01 · Before you arriveGive yourself a landing period.
Book a short-term rental for roughly three to six weeks rather than choosing a long-term home from abroad. That gives you time to view properties in person, understand neighbourhoods and assemble the documents a landlord requests.
Why not just one week?
Viewings, paperwork and replies do not always move at holiday speed. A little overlap is usually cheaper than taking the wrong flat under pressure.
02 · The arrival budgetPlan for more than the rent.
For a habitual residential lease, budget for the first month’s rent, the legally required one-month deposit and the possibility of an additional guarantee of up to two months. In other words, your move-in cash may reach four months of rent before furniture or setup costs.
Seville’s advertised rental average was about €13.50/m² in August 2026—roughly €810 per month for 60m² before neighbourhood and property differences.
A different rhythmSpain does not always move quickly—and that is part of the point.
Setting up a home, arranging appointments and waiting for replies may take longer than you expect. People take their time, schedules change and not every step follows a perfectly predictable timetable.
That can be frustrating when you are trying to get established. But the same less-hurried, more flexible rhythm is also part of why many of us choose to live here. Give your plans room around the edges, follow up kindly and avoid making your whole move depend on one exact date.
Do not forget theseThe costs newcomers tend not to put in the spreadsheet.
Temporary accommodation overlapping with your leaseDeposit and any permitted additional guaranteePossible agency fees on seasonal or non-standard rentalsHousehold basics such as linen, cookware and small appliancesPhone, internet installation and initial utility paymentsTransport, taxis or a short vehicle rental during setupGovernment fees, sworn translations and professional adviceHigher summer electricity use for air conditioningA buffer for delays, rejected applications or changed plans
Furniture is usually not the big worry: many rental homes in Seville are offered furnished, although you should confirm the inventory before signing. Budget for the things a furnished flat may still lack—bedding, towels, cookware, a desk or other personal essentials—rather than assuming you need to furnish an entire home.
About agency fees: for a standard habitual-home lease, estate-agency management and contract-formalisation fees are the landlord’s responsibility. Seasonal, temporary and other non-standard arrangements can be treated differently, so confirm the contract type and every fee in writing before paying.
03 · A Spanish phone numberYou can get connected before your TIE.
Begin with prepaid (prepago), not a contract line. Spanish prepaid SIMs must be registered to an identified customer, so take your original, valid passport and use an attended shop or authorised point of sale.
Prepaid optionOrangeIts published process accepts a passport, DNI or NIE. Shops and participating sales points can sell the SIM; a later SMS document check may be required.
Check Orange requirements → Prepaid optionMovistarPrepaid SIMs are sold and activated in Movistar stores. Its official support confirms that a passport is a valid document.
View Movistar prepaid → Prepaid optionDIGISIMs are available through DIGI points of sale and require an accepted identity document. Confirm passport acceptance before paying.
View DIGI prepaid → - Ask for prepago, not contrato.
- Make sure the SIM is registered in your name.
- Save your Spanish number in more than one place.
Do not throw away the SIM card package.
Spanish SIMs commonly have a PIN that your phone may request whenever it restarts. The original card or packaging contains that PIN and the longer PUK code needed if the SIM becomes locked. Keep it somewhere safe, and do not keep guessing if the PIN is rejected.
Useful distinction: a postpaid contract may require Spanish residency documents and a bank account. Prepaid is the practical bridge while those pieces are still being arranged.
These are practical examples, not sponsored recommendations. Hello Abroad has no commercial relationship with these providers. Offers and identification rules can change, so confirm the current requirements before you rely on one option.
04 · Opening a bank accountAsk for the right kind of account.
If you are still legally and fiscally resident outside Spain, ask specifically about a non-resident account. If you are already resident, the documentation and account route will be different.
Non-resident routeSantanderA valid passport can be used. Online applications are limited to listed countries; other applicants may need a Spanish branch.
Check Santander eligibility → Non-resident routeCaixaBank HolaBankUses a passport or home-country ID, tax details and evidence of economic activity. Online eligibility depends on nationality and residence.
Check HolaBank eligibility → In-branch routeSabadell Key AccountRequires valid ID, a foreign tax number, proof of address and sometimes a certificate of non-residence. Maintenance fees apply.
View Sabadell details → If you are already resident in Spain, a bank may request your NIE or TIE—or an EU registration certificate with your passport—plus information about your Spanish address, tax residence, work or income and the source of the money entering the account.
Take a complete folder:
Original passport; NIE/TIE or EU registration certificate if issued; proof of address such as your lease or padrón; tax identification from your previous country; proof of work, pension or income; and a recent statement showing where your funds come from. The exact list varies by bank and account.
Could Revolut work while you wait?Sometimes. Revolut requires you to be over 18 and legally resident in a supported country, and asks for a valid phone number, email, current address, government-issued ID and a selfie. It may also request proof of address. If you already have Revolut in your home country, keep that account and update your details when appropriate—you cannot open a second personal account for Spain. It can be a useful bridge for card spending and euro transfers, but check that it will work for the particular Spanish payment or direct debit you need.
Check Revolut requirements → Moving money into euros? Compare Wise as well as PayPal.Wise—formerly TransferWise—uses the mid-market exchange rate and shows its transfer fee before you confirm. PayPal may charge an international fee and, when it converts the currency, includes a conversion charge in its transaction exchange rate. Wise will often work out cheaper for a currency transfer, but not in every case. Enter the same amount in both services and compare the final euros the recipient will receive, not just the headline fee.
Check a Wise quote → These are examples to help you compare routes, not financial advice or sponsored recommendations. Hello Abroad is not affiliated with these providers. Eligibility, documents and fees vary and can change; ask the provider to confirm them for your circumstances.
05 · Finding a homeView first. Ask before paying.
- Confirm whether the offer is a habitual-home or seasonal contract.
- Ask exactly which utilities and community costs are included.
- Check air conditioning, heating, noise and natural light in person.
- Request the complete economic terms before paying a holding amount.
- Make sure the address can support the registration you will need.
Housing rules allow prospective tenants to request the price, included concepts and identifying information before signing or handing over money.
06 · Your first paperworkStart with the padrón: your local address registration.
The padrón municipal de habitantes is the town hall’s official register of the people who normally live in the municipality. Registering is called empadronarse, and the certificate or volante de empadronamiento is how you prove your usual address in Seville.
It matters because proof of your local address is often requested as the next administrative pieces fall into place—for example, access to local services, healthcare or schooling, and certain immigration or residency procedures. It is a foundation document, so delays here can hold up steps that come afterwards.
Important distinction: the padrón records where you actually live. It is not an NIE or TIE, it does not grant immigration status, and it is not proof that your stay in Spain is legally authorised.
Seville’s Ayuntamiento states that you may identify yourself with a valid passport if you do not yet have a TIE. You must also show that you genuinely occupy the home—commonly with a rental contract and the latest rent receipt, or the appropriate authorisation if you are staying with someone else.
Keep this together: passport, signed lease, proof of the latest rent payment, the property’s cadastral reference when available, and the telephone and email details requested on the padrón form. If you later receive a TIE, update the identification recorded on the padrón.
07 · Everyday lifeBuild your small practical map.
- Save your nearest health centre, pharmacy and late-opening pharmacy.
- Test the commute at the time you will actually travel.
- Find a market, hardware shop, copy shop and trusted local contact.
- Expect many smaller businesses to keep different summer hours.
- Leave gaps in the calendar; August and local holidays can slow things down.
- Learn some everyday Spanish: even the basics make shops, appointments and neighbours easier. Our sister school Simply Spanish offers live online classes.
Need a human beside the checklist?That is what Hello Abroad is for.
I can help you decide what needs doing next, accompany practical steps and provide bilingual support while you get established.
Tell me about your move
Information checked 28 August 2026. This guide is general orientation, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements and commercial offers change and depend on individual circumstances; verify them with the relevant authority, provider or a qualified independent professional.
