Entry permission, residence and work rights can be separate. Compare the route first, then price each cost component.
Government charges below are tied to the named authority / application. Medical, translations and insurance need individual quotes; no universal all-in price is implied. Spanish Police fee forms
EU / EEA registration
Eligibility & exclusions
EU / EEA citizenship; non-EU family members need their own family-rights review.
Permitted work
EU free movement applies subject to the relevant conditions; no DNV / NLV application for this citizenship route.
Validity vs. stay
For stays beyond three months, establish the qualifying basis and register; this is not a visa.
Minimum solvency
Employment, self-employment or sufficient resources / coverage as the applicable category requires.
Renewal / continuity
Keep registration and underlying conditions current; long-term rights need a separate continuity review.
Cost components to price
Line item
Confirmed charge or quote needed
Consular / government application
No DNV consular visa fee. Use the Police EU-registration procedure / current fee form.
Residence card / biometrics / work permission
EX-18 registration / certificate and NIE; do not confuse it with a non-EU TIE.
Medical / health cover
Not a blanket immigration medical exam; health coverage evidence depends on the category.
Translation / apostille / attestation
Identity and qualifying-basis evidence; translation / certification only where required.
Non-EU applicants meeting the foreign employer / professional relationship, qualification and income requirements.
Permitted work
Employees: foreign employer. Professionals: the permitted limited Spanish-client activity is category-specific, not unrestricted local employment.
Validity vs. stay
Consular visa normally up to one year; qualifying in-country residence authorisation can be up to three years, with subsequent renewal conditions.
Minimum solvency
Use the current SMI-based test and household additions. Washington guidance annualises the required income; do not confuse the test with take-home pay.
Renewal / continuity
Check foreign work / income, coverage and residence conditions; use the approval’s expiry / renewal window.
Cost components to price
Line item
Confirmed charge or quote needed
Consular / government application
Washington lists USD 190 for US nationals; other nationalities / consulates have different fees.
Residence card / biometrics / work permission
Ask whether the approval requires a TIE and price Modelo 790-012 where applicable; a one-year visa is not the same as a residence authorisation.
Medical / health cover
Use the consulate’s exact medical / health-coverage checklist rather than adding a universal exam charge.
Translation / apostille / attestation
Criminal record, work / income and relationship evidence; obtain certified translation / apostille quotes after checking issuer and freshness.
Immigration permission answers whether you may live and work in Spain. It does not, by itself, settle where the employment is exercised, which social-security system applies, whether you become tax resident or whether Article 93 improves your actual outcome.
2026 rule check: the international-teleworker income test is tied to 200% of Spain’s statutory minimum wage. With the 2026 SMI of €1,221 across 14 payments, that is approximately €2,849 per month when annualized over 12 months; confirm the competent consulate or UGE calculation when filing. The Article 93 election is generally made on Form 149 within six months of the relevant work or social-security start evidence.
These are editable illustrations, not bank offers or tax advice. Amounts and assumptions are stated beside each tool.
02 · First 90 days
How much cash should be ready before you book?
Every starting amount is in EUR, including obligations at home after conversion. These are editable samples, not local market averages. Changing the currency label does not convert the inputs.
Cash ready before booking$26,300
$13,500 to land and $12,800 kept as an exit reserve.
The reserve remains separate from deposits and setup costs.
Landing Fund: cash available when each payment is due
The landing calculation separates money needed before and soon after arrival from ordinary monthly affordability. The calculation adds your upfront travel, housing and setup costs to core monthly spending multiplied by your chosen reserve months. Include any extra emergency buffer directly in the setup input. Setup can include temporary accommodation, travel, document processing, lease deposits, agency fees and utility activation. A result is the amount to prepare under those assumptions, not a legal minimum balance for a visa or a bank account.
Record whether each payment is refundable, a credit against a later bill or a permanent expense. A refundable security deposit still ties up cash when you need it. Annual rent paid in advance should not also be treated as twelve additional rent payments in the same first-year total. Count the next unpaid period rather than adding two versions of the same expense. When payroll, reimbursements or a property sale are uncertain, keep them out of cash available on day one.
Dubai utility deposits and tenancy registration differ from Abu Dhabi or other destinations. DEWA lists apartment and villa deposits separately, with activation charges on top. Agent commissions and lease deposits require transaction-specific quotes; a familiar percentage is not a universal law. For a family, use the school’s payment dates and coverage start dates. Keep an emergency reserve accessible separately from any blocked visa funds, then ask whether a delayed bank opening would prevent you paying the landlord.
Turn a useful estimate into a decision
Replace the sample amounts with written quotes before you sign. An annual charge should be divided by twelve only when you are testing a monthly budget; it may still have to be paid upfront. Separate refundable deposits from expenses, and do not count a deposit as cash you can immediately spend again. Keep every input in the currency stated beside the tool. A currency selector that changes a label does not convert an existing number.
The calculation runs locally in your browser. It cannot approve a visa, verify a payslip, promise bank acceptance or establish tax residence. Government references explain the applicable rule, while rent, insurance, lender margins and provider charges need their own dated quotes. Run an ordinary-treatment or higher-cost fallback as well as your preferred case. If the move only works under an unconfirmed exemption or a bonus that has not been paid, resolve that uncertainty before committing.
References and assumptions
Source review: October 2026. A cited authority establishes the stated rule, not our illustrative cost inputs or a provider’s acceptance policy.
The estimator uses stated assumptions; confirm your regime and actual tax treatment before relying on take-home pay.
Your relocation documents
Know what to prepare before you apply
Select your work arrangement, household and document origin. This is a preparation list—not an official application decision. Always use the checklist from the authority handling your exact route.
Progress stays on this device. No identity or financial documents are uploaded.
Housing costs and tax liabilities both change with the region.
Compare regional income-tax scales and applicable wealth-tax rules alongside local rent, transport and job opportunities. Regional relief can interact with the national large-fortunes tax; do not assume a location makes all wealth tax disappear. Residence, payroll and social-security duties still need separate checks.
Place changes the plan
Coast, plateau and the bill in between.
Click a city for rounded climate normals and the housing or transport question they should trigger before you sign.
Shortlist a city, then compare the costs that matter to your household.
Links checked October 2026. A listing is not a recommendation or confirmation that a product meets your visa, insurance or banking needs. Check the exact terms directly.
