\n If you’re planning on moving to Spain, there’s lots you need to plan and organise, but once you’re here, there are six important pieces of paperwork that foreigners need.\n <\/p>\n
Visa <\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re from a non-EU country the first piece of paperwork you\u2019ll need in order to move to Spain is a visa. This is typically pasted into your passport and you will also get the authorisation on paper. Some of the most common visas that will allow you to come and live in Spain are the digital nomad visa<\/a>, the non-lucrative visa<\/a> and the student visa. All of these have different requirements and documents of their own that you need to submit, including proof of finances to be able to support yourself here. This will allow you entry into the country on a non-tourist basis.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Residency card <\/strong><\/p>\n Unfortunately, the visa isn\u2019t the only document that you need when coming to settle here, this only allows you into the country. To prove that you can legally stay here you need to apply for a residency card within the first three months. If you\u2019re from an EU country you will need to apply for your EU green residency certificate<\/a> (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Uni\u00f3n), while if you\u2019re from outside the EU you will need to apply for your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) or foreign residency card. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about the TIE <\/a>from how to apply, to the\u00a0differences between the TIE and the NIE\u00a0and\u00a0what happens if you don\u2019t renew your TIE.<\/p>\n Padr\u00f3n certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n Once you have officially moved to Spain, decided where you\u2019re going to live and have sorted out either renting or buying a property, you will need to register with your local town hall or ayuntamiento. This is what\u2019s known as the padr\u00f3n certificate<\/a>. It acts as a kind of census, but also your town hall gets a certain amount of funds depending on how many people are officially registered there. You many need your Padr\u00f3n in order to get other documents involved with living in Spain, such as your health card.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Social security number <\/strong><\/p>\n Being issued with a social security number in Spain is very important, particularly if you want access to the public health system, you are working or you\u2019re self-employed or you want to have access to benefits in the future. If you\u2019re employed by a company, they will be responsible for registering you with social security, but if you are self-employed, you will have to do it yourself and go to the offices<\/a>. Once issued with a social security number, you will have to actually register with social security before you can start working.<\/p>\n Health card <\/strong><\/p>\n If you have access to the public health system in Spain it means that you are paying social security. This will be because you are either employed by a company here or are self-employed. Sometimes you may be able to get public health care if you\u2019re retired through the convenio especial<\/a> for example. If you\u2019re not paying into the social security system, you will most likely have to get private health insurance. If this is the case your insurer will explain how to get your health card and register with a doctor.<\/p>\n On the public system, however, you will have to go to your local health clinic and register<\/a>. You will be assigned a GP and be sent a health card through the post, which you can use to make appointments and sign in when you arrive for them. This is also what receptionists will scan to find your medical records here. It\u2019s typically called a TSI or SIP card depending on what region you live in.<\/p>\n