Spain Expat Guide

Spain Expat Guide:Legal, Administrative & Professional Services Directory

Expert resources for expatriates navigating Spanish bureaucracy. Step-by-step procedures for residency, healthcare, and property matters. Access to verified English-speaking legal, financial and administrative professionals across Spain.

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NIE & ResidencyLegalProperty
Comprehensive Coverage

Your Essential Guide to Life in Europe

Navigate bureaucracy with confidence. We've mapped every form, deadline, and office across 6 European countries so you don't have to.

NIE CERTIFICATE
X-1234567-A

NIE Registration

Get your Spanish foreigner ID number

75%

4 of 5 steps completed

BANK ACCOUNT
•••• 4521
ES12 1234 5678

Bank Account Setup

Open a Spanish bank account

40%

2 of 5 steps completed

✓
✓

Step-by-step procedures

Clear instructions in plain English for every bureaucratic process

DEC
!

Deadline alerts

Never miss an important date with automated reminders

✓

Verified professionals

Expert help when you need it from trusted local experts

1

Your Journey Starts Here

EXPAT ESSENTIALS

Moving to Spain Checklist: 6 Essential First Steps

New to Spain? Complete these 6 tasks in your first 90 days: NIE registration, Spanish bank account, padrón, health card, taxes, work permit.

2

When Life Happens, We're Here

CRISIS CHECKLISTS

Estate Matters, Family Law, Property Procedures, Career Transitions, Civil Registry

Comprehensive guides for major life transitions in Spain. Government-verified procedures, official deadlines, required documentation, and proper forms. Always free.

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3

Why Choose Us

Why 10,000+ Expats Trust Lifetti

Why 10,000+ Expats Trust Lifetti for Spain Bureaucracy

From establishing residency to navigating complex legal matters — step-by-step checklists, deadline tracking, and access to qualified English-speaking professionals across Spain.

🇪🇸

Spain Residence

12 tasks • 3 completed

25%

Get NIE appointmentDone
Gather required documentsDone
Attend NIE appointmentIn Progress
Open Spanish bank account
Register for healthcare
Task completed!

Stay On Track: Visual Progress Management

Whether you're applying for your NIE, buying property, or managing complex legal procedures, see exactly where you are in the process. Check off completed tasks and always know your next step.

  • Track any administrative process
  • Mark tasks complete as you progress
  • Clear next steps at every stage

Deadline Reminders: Avoid €1,000+ Penalties

Never miss official filing dates — reminders for taxes, permits, and registrations.

  • Inheritance tax: 6 months
  • NIE renewal: 90 days
  • Avoid €1,000+ penalties

Upcoming Deadlines

3 urgent

DEC

23

NIE Appointment

Extranjería Madrid

3 days

DEC

28

Tax Registration

Agencia Tributaria

8 days

JAN

15

Healthcare Enrollment

Centro de Salud

26 days
Deadline approaching!

Verified Professionals

NEAR YOU
María García

María García

Immigration Lawyer • Visa • NIE

★★★★★
4.9 (127 reviews)
Jean Laurent

Jean Laurent

Tax Advisor • Modelo 720 • IRPF

★★★★★
4.8 (89 reviews)
Anna Schmidt

Anna Schmidt

Notary • Property • Wills

★★★★★
4.7 (63 reviews)
View All 50+ Professionals
100% Verified

English-Speaking Lawyers, Notaries & Tax Advisors

Stuck on inheritance tax? Divorce lawyer needed? Can't book NIE appointment? Connect with verified professionals who handle expat cases daily. Real reviews.

  • Immigration lawyers • Tax advisors • Notaries
  • All professionals verified & reviewed
  • Direct contact • No middlemen

Free Tools & Guides

FREE

Inheritance Tax

All 17 regions

Property Costs

Hidden fees included

Form Finder

EX-15, 790, more

Wait Times

Real expat data

Popular Guides

Spanish Inheritance Tax Guide
NIE Appointment Complete Guide
Divorce for Foreigners in Spain
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25+ Resources

Free Calculators & Expert Guides

Professional-grade tools and comprehensive guides to help you understand costs, find forms, and navigate Spanish bureaucracy with confidence.

  • Inheritance tax calculator • All 17 regions
  • Property buying costs • Hidden fees revealed
  • 25+ expert guides • Updated 2025
Takes 60 seconds

How Lifetti Works: Professional Guidance for Every Stage

Lifetti helps expatriates navigate Spanish administrative and legal procedures with clarity - from everyday tasks to complex transitions.

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🇪🇸Spain
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🇫🇷France
1

1. Choose Your Situation

Residency • Property • Estate • Family law • Employment • Relocation

YOUR CHECKLIST12 tasks
Get NIE number
Open bank account
Register healthcare
2

2. Get Free Checklist

38-47 expert-verified tasks. Every form, deadline, document listed.

PROGRESS67%
8
Done
2
Active
2
Left
3

3. Complete Each Step

Check off tasks. Track deadlines. See progress. Stay organized.

MG
María García
Immigration Lawyer
(47)
VerifiedAvailable
4

4. Get Professional Help (When Needed)

Stuck? Connect with English-speaking lawyers, tax advisors, notaries.

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100% Free • No account needed

Verified Professionals

English-Speaking Lawyers, Tax Advisors & Notaries in Spain

Stuck on inheritance tax calculations? Need divorce lawyer? Property closing help? Connect with verified professionals who specialize in expat cases across Spain.

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100+ verified experts across 6 European countries

The complete expat resource

Tax-aware procedures • Residency-conscious guidance • Professional network • Always free

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6 countries covered
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Chat with our concierge team for personalized guidance on your European journey. We speak your language and understand your challenges.

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Everything you need to know about navigating Spain bureaucracy

NIE appointment booking: 1-4 weeks. NIE processing after appointment: same day to 2 weeks depending on city. Madrid fastest (same day). Barcelona 1-2 weeks. Complete NIE guide: 12 steps, average 2-4 weeks total.
You must register death within 24 hours at Civil Registry, arrange funeral (€3,000-8,000), file Spanish inheritance tax within 6 months, and handle probate. Our 47-task checklist walks you through everything. Find English-speaking funeral homes and inheritance tax advisors in our directory.
Mutual consent divorce: €1,000-3,500 (2-4 months). Contested divorce: €3,000-15,000+ (6-24 months). Both require lawyer (mandatory in Spain). Get complete cost breakdown and timeline in our 38-step divorce checklist.
Yes if: (1) EU citizen living in Spain 1+ year, (2) receiving pension, or (3) have private insurance. Get complete eligibility guide and health center finder. Process takes 2-4 weeks.
Our checklists are researched by legal experts and updated quarterly. However, laws change — always verify critical deadlines with official sources or a professional.
We currently cover Spain, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, and Portugal. We're actively working on expanding to more European countries. Each country has localized checklists with country-specific procedures and deadlines.
Absolutely! We have a directory of verified professionals including lawyers, notaries, and tax advisors. You can contact them directly through our platform.
Our guides address tax implications including double taxation treaties, tax residency rules, and reporting requirements. We connect you with advisors specialized in international tax.