If you want to know how to open a bank account in Spain, but you are not a citizen of the European Union or you don’t have a residence permit in Spain. This is your post.
One of the main questions our foreign clients ask when buying a home in Spain is how to proceed when opening a bank account. It is essential to know what are the necessary documents and formalities to be able to open an account in one of the main Banks in Spain.
When a foreigner wishes to open a new bank account in Spain, a distinction must be made between two groups: Residents and Non-residents.
Non-residents must present a series of documents certifying their employment status, their habitual residence and their identity.
Mandatory documents to open a bank account in Spain for non-residents:
Specifically, the following documents are obligatory when opening an account in Spain for non-residents:
- NIF (for EU residents), or Passport
- Non-Resident Certification (Certificado de No residente in Spanish)
The certificate of Non-resident is an official document that must be requested at a Police Station, or at the consulate of your country. It takes approximately 10 to 12 days and only a passport is required for the application. Some banks can offer to get this document for you against the payment of a fee.
Additional documents to open a bank account in Spain for Non-Residents
Depending on the bank, they may request a series of documents in addition to those described above:
- Letter of recommendation from the corresponding bank in your country.
- Payroll or certificate of employment status
- Document to verify your address (recent bank statement, or bill for direct debit service dated no more than 3 months)
- Proof of income
Note that in order for the documents to be acceptable, they must be translated into Spanish by a sworn official translator (traductor Jurado).
Maybe you’d be interested in more articles on how to get a Golden Visa, or how to obtain the NIE (Identification number for foreigners)
