When it comes to who can buy property in Spain, there are no restrictions on interested foreigners. In fact, investment is actively encouraged.
However, due to recent geopolitical events unfolding in Europe, Russian nationals may find serious challenges acquiring and maintaining property in Spain due to international State-imposed sanctions. These restrictions extend to visa applications.
While you may find some of the processes and documents mentioned here have different names in your part of Spain, they are fundamentally the same.
Your first task: getting your tax number (NIE number)
As a foreigner, the only administrative hoop you need to jump through before you can buy a property is to be allocated a ‘foreigner’s identification number’ (Número de Identificación de Extranjero, or NIE).
You’ll need this tax identification number before you can do anything much more than wander about being a tourist.
Among other things, you need a NIE to:
- Buy and sell property
- Insure your property
- Arrange a mortgage loan for your property
- Until recently, you needed one in order to open a Spanish bank account, but these days you don’t need to present one until later down the line.
Residency: Registering as a resident
Both EU and non-EU citizens planning on living in Spain for more than three consecutive months must register as residents.
We offer a complete overview of the different types of visas available in our immigration article: moving to Spain in 2026? Spanish visa overview
Larrain Nesbitt Abogados (LNA) offers several residency & immigration services:
- Digital Nomad Visa (tax-free visa)
- Non-Lucrative Visa
- Lucrative Visa
- EU-family regrouping (Marriage Visa)
- Spanish Residency permit for EU nationals (includes TIE card & NIE number)
Becoming a permanent resident
After five years registered as a resident, you can apply for a certificate of permanent residence (which grants you 10 years).
Registering on the padrón
If you are resident in Spain for more than three months – regardless of whether you own your property or are renting it, or staying with friends – you must register yourself on the padrón, which lists the people who live in the town. You can do this at the local town hall.
Padrón registration confers quite a few benefits, including access to public services and the right to vote in local elections. Your registration also enables the municipality to claim more services from the national government.
Larrain Nesbitt Abogados is a Spanish law firm specialized in conveyance, taxation, inheritance, residency, and litigation.
You can contact us by e-mail at info@larrainnesbitt.com, by telephone on (+34) 952 19 22 88, or by completing our contact form to book an appointment.
The information provided in this guide is of general interest only and is not to be construed or intended as a substitute for professional legal advice.
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