How to open a bank account in Spain as an international student
Updated · 6 min read
If you're going to Spain on an exchange, one of the first things you'll need is a Spanish IBAN: for rent, your phone, your transport card and almost any recurring payment. The problem is that many banks ask for documents you don't have yet when you've just arrived.
What they usually ask for
- A valid passport.
- An NIE (Foreigner Identity Number). If you're from outside the EU and staying more than 6 months, it will be on your TIE (Foreigner Identity Card).
- Proof of studies: your enrollment or your university admission letter.
- In some cases, a certificate of registered address (empadronamiento), which in turn requires an address in Spain.
Resident or non-resident account
Until you have an NIE, many banks will only offer you a non-resident account. It's opened with a passport, but it usually has higher maintenance fees and fewer services.
Once you have your NIE and an address, you can ask to convert it into a resident account or open a new one with better terms.
The vicious circle of the first weeks
To register your address you need an address (a lease). To rent, many landlords ask for a Spanish account. And to open the account, the bank may ask for your address registration. That's why many students spend their first weeks in hostels or temporary residences.
Practical tips
- Book an appointment at the bank and bring originals and copies of everything.
- Ask explicitly about maintenance, card and transfer fees.
- Bring your admission letter: it helps show why you're staying.
- Check whether your university has agreements with any bank for international students.
- Have a plan B for your first expenses (an international card, a limited amount of cash).