Arriving in Spain to study: sort out the paperwork without the stress
Arriving in a new city to study is already a lot: the language, the campus, finding somewhere to live, making friends… and, on top of that, a list of paperwork you need to sort out in your first few weeks. The truth is that most of this paperwork for international students is straightforward if you do it in the right order and have your documents ready. The problem is almost always the same: not knowing where to start.
This guide covers the essential procedures you need when you arrive in Spain: municipal registration (empadronamiento), NIE or TIE, health card and bank account, explained step by step. Important: the requirements change depending on whether you are a student from the European Union or from outside it, so that is where we begin.
Before you start: are you an EU student or a non-EU student?
This is the first question that shapes everything else, because the procedures are not the same for everyone.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you come from a European Union country, the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland, you have it considerably easier: you can enter and live in Spain without a visa. You do not need to apply for a TIE. If you are going to stay for more than three months, you will need to register with the Central Register of Foreign Nationals to obtain your NIE, and it is a good idea to register your address (empadronamiento). For healthcare, in most cases you are covered by the European Health Insurance Card from your home country.
Students from outside the EU
If you come from a country outside the EU, the EEA or Switzerland and you are going to study for more than 90 days, you need a student stay authorisation (commonly known as a “student visa”). This process usually starts at the Spanish consulate in your country before you travel. Once in Spain, your key procedure will be the TIE: the physical card that certifies your stay.
What changed with the new Immigration Regulation
This is worth knowing, because a lot of the information circulating online is out of date: Spain has a new Immigration Regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024) in force since 20 May 2025. Among other things, the student stay keeps its status as a “stay” rather than residence, and there are changes to the application deadlines and to the conditions for working while you study.
We will not go into the legal detail, because it varies from case to case and is updated frequently. For exact requirements and deadlines, always check official sources: the electronic portal of the ministry responsible for migration (immigration affairs), the National Police and your consulate. And if your situation is complicated, an immigration lawyer will save you headaches.
Municipal registration (empadronamiento): the first procedure (and the basis for everything else)
If you only remember one thing from this guide, let it be this: register your address as soon as possible. The empadronamiento is your registration in your town hall’s municipal register, and it is the document you will be asked for in almost everything else: the TIE fingerprint appointment, opening certain bank accounts, sorting out your health card or applying for a transport pass.
What it is and why you need it before everything else
The empadronamiento certificate (“volante” or “certificado”) is simply the official proof of where you live. It usually has to be recent (many procedures require it to be less than three months old), so do not do it too far in advance if you do not yet have permanent accommodation.
Documents and how to book an appointment
Each town hall has its own procedure, usually with an online appointment. In general you will be asked for:
- Your valid passport or ID document.
- Proof of your address: a rental contract, or an authorisation from the main tenant if you live in someone else’s home.
The procedure is free. Once registered, you can download or request the certificate whenever you need it.
How to register if you live in a student residence
This is one of the most common questions and almost nobody explains it: can you register your address if you live in a residence? Yes. The residence is your home for the duration of the academic year, and it can usually provide you with the document you need to prove this to the town hall. If you stay with us, your residence team will tell you how to get it, so that the empadronamiento stops being a headache and you can move on with the rest of your paperwork.
NIE and TIE: your number and your foreigner ID card
There is a lot of confusion here, so let’s clear it up.
The difference between NIE and TIE
- The NIE (Foreigner Identity Number) is your personal identification number as a foreign national. It is a number, not a card, and you will use it in practically all administrative, financial and academic procedures.
- The TIE (Foreigner Identity Card) is the physical card that certifies your legal status in Spain. It carries your NIE, your photo and your biometric data, and it is required for non-EU students staying longer than six months.
In other words: everyone has an NIE, but only non-EU nationals on long stays apply for the TIE.
EU students: the registration certificate
If you are an EU citizen and you are going to stay for more than three months, you must register with the Central Register of Foreign Nationals. You are given a certificate (a paper document) showing your NIE. It is not a card with a photo: it is the document that proves your right to reside, and you use it for the rest of your procedures.
Non-EU students: fingerprint appointment and deadline
If you arrived with a visa or student stay authorisation for more than 180 days, you must apply for the TIE within 30 days of entering Spain. The process is:
- Book a “fingerprint” (toma de huellas) appointment on the National Police electronic portal.
- Attend the appointment with your passport (with the visa), a recent empadronamiento certificate, a passport-size photo and the appointment confirmation.
- Collect the card afterwards once it is ready (in some provinces you need a separate appointment for collection).
A practical tip: book the appointment as soon as you have registered your address, because slots fill up fast in big cities. If you struggle to find an appointment within the deadline, keep screenshots of your attempts in case you need to justify the delay.
Healthcare: medical insurance and health card
Don’t forget about medical coverage: it’s one of those things you hope you won’t need… until you do.
EU students: European Health Insurance Card
If you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that you request in your home country gives you access to Spanish public healthcare during your temporary stay. Sort it out before you travel and always carry it with you.
Non-EU students: private medical insurance
For the student stay, you are required to have valid medical insurance in Spain, usually private and without co-payments. It is normally taken out before travelling, as part of the visa documentation. Check that the coverage spans your entire stay.
Social Security number (if you are going to do an internship or work)
If during your studies you are going to do a paid internship or work (within the limits allowed by your authorisation), you will need a Social Security number. It is managed by the General Treasury of the Social Security, and your company or internship centre will usually guide you on how to obtain it.
Opening a bank account in Spain as a student
Although it is not legally required, in practice you will need a Spanish account to pay rent, receive transfers or set up direct debits.
Resident account vs. non-resident account
- If you already have an NIE or TIE, you can open a resident account normally.
- If you are still processing your documentation, many banks will let you open a non-resident account with your passport and a non-residency certificate.
What documents they ask for and what to look for
The usual ones: passport or NIE/TIE, proof of address (the empadronamiento) and, depending on the bank, proof of enrolment. Compare before deciding: many banks offer accounts for students or for foreign nationals with reduced fees, so don’t just take the first option.
Other useful procedures right after you arrive
Small steps that will make your life easier from day one:
- Youth transport pass: most cities have very cheap passes for students and people under a certain age. It usually pays off massively compared with buying single tickets.
- Spanish SIM card: having a local number makes it easier to receive verification texts from banks, appointment reminders and online procedures. There are prepaid plans with no commitment that are perfect for getting started.
Checklist: the recommended order of procedures
So you don’t get lost, this is the order that works best:
- Empadronamiento at your town hall (the basis for everything).
- Fingerprint appointment and TIE if you are non-EU (within 30 days of arrival), or registration certificate and NIE if you are an EU citizen.
- Spanish bank account.
- Healthcare: EHIC, private insurance or Social Security number, depending on your case.
- Extras: transport pass and SIM card.
Frequently asked questions about paperwork for international students
Can I register my address (empadronamiento) if I live in a student residence? Yes. The residence is your home during the academic year and it can usually provide the document you need to register at the town hall.
What happens if I can’t get a fingerprint appointment within the deadline? Your authorisation remains valid, but it’s worth being persistent and keeping proof of your attempts. If the lack of appointments drags on, an immigration lawyer can help you find alternatives.
Do I need an NIE if I’m an EU student? If you stay for more than three months, yes: you register with the Central Register of Foreign Nationals and get your NIE on the registration certificate. You do not need a TIE.
Can I open a bank account before I have the TIE? At many banks, yes, as a non-resident account, using your passport and a non-residency certificate.
How much does it cost to register your address? The empadronamiento is free.
One criterion that saves a lot of trouble: have your accommodation sorted
All this paperwork is much easier when you have one thing settled from the start: where you live. With stable accommodation, a clear address to register, and a team to guide you, the paperwork stops being intimidating and you can focus on what matters: starting your university life.
At Livensa Living residences we make it easy from day one, with well-connected locations in the main university cities of Spain and Portugal and a team close by to lend you a hand with whatever you need. Before you book, do one simple final check: confirm the exact requirements with official sources and choose accommodation that makes your paperwork easier, not harder.