Can you rent in Spain without a Spanish payslip?
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Yes, you can — but it is honestly the hardest part for someone who has just arrived, and it is worth understanding why. The Spanish landlord does not know you, cannot confirm your income through a local payslip and cannot check your payment history in Spain; faced with that uncertainty, the easiest path for them is usually to say no. The good news is that this is solved with preparation, not luck. What unlocks the rental is a strong, well-presented profile: proof of savings, the income you receive in your home country and, increasingly, rental-default insurance — a policy that covers the landlord if the tenant stops paying and gives them the reassurance they are missing. That is exactly the file we put together at Aterriza: we organise the documentation and close the rental with the insurance approved before you board, so you arrive with the keys in hand. And when the case seems impossible — no payslip, no history, no one willing to rent — that is precisely our specialty: we have routes and partner landlords to make it happen, and we explain every step in the consultation.
What is rental-default insurance and why do landlords ask for it?
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Rental-default insurance is a policy that guarantees the rent: if the tenant stops paying, the insurer covers the landlord, who recovers the money without having to go to court. For the landlord it is the difference between trusting or not trusting someone they do not know — which is why it has become almost a standard when renting to newly arrived foreigners. For you, having that insurance approved is often exactly the missing piece: it is what turns a profile with no Spanish payslip into a tenant the landlord accepts with peace of mind. Approval is not automatic; the insurer reviews your income and your documentation, and that is where a well-prepared file makes the difference. At Aterriza we handle that process from start to finish and have the insurance approved before you arrive, so it never becomes the reason a rental falls through at the last minute.
What documents does a landlord ask a foreigner for?
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Deep down, the landlord wants to answer a single question: will this tenant pay every month? That is why they ask for documents proving identity and ability to pay. The usual ones are passport or NIE, proof of income or savings and, increasingly, rental-default insurance. Since you will not have a Spanish payslip at first, the weight falls on everything else: your account balance and history, the income you receive in your home country (with statements or an employment contract) and how solidly it is all presented. A pile of loose papers in another language is off-putting; a translated, organised and coherent file builds trust. Translating your profile into the Spanish landlord's logic is exactly what we do at Aterriza: we gather the paperwork, translate it where needed and present your documentation so you are seen as the reliable tenant you are.
What is the digital nomad visa and what income must you prove?
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It is the visa designed for those who work remotely for companies or clients outside Spain — the typical case of someone employed by a foreign company, a freelancer with international clients or a partner in a business based abroad. Its great advantage is that it lets you live legally in Spain while keeping your current source of income, with no need for a Spanish employment contract. In return, you must prove stable, sufficient income: as a current reference, around €2,849 per month (200% of the Spanish minimum wage, the SMI), with an additional amount for each family member who comes with you. Proof of the working relationship, education or experience in the field and a criminal-record certificate are also usually required, among others. (The amounts are guideline figures and update with the minimum wage; we confirm the numbers and the document list for your case in the consultation.)
What is the non-lucrative visa and how much money must you show?
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It is the visa for those who want to live in Spain without working in the country, living on their own financial means — savings, a pension, rental income or investments. It is the classic route for retirees and people living on private income, but also for anyone with enough assets to support a transition period. The logic is simple: you show that you can support yourself without depending on the Spanish labour market. As a current reference, you must prove around €28,800 per year (400% of the IPREM, the income index used in Spain), plus about €7,200 per year for each family member. One important point: this visa does not allow you to work in Spain, so it is not the route for someone who needs a local job to get by. (The amounts are guideline figures and update periodically; we check whether this is really the best visa for you and confirm the numbers in the consultation.)
What is the NIE and when should you apply for it?
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The NIE is your Foreigner Identification Number, the unique number Spain uses to identify you in practically everything: renting formally, opening a bank account, signing contracts, setting up services and handling any official procedure. Without it, your administrative life simply grinds to a halt. That is why it is best to have it as soon as possible — and, depending on your case and the country you are in, the application can sometimes be started before you arrive, at the consulate, which saves precious time in those first days. The process has its own stages, forms and fees, and the order in which you do things matters so you do not get stuck. We tell you exactly how, where and when to apply for yours, based on your case and your arrival timeline.
What is the empadronamiento and what is it for?
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The empadronamiento is your registration as a resident at the town hall (the ayuntamiento) of the city where you will live. It looks like a bureaucratic detail, but it is one of the first pieces that unlocks practical life in Spain: you need it to access public healthcare, enrol your children in school, renew documents and carry out much of your day-to-day admin. It is usually done by presenting your rental contract or proof of address together with your ID, but each ayuntamiento has its own requirements, opening hours and ways to book an appointment — and it is easy to waste time going to the wrong place or with a missing paper. We guide you through the process: we tell you exactly what to bring, where to go and in what order, so this first step does not turn into a maze.
What are the best cities to live in Spain as a foreigner?
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There is no single answer — the best city depends on your work, your budget, the climate you are after and practical things like schools for your children or how close an airport is. That said, among people arriving from abroad four names come up again and again: Valencia, Alicante, Tarragona and Reus. What they have in common is a hard-to-beat combination: a Mediterranean coast and good weather most of the year, an established international community and, above all, a cost of living and rent that is far more reasonable than Madrid or Barcelona, without giving up good infrastructure. Each has its own profile — Valencia is the big city with everything at hand, Alicante breathes beach and calm, Tarragona and Reus offer quality of life at an even lower price. In the consultation we match your profile with what each city (and each neighbourhood) offers and suggest the one that best fits you.
Do I need a Spanish bank account to rent and set up utilities?
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In practice, yes. You will need a Spanish bank account to set up direct debits for rent and basic utilities — electricity, water, gas, internet — which are almost always charged through a local account. It also makes it easier to receive payments, avoid currency-exchange fees and simply get on with daily life. The catch is that opening an account before you have your NIE or a fixed address can be tricky, and each bank has its own requirements for non-residents and residents. There are ways to sort this out in the right order — including non-resident accounts that act as a bridge until everything is in place. We help you open the account and choose the bank, and also when it comes to setting up or transferring the utility contracts of your new home, so that nothing ends up in your name the wrong way.
Can I come with my family and enroll my children in school?
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Yes, and this is one of the biggest reassurances for anyone moving as a family. The main visas allow for family reunification: your spouse and children can come with you, by proving an additional financial amount for each member — which is why the figures required rise with the size of the family. As for the children, schooling in Spain is a right, and the public system is free and of good quality; there are also state-subsidised and private options, including international schools, depending on the city. In practice, what usually raises doubts is not whether you can enrol them, but how: which documents the school asks for, how to validate the school record coming from your country, the enrolment deadlines and the link with the empadronamiento. We plan all of that with you from the consultation and guide you through enrolment, so that moving the children becomes the easiest part of the process, not the most stressful.
How much does it cost to live in Spain?
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It depends a lot on the city and your lifestyle, but you can work with reference figures. Outside Madrid and Barcelona — in the cities we recommend most, such as Valencia, Alicante or Tarragona —, a single person usually lives on around €1,200 to €1,500 per month, adding up the rent of a one-bedroom flat, utilities, transport and food; a family naturally needs more, above all for a larger rental. Rent is almost always the biggest part of the budget and what varies most from one city (and one neighbourhood) to another — which is why we compare it city by city in our article on the best cities to live in Spain. These are guideline figures, not a promise: in the consultation we make a realistic calculation for your case, your city and your family profile.
Can I work in Spain while living in Portugal?
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It is a common question for someone who already has (or is obtaining) residency in Portugal and looks at the Spanish market. The honest answer is: it depends on your status. Living in one European Union country does not automatically grant the right to work and reside in another — the Schengen area lets you travel, but working steadily in Spain has its own rules. Someone with the nationality of an EU country can indeed live in Portugal and work in Spain, including as a cross-border worker who commutes across the border. But someone with only a temporary Portuguese residence permit cannot simply take a job in Spain without regularising their situation here. Since each case changes according to your document, your nationality and your plan, this is exactly the kind of situation we work through in the consultation, to tell you what is possible and the shortest route.
