Free glossary
Every acronym a Barcelona newcomer meets — NIE, TIE, padró, CatSalut — with its full official name, what it actually is, and who issues it. Free to read, no sign-up needed. When you're ready, we turn the whole list into your own ordered route.
Six questions. About a minute. No card.
The personal identity number Spain assigns to foreigners, and the key to nearly everything official: contracts, bank accounts, taxes, insurance. It is a number, not a card — EU citizens get it printed on their green registration certificate, non-EU residents carry it on the TIE.
Issued by: Oficina de Extranjería (Policía Nacional)
On your route: Get your EU registration certificate (with NIE)
The photo residence card that carries the NIE for non-EU residents living on a visa. Fingerprinting must happen within 30 days of entering Spain, and the card is collected about a month later.
Issued by: Oficina de Extranjería (Policía Nacional), Barcelona
On your route: TIE card: fingerprinting appointment
The city-hall register of who lives where. Its certificate proves your address and unlocks the public health card, school enrolment and discounted transport. It is free, takes one appointment, and offices usually accept the certificate for three months.
Issued by: Ajuntament de Barcelona (OAC offices)
On your route: Empadronament: register on the city padró
The national visa stamped in your passport before you move. Student visas cover enrolment plus limited work; the digital-nomad (telework) visa covers remote work for non-Spanish employers or clients; the non-lucrative visa covers living in Spain without working; work visas are tied to a Spanish employer. Your visa type decides which steps land on your route.
Issued by: Spanish consulate covering your home address
On your route: Get your visa appointment at the Spanish consulate
The number that attaches you to Spain's social-security system. Employers need it to register you, it feeds public health coverage, and self-employed registration is impossible without it. Free and issued on the spot with form TA.1 once you have a NIE.
Issued by: Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS)
On your route: Get your social security number (NUSS)
The Catalan public health card that assigns you a primary care centre (CAP) and opens the door to visits, referrals and prescriptions. It needs the padró plus residence papers and, if you work in Spain, your social-security number.
Issued by: CatSalut (Servei Català de la Salut)
On your route: CatSalut health card and CAP registration
The card that lets you use public healthcare across the EU under the same conditions as locals. If you are moving from another EU country, bring yours while your CatSalut card is in process; pensioners and posted workers bring the S1 form instead.
Issued by: Your home country's health system before the move; CatSalut once you are registered in Spain
On your route: CatSalut health card and CAP registration
A local IBAN that salary, rent direct debits and most office fees run on. A non-resident account can be opened with just a passport but carries extra fees and paperwork; once your NIE or TIE arrives you convert it to a resident account. Most branches require an appointment.
Issued by: Any Spanish bank (you choose)
On your route: Open a Spanish bank account
Your NIF is the tax number every Spanish financial and tax form asks for — for foreigners it is the NIE with a check letter attached. Modelo 030 is Barcelona city hall's self-assessment form for paying municipal fees, including extra copies of padró certificates.
Issued by: NIF: Agencia Tributaria (derived from your NIE); modelo 030: Ajuntament de Barcelona
On your route: Empadronament: register on the city padró
Non-EU licences must be exchanged for a Spanish one within six months of becoming resident — a swap if Spain has an agreement with your country, otherwise the full Spanish test. EU licences must be registered with the DGT after two years of living in Spain.
Issued by: Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT)
On your route: Exchange or register your driving licence
The few weeks each spring (roughly March to April) when families apply for public and concertada school places for September. Places are allocated by points — siblings, income, and proximity measured from your padró address — and foreign birth certificates need an apostille and sworn translation.
Issued by: Departament d'Educació (Generalitat de Catalunya)
On your route: School preinscripció for public/concertada places
Spain only accepts foreign birth, marriage and criminal-record certificates with an apostille from the country that issued them and a translation by a sworn translator appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Start before you travel: it takes weeks and blocks everything downstream.
Issued by: Apostille: the issuing country's authority; sworn translation: a traductor jurado from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs list
On your route: Apostille and sworn-translate your home documents
Most newcomers need fewer than half of these, in an order that is not obvious. Answer six questions and read your own route with real deadlines — free.
Free. No card.
