Everything you need to know about living in Spain — all in one place
Guides, documents, healthcare, renting, and Spanish for real life — not for tourists.
- Moving in the coming months
- Already living here and figuring out the system
- Moving with your family
Complete relocation guide
All key areas of your first years in Spain — for you and your family.
Practice, not theory
Clear steps: what to do, where to go, and how to avoid mistakes.
3 expert consultations
Not just a set of guides, but a personalized approach from real people.
Proven by real experience
Up-to-date information confirmed by practice in Spain.
A clear plan for life in Spain for you and your family
Each topic includes guides, instructions, and Spanish for real-life situations.
First month legalization
Empadronamiento, NIE, TIE — what to do in the first weeks and in what order.
Banking and finance
How to open an account as a foreigner, transfers from abroad, which bank to choose.
Finding an apartment
Rental market, contract, deposit — how to rent an apartment without unpleasant surprises.
Shopping and daily life
Supermarkets, utilities, the rhythm of life, and how everything works.
Healthcare
Public and private healthcare, registering with a doctor, pharmacies.
Schools
Types of schools, how to enroll a child, what to expect from the Spanish system.
Taxes
Tax residency, IRPF, autónomo — basic obligations.
Transport and mobility
License exchange, insurance, driving specifics, public transport.
Integration
Communities, meeting locals, the psychology of relocation.
Work and self-employment
Job search, employment contracts, how to open an autónomo.
Residency renewal
When and how to renew your TIE, documents, typical mistakes.
Have questions about moving?
We will help you figure it out and avoid making mistakes.
First Steps in Spain
A step-by-step system for your first weeks in Spain: documents, appointments, online services, and common mistakes. Plus, the language for communicating with government agencies to complete the process without extra visits and stress.
Guide
Step-by-Step Plan
What to do before and immediately after arrival: the sequence of processing documents, where to go, and what to bring with you.
Language lesson
How to Fill Out Spanish Forms
A breakdown of the most popular forms and the general logic of filling them out, along with a selection of relevant vocabulary.
Guide
Digital Signature Certificate
How to obtain a "certificado digital" and how it helps from your very first weeks in the country.
Guide
Getting Your TIE Card
Step-by-step instructions for getting a "cita previa," a list of documents, and common mistakes that delay the process.
Article
First Weeks in Spain: What to Expect
What happens in the first weeks, what difficulties arise, and how to solve them without stress.
Language lesson
Communication in Government Offices
Phrases and vocabulary for talking to officials: how to explain your situation, ask a question, and understand the answer.
Article
10 Common Mistakes When Legalizing in Spain
Frequent errors during the paperwork process and how to avoid them without extra visits or wasted time.
Banking and Finance
Opening a bank account in Spain is one of the first hurdles for newcomers. We break down which banks work with foreigners, how to transfer money from abroad, and what to look for in a contract.
Article
Comparing Spanish Banks for Foreigners
A comparison of banks based on conditions for non-residents: Sabadell, BBVA, CaixaBank, Revolut, and Wise — pros and cons of each.
Guide
How to Open an Account: Documents and Process
What to take with you, how the bank meeting goes, what to sign, and what to pay attention to in the contract.
Article
Hidden Fees and Bank Charges
What banks charge for: maintenance, transfers, and inactivity. How to avoid unnecessary costs.
Guide
International Money Transfers to Spain
How to transfer money to Spain via Wise, Revolut, and SWIFT — fees, timelines, and limits.
Language lesson
Spanish for Banking
Key phrases for communicating with bank employees: opening an account, card inquiries, and transfers.
Article
Bizum and Payment Tracking
How Bizum works, which transfers the bank monitors, and in which cases they might be considered commercial.
Guide
Mortgages in Spain for Foreigners
How to get a mortgage in a Spanish bank: requirements for residents and non-residents, down payments, rates, and typical challenges.
Finding an Apartment
How to find and rent housing in Spain: from searching and correspondence to viewing and signing the contract. We analyze the market, risks, and real-world situations to help you avoid losing money and find a decent home.
Article
How the Rental Market Works in Spain
Features of the Spanish market: seasonality, the role of agents, typical conditions, and what to expect as a foreigner.
Guide
Idealista and Fotocasa: How to Search and Filter
How to use the main platforms, what to look for in an ad, and how to react quickly to good options.
Language lesson
Message Templates for Responses
Ready-to-use messages in Spanish: how to write to an owner, arrange a viewing, and stand out from other applicants.
Guide
Apartment Viewing: What to Look For
A checklist for viewings: humidity, noise, appliances, neighbors, the neighborhood, and hidden issues.
Guide
Understanding the Rental Agreement
What should be in the contract, which clauses are dangerous, and how to avoid signing unfavorable terms.
Article
Deposit, Fianza, and Agency Commission
How much money you need to move in, what "fianza" is, when it is returned, and when it can be withheld.
Guide
Empadronamiento: How to Register Your Address
Why registration is necessary, what documents are required, how to make an appointment at the Ayuntamiento, and what to do if refused.
Article
Rental Scams and Fraud
Typical scam schemes: fake ads, prepayments, and how to verify an apartment before paying.
Language lesson
Spanish for Dealing with Landlords
Phrases for rental negotiations, viewing the apartment, and solving household issues with the owner.
Consultation
Housing Search and Purchase Consultation
Individual consultation with a real estate agent regarding renting or buying property in Spain based on your budget and city.
Shopping and Daily Life
The rhythm of life in Spain is quite different from what you may be used to. Siesta, stores closed on Sundays, utility specifics — we break down how daily life is organized and how to integrate quickly.
Article
Supermarkets and Spanish Food
What foods people eat in Spain daily, what you must try, how supermarket chains are organized, and how they differ.
Article
Working Hours, Siesta, and Sundays
How the rhythm of life in Spain works, what is closed when, and how to plan your day to avoid being caught off guard.
Guide
Utilities: Electricity, Water, Internet
How to transfer contracts to your name, which providers are best, how to read bills, and how much utilities actually cost in Spain.
Guide
Waste Sorting and Environment
How the recycling system works in Spain: containers, sorting rules, fines, and common beginner mistakes.
Guide
Moving and Living with Pets
What documents are needed for entry, flight rules, and how to help your pet adapt to Spain.
Language lesson
Spanish for Stores and Services
Phrases for everyday shopping, talking to vendors, and solving household questions.
Guide
Delivery and Online Shopping
How Amazon, Glovo, and local delivery services work. How to quickly and conveniently buy everything from food to furniture.
Guide
Essential Spanish Apps
The must-have mobile applications for living in Spain: from transportation and delivery to banking and government services.
Healthcare in Spain
The healthcare system in Spain is one of the best in Europe — but to use it, you need to know how to access it. We explain the difference between public and private medicine, how to register with a doctor, and how pharmacies work.
Article
How Healthcare Works in Spain
The public health system: who is entitled to free treatment, how appointments are structured, and what the limitations are.
Guide
How to Register at a Clinic
How to obtain a "tarjeta sanitaria" and get to see a family doctor at a "centro de salud."
Language lesson
Booking a Doctor via Phone
How to call a "centro de salud," what to say to the operator, and how to correctly schedule an appointment in Spanish.
Guide
Private Insurance in Spain
Why you might need private insurance, how much it costs, how it differs from public medicine, and which companies expats choose.
Article
Pharmacies in Spain
How pharmacies work, what you can buy without a prescription, and how to navigate Spanish medications.
Language lesson
Spanish at the Doctor
Phrases for describing symptoms, questions about treatment and prescriptions, and basic medical vocabulary for an appointment.
Schools and Education
How to enroll your child in a Spanish school without stress or losing a year. We analyze types of schools, the registration process, and adaptation so you can feel confident at every step.
Article
Choosing a School: Public, Charter (Concertada), or International
Analyzing three types of schools: costs, language of instruction, workload, and which option suits different families.
Guide
How to Enroll a Child in School in Spain
The step-by-step "matriculación" process: deadlines, documents, and what to do if no spots are available.
Article
Child Adaptation Process
What happens in the first few months: language, stress, new rules, and how to help your child adjust faster.
Article
What to Expect from a Spanish School
Schedules, grading, homework, and teacher relationships — key differences from the systems you may know.
Language lesson
Spanish for Communicating with Teachers
Phrases for meetings, correspondence, and discussing academic progress to communicate confidently with the school.
Taxes
Spain's tax system is complex, and mistakes can cost hundreds or thousands of euros. We break down when you become a tax resident, which taxes you are required to pay, and how to avoid fines and overpayments.
Article
When You Become a Tax Resident
Criteria for tax residency, consequences, and how it affects your obligations to the Spanish tax authorities.
Guide
Annual Tax Return (Renta): How to File and Not Overpay
How the filing process works, deadlines, common mistakes, and how to claim tax deductions.
Article
IRPF: When Does a Relocator Owe Tax and How Is It Calculated?
In which cases those who move to Spain must pay income tax, how the base is determined, and which types of income are taxable.
Guide
Mandatory Declarations and Deadlines for Residents
Which declarations might be mandatory after moving (Renta, Modelo 720, 721, 650/660, etc.), in which cases they are filed, and when the deadlines are.
Article
Tax Deductions in Spain
What national and regional deductions are available and how to legally reduce your tax burden.
Article
Modelo 720 and Foreign Assets
When you need to declare accounts and property abroad and the penalties for errors.
Article
Do You Need a Gestor?
When a gestor is indispensable, how much it costs, and how to choose a reliable specialist.
Article
Tax Mistakes Most Often Made by Relocators
A breakdown of typical situations: incorrect residency determination, missed declarations, and income errors leading to fines.
Language lesson
Spanish for Taxes and Documents
Key terms and phrases for communicating with tax authorities and filling out forms.
Transport and Driving
How to get around Spain without extra costs or errors: from license exchange and taking exams to trains, planes, bicycles, and urban mobility.
Article
License Exchange: Who Can and Who Must Retake the Exam
Which countries have an agreement with Spain, the validity period of foreign licenses, and the step-by-step exchange procedure.
Guide
How to Get a Driver's License in Spain
The structure of the theoretical and practical exams, driving schools, typical mistakes, and preparation strategy.
Language lesson
Driving Exam Language (Theory and Terms)
Key Spanish terms from the DGT test, question phrasing, and the vocabulary you need to know to pass the theory.
Guide
Car Insurance: Mandatory and Optional
What types of car insurance exist, what is required by law, and how to choose a suitable policy.
Article
Specifics of Driving in Spain
Road signs, differences from other countries, parking, restricted zones, and the fine system.
Article
Bicycles and Urban Mobility
How bike lanes are organized in Spain, rules for cyclists, rentals (Bici/e-bikes), and the feasibility of living without a car.
Guide
Traveling the Country: Trains, Buses, and Planes
How Renfe works, high-speed AVE trains, intercity buses, and budget airlines within Spain.
Integration
Adapting to a new country is not just about the language. We break down how to fit into Spanish life, find your social circle, and get through the first year without isolation or burnout.
Article
Activities and Meeting People in Spain
Padel, local bars, sports clubs, language exchanges, and other real ways to meet locals and expats.
Article
Spanish Holidays and Social Life
How local holidays, fiestas, and traditions work — and why they are key to integrating into society.
Article
The Psychology of Relocation: Stress and Adaptation
Loneliness, culture shock, losing one's grounding, and the stages of adaptation in a new country — what happens and how to cope.
Language lesson
Spanish for Everyday Communication
Phrases for small talk, neighbors, school, and daily situations to help you break the language barrier.
Consultation
Spanish Language Learning Consultation for Relocators
Individual assessment of your level and a Spanish learning plan tailored to the real-world tasks of living in Spain.
Work and Self-Employment
How the job market works in Spain: from job searching and contracts to working for foreign companies and choosing between employment and "autónomo" status.
Guide
How to Look for a Job in Spain
Platforms, LinkedIn, Spanish resumes, and the specifics of hiring in the local market.
Guide
Understanding Your Employment Contract
Types of contracts, key terms, risks, and how to avoid signing unfavorable conditions.
Article
Working for a Foreign Company from Spain
How to legally work remotely, tax implications, residency, and common mistakes for digital nomads.
Article
Spanish Corporate Culture
How work processes, communication, and hierarchy are organized, and what is important to know for a comfortable experience in a Spanish company.
Article
Which Is Better: Autónomo or Employment?
Comparing the two work models: taxes, expenses, risks, and in which cases being "autónomo" truly makes sense.
Article
Income and Taxes: How Much Do You Actually Keep?
The difference between gross and net salary, tax burden, and typical errors in income calculations.
Language lesson
Spanish at Work and in Interviews
Phrases for interviews, business correspondence, and communicating with colleagues in a real work environment.
Renewal and Residency Status
How to maintain your legal status in Spain, renew your residency on time, and build a path toward long-term residency and permanent status without errors.
Article
When to Apply for TIE Renewal
Filing timelines, renewal windows for different residency types, and the consequences of late filing.
Guide
Residency Renewal
The full list of documents, where to get them, and typical mistakes that cause delays.
Guide
Residency Modification
How to switch between residency types: to work, "autónomo," or other grounds, and when it is necessary.
Article
How to Obtain Permanent Residency (PR) in Spain
What you need to do from the very beginning of your stay to receive permanent residency after 5 years without issues.
Article
Common Reasons for Denials and Renewal Problems
Document errors, tax discrepancies, missed deadlines, and other risks it is important to know in advance.
Consultation
Residency Renewal Consultation
An individual consultation with an immigration lawyer regarding your specific situation.
Relocation Course to Spain
Be the first to know about the course
Leave your email — we will send details about the course, payment, and access.
No spam. Only important course updates.
Done!
We have received your application and will contact you shortly.
Who we are
The How2Spanish team consists of people who moved to Spain themselves and went through everything our users experience: bureaucracy, house hunting, first conversations with neighbors, and queues at the Ayuntamiento. That's why we know exactly what knowledge is actually needed.
Course experts
Artem Garnyshev
CEO & Founder, How2Spanish
Three years in Valencia. Went from zero to conversational level and created the platform he wished he had.
Agustí Mercadé
Linguistic & Cultural Advisor
Master in ELE, teaching experience in 90+ countries. Ensures the Spanish in the course sounds like real Spain — not a textbook.
Alexey Sharkov
Lawyer, founder of Espānium
Spanish immigration law specialist. Consults on legalization, documents, and typical relocation mistakes.
What our users say
Feedback about the How2Spanish platform
"I love this service! I use many other AI tools for learning Spanish, but this one is a real find — it completely changes the approach to learning."
Ivan Manzhetov
How2Spanish User
"I like how the platform helps practice vocabulary and grammar — it's very useful. Plus, there's a lot of valuable information about life in Spain."
Mikhail Marz
How2Spanish User
"I highly recommend the platform because of its social modules — I prepare for doctor visits or bank appointments and arrive already knowing what to say."
Daria
How2Spanish User
Move to Spain without months of chaos
Everything you need to know — collected, verified, and structured. So you can spend your time living, not searching for answers.