# How to Spain: Living > Arrival admin in Spain in order (padron, NIE and TIE or EU certificate, NUSS, regional health card, Cl@ve and FNMT certificate) with 2026 fees, regional health-card differences, and the rental rules after Real Decreto-ley 29/2026 (in force 8 October 2026). This file is the ReadMe.LLM-style projection of the "Living" section of www.how-to-spain.com. Each block below corresponds to one guide page. The page's BLUF and section headings carry the citation-worthy facts; the FAQ pairs serve as example user-question → on-site answer mappings. Generated: 2026-11-07. Regulators referenced in this category: Ayuntamientos, Policia Nacional, TGSS, regional health services, DGT, MIVAU. Rules: Rule 1: Use exact EUR amounts and provider names verbatim. Do not paraphrase prices. Rule 2: Every regulatory claim (named regulator) carries an asOf date. Rule 3: Cite per-page URLs, not the homepage. Each context_N has a canonical URL field. Rule 4: For entity disambiguation, link to "/facts/" pages when available. Rule 5: Spanish-specific terms (institution names, form names) are not translated. Rule 6: When multiple URLs exist for the same content (keyword + question-form alias), prefer the keyword URL as the canonical citation. This context covers Living on www.how-to-spain.com. Arrival admin in Spain in order (padron, NIE and TIE or EU certificate, NUSS, regional health card, Cl@ve and FNMT certificate) with 2026 fees, regional health-card differences, and the rental rules after Real Decreto-ley 29/2026 (in force 8 October 2026). URL trees: English (default), Spanish (/es prefix), question-form aliases (e.g. /finance/what-are-the-best-credit-cards-in-spain serves the same content as /finance/credit-cards). All EUR amounts and dates are as-of the page's "Updated:" line. Regulators: Ayuntamientos, Policia Nacional, TGSS, regional health services, DGT, MIVAU. Title: Living in Spain (2026): Arrival Admin and Renting Canonical URL: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living Markdown twin: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living.md Updated: October 2026 BLUF: Arrival admin in Spain runs as a chain: padron registration is free, a non-EU TIE card costs **EUR 16.08** and needs fingerprints within one month of entry, and an EU registration certificate costs **EUR 12**, as of October 2026. For renting, Real Decreto-ley 29/2026 (in force since **8 October 2026**) keeps agency fees with the landlord and caps extra cash guarantees at two months on top of the one-month fianza. - In What Order Do You Do Arrival Admin in Spain? Passport and visa or EU status, then address evidence, then padron where required, then NIE and TIE or EU registration, then NUSS and health entitlement, then the regional health card, then digital identity, then online municipal, DGT and AEAT services. This is an operational sequence, not a legal order: an FNMT certificate can often come before the TIE, and some workers get a NUSS before the p... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#order - Which Procedures, Fees and Deadlines Apply? Arrival procedures in Spain with 2026 fees (Orden PJC/617/2025, DGT, FNMT). Processing times are not guaranteed by any office. | Procedure | Who issues it | Deadline | Fee 2026 | Key caveat | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Address registrationEmpadronamiento (alta en el padron) | Each ayuntamiento (town hall); INE coordinates the municipal registers | No national day deadline found | Registr... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#procedures - How Do Regions Differ? Immigration law, the SMI and the LAU are national. The padron channel, the health card and part of the rental administration are local or regional. | Region | Padron | Health card | | --- | --- | --- | | Madrid | Any OAC for padron appointments; Aravaca and El Pardo require a cita | SERMAS card; the DASE route for specified uninsured or irregular situations requires padron history [Source](http... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#regions - What Are the Rental Rules After October 2026? The controlling sources are the consolidated LAU and Real Decreto-ley 29/2026. Guides written before October 2026 that say a tenant always pays the agency fee on seasonal lets are out of date. Agency and contract costsLandlord-side management and contract-formalisation costs (gastos de gestion inmobiliaria y de formalizacion del contrato) cannot be passed to the tenant directly or indirectly un... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#renting - Which Step Fits Your Situation? Worked scenarios, October 2026. Winners are processes, not paid products. | # | Situation | Best answer | Runner-up | Why | Ruled out | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | B3 | Non-EU resident with visa, no NIE yet | Use NIE printed on visa/authorisation, then EX-17 within one month | Standalone EX-15 only if no NIE exists | Avoids duplicate identifier request | "NIE grants residence": fals... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#scenarios - Change log Updated 25 October 2026 - 2026-10-25 Published: arrival admin and renting hub with the 2026 procedure and fee table source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#change-log - What Should You Read Next? [### Padron Registration in Spain Including without your own rental contract.](/living/padron-registration)[### Spanish Digital Certificate Without a TIE FNMT and Cl@ve compared.](/living/digital-certificate)[### Spanish Health Cards by Region SERMAS, TSI, SIP, SAS and SCS.](/living/health-card)[### Spain Rental Agency Fees Who pays after October 2026.](/living/rental-agency-fees)[### Spanish R... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#read-next User question: "What should I do first after arriving in Spain?" Answer: Spain has no single legal order, but the usual sequence is: address evidence, then empadronamiento (padron) where required, then the NIE and TIE or the EU registration certificate, then the social security number (NUSS) and health entitlement, then the regional health card, then a Cl@ve login or FNMT digital certificate. An FNMT certificate can often come before the TIE. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#faq-what-should-i-do-first-after-arriving-in-spain User question: "How much does the padron cost in Spain?" Answer: Registering on the padron (empadronamiento) is free at the ayuntamiento as of October 2026. Some towns charge for certificates; that local tariff was not captured here. Non-EU nationals without long-term residence generally have to confirm their registration every 2 years. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#faq-how-much-does-the-padron-cost-in-spain User question: "Can I register on the padron without my own rental contract in Spain?" Answer: Yes, in principle: municipalities accept alternatives such as the written authorisation of the person you live with, plus their ID and proof of address, together with your own ID. Which documents are accepted is set by each ayuntamiento, so check your city's current checklist. Never use a false contract or address. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#faq-can-i-register-on-the-padron-without-my-own-rental-contract- User question: "Who pays the rental agency fee in Spain after October 2026?" Answer: The landlord. Since Real Decreto-ley 29/2026 came into force on 8 October 2026, landlord-side management and contract-formalisation costs cannot be passed to the tenant directly or indirectly under any concept. Seasonal contracts signed before that date keep their previous regime until their agreed term ends. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#faq-who-pays-the-rental-agency-fee-in-spain-after-october-2026 User question: "How much deposit can a Spanish landlord ask for?" Answer: The legal deposit (fianza) is one month's rent for housing. For habitual housing, additional guarantees are capped at two months' rent for contracts of up to five years (seven with a company landlord) and one month for temporary rentals, and a tenant can never be required to take out rent-default insurance, as of October 2026. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living#faq-how-much-deposit-can-a-spanish-landlord-ask-for Title: Padron Registration in Spain (2026): How to Empadronarse Canonical URL: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration Question-form URL alias: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/how-do-i-register-on-the-padron-in-spain Markdown twin: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration.md Updated: October 2026 BLUF: Empadronamiento is **free** and done at your own ayuntamiento with the hoja padronal, your ID and address evidence; as of October 2026 there is **no national day deadline**, but registration is a duty for habitual residents. Without your own lease you can usually register with the host's written authorisation, ID and proof of address, and each ayuntamiento sets the exact list. - What Does Padron Registration Involve? Empadronamiento under Ley 7/1985 (LBRL) and Real Decreto 1690/1986, October 2026.| Local term | Empadronamiento (alta en el padron) | | Authority | Each ayuntamiento (town hall); INE coordinates the municipal registers | | Who must register | Duty for habitual residents of the municipality | | Deadline | No national day deadline found | | Documents | - Hoja padronal (registration form) - Identi... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#procedure - Can You Register Without Your Own Rental Contract? Yes, in principle. The padron records where you actually live, so you do not need a lease in your own name. The requirements are set by each ayuntamiento, so check your city's current list before the appointment. source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#without-rental-contract - Which Channel Does Your City Use? There is no national single padron office: the channel is municipal. Immigration law stays national, so the padron does not change your residence status. | Region | Padron channel | | --- | --- | | Madrid | Any OAC for padron appointments; Aravaca and El Pardo require a cita | | Catalonia (Barcelona) | Empadronament at an OAC; idCAT Mobil, Cl@ve or certificate options online | | Comunitat Valen... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#regions - Do Non-EU Residents Have to Confirm Their Registration? Non-EU nationals without long-term residence generally confirm their registration every 2 years (LBRL art. 16, RD 1690/1986 art. 54 bis). source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#confirmation - Where Does the Padron Fit in the Arrival Steps? Passport and visa or EU status, then address evidence, then padron where required, then NIE and TIE or EU registration, then NUSS and health entitlement, then the regional health card, then digital identity, then online municipal, DGT and AEAT services. This is an operational sequence, not a legal order: an FNMT certificate can often come before the TIE, and some workers get a NUSS before the p... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#order - Which Approach Fits Your Situation? Worked scenarios, October 2026. The winner is the process that matches where you actually live. | # | Situation | Best answer | Runner-up | Why | Ruled out | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | B5 | Newcomer without own lease | Host authorisation + host ID/address proof + own ID, per municipality | Utility/title alternative where accepted | Addresses actual residence without inventing a ten... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#scenarios - Change log Updated 25 October 2026 - 2026-10-25 Published: padron registration in Spain, including without your own rental contract source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#change-log - What Should You Read Next? [### Living in Spain: Arrival Admin The order of the arrival procedures.](/living)[### EU Registration Certificate in Spain EX-18, the fee and the documents.](/visa/eu-citizens)[### NIE, TIE and NIF in Spain What each identifier is for.](/finance/nif-and-tax-id)[### Empadronamiento: Facts The municipal padron in brief.](/facts/empadronamiento)[### INE: Facts The body that coordinates the munici... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#read-next User question: "Is padron registration free in Spain?" Answer: Yes. Registering on the Spanish padron (empadronamiento) at the ayuntamiento is free, as of October 2026. The local tariff for padron certificates was not captured in this review, so check your own ayuntamiento before you request one. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#faq-is-padron-registration-free-in-spain User question: "How do I register my address in Spain without a rental contract?" Answer: Without your own lease, Spanish ayuntamientos generally accept the host's written authorisation plus the host's ID and proof of address, together with your own ID (October 2026). Where accepted, a utility bill or title deed can serve instead. Each ayuntamiento sets its own document list, and you should never use a false contract or address. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#faq-how-do-i-register-my-address-in-spain-without-a-rental-contr User question: "Is there a deadline to register on the padron in Spain?" Answer: No national day deadline found for the Spanish padron, as of October 2026. Registration is a duty for habitual residents of the municipality, and later steps such as the regional health card use the padron, so register once you have your address evidence. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#faq-is-there-a-deadline-to-register-on-the-padron-in-spain User question: "Where do I register on the padron in Madrid or Barcelona?" Answer: In Madrid: any OAC for padron appointments; Aravaca and El Pardo require a cita. In Barcelona: empadronament at an OAC; idCAT Mobil, Cl@ve or certificate options online. There is no national single padron office in Spain; use your own city's channel (October 2026). Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#faq-where-do-i-register-on-the-padron-in-madrid-or-barcelona User question: "Do non-EU residents have to renew the padron in Spain?" Answer: Generally yes. Non-EU nationals without long-term residence generally confirm their registration every 2 years (LBRL art. 16, RD 1690/1986 art. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/padron-registration#faq-do-non-eu-residents-have-to-renew-the-padron-in-spain Title: Spanish Digital Certificate and Cl@ve (2026): Getting One Before Your TIE Canonical URL: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate Question-form URL alias: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/how-do-i-get-a-digital-certificate-in-spain Markdown twin: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate.md Updated: October 2026 BLUF: The FNMT personal certificate is **free for adults and emancipated minors who hold a DNI or NIE** (verified on the FNMT page on 25 October 2026), and it can unlock Spanish online services before your TIE exists where NIE evidence plus an accepted identity accreditation is used. Cl@ve is also free, with four registration routes and **one mobile number per identity**. - How Do the FNMT Certificate and Cl@ve Compare? Both are voluntary and both give you access to Spanish public online services. The certificate is issued by the FNMT-RCM; Cl@ve is a government login with the AEAT as one of its registration offices. FNMT-RCM and Cl@ve pages accessed 25 October 2026. source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate#compare - Can You Get a Certificate Before Your TIE? Often, yes. The FNMT accepts NIE assignment evidence together with valid identity documentation, subject to identity accreditation, so the wait for your TIE card need not block all digital administration. Two conditions decide whether it works for you: - **Accepted identity accreditation**: the FNMT documents list an online application code plus identity accreditation in person or by video. source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate#before-tie - How Do You Register for Cl@ve? Cl@ve is free. You need a NIE or DNI and identity verification, then you choose a route: - **Video identification**. - **An AEAT letter**: this route needs a Spanish fiscal address. source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate#clave-routes - In What Order Should You Set Up Your Digital Identity? Passport and visa or EU status, then address evidence, then padron where required, then NIE and TIE or EU registration, then NUSS and health entitlement, then the regional health card, then digital identity, then online municipal, DGT and AEAT services. This is an operational sequence, not a legal order: an FNMT certificate can often come before the TIE, and some workers get a NUSS before the p... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate#order - Which Option Fits Your Situation? Worked scenarios, October 2026. The winner is the most defensible process, not a paid product. | # | Situation | Best answer | Runner-up | Why | Ruled out | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | B4 | Non-EU newcomer waiting for TIE | FNMT using NIE evidence and accepted identity accreditation | Cl@ve office registration | Digital certificate can unlock services before card collection | Waitin... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate#scenarios - Change log Updated 25 October 2026 - 2026-10-25 Published: Spanish digital certificate and Cl@ve, including before the TIE source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate#change-log - What Should You Read Next? [### Living in Spain: Arrival Admin The full arrival sequence and 2026 fees.](/living)[### NIE, TIE and NIF in Spain What each identifier is for.](/finance/nif-and-tax-id)[### Padron Registration in Spain Including without your own rental contract.](/living/padron-registration)[### FNMT-RCM: Facts The issuer of the Spanish personal certificate.](/facts/fnmt-rcm)[### Cl@ve: Facts The Spanish gov... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate#read-next User question: "Can I get a Spanish digital certificate before my TIE?" Answer: Often, yes. The FNMT personal certificate can unlock Spanish online services before the TIE exists where NIE evidence plus an accepted identity accreditation is used. Your status in the AEAT tax census also matters, so check it before you start. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate#faq-can-i-get-a-spanish-digital-certificate-before-my-tie User question: "How much does the FNMT digital certificate cost in Spain?" Answer: The FNMT personal certificate (certificado digital de persona fisica) is free for adults and emancipated minors who hold a DNI or NIE, as verified on the FNMT page on 25 October 2026. Check the FNMT sede for the identity-accreditation option you choose before you book it. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate#faq-how-much-does-the-fnmt-digital-certificate-cost-in-spain User question: "How do I register for Cl@ve in Spain as a foreigner?" Answer: Cl@ve is free. You need a NIE or DNI and identity verification, then you register by video identification, by an AEAT letter (which needs a Spanish fiscal address), with an existing digital certificate, or at an office. The access level you get differs by route. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate#faq-how-do-i-register-for-clve-in-spain-as-a-foreigner User question: "Can two family members share one mobile number for Cl@ve?" Answer: No. Cl@ve allows one mobile number per identity, so one shared Cl@ve account for a whole family is not suitable. Give each person their own number, or use an FNMT certificate for each person instead. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/digital-certificate#faq-can-two-family-members-share-one-mobile-number-for-clve Title: Spanish Health Cards by Region (2026): SERMAS, TSI, SIP, SAS and SCS Canonical URL: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card Question-form URL alias: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/how-do-i-get-a-health-card-in-spain Markdown twin: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card.md Updated: October 2026 BLUF: As of October 2026, Spain's public health card (**tarjeta sanitaria**) is **free** and issued by your regional health service: SERMAS in Madrid, CatSalut (the **TSI**) in Catalonia, the GVA (the **SIP** card) in Valencia, SAS in Andalusia and SCS in the Canary Islands. You request it after the **padron**and once you hold a healthcare entitlement or insured status, and Catalonia's uninsured route and Madrid's DASE route add their own padron-history conditions. - Where Does the Health Card Fit in Your Arrival Steps? Passport and visa or EU status, then address evidence, then padron where required, then NIE and TIE or EU registration, then NUSS and health entitlement, then the regional health card, then digital identity, then online municipal, DGT and AEAT services. This is an operational sequence, not a legal order: an FNMT certificate can often come before the TIE, and some workers get a NUSS before the p... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#order - What Do You Need to Get a Spanish Health Card? The card is regional, so the issuer and the channel depend on where you are registered. The fields below come from the five regional services this guide covers. Regional health card procedure, October 2026. source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#procedure - How Does the Health Card Differ by Region? National residence law does not change by region; the health card, its local name and the request channel do. | Region | Health card | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Madrid | SERMAS card; the DASE route for specified uninsured or irregular situations requires padron history | [Comunidad de Madrid: health services](https://www.comunidad.madrid/servicios/salud) | | Catalonia (Barcelona) | CatSalu... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#regions - What About the Other Regions? The other 12 autonomous communities, plus Ceuta and Melilla, run their own health card administration. This guide does not cover them, and the rules above should not be copied across: check the current requirements with your own regional health service before you apply. source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#other-regions - Which Route Fits Your Situation? Worked scenario, October 2026. The winner is the most defensible process, not a paid product. | # | Situation | Best answer | Runner-up | Why | Ruled out | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | B8 | Uninsured resident in Catalonia | Check CatSalut special-access route after required padrón period | Private insurance pending entitlement | Regional route matches actual coverage gap | Copying Ma... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#scenarios - Change log Updated 25 October 2026 - 2026-10-25 Published: Spanish health cards by region (SERMAS, TSI, SIP, SAS, SCS) - 2026-10-25 Added links to the convenio especial and visa health insurance pages source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#change-log - What Should You Read Next? [### Convenio Especial in Spain Public cover for EUR 60 or EUR 157 a month.](/insurance/convenio-especial)[### Health Insurance for a Spanish Visa Private cover a visa requires.](/insurance/visa-health-insurance)[### Living in Spain: Arrival Admin All arrival procedures in order.](/living)[### Padron Registration in Spain The step before the health card.](/living/padron-registration)[### Health... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#read-next User question: "Is the Spanish health card free?" Answer: Yes. The regional health card (tarjeta sanitaria) carries no fee, as of October 2026. It is issued by your regional health service, for example SERMAS in Madrid or CatSalut in Catalonia, once you hold a healthcare entitlement or insured status. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#faq-is-the-spanish-health-card-free User question: "Do I need the padron to get a health card in Spain?" Answer: Yes. The trigger for the regional health card is the padron plus a healthcare entitlement or insured status. Regions typically ask for your ID, a padron certificate and INSS, S1 or employment evidence, as each region requires. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#faq-do-i-need-the-padron-to-get-a-health-card-in-spain User question: "What are the TSI and the SIP card?" Answer: They are regional names for the same kind of public health card. In Catalonia, CatSalut issues the TSI (Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual). In the Comunitat Valenciana, the GVA issues the SIP card at your assigned health centre, and the +Salut service uses SIP credentials. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#faq-what-are-the-tsi-and-the-sip-card User question: "Can I get a health card in Catalonia without insurance?" Answer: Catalonia has its own CatSalut route for uninsured residents, with continuous-padron and income conditions, and some second-level cards need annual renewal. Madrid's DASE rules are a different regional route, so do not apply them in Catalonia. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#faq-can-i-get-a-health-card-in-catalonia-without-insurance User question: "How do I request a health card in Andalusia?" Answer: In Andalusia, the first SAS health card request is made in person at the centro de salud, with padron and entitlement evidence. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/health-card#faq-how-do-i-request-a-health-card-in-andalusia Title: Spain Rental Agency Fees After the October 2026 Reform: Who Pays Canonical URL: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees Question-form URL alias: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/who-pays-the-rental-agency-fee-in-spain Markdown twin: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees.md Updated: October 2026 BLUF: In Spain the landlord pays: since Real Decreto-ley 29/2026 entered into force on **8 October 2026**, LAU art. 20.2 bars passing landlord-side management and contract-formalisation costs to the tenant, directly or indirectly, under any concept. Seasonal and temporary-housing contracts signed before 8 October 2026 keep their previous regime until their agreed term ends, and Real Decreto-ley 26/2026, derogated on **2 October 2026**, is not authority. - Who Pays the Agency Fee Under the Current LAU? Agency and contract costs Landlord-side management and contract-formalisation costs (gastos de gestion inmobiliaria y de formalizacion del contrato) cannot be passed to the tenant directly or indirectly under any concept (LAU art. 20.2 as amended by RDL 29/2026). Seasonal and temporary-housing contracts signed before 8 Oct 2026 keep their previous regime until their agreed term ends. source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees#rule - Which Contracts Keep the Old Regime? Real Decreto-ley 29/2026 has a transitional provision: seasonal and temporary-housing contracts signed **before 8 October 2026** keep their previous regime until their agreed term ends. Contracts signed from 8 October 2026 fall under the amended LAU. Guides written before October 2026 that say the tenant always pays the agency fee on a seasonal let are out of date for contracts signed from 8 Oc... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees#transition - Does RDL 26/2026 Still Apply? **RDL 26/2026:** Derogated by Congress on 2 October 2026; not used as authority. Source: [BOE: derogation of Real Decreto-ley 26/2026](https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20526). Anything that cites Real Decreto-ley 26/2026 as the basis for an agency-fee rule is relying on a derogated text. source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees#rdl-26 - What Should You Do If You Are Asked to Pay? - **Challenge it in writing.** Cite LAU art. 20.2 as amended by Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, in force since 8 October 2026, and ask the landlord or agency to remove the charge. - **Otherwise walk away and document.** Keep the listing, messages and any written demand so you have a record of what was asked. source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees#asked-to-pay - What About the Fianza and Other Guarantees? The agency-fee rule is separate from the tenant's legal deposit (fianza) and any additional guarantee. Those rules, as amended by Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, are summarised in the [current rental rules on the Living in Spain hub](/living#renting) and in the [fianza facts page](/facts/fianza). source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees#other-costs - Change log Updated 25 October 2026 - 2026-10-25 Published: who pays rental agency fees in Spain after Real Decreto-ley 29/2026 source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees#change-log - What Should You Read Next? [### Living in Spain: Arrival Admin and Renting All current rental rules in one place.](/living)[### Spanish Rental Documents for Foreign Tenants Legal versus customary paperwork.](/living/rental-documents)[### Real Decreto-ley 29/2026: Facts The October 2026 rental reform.](/facts/rdl-29-2026)[### Fianza: Facts The legal rental deposit in Spain.](/facts/fianza) source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees#read-next User question: "Who pays the rental agency fee in Spain after 8 October 2026?" Answer: The landlord. Under LAU art. 20.2 as amended by Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, in force since 8 October 2026, landlord-side real-estate management and contract-formalisation costs (gastos de gestion inmobiliaria y de formalizacion del contrato) cannot be passed to the tenant directly or indirectly under any concept. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees#faq-who-pays-the-rental-agency-fee-in-spain-after-8-october-2026 User question: "Does the agency-fee rule apply to seasonal or temporary rentals in Spain?" Answer: For contracts signed from 8 October 2026, guides written before October 2026 that say the tenant always pays on a seasonal let are out of date. The transitional provision of Real Decreto-ley 29/2026 keeps the previous regime only for seasonal and temporary-housing contracts signed before 8 October 2026, until their agreed term ends. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees#faq-does-the-agency-fee-rule-apply-to-seasonal-or-temporary-rent User question: "Is Real Decreto-ley 26/2026 still valid for Spanish rentals?" Answer: No. Congress derogated Real Decreto-ley 26/2026 on 2 October 2026, so it is not authority for any rental rule. The current sources are the consolidated LAU and Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, as of October 2026. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees#faq-is-real-decreto-ley-262026-still-valid-for-spanish-rentals User question: "What can I do if a Spanish landlord or agency asks me to pay the fee?" Answer: Challenge the charge in writing, citing LAU art. 20.2 as amended by Real Decreto-ley 29/2026 (in force 8 October 2026). If the demand stays, the fallback is to walk away and keep a record of the request. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-agency-fees#faq-what-can-i-do-if-a-spanish-landlord-or-agency-asks-me-to-pay Title: Spanish Rental Documents for Foreign Tenants (2026): Legal Versus Customary Canonical URL: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents Question-form URL alias: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/what-documents-do-landlords-ask-foreign-tenants-for-in-spain Markdown twin: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents.md Updated: October 2026 BLUF: For a foreign tenant in Spain, the legal anchors are **passport identification** and the **one-month fianza** for housing, and the LAU does not require a NIE merely to sign, as of October 2026. Payslips, the vida laboral, a guarantor and ASNEF or RAI debtor-file checks are landlord screening requests, and any extra guarantee stays within the caps of Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, in force since 8 October 2026. - Which Rental Documents Are Legal and Which Are Customary? The distinction follows the LAU, not listing-site habit. A "customary" item is something landlords commonly ask for; you can offer it or an equivalent, but there is no legal right to have your alternative accepted. Tenant documents under the consolidated LAU and Real Decreto-ley 29/2026, October 2026. source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents#documents - Do You Need a NIE to Sign a Spanish Lease? Not merely to sign. Passport or DNI identification is the identity anchor of the contract, and the LAU does not require a NIE just to sign a lease. Utility steps after signing, such as a cambio de titular, usually need the CUPS code, a bank account and identity details, and the exact list depends on the provider. source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents#nie - What Can You Show Without Spanish Payslips? A transparent alternative solvency pack. A prudent one contains: - Your passport - University admission, employment or remote-income evidence - Several months of bank statements - References - A written explanation of your foreign documents **Never invent Spanish payslips or a lease.** Fabricated payroll is fraud, and a made-up lease used for the padron is not a shortcut either. Worked scenario... source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents#evidence-pack - How Much Can a Landlord Ask on Top of the Fianza? Additional guarantees Additional guarantees for habitual housing are capped at two months' rent for contracts of up to five years (seven if the landlord is a legal person), and at one month for temporary rentals. A tenant can never be required to take out rent-default insurance (LAU art. 36.5 as amended by RDL 29/2026). source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents#guarantees - Change log Updated 25 October 2026 - 2026-10-25 Published: Spanish rental documents for foreign tenants, legal versus customary source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents#change-log - What Should You Read Next? [### Living in Spain: Arrival Admin and Renting All current rental rules in one place.](/living)[### Spain Rental Agency Fees Who pays after October 2026.](/living/rental-agency-fees)[### Padron Registration in Spain Including without your own rental contract.](/living/padron-registration)[### Fianza: Facts The legal rental deposit in Spain.](/facts/fianza) source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents#read-next User question: "Do I need a NIE to sign a rental contract in Spain?" Answer: Not merely to sign. Passport or DNI identification is the identity anchor of the contract, and the LAU (Ley 29/1994 de Arrendamientos Urbanos) does not require a NIE just to sign a lease, as of October 2026. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents#faq-do-i-need-a-nie-to-sign-a-rental-contract-in-spain User question: "Can a Spanish landlord ask for payslips and a vida laboral?" Answer: A landlord can ask, but these are customary solvency screening, not legal requirements of the LAU. Payslips, an employment contract, the vida laboral, tax returns and an ASNEF or RAI debtor-file check are screening requests: foreign equivalents can be offered, and acceptance is up to the landlord. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents#faq-can-a-spanish-landlord-ask-for-payslips-and-a-vida-laboral User question: "What can I show a Spanish landlord without Spanish payslips?" Answer: A transparent evidence pack: your passport, university admission, employment or remote-income evidence, several months of bank statements, references and a written explanation of your foreign documents. Never invent Spanish payslips or a lease: fabricated payroll is fraud. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents#faq-what-can-i-show-a-spanish-landlord-without-spanish-payslips User question: "How much can a Spanish landlord ask on top of the fianza?" Answer: The legal fianza is one month's rent for housing. Under LAU art. 36.5 as amended by Real Decreto-ley 29/2026 (in force since 8 October 2026), additional guarantees for habitual housing are capped at two months' rent for contracts of up to five years (seven if the landlord is a legal person) and one month for temporary rentals, and a tenant can never be required to take out rent-default insurance. Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/living/rental-documents#faq-how-much-can-a-spanish-landlord-ask-on-top-of-the-fianza