Frequently Asked Questions

This guide covers the most common questions about how we work, what we offer, how billing and access work, and how to get support. Use the table of contents to jump to the section you need.

20,000+ Expats Guided

600+ Clients Moved with Our Plans

Visas & Residency

Choosing the right visa depends on your circumstances:

If you’re unsure, book a consultation with our expert immigration lawyer partners; they’ll help you select the right visa and prepare your application.

Spain divides visas into:

  • Type C (Schengen / short stay), up to 90 days, for tourism, business, family visits, etc.
  • Type D (Long-stay/residence visas) covers long-term residence under categories such as Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, Work Visas, Student Visas, Entrepreneur/Autónomo Visas, and Highly Skilled Professional Visas.

Type D visas are the foundation for legal residency, long-term stays, and eventual permanent residency or citizenship.

Spain supports multiple work-oriented visas and work permits:

  • Work Visa: for employees with a legitimate job offer from a Spanish employer.
  • Entrepreneur / Autónomo Visa: for those starting or owning a business in Spain.
  • Highly Skilled Professional Visa: for professionals with job offers that meet certain skill/qualification thresholds.

Each visa has distinct requirements. If you’re unsure which option fits best or whether your documentation qualifies, using a Spanish immigration lawyer simplifies the selection and submission process.

Yes, many long-stay visas are a first step toward long-term residency. After legally residing in Spain for 5 years with a residence permit, you become eligible for Spanish permanent residency (Residencia de Larga Duración).

After ten years of continuous legal residency (or less, in some exceptional cases), you may qualify for Spanish citizenship by naturalization. There are language, integration, and legal criteria.

Taxes & Finances

You generally become a Spanish tax resident when you meet any of the following:

  • You spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year
  • Your primary financial interests or centre of economic activity is in Spain
  • Your spouse and dependent children live in Spain (presumption of residency)
  • Official reference 👉 https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/

Tax residents may be subject to:

  • Income tax (IRPF)
  • Wealth tax (varies by region; some regions offer discounts)
  • Savings/investment tax
  • Property taxes if you own real estate (IBI)
  • VAT (IVA) on goods and services

To understand how much tax you may pay in Spain (and how to minimize your liability), you should meet with a cross-border tax expert in Spain.

Our full Spanish Tax System Expat guide explains each in detail.

Modelo 720 is Spain’s foreign asset declaration required for Spanish tax residents who hold:

  • Foreign bank accounts
  • Foreign investments
  • Foreign property

All Spanish tax residents with global assets exceeding €50,000 in any of the three categories must file annually. It is crucial to file it correctly, even though it is an informational form that does not involve a tax payment, as failure to comply still carries significant financial penalties.

Healthcare and Private Health Insurance

Age and health status are two of the biggest pricing factors.
Older applicants and those with pre-existing conditions typically pay more, and fewer insurers may be available.

Can people over 75 get private health insurance in Spain?

Yes, but only a small number of insurers offer policies, often with higher premiums and stricter underwriting. See our guide to Spanish Private Health Insurance for Over 75s.

If you’d like our help finding an insurer suited to your age and personal circumstances, please complete our Spanish private health insurance quotes tool.

No, most private health insurance policies in Spain do not include the cost of medications or prescriptions.

What is covered:

  • Doctor appointments and specialist consultations
  • Diagnostic tests and treatment recommended by your doctor

What’s usually not covered:

  • Prescription medications issued after your appointment
  • Pharmacy costs are paid out of pocket

That said, prescription medication in Spain is significantly cheaper than in many other countries, even without insurance, so costs are generally manageable.

💡 Your insurer covers the visit and diagnosis — you simply pay the pharmacy directly if medication is prescribed.

Yes,  it’s important to make sure the policy you choose operates in the city or region you’re moving to in Spain.

The insurers we work with generally have strong medical networks across Spain, particularly in major cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, as well as many smaller cities and regions, including Andalucía, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands.

However, coverage and hospital availability can vary by insurer and by location. Not every insurer operates in every city, and options may be more limited in smaller towns or very rural areas.

When we provide qualifying healthcare quotes, we take your intended location into account and only share policies that operate in or near your chosen city, so you can be confident the coverage is suitable for where you’ll be living

Costs vary depending on age, coverage level, and medical history:

  • From ~€300/year for younger applicants with co-payments
  • Up to €2,500+ per year for comprehensive, no co-payment plans
  • Higher premiums are common with pre-existing conditions or advanced age

⚠️ Visa and residency policies must have no co-payments or deductibles.

Click here to explore the cost of private health insurance in Spain.

It depends on the insurer and your individual circumstances.
Some Spanish insurers:

  • Cover pre-existing conditions with higher premiums
  • Impose limitations or waiting periods
  • Decline coverage for ongoing or complex conditions

For Spanish visa and residency applications, policies must not exclude pre-existing conditions, which makes choosing the right provider especially important.

It’s important to note that medical questionnaires and documentation are usually only valid for 1–2 months. If the process takes longer, updated medical information may be required.

💡 To see which insurers may work for your situation, you can compare visa-compliant options using our healthcare quote tool. 

A pre-existing condition is any illness, diagnosis, or medical issue known before you apply for a health insurance policy. This includes chronic conditions, past cancer diagnoses, ongoing monitoring, or current treatments.

It’s essential to disclose all relevant medical history. Non-disclosure can result in claim refusals or policy cancellation.

🔗 Learn more about pre-existing conditions in Spain.

💡If you’re unsure how a condition may be assessed, you can use our health insurance quote tool to connect with insurers experienced in your situation and see which options may be available to you.

Failing to disclose medical history can lead to:

  • Policy cancellation
  • Claims being denied
  • Retroactive premium increases

Always be 100% honest during the medical underwriting process.

Yes, in many cases it’s still possible, but underwriting is done case by case. Insurers consider:

  • Whether treatment is ongoing or completed
  • Time since treatment ended
  • Monitoring vs. active care
  • Age and related health factors

Premiums are often higher, but some insurers do provide full visa-compliant coverage once treatment has finished.

💡 If you’re navigating a complex medical history, our quote tool helps identify insurers open to these cases. 

First of all, we’re sorry to hear about the diagnosis, you’re not alone, and we’ve worked with clients in similar situations before. A cancer diagnosis can make the process more complex, but it doesn’t automatically mean it’s impossible.

We work with top insurance providers in Spain and explore multiple options, even in more difficult or serious cases. Each application is assessed individually, and outcomes can vary significantly from person to person.

That said, it’s most challenging when there is an ongoing diagnosis, active treatment, or continued testing. Insurers are often hesitant in these situations because the full medical picture may still be unclear.

💡 If you’re navigating a complex medical history, our quote tool helps identify insurers open to these cases. 

Insurance companies review cases on a case-by-case basis using detailed risk assessments, often through specialized internal medical departments. Factors that affect pricing and approval include:

  • Whether treatment is ongoing or completed
  • Whether the condition is “all clear”
  • Age
  • Whether the condition is related to other health issues

More serious or interconnected pre-existing conditions generally result in higher premiums.

Potentially, yes. If treatment is completed and there is no evidence of disease, insurers may be more open to providing coverage, even if monitoring is ongoing. Each insurer will still assess the risk individually.

As a general reference:

  • Without pre-existing conditions: around €2,100/year
  • With pre-existing conditions but “all clear”: around €4,000/year

These are estimates and can vary by insurer and individual circumstances.

What if every insurer says no, are there any last-resort options?

It’s completely possible that after reviewing medical details, an insurer may deny coverage. If that happens:

  • We recommend asking multiple providers for opinions
  • We do everything we can to explore alternatives and give honest guidance

Most long-term Spanish visas require fully comprehensive private health insurance, including:

  • Non-Lucrative Visa
  • Digital Nomad Visa
  • Student Visa
  • Golden Visa

Policies must be issued by an authorised Spanish insurer and include:

  • No co-payments
  • No waiting periods
  • No exclusions

🔗 Our Visa insurance requirements explained. 

Yes, visa requirements can vary slightly depending on the consulate. For example, some consulates require repatriation coverage while others do not, and interpretation can sometimes differ even between reviewers at the same consulate.

That said, all of the insurance providers we partner with offer visa-compliant policies. These policies are designed to meet all known Spanish visa requirements, including:

  • No copays
  • No deductibles
  • No waiting periods

Yes. For example, UK citizens applying for a Non-Lucrative Visa can use a registered S1 instead of private insurance. 

But only if you’re already eligible through:

  • Employment and Social Security contributions
  • A registered S1 form
  • Certain pension or benefit statuses

If not, private insurance is required.🔗 Our S1 form guide. 

Once you select a visa-compliant policy:

  • Documents are usually issued within 3 working days
  • Coverage can be scheduled to start on a future date, matching your visa plans
  • If your visa is refused due to the health policy, you’ll receive a full refund

For the best chance of approval, we recommend working with a specialist Spanish immigration lawyer who can review your application before submission.

💡 Use our quote tool to compare insurers that allow future start dates.

You can secure insurance with a future start date. 

For example: You can confirm the quote now, purchase the policy, and have it begin closer to your move date.

Bonus: If your visa is rejected for any reason, you can provide the rejection letter and receive a full refund.

No. Travel insurance is designed for short stays and does not meet Spanish immigration requirements.

No. U.S. healthcare systems (including Medicare timelines) and U.S. veteran coverage—even though often excellent—do not meet Spanish visa requirements and have no bearing on the visa decision.

The Convenio Especial is a paid public healthcare scheme for residents who don’t qualify via Social Security.

Key points:

  • Must be resident in Spain for 12 months before applying
  • Monthly cost: ~€60 (under 65), ~€157 (65+)
  • Prescriptions and dental care are not included

🔗 See our full convenio especial guide. 

Emergency care in Spain is always free.
For non-emergency treatment, you’ll need either:

  • Eligibility for public healthcare, or
  • Private health insurance

Private hospitals may also accept direct payment.

Cost of Living in Spain

Costs vary by region, but the cost of living in Spain is generally lower than in the US or the UK. Where you live, and the lifestyle you choose will impact how much cheaper your new life in Spain is. Our research shows that equivalent lifestyles in Spain are up to 35% cheaper than in the US and 25% cheaper than in the UK.

Use our Spain Cost of Living Calculator to work out your new budget and to compare costs in major Spanish cities.

Foreign pensions and Social Security benefits are generally taxable in Spain once you become a tax resident. And unlike your home country, Spain doesn’t always honor tax-free portions of pensions (like the UK’s 25% lump sum), nor does it automatically exempt income from IRAs or Superannuation accounts.

To see how Spain may tax your pension or Social Security payments (and how to minimize your liability), you should meet with a cross-border tax expert in Spain.

Choosing Where to Live in Spain

There are four criteria that we advise clients to consider when exploring where to live in Spain.

  1. Climate – Spain has a wide variety of climates, from the cool, wet Atlantic coast to the warm, dry South. You should explore the year-round weather – not just the summertime highlights!
  2. Culture – Spain’s regions have different cultures, and in some areas, different languages. What suits your personality?
  3. Taxation – Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities have different tax rates, so you should compare them
  4. Cost of Living – How much of your savings goes on rent and groceries changes dramatically across Spain. Use our Spain Cost of Living Calculator to find the place to suit your budget.

Spain is huge, with hundreds of cities and towns – find one that meets your requirements in all four categories.

According to our Best Places to Retire in Spain Index, the Top 5 places for Expats to retire in Spain are:

  1. Calpe (2024 Ranking #5)
    Calpe offers stunning coastal scenery, excellent infrastructure, strong healthcare, and a vibrant year-round expat and retiree community.
  2. Almuñécar (2024 Ranking #1)
    Almuñécar is a laid-back coastal gem loved by retirees for its charm, climate, and relaxed lifestyle that feels like a well-kept secret.
  3. Benidorm (2024 Ranking #6)
    Benidorm provides exceptional retiree services, strong healthcare, and an extensive expat community far beyond its party-town reputation.
  4. Jávea / Xàbia (2024 Ranking #4)
    Jávea combines scenic coastal beauty, cooler temperatures, and a mature expat community with rich cultural experiences.
  5. Salamanca (2024 Ranking #36)
    Salamanca surprises retirees with its strong senior-friendly infrastructure, low costs, safety, and traditional Spanish charm.

Explore these cities and more in our “Living In” series of Spain destination guides, or explore all 38 best Spanish towns and cities for retirees on our long list.

Working In Spain

Yes, but you need the correct work-eligible visa or residency. Options include the Digital Nomad Visa, Work Visa, Entrepreneur/Autónomo Visa, or Highly Skilled Professional Visa.
Full overview 👉 https://movingtospain.com/spain-visa-types/

For work visas, we strongly recommend working with an expert Spanish immigration lawyer.

For remote workers and freelancers, the Spain Digital Nomad Visa is typically the most accessible route because it does not require a Spanish employer to sponsor you.

For remote workers and freelancers, the Spain Digital Nomad Visa is typically the most accessible route because it does not require a Spanish employer to sponsor you.

Yes, but you must apply for an Entrepreneur/Autónomo Visa or be eligible under the Digital Nomad Visa. Remember, Spain has strict rules on registration, invoicing, and taxes for autónomos.

Because Autónomo Visas require business plans and legal compliance, we strongly recommend working with an expert Spanish immigration lawyer.

Retiring in Spain

Most retirees use the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), also called the Spanish Retirement Visa, which allows long-term residence. You can’t work (either in Spain or remotely) on this visa. You’ll need to show proof of sufficient passive income or savings and full private health insurance.

For NLV applications, many retirees choose to work with our vetted NLV expert lawyer partners.

According to our Best Places to Retire in Spain Index, the Top 5 places for Expats to retire in Spain are:

  1. Calpe (2024 Ranking #5)
    Calpe offers stunning coastal scenery, excellent infrastructure, strong healthcare, and a vibrant year-round expat and retiree community.
  2. Almuñécar (2024 Ranking #1)
    Almuñécar is a laid-back coastal gem loved by retirees for its charm, climate, and relaxed lifestyle that feels like a well-kept secret.
  3. Benidorm (2024 Ranking #6)
    Benidorm provides exceptional retiree services, strong healthcare, and an extensive expat community far beyond its party-town reputation.
  4. Jávea / Xàbia (2024 Ranking #4)
    Jávea combines scenic coastal beauty, cooler temperatures, and a mature expat community with rich cultural experiences.
  5. Salamanca (2024 Ranking #36)
    Salamanca surprises retirees with its strong senior-friendly infrastructure, low costs, safety, and traditional Spanish charm.

Explore these cities and more in our “Living In” series of Spain destination guides, or explore all 38 best Spanish towns and cities for retirees on our long list.

Foreign pensions and Social Security benefits are generally taxable in Spain once you become a tax resident. And unlike your home country, Spain doesn’t always honor tax-free portions of pensions (like the UK’s 25% lump sum), nor does it automatically exempt income from IRAs or Superannuation accounts.

To see how Spain may tax your pension or Social Security payments (and how to minimize your liability), you should meet with a cross-border tax expert in Spain.

No, Expat retirees in Spain do not get access to the Spanish public healthcare system unless they pay social security contributions through an EU S1 Form or the Convenio Especial system. Most expat retirees will need Spanish private health insurance for their visa or residency.

Yes, in almost all cases, non-EU citizens retiring to Spain will need private health insurance to apply for the Spain Retirement Visa.

Moving to Spain Services

Our Moving to Spain Relocation Plans provide structured, expert guidance for every stage of relocation, including one-on-one coaching, immigration and tax consultations, personalised planning, and access to essential relocation tools. Our plans make the entire process smoother, faster, and far less stressful by helping you avoid common mistakes that can delay or derail a move.

Through carefully selected English-speaking Spanish immigration lawyers, MovingToSpain.com helps applicants navigate Spain’s complex visa and residency rules. This support ensures your application meets legal requirements, includes the correct documentation, and has the highest possible chance of approval.

Yes. MovingToSpain.com offers a comparison tool that provides Spanish private health insurance quotes that meet official visa requirements, such as full medical coverage, no co-pays, and no waiting periods. Our partners specialize in helping expats moving to Spain secure compliant insurance quickly and at competitive prices.

MovingToSpain.com connects clients with trusted rental search specialists and property buyer agents who understand local markets, neighbourhoods, pricing, and legal considerations. Most importantly, our partners work for you – not for an estate agency, a seller, or a landlord. This support is especially valuable for avoiding misleading listings, securing desirable rentals, and navigating Spain’s complex housing market with confidence.

The platform includes an interactive Moving to Spain checklist, a Spain cost-of-living calculator, a moving budget planner, and a tool to request quotes from international moving companies. These tools help you understand your costs, organise your tasks, and manage the practical details of your move in a simple and efficient way.

Partners are selected through a rigorous multi-step evaluation process that focuses on professionalism, ethics, expertise, client service quality, and proven success supporting international clients. Only providers who consistently demonstrate excellence and reliability are invited into the network. Partners who don’t continue to meet our standard are removed from our roster.

Spain’s immigration, tax, real estate, and healthcare systems can be complex. Working with vetted specialists significantly reduces the risk of delays, misinformation, or costly mistakes. Our partners have a track record of helping expats succeed and are held accountable through ongoing monitoring and feedback. All selected partners specialise in supporting expats from English-speaking countries, especially those relocating from the US, UK, and Canada. They are chosen for their ability to communicate clearly, explain local procedures, and provide solutions tailored to your needs.to work with our vetted NLV expert lawyer partners.

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