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Destination guide

Spain Expatriation Guide

Spain attracts expats from around the world with its lifestyle, gastronomy, sunny climate and festive culture. With over 300 days of sunshine per year in the south, delicious cuisine and dynamic…

FDV · CC BY-SA 3.0
47.4 M
Inhabitants
Madrid
Capital
Euro €
Currency
Spanish
Languages

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview

Spain offers an impressive diversity of landscapes and cultures.

  • Capital: Madrid (~3.3 million, 6.7M metro)
  • Population: 47.4 million
  • Languages: Spanish (Castilian), Catalan, Basque, Galician
  • Currency: Euro (EUR)
  • Climate: Mediterranean (south), continental (center), oceanic (north)

Popular regions for expats

  • Barcelona/Catalonia: Cosmopolitan, beach and mountains
  • Madrid: Cultural capital, job opportunities
  • Valencia: Quality of life, affordable, ideal climate
  • Andalusia: Seville, Malaga - sun, culture, cheaper
  • Balearic Islands: Mallorca, Ibiza - premium lifestyle

Healthcare

Spain has one of the best healthcare systems in the world (WHO top 10).

Public System (SNS)

  • Free for residents and affiliated workers
  • Very high quality of care
  • Registration via Social Security

Private Healthcare

  • Major insurers: Sanitas, Adeslas, Asisa, DKV
  • Cost: 50-150 EUR/month
  • Benefits: No waiting, choice of specialist

Taxation

Attractive non-dom status

Spain has a progressive tax system with regional variations.

Income Tax (IRPF)

Income BracketRate
0 - 12,450 EUR19%
12,451 - 20,200 EUR24%
20,201 - 35,200 EUR30%
35,201 - 60,000 EUR37%
60,001 - 300,000 EUR45%
Over 300,000 EUR47%

Beckham Law

  • Flat 24% rate on Spanish income up to 600,000 EUR
  • No tax on foreign income
  • Duration: 6 years

Solidarity Tax on Large Fortunes

Since 2023, made permanent in 2025: 1.7% to 3.5% on assets above 3 million EUR.

Education

Spain offers a wide choice of schools for expat families.

French Schools

  • Madrid: Lycee Francais de Madrid (3,500 students)
  • Barcelona: Lycee Francais de Barcelone
  • Valencia, Malaga, Alicante, Seville: French schools available

Other International Schools

  • British Council Schools: Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao
  • American School: Madrid, Barcelona
  • Deutsche Schule: Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga

Annual Costs

TypeCost
Public schoolFree
French school4,000-7,000 EUR/year
International school8,000-20,000 EUR/year

Visa and Residence

Spain offers several paths for legal settlement.

EU/EEA Citizens

Free movement. NIE (foreigner ID number) required for all procedures.

Non-Lucrative Visa

  • For people with sufficient resources
  • Minimum income: ~2,400 EUR/month
  • Cannot work in Spain

Golden Visa

  • Real estate: 500,000 EUR minimum
  • Stocks/funds: 1 million EUR
  • Bank deposit: 1 million EUR

Digital Nomad Visa

  • New since 2023
  • For remote workers
  • Max 20% Spanish clients
  • Duration: 1 year renewable up to 5 years

Cost of Living

Cost of living varies significantly by region.

Monthly Budget (single person)

ItemMadridBarcelonaValencia
1BR Rent1,000-1,500 EUR1,100-1,600 EUR700-1,000 EUR
Utilities100-150 EUR100-150 EUR80-120 EUR
Groceries250-350 EUR250-350 EUR200-300 EUR
Transport55 EUR40 EUR35 EUR
Total1,555-2,305 EUR1,640-2,390 EUR1,115-1,655 EUR

Explore cities in Spain

1 detailed guides
Barcelona Expatriation Guide

Barcelona combines the best of both worlds: the excitement of a major European metropolis and Medite

Read guide

Prepare your move to Spain

Join the waitlist and we'll email you the moment RelocDesk opens for Spain.