Moving to Valencia in 2026: your first 90 days

Valencia is decided. Now the admin - and in Spain, doing things in the right order pays off. Here's the 90-day roadmap.

1. Sort your visa

Digital nomad, non-lucrative, work or study, apply before you arrive.

As a non-EU national since Brexit, you need a residence permit before arriving: digital nomad visa (income ~€2,849/month, 80% from outside Spain), non-lucrative visa, or work/study. Note: the property golden visa was scrapped in 2025, and you can no longer switch from the non-lucrative visa to the nomad visa from inside Spain.

2. Do the empadronamiento

Free, passport is enough, do it first.

Register your address at the town hall, free, passport is enough. It unlocks almost everything (bank, TIE, health card, school) and speeds up your NIE appointment. Step by step: how the padrón sign-up works in Valencia.

3. Get your NIE and TIE

By appointment only, book early; TIE due within 30 days of entry.

The NIE is by appointment only (cita previa: pick Valencia, then Policía-NIE), book early. As a non-EU national you then have 30 days from entry to start your TIE card (fee €16.03); since the EU EES (April 2026) your entry date is logged automatically.

4. Open a bank account

NIE plus proof of address, neobanks are quick.

Open a Spanish bank account (NIE + proof of address; neobanks are quick).

5. Get your SIP health card

After about 3 months of padrón, keep private insurance meanwhile.

Get your SIP health card after ~3 months of padrón, keep private insurance meanwhile (often required for your visa).

6. Sort your housing

Expect deposits, many start with a short furnished let.

For housing, expect deposits; many start with a short furnished let, then sign a long lease.

Rules and amounts change - always check official sources first.

Official sources

• Cita previa / NIE
• Ajuntament de València
• Policía Nacional - TIE
• Sanitat - SIP card
• Digital nomad visa