Guide to living in Alicante
Everything you need to know when you arrive in Alicante: paperwork, healthcare, schools, housing, work and taxes. Each topic explains the basics and links to the official source. If your case needs a lawyer, we can help.
When you arrive
NIE and TIE: what they are and how to get them in Alicante
The NIE is your foreigner identification number and you will need it for almost everything: working, buying, opening an account or paying taxes. The TIE is the physical card issued to people with a residence permit; EU citizens receive a registration certificate instead. Both are handled by the National Police with a prior appointment.
Official source: Policía Nacional: trámites de extranjería · Cita previa de extranjería
We can help →How to get an appointment at the Alicante Immigration Office
Appointments are booked online by choosing the province of Alicante and the exact procedure. Many applications no longer need an appointment: they can be filed online with a digital certificate or through a lawyer.
Official source: Cita previa de extranjería · Oficina de Extranjería de Alicante
We can help →Registering on the Alicante census (padrón) and why it matters
Everyone who lives in the municipality must register on the padrón, whatever their immigration status. It proves since when you have lived in Spain, which is key for arraigo, healthcare or enrolling your children in school.
Official source: Ayuntamiento de Alicante: padrón
We can help →Your health card (SIP)
In the Valencian Community the public health card is called SIP and you apply for it at your local health centre. Foreign nationals without a residence permit also have access to healthcare through a specific procedure.
Official source: Conselleria de Sanidad: tarjeta sanitaria · Sanidad: personas extranjeras sin autorización
We can help →Your Social Security number
You need it to work and pay contributions. You can apply for it yourself or your employer can request it.
Official source: Seguridad Social: número de afiliación
We can help →Digital certificate and Cl@ve: paperwork without queues
With a digital certificate or Cl@ve you can file applications, pay fees and check your files online. It is the fastest way to deal with the Spanish administration.
Official source: FNMT: certificado digital · Cl@ve
We can help →Opening a bank account as a foreigner
Spain has a basic payment account so that anyone can have an account with essential services. The Bank of Spain explains who can apply and the maximum fees banks may charge.
Official source: Banco de España: cuenta de pago básica
We can refer you →Getting a phone line and internet
You will need your passport or NIE to sign up. If you have a problem with your provider and it is not solved, you can complain to the Telecommunications User Office.
Official source: Atención al usuario de telecomunicaciones
We can help →Documents to bring from home: apostille and sworn translation
Foreign documents (birth, marriage, criminal record certificates) must be legalised or apostilled and, if not in Spanish, translated by a sworn translator. Bringing them ready can save you months.
Official source: Ministerio de Justicia: apostilla · Exteriores: traducción jurada
We can help →Family
Enrolling your children in school in Alicante
All school-age children have the right to education, whatever their immigration status. The regional Education Department runs admissions; if you arrive mid-year, you can apply for a place outside the normal period.
Official source: Conselleria de Educación: admisión
We can help →Getting your degree or studies recognised
University degrees are recognised by the Ministry of Universities and non-university studies (secondary school, vocational training) by the Ministry of Education. It is essential for many professions and for further study.
Official source: Homologación de títulos universitarios · Homologación de estudios no universitarios
We can help →Marrying or registering a civil partnership with a foreigner
Marriage is processed at the Civil Registry and civil partnerships at the Valencian Government’s registry. Both can open the door to residence as a family member of a Spanish or EU citizen.
Official source: Registro Civil (Generalitat) · Registro de uniones de hecho (Generalitat)
We can help →Bringing your family to Spain
If you live legally in Spain, you can apply to bring your spouse or partner, children and, in some cases, parents, proving sufficient income and housing. Family members of Spanish and EU citizens have their own, more favourable rules.
Official source: Ministerio de Inclusión: hojas informativas
We can help →Getting divorced in Spain as a foreigner
If both agree and there are no minor children, divorce can be signed before a notary, with a lawyer, in a few weeks. When one spouse is a foreigner, it is important to check which law applies and whether the divorce will be recognised in their country.
Official source: Consejo General del Notariado
We can help →Work and benefits
Working as an employee: contract and registration
Your employer must register you with Social Security before you start. You need a permit that allows you to work; if you do not have one, there are routes such as arraigo.
Official source: Seguridad Social
We can help →Working as a self-employed person
You must register with Social Security and the Tax Agency. If you are not an EU citizen, your permit must allow self-employment.
Official source: Seguridad Social: Importass · Agencia Tributaria
We can help →Unemployment and job seeking: SEPE and Labora
SEPE manages unemployment benefits and Labora is the Valencian public employment service. Registering as a job seeker may be required to renew some permits.
Official source: SEPE · Labora
We can help →Benefits: minimum living income and Valencian inclusion income
These are the two main benefits for low-income households. Both have residence and income requirements worth checking before applying.
Official source: Ingreso mínimo vital · Renta valenciana de inclusión
We can help →Free legal aid for foreigners
In some immigration procedures, such as expulsion or asylum, you may be entitled to a legal aid lawyer. The Alicante Bar Association explains how to apply.
Official source: Colegio de la Abogacía de Alicante: justicia gratuita
We can help →Housing
Renting a flat in Alicante: contract and deposit
Read the contract before signing: duration, extensions, costs and deposit. In the Valencian Community the landlord must lodge the deposit with the regional government.
Official source: Agencia Tributaria Valenciana: fianzas
We can refer you →Buying a property in Spain as a foreigner
You need an NIE and a Spanish bank account. The purchase is signed before a notary and recorded at the Land Registry; depending on whether it is new or resale, you pay VAT or transfer tax. Check charges and debts before paying anything.
Official source: Consejo General del Notariado · Registradores · Catastro · Agencia Tributaria Valenciana: transmisiones
We can refer you →Mortgages for foreigners and non-residents
Banks do lend to non-residents, usually on stricter terms. The Bank of Spain’s customer portal explains your rights before you sign.
Official source: Banco de España: portal del cliente bancario
We can refer you →Driving
Driving with a foreign licence and when to exchange it
EU licences remain valid. With other licences, once you become resident you have a limited time to exchange it if your country has an agreement with Spain; otherwise you will need to take the test.
Official source: DGT: canje de permisos
We can help →Registering in Spain a car brought from another EU country
If you will live here with your car, it must be registered in Spain: technical inspection, taxes and the procedure at the Traffic Department (DGT).
Official source: DGT: vehículos del extranjero
We can help →Taxes
Your first income tax return in Spain
If you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain, you are generally a tax resident and are taxed here on your worldwide income.
Official source: Agencia Tributaria
We can refer you →Owners who do not live in Spain: non-resident tax
If you own a home in Alicante but are not resident here, you must file non-resident income tax every year (form 210), even if you do not rent it out.
Official source: Agencia Tributaria: no residentes · Modelo 210
We can refer you →Assets abroad: form 720
Tax residents in Spain must report their foreign accounts, securities and property when they exceed €50,000 per category.
Official source: Modelo 720
We can refer you →The inbound workers regime ("Beckham law")
People who move to Spain for work may opt, for several years, for a special tax regime. It must be requested within a short period after registering with Social Security.
Official source: Modelo 149 (trabajadores desplazados)
We can refer you →Wealth tax
High-net-worth individuals may have to file wealth tax and the temporary solidarity tax. It is wise to plan this before moving your residence.
Official source: Impuesto sobre el Patrimonio (modelo 714) · Impuesto de solidaridad (modelo 718)
We can refer you →Expats and investors
Non-lucrative residence: living in Alicante on your own income
For people who can live in Spain without working: retirees, people with passive income or enough savings and private health insurance. It is requested at the Spanish consulate in your country and does not allow work.
Official source: Hoja informativa: residencia no lucrativa
We can help →Digital nomad: living in Alicante while working remotely
The international remote work residence lets you live in Spain while working for foreign companies or clients. You can apply at a consulate or, if you are already in Spain legally, with the Large Companies Unit.
Official source: Unidad de Grandes Empresas: teletrabajo
We can help →Highly qualified professionals and entrepreneurs
Law 14/2013 provides fast-track permits for highly qualified professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers and intra-company transfers. They are processed by the Large Companies Unit.
Official source: Unidad de Grandes Empresas · BOE: Ley 14/2013
We can help →What happened to the golden visa?
Organic Law 1/2025 abolished residence by investment, known as the golden visa. Those who want to live in Spain on their own means have other routes, such as non-lucrative residence or entrepreneur permits.
Official source: BOE: Ley Orgánica 1/2025
We can help →British nationals after Brexit
British nationals who were already living in Spain before 2021 keep their rights with the Withdrawal Agreement TIE. Those arriving now follow the same rules as any non-EU citizen.
Official source: GOV.UK: Living in Spain · La Moncloa: Brexit
We can help →Ukrainians: temporary protection and what comes next
People displaced by the war have temporary protection, which the EU has kept extending. It is wise to plan the move to another residence permit in good time.
Official source: Ministerio de Inclusión: Ucrania
We can help →EU citizens: registration certificate
Germans, Scandinavians, French and other EU citizens staying more than three months must register at the Central Register of Foreigners. Their non-EU family members can obtain an EU family member residence card.
Official source: Policía Nacional: trámites de extranjería
We can help →Wills and inheritance for foreigners with assets in Spain
If you own assets in Spain, a Spanish will saves your heirs a great deal of trouble. Within the EU, the law of your habitual residence generally applies unless you choose the law of your nationality.
Official source: Certificado de últimas voluntades · Consejo General del Notariado
We can refer you →Power of attorney to handle matters from abroad
With a power of attorney granted at a Spanish consulate or before a notary in your country (apostilled and translated), a lawyer can handle many procedures for you without you travelling.
Official source: Consejo General del Notariado
We can help →Staying for good
Long-term residence
After five years of continuous legal residence you can apply for long-term residence, which gives you stability and the same employment rights as a Spanish national.
Official source: Ministerio de Inclusión: hojas informativas
We can help →Spanish nationality: how many years you need
The general rule is ten years of legal residence. Two years are enough for nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and one year in cases such as marriage to a Spaniard or birth in Spain.
Official source: Ministerio de Justicia: nacionalidad
We can help →DELE and CCSE exams for nationality
To obtain nationality you must pass the constitutional and sociocultural knowledge test (CCSE) and, if Spanish is not your language, the DELE A2. Both are run by the Instituto Cervantes.
Official source: Instituto Cervantes: CCSE · Instituto Cervantes: DELE
We can help →Is your case not so simple?
We are immigration lawyers in Alicante. We review your situation and tell you which route you have.
Tell us about your caseCall +34 608 76 38 78General information, reviewed on 23 October 2026. It does not replace advice on your specific case.
