Your First 30 Days in Spain: The Essential Checklist

The first month in Spain is a sprint of bureaucracy, logistics, and emotional adjustment. There are government registrations, bank accounts, phone plans, healthcare enrollment, and a dozen other tasks competing for your attention — all while navigating a new city, a new language, and jet lag.

Having a clear sequence makes the difference between a chaotic month and a manageable one. This checklist is organized week by week, based on what hundreds of students have learned works best. Some steps depend on others (you need the empadronamiento before you can get a TIE, for example), so the order matters.

Print this out. Check things off. You will feel more in control.

Before You Arrive: Pre-Departure Prep

These tasks should be completed before you board the plane:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay
• Student visa stamped in your passport (if non-EU)
• Multiple copies of all documents: Visa, passport, acceptance letter, insurance policy, financial proof. Bring physical copies AND save digital copies in cloud storage
• Apostilled and translated documents: Degree certificates, transcripts — whatever your university requires
• Health insurance: Private insurance that meets visa requirements, or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you are from the EU
• Initial accommodation booked: Even if temporary (hostel, Airbnb for 1-2 weeks), do not arrive without a place to sleep
• Cash: Bring 200-300 EUR in cash for the first few days before you open a bank account
• Unlocked phone: Make sure your phone is unlocked so you can insert a Spanish SIM card
• International adapter: Spain uses Type C and F plugs (the same as most of continental Europe)
• Emergency contacts saved: Your embassy, university international office, and 112 (Spain's general emergency number)

Week 1: Foundations (Days 1-7)

The first week is about establishing your administrative baseline. Everything else builds on these steps.

Day 1-2: Arrive and Settle

• Get to your accommodation. Rest, recover from travel. Orient yourself in the neighborhood.
• Buy a Spanish SIM card. Available at any phone store or supermarket. Major providers: Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and budget options like Lycamobile, Digi, or Simyo. A basic plan with data costs 10-20 EUR/month. You need a Spanish phone number for almost everything that follows.
• Download essential apps: Google Maps, Citymapper (for public transport), Google Translate, WhatsApp (the primary messaging app in Spain), your bank app

Day 3-4: Empadronamiento (Municipal Registration)

This is your first critical bureaucratic step. The empadronamiento registers you as a resident of your municipality and is required for almost everything else — bank account, TIE, healthcare, transport discounts.

• Book an appointment at your local Oficina de Atencion al Ciudadano (Citizen Services Office). In many cities, you can book online. In others, you need to show up early.
• Bring: Passport, rental contract (or letter from your landlord), and a completed empadronamiento form (available online from your ayuntamiento/city hall website)
• Receive your certificado de empadronamiento. This is a piece of paper confirming your registered address. Guard it carefully — you will need it for multiple subsequent steps.

Tip: If you are in temporary accommodation (hostel, Airbnb), some municipalities let you register there. Others require a formal rental contract. Check with your city hall in advance.

Day 5-6: Open a Bank Account

You need a Spanish bank account for paying rent, receiving any income, and getting your TIE.

• Choose a bank: Traditional options include Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, and Sabadell. Digital banks like N26, Revolut, or Wise are alternatives but may not meet all requirements (some landlords and institutions require a Spanish IBAN from a traditional bank).
• Bring to the appointment: Passport, NIE number (from your visa), empadronamiento certificate, proof of student status (enrollment letter)
• Ask about student accounts: Many banks offer fee-free accounts for students under 25 or 30

Tip: CaixaBank and Santander have the most branches and ATMs. BBVA has a good app. N26 and Wise are fastest to set up if you need a functioning account immediately.

Day 7: University Registration and Orientation

• Complete your university enrollment if not already done remotely. This usually involves visiting the secretaria (registrar's office) with your documents.
• Get your student ID card (tarjeta universitaria or carnet de estudiante). This gives you discounts on transport, museums, and cultural events.
• Attend orientation events. Meet your classmates, tour the campus, learn about services.
• Visit the international student office (ORI) and introduce yourself. They are your best resource for local advice.

Week 2: Legal Status (Days 8-14)

With the foundations in place, week two focuses on securing your legal status.

TIE Appointment (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)

If you are a non-EU student staying more than 6 months, you must apply for your TIE (foreigner identity card) within 30 days of arriving in Spain.

• Book a cita previa at the Oficina de Extranjeria or the National Police station in your city. Appointments can be scarce — check the website daily and at different times. Early morning (7-8am) is often when new slots open.
• Pay the Tasa 012 (the TIE processing fee, approximately 16-20 EUR). Pay at a bank using the Modelo 790 Codigo 012 form.
• Prepare your documents:
  • Completed EX-17 form
  • Passport and copy
  • Visa and copy
  • Empadronamiento certificate
  • Proof of enrollment
  • Health insurance policy
  • Passport photos (white background, recent)
  • Tasa 012 payment receipt
• Attend the appointment. You will be fingerprinted. The TIE card takes 20-45 days to arrive.
• Pick up your TIE when notified. You will receive a resolution and then need to return to collect the physical card.

Healthcare Enrollment

• EU students: Register your EHIC at your local Centro de Salud (health center) to get a SIP card (tarjeta sanitaria)
• Non-EU students: Your private health insurance is your primary coverage. Familiarize yourself with how to use it — find in-network doctors and hospitals near you. Keep your insurance card and policy number accessible at all times
• Locate your nearest Centro de Salud and Urgencias (emergency room). Save the addresses in your phone.
• Locate the nearest 24-hour pharmacy (farmacia de guardia)

Week 3: Digital Infrastructure (Days 15-21)

By now you should have your empadronamiento, bank account, and TIE application submitted. Week three is about building your digital infrastructure.

Digital Certificate (Certificado Digital)

The digital certificate allows you to complete government procedures online — tax filings, Social Security queries, official requests. It is not urgent in week 3, but getting it early saves enormous time later.

• Request it online at the FNMT (Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre) website: sede.fnmt.gob.es
• Visit a registration office in person (Delegacion de Hacienda, some city halls, or FNMT offices) to verify your identity. Bring your passport and the confirmation code from step 1.
• Download and install the certificate on your computer once approved (usually within 24-48 hours of the in-person visit)

Set Up Your Transport Pass

• Get your monthly transport card: Abono Joven (Madrid), T-jove (Barcelona), Bono Jove (Valencia), or equivalent
• Bring: ID, empadronamiento, and a passport photo
• Load your first month and figure out your daily commute route

Grocery Shopping Recon

• Identify your nearest supermarkets: Mercadona, Lidl, Carrefour, Dia, and any local markets
• Do a big first shop: Stock your kitchen with basics — oil, salt, spices, pasta, rice, canned goods
• Find specialty stores if you need halal, Asian, Latin American, or other specific food items. Ask international students who arrived before you — they know where to go

Week 4: Settling In (Days 22-30)

The hardest logistics are behind you. Week four is about building the habits and routines that make Spain feel like home.

Academic Routine

• Attend all classes and establish your study schedule
• Identify key study spots: University library, neighborhood cafes, co-working spaces
• Join or form a study group with classmates
• Meet your academic advisor or program coordinator

Social Foundations

• Join at least one club or activity — sports, language exchange, cultural group, volunteering
• Explore your neighborhood: Walk different streets each day. Find the best bakery, fruit shop, bar, and park
• Have a meal with classmates outside of campus
• Contact your family back home and establish a regular call schedule

Practical Life

• Set up recurring rent payments through your bank
• Register with your city's public library — free and a great study space. You only need your passport and empadronamiento
• Get a gym membership or find free exercise options (outdoor fitness areas in parks are common in Spain)
• Explore weekend activities: Markets, museums (many are free on certain days), parks, day trips

Emotional Check-In

• Acknowledge the adjustment. If you feel homesick, overwhelmed, or lonely — that is completely normal at this stage. Almost every international student goes through it.
• Identify support resources: University counseling services, the international student office, friends, family
• Set realistic expectations: You do not need to have everything figured out by day 30. The goal is progress, not perfection.

Quick Reference: Document Dependency Chain

Understanding which documents you need for what prevents wasted trips:

Passport + Visa
└── Empadronamiento (needs rental contract)
├── Bank Account (needs empadronamiento + passport + NIE)
├── TIE Application (needs empadronamiento + all docs)
├── Transport Pass discount (needs empadronamiento + ID)
└── Digital Certificate (needs empadronamiento + ID)
└── Online government services

The empadronamiento is the keystone. Get it first.

Common Mistakes in the First Month

1. Not making copies of everything. Make 3 physical copies and digital scans of every document before you leave home.
2. Waiting too long for the TIE appointment. Appointments fill up fast. Start checking the website on day 1.
3. Not getting the empadronamiento early enough. Everything depends on it.
4. Carrying your passport everywhere. Once you have your TIE (or at least the application receipt), carry that instead. Keep the passport locked at home.
5. Ignoring the digital certificate. It seems unnecessary at first, but you will need it for tax returns, official certificates, and dozens of other procedures.
6. Not asking for help. Your university's international office exists for this. Other students who arrived before you have been through it all. Ask.

After Day 30: What Comes Next

By the end of your first month, you should have:

• A registered address (empadronamiento)
• A bank account
• A phone with a Spanish number
• A TIE application submitted (card pending)
• Health coverage set up
• A transport pass
• The beginnings of a social circle
• A functioning academic routine

Months 2 and 3 are about deepening — deepening friendships, deepening your understanding of the city, deepening your academic work. The survival phase gives way to the thriving phase.

You got through the hardest part.

Postgrado Espana specializes in helping international students navigate every step of studying in Spain — before, during, and after arrival. Book a free consultation and let us make your transition smoother.