Opening a bank account in Spain

Discover how to open a bank account in Spain, which documents you need and how to apply.

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Jason Loewenthal

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Key takeaways

  • British citizens can open a bank account in Spain as a resident or non-resident.
  • Spanish banks require residents to have proof of ID and of address.
  • You’ll also need a Spanish foreigner identification number (NIE).

If you’re planning to move to Spain, you’ll want to think about how you’ll manage your finances there. We’ve written this guide for you to learn more about opening a bank account in Spain as a British citizen.

Can a British citizen open a bank account in Spain?

Yes. It’s possible to open a bank account in Spain as a resident or non-resident, so it’s relatively straightforward for British citizens. Spain has a large number of expats and migrants, so its banks are well versed in opening accounts if you’re not a Spanish citizen.

Using Revolut as a banking app

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8.9 Great
Minimum opening balance£0
Account fees£0
Interest (AER)0% AER
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Revolut is available in Spain and you're able to open a Spanish bank account using Revolut, complete with a Spanish international bank account number (IBAN). You just have to fulfil the eligibility and residency requirements for this. This would allow you to do most of your banking needs with Revolut, including paying rent and receiving your salary.

Revolut also allows you to transfer money around the world, so having a Revolut account in Spain would make it easy to send money back home to the UK and vice versa. If you do take a while to organise a local bank account in Spain and already have a Revolut account from the UK, you can use this to withdraw cash and make purchases when you first arrive.

The key requirements of opening a bank account in Spain

Spanish banks will require residents to provide proof of ID and proof of address. So you’ll need a valid passport, utility bill or letter, rental agreement or bank statement showing your current address. Non-residents will need to also provide more information, such as visa details or a letter from your university or employer.

You’ll also need to have a Spanish foreigner identification number (NIE) and certificate. You can apply at the Spanish embassy or through an online agency. You’ll need an NIE to do a number of things in Spain, so it’s important to sort that out before you go.

Some banks will need your documents to be translated as well, so that’s worth organising in advance.

You might be able to open an account online, so just see if the bank you’re interested in offers that. This could be useful to do if you’re in the process of moving to Spain and want to open an account beforehand. You might be required to visit a branch when you arrive.

Below is a list of some of the most popular banks in Spain:

  • Banco Santander
  • BBVA
  • Banco Sabadell
  • CaixaBank

There are also digital banks such as N26 and Revolut.

Are there fees?

Most Spanish banks will charge some type of account fee, though there are some free accounts available. However, these aren’t usually available for non-residents. You can expect to pay monthly fees to use an account and there could be other fees for opening a debit card.

Bottom line

It’s straightforward to open a bank account in Spain as a British citizen. Spain allows residents and non-residents to bank there, so once you have the correct paperwork and fulfil all the eligibility criteria, you’re good to go. Some banks let you open accounts online, so you might be able to organise an account before you even get to Spain, which could be very handy.

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Jason is a writer and editor. He worked as a senior subeditor for Finder for 5 years and in that time became familiar with a wide range of financial products and services. Before that, he worked for Australian Associated Press. He has a BA from Macquarie University in Australia. Jason loves to help other people find new ways to save money. See full bio

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