How to open a Spanish bank account as a resident or non-resident

Can a foreigner open an account at a Spanish bank?

Yes. The law does not prohibit residents or non-residents from opening an account. As an “obliged entity” (sujeto obligado) under Ley 10/2010 on the prevention of money laundering, the bank must identify the customer before the relationship begins, using reliable documents, and may only deal with identified persons [1]. Anonymous and numbered accounts are prohibited [1].

The flip side: if the bank cannot apply due diligence measures, it does not open the account. Article 7.3 of Ley 10/2010 states expressly that where due diligence measures cannot be applied, the bank does not enter into the relationship, and such a refusal does not in itself make it liable [1]. A foreigner has no general right to an ordinary account. The exception is the cuenta de pago básica, covered below [4].

Which documents a particular bank asks for is not regulated by law: it is the bank’s customer acceptance policy, based on a risk assessment (article 7.1) [1]. That is why two banks may ask for different things.

How opening an account differs for residents and non-residents

A resident here is someone who is tax resident in Spain; a non-resident is anyone else. The identification rules are the same, but the documents and the NIF regime differ [1][3].

Sources for the table: identification by documents in article 6 Real Decreto 304/2014, NIF and non-residents in article 28 Real Decreto 1065/2007, self-certification in Real Decreto 1021/2015 [2][3][6]. The identity document must be valid on the day of opening (article 6.4) [2]. Like the TIE, the passport is listed among a foreigner’s reliable documents [2].

The NIE and the TIE are different things; more on them: NIE, TIE and residence permit. Your tax status does not depend on having a card: it is determined by the number of days and your centre of interests.

What the bank must check and why it asks questions

The number of questions the bank asks is explained by the law, not by the employee’s preferences. Ley 10/2010 requires the bank to take several steps [1][6]:

• Identification using documents before the account is opened (article 3).
• Beneficial owner: the bank establishes whether you are acting for yourself or for someone else (article 4).
• Purpose and nature of the relationship: the bank asks about your activity and verifies it with documents depending on the risk (article 5).
• Ongoing monitoring: the bank checks transactions against what it knows about the customer, including the source of funds (article 6).
• Tax residence: under Real Decreto 1021/2015 the bank asks for a self-certification to determine whether the account is subject to data exchange between tax authorities [6].
• Reporting the opening: banks declare the opening and closing of accounts to the Fichero de Titularidades Financieras (article 43) [1].

The bank also reports to the AEAT information on all accounts opened with it (article 37 Real Decreto 1065/2007) [3]. None of this means there is anything wrong with you: this is how the system works.

How to open an account: step by step

1. Determine your status. Whether you are resident or non-resident depends on the tax rules, not on having a card: tax residence and 183 days.
2. Decide what the account is for: salary or income from clients, paying rent and utilities, direct debit of Seguridad Social contributions as an autónomo, receiving tax refunds.
3. Prepare the documents: a valid passport or TIE, your NIE if you have one, information on your tax residence, proof of your activity and source of funds (employment contract, letter from your employer, contracts with clients, statements). Banks usually ask for proof of address, but the law does not mention it, so the set depends on the bank.
4. Ask the bank for the fee document. Under Real Decreto-ley 19/2017 the bank must provide in advance, free of charge, a short “Documento informativo de las comisiones” and send an annual statement of all fees (articles 16 and 17) [4].
5. Open the account in person or remotely, sign the contract and get your IBAN. How it works: what IBAN and SEPA are. If you need the account for a mortgage, see mortgages for non-residents and choosing the rate type.
6. Check access: the cash machine, online banking and the card, as well as the payments you need straight away: direct debits, SEPA transfers.

If you act through a representative, the identity documents of both are needed, plus a public document setting out the powers: article 6.2 Real Decreto 304/2014 requires documentary verification of both the representative and the person represented [2].

Can you open an account remotely?

Yes, the law allows relationships without physical presence by telephone, electronic and telematic channels. Article 12 of Ley 10/2010 sets the conditions: identity is confirmed with a qualified electronic signature, or the first deposit comes from an account in the same name at a bank in Spain, the EU or an equivalent country, or the conditions set by regulation are met. Within one month the bank must obtain copies of the documents for its checks [1].

An account does not always mean a bank. The Banco de España points out that online accounts are also offered by payment institutions and electronic money institutions. Balances in such accounts are not covered by the Deposit Guarantee Fund, they should be used with their limits in mind, and before opening one it is worth checking the institution’s licence [7]. A more detailed comparison of the formats: online bank or traditional bank.

What to do if the bank refuses

The bank may refuse if it cannot apply the checks (Ley 10/2010, article 7.3) [1]. But some people have a right to a cuenta de pago básica. Banks that offer accounts in Spain must offer it to people legally resident in the EU (including those with no fixed address), asylum seekers and people who cannot be expelled for legal reasons. The bank must refuse in three cases: the customer has not provided the information needed for the checks under the anti-money-laundering law, opening the account would be contrary to security or public order interests by government decision, or the customer already has an account with basic services in Spain [4].

Services of this account: opening, use and closing, cash deposits, withdrawals at branches and cash machines in the EU, direct debits, debit card payments, transfers. The bank may not make it conditional on buying other services [4]. Fees are capped: a ministerial order sets a ceiling of €3 a month for the basic package of services, and the Banco de España may review it once every two years [5].

If the bank refuses, it must say so in writing, free of charge, with reasons, no later than ten working days after receiving the complete application, and explain how to file a complaint: this refers to the complaints system under article 30 Ley 44/2002, which for banks is run by the Banco de España [4]. Whether the right extends to people on a short-stay visa the law does not say explicitly; it depends on the case.

Common mistakes when opening an account

• Going to the bank without explaining the source of funds and your activity. The bank is required to establish them, and missing documents are a common reason for refusal (articles 5 and 6 Ley 10/2010) [1].
• Assuming an account is impossible without an NIE. The law allows an account to be opened without an NIF, but the bank may require one under its own policy. So ask about the requirements in advance [3].
• Not providing the NIF within 15 days if the account was opened without it: until you do, there will be no transactions on the account (article 28.3) [3].
• Opening a joint account without the NIF of every holder. Under article 28.6 the NIF must be given for each holder [3].
• Mistaking an online account for an ordinary bank account. Balances in accounts with payment institutions are not covered by the Deposit Guarantee Fund [7].
• Forgetting to include accounts abroad in your tax reporting after moving. For a resident this is a separate return: modelo 720.
• Leaving the account until the last minute if you need it for RETA or for payments. An autónomo pays contributions by direct debit, so it is better to have the account ready in advance [8].

Whether you need a bank account for a residence permit

The law does not require a Spanish account to apply for a residence permit. For no lucrativa, the regulation allows funds to be proved by any means, including accounts abroad, with the bank’s details and balances; more: do you need a Spanish account for a residence permit. But you will need an account soon after moving for everyday payments and contributions.

How we can help

ReloVictory helps prepare documents for the bank, explains what banks require and why, and supports you during the move. We do not recommend specific banks and do not promise that a bank will open an account: the decision is the bank’s. The first 15 minutes of a consultation are free; a full 45-minute consultation costs €121. You can book through the consultation form. Documents for the NIE, TIE and residence permit are described on the “Documents” service page; the overall moving plan: residence permit in Barcelona.

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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 02.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.