperworkOpening a bank account in Spain: papers, fees and your rights
Open a bank account in Spain as a newcomer: resident or non-resident, documents, the €3 basic account, free accounts for low incomes and foreign IBANs.
6 min readPaperworkNIE number in Spain: what it is, who needs it and how to get it
NIE number Spain explained: what it is, how it differs from NIF and residence, the EX-15 form, the fee, and the quickest way to get one as an EU citizen.
6 min readPaperworkMoving to Spain: the complete checklist, step by step
Moving to Spain from another EU country: the order of the paperwork (padrón, NIE, residence certificate, health, bank) and the deadlines that matter.
6 min readPaperworkMoving to Spain from the UK after Brexit: what has changed
Moving to Spain from the UK after Brexit: visas, the TIE card, healthcare with an S1, driving licence exchange, banking and taxes for British newcomers.
6 min readWhere to liveLiving in the Canary Islands or the Balearic Islands: the real differences
Living in the Canary Islands or the Balearics: what changes in tax (IGIC, regional IRPF), language, flight subsidies, healthcare and schools.
6 min readFamily and workHow to retire in Spain: S1 form, pension tax and healthcare
Retire in Spain from another EU country: the S1 form and health card, how your pension is taxed, treaties, the modelo 720 and the Spanish retirement age.
7 min readHealthHealthcare in Spain for expats: how to get covered
Healthcare in Spain for expats explained: EHIC, S1, social security, the tarjeta sanitaria, the €60 and €157 convenio especial and private insurance.
6 min readPaperworkEU residence certificate in Spain: how to register as a resident
Residence certificate Spain for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: the three-month deadline, EX-18 form, €12 fee, documents by situation and the usual traps.
6 min readPaperworkDriving in Spain: your licence, renewals and the DGT
Driving in Spain after moving from the EU: when your licence must be renewed, the DGT appointment, fees, the points system and British drivers.
6 min readCultureDaily life in Spain: timetables, languages, holidays and manners
Daily life in Spain explained: meal times, shop hours, tipping, Spanish and regional languages, public holidays by region, tú or usted, and August.
6 min readBudgetCost of living in Spain: what a household really spends
Cost of living in Spain with official data: what the INE says households spend, how housing weighs, regional gaps and the one-off costs of settling in.
6 min readPaperworkBuying property in Spain as a foreigner: costs, taxes and steps
Buying property in Spain as an EU citizen: the NIE, deposit contract, notary, land registry, purchase taxes by region and the 3% non-resident withholding.
7 min readWhere to liveBest places to live in Spain for expats, region by region
Best places to live in Spain: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Andalusia, the north and the islands, and how language, tax and schools vary by region.
6 min readFamily and workBecoming self-employed in Spain (autónomo): registration and costs
Self-employed in Spain: modelo 036, RETA registration, 2026 contribution bases, start-up flat rate, VAT, quarterly returns and when to form a company.
6 min readYour move, one step at a time.
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