Pre-Arrival Checklist: What to Do Before Flying to Spain

You have been accepted into a Spanish university. Your visa is approved. Now comes the part that many students underestimate: the weeks between visa approval and boarding the plane. What you do during this period determines how smoothly your first month in Spain will go.

This checklist covers everything you need to handle before departure — from document preparation to financial setup, housing arrangements, and practical essentials. We have organized it chronologically, starting 8 weeks before your flight and working forward to departure day.

Print this out, save it on your phone, or share it with a family member who is helping you prepare. Crossing items off early prevents the last-minute panic that derails too many students' arrivals.

8-6 Weeks Before Departure

Documents

• Verify your passport validity: Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay. If it expires soon, renew it now.
• Confirm your student visa is in your passport: Double-check the dates, your name spelling, and the visa type.
• Gather original documents: Acceptance letter, apostilled and translated academic documents, insurance policy, proof of financial means. You will need these at the Spanish border and for administrative procedures after arrival. See our translation requirements guide for details.
• Make certified copies of all documents: At least 3 copies of every important document. Keep originals and copies in separate bags when traveling.
• Scan all documents digitally: Save to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud). If anything is lost or stolen, you will have digital backups accessible from anywhere.
• Obtain a criminal background check: Some procedures in Spain require one. Get it apostilled and translated before leaving your country — it is much harder to obtain from abroad.
• Get extra passport photos: At least 6 passport-sized photos meeting European standards (biometric, white background). You will need them for your TIE (residence card) appointment and other paperwork.

Health Insurance

• Confirm your health insurance is active: Your policy should be active from your arrival date. Verify the certificate shows your name, coverage dates, and that it is valid in Spain. See our health insurance guide for details.
• Carry your insurance documents in your hand luggage: You may be asked to show proof of insurance at immigration.
• Check if you need additional vaccines: Spain does not require specific vaccinations for entry, but check if your university or student residence has any requirements.
• Visit your doctor and dentist: Get any needed check-ups, prescriptions, and dental work done before departure. Healthcare navigation in a new country takes time.
• Get a supply of prescription medications: Bring at least a 3-month supply of any regular medications, along with the prescription (ideally in English or Spanish) and the generic name of the drug (not just brand names, which differ by country).

Finances

• Open a bank account that works internationally: Notify your home bank that you will be using your card in Spain so they do not block transactions for suspicious activity.
• Research options for a Spanish bank account: You will need one for rent payments, your NIE process, and daily expenses. Popular options for international students include: Openbank, N26, Revolut, and traditional banks like Santander, BBVA, or CaixaBank. Some allow you to start the process online before arrival.
• Bring enough cash for the first 2 weeks: ATMs are everywhere in Spain, but having EUR 300-500 in cash covers taxis, meals, and small purchases before your banking is set up. Exchange currency at home or at the airport.
• Prepare proof of financial means: Some administrative procedures require showing you have sufficient funds. A recent bank statement (translated if not in English/Spanish) can serve this purpose.

6-4 Weeks Before Departure

Housing

• Secure accommodation for at least your first month: Do not arrive in Spain without knowing where you will sleep. Options include:
  • University residence halls (residencias universitarias) — apply early, spots fill fast
  • Student housing platforms: HousingAnywhere, Spotahome, Uniplaces
  • Shared apartments (pisos compartidos): Idealista.com, Fotocasa.es, university bulletin boards
  • Temporary accommodation: A hostel or Airbnb for the first 1-2 weeks while you search in person
• Understand rental norms in Spain: Expect to pay 1-2 months' deposit (fianza) plus the first month's rent upfront. Contracts are typically 11 months for academic rentals. Read our housing guide for detailed advice.
• If renting remotely, be cautious of scams: Never pay a full deposit without seeing the property (even via video call). Use reputable platforms. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Get your future address ready: You will need a Spanish address for your empadronamiento (municipal registration), which is one of the first things you need to do after arrival.

University Preparation

• Complete your enrollment (matricula): Many universities allow online enrollment. Make sure you have paid any required fees and received your enrollment confirmation.
• Check orientation dates: Most universities hold orientation sessions for international students in the first week of September. Mark the dates and plan to attend.
• Set up your university email and student portal: Access to course information, schedules, and campus services often requires university credentials.
• Identify your faculty location: Spanish university campuses can be spread across a city. Know which campus or building your classes are in.

Communication

• Research Spanish mobile phone plans: Pre-paid SIM cards are available from providers like Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and Pepephone. You can buy one at the airport or at any phone shop. Some require a Spanish bank account for contract plans — pre-paid is the simplest option initially.
• Download essential apps: Google Maps (offline maps for your city), WhatsApp (the primary communication tool in Spain), Google Translate, your university's app, and your banking app.
• Save emergency contacts: Spanish emergency number (112), your consulate's emergency number, your university's international student office number.

4-2 Weeks Before Departure

Travel Logistics

• Book your flight: If you have not already. Consider arriving 1-2 weeks before classes start to get settled and handle administrative tasks.
• Arrange airport transfer: Know how you will get from the airport to your accommodation. Options in major cities:
  • Madrid (MAD): Metro, bus (Exprés Aeropuerto), taxi (~EUR 30 flat rate to city center)
  • Barcelona (BCN): Aerobús, metro, taxi (~EUR 40 to city center)
  • Valencia (VLC): Metro, bus, taxi (~EUR 20 to city center)
• Check luggage allowances: International flights typically allow 1-2 checked bags (23kg each). If you need to bring more, compare shipping your belongings separately (some students use services like SendMyBag).
• Pack strategically: Spain has affordable clothing stores (Zara, Mango, Primark) and well-stocked pharmacies. Do not over-pack items you can buy on arrival. Prioritize documents, electronics, medications, and items specific to your home country that you cannot find in Spain.

Practical Essentials

• Get an international driving license: If you plan to drive in Spain. Your home country license is valid for 6 months, but an international driving permit provides a recognized translation.
• Set up a VPN if needed: Some students need VPN access to content from their home countries, or for accessing university resources remotely.
• Notify relevant people of your move: Your bank, your employer (if working remotely), your insurance company, and your home country's tax authority if applicable.
• Power adaptors: Spain uses Type C and Type F plugs (standard European, 230V). If your devices use a different standard, buy adaptors before you leave — they are harder to find and more expensive at airports.

1 Week Before Departure

• Confirm your accommodation: Re-check with your landlord, residence, or hotel that your booking is confirmed and they know your arrival date and time.
• Prepare your hand luggage document folder: In one easily accessible folder, keep:
  • Passport with visa
  • Acceptance letter from your university
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Proof of accommodation (booking confirmation or rental agreement)
  • Proof of financial means (bank statement)
  • Enrollment confirmation
  • Emergency contact list
  • EUR cash
• Download offline content: Offline maps of your arrival city, any travel guides, and entertainment for the flight.
• Inform your home bank of your travel dates and destination.
• Check Spain's entry requirements: Any last-minute changes to border control, COVID-related rules, or customs regulations.

Day of Departure

• Carry all critical documents in your hand luggage: Never put your passport, visa documents, or insurance certificates in checked luggage.
• Arrive at the airport early: International flights typically require check-in 3 hours before departure.
• Have your accommodation address written down: Immigration officers may ask where you are staying.
• Keep a pen handy: You may need to fill out customs or immigration forms.
• Have the emergency contact numbers saved on your phone and written on paper.

First 72 Hours in Spain

Once you land, these are your immediate priorities:

• Get a Spanish SIM card (at the airport or a nearby phone shop)
• Get to your accommodation and rest — do not try to do everything on day one
• Buy essentials: Bedding, toiletries, and groceries if your accommodation does not provide them. Supermarkets like Mercadona, Lidl, and Carrefour are affordable.
• Register for empadronamiento at your local town hall (ayuntamiento). You need an appointment — book online as soon as possible, as wait times can be several weeks in major cities.
• Open a Spanish bank account if you have not already started the process online. Bring your passport, NIE (if you have it), and proof of address.
• Attend university orientation — this is where you get critical information about courses, campus services, and student life.

For a detailed guide to the student visa process that comes before this checklist, see our student visa checklist. For budgeting your first months, consult our cost of living guide. For a broader overview of the full relocation timeline, see our complete guide to moving to Spain for postgraduate study.

Key Takeaways

• Start preparing at least 8 weeks before your flight — do not leave everything for the last week
• Documents are your most important asset: Originals, copies, and digital backups in separate locations
• Secure housing before departure — even temporary accommodation is better than arriving with nowhere to stay
• Bring EUR 300-500 in cash for your first days and set up Spanish banking as soon as possible
• Your hand luggage document folder should contain everything you need for immigration and your first week
• Empadronamiento is your first administrative priority after arrival — book the appointment immediately
• Print this checklist and cross items off as you go — organization prevents stress