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Roadmap · stage 4 of 12

Arrival, first days, housing, transport

Your first weeks in Barcelona: cash declaration, belongings, pets, temporary and long-term housing, electricity, phone, travel pass and driving licence.

This stage was prepared by the ReloVictory team from primary sources; it has not yet been checked by a lawyer, and each item is marked with the date it was verified.

In brief

  • Cash of €10,000 or more per person is declared at the border on form E-1 before any check
  • Fianza for housing in Catalonia: one month’s rent, lodged with Incasòl by the landlord within two months
  • The agency fee and the cost of drawing up the contract are paid by the landlord under article 20.1 LAU
  • T-usual for zone 1 costs €22.80 for 30 days according to the ATM page; foreign driving licences are valid for no more than 6 months after residencia normal
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Item 64

Do you need to declare cash when entering Spain?

At the Spanish border, cash of €10,000 or more per person per movement is declared before any check: article 34 Ley 10/2010 [1]. When entering from a non-EU country, you submit form E-1 to customs officers or, if there is no customs service at the crossing point, electronically or in person before the movement [2]. Traveller’s cheques and anonymous prepaid cards also count as means of payment (article 34.3) [1]. Failing to declare is punished with a fine from €600 up to 50% of the amount (article 57.3) and temporary seizure of the money (article 35.2) [1].

  • In person
  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Customs checkpoint at the airport or port, Aduanas AEAT
How to book
No appointment: the declaration is made at the border or in advance electronically in the AEAT sede (procedure DD01)
Documents
  • passport
  • completed form E-1 for each person carrying €10,000 or more
  • documents on the source of the funds (the bank will ask later)
Cost
free
Period
when crossing the border, or before the movement if there is no customs service at the crossing point

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 65

Can you bring your personal belongings into Spain duty-free when you move?

AEAT customs lets you bring in personal belongings without import duty or IVA if you lived outside the EU customs territory for at least 12 consecutive months, you have used the belongings for at least 6 months, and the declaration for release into free circulation is filed within 12 months of the move [1]. Residence abroad is proven with electricity and water bills, contracts or a registration certificate from your previous address; the move to Spain is proven by the application or the TIE [1].

  • In person
  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Aduanas AEAT, the customs office where the goods arrive
How to book
No appointment; the DUA declaration is filed through a customs agent or on your own in the AEAT sede
Documents
  • passport
  • proof of living outside the EU for at least 12 months
  • inventory of belongings
  • proof of the move to Spain: permit application or TIE
Cost
free
Period
the declaration is filed within 12 months of establishing residencia normal in the EU

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 66

How do you bring a dog or cat to Spain from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan or Ukraine?

For dogs, cats and ferrets from countries not listed in annexes I and II of Reglamento (UE) 2026/636, MAPA (Ministerio de Agricultura) requires a microchip, a rabies vaccination, an antibody test result of at least 0.5 IU/ml from an approved laboratory and a veterinary certificate on the EU model in Spanish [1]. Blood is taken no earlier than 30 days after vaccination, entry is allowed 90 days after the sample is taken, and the animal must be at least 7 months old [1].

  • In person
  • Costs
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Travellers’ point of entry (PEV) from the MAPA list; the animal is presented to the Guardia Civil or customs
How to book
No appointment; the certificate is issued in advance by an official vet in the country of departure
Documents
  • veterinary certificate on the EU model in force from 22.04.2026, endorsed by the state veterinary service
  • laboratory report on the antibody titre
  • written declaration that the movement is non-commercial
  • owner’s passport
Cost
at the vet clinic’s and laboratory’s rates
Period
allow at least 4 months: vaccination, 30 days to the test, 90 days after the blood sample

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 67

Why keep proof of your date of entry into Spain?

For a residence visa holder, the date of entry into Spain sets the deadline for the TIE: Real Decreto 1155/2024 requires you to apply for the tarjeta de identidad de extranjero in person at a Comisaría de Policía within one month of entry [1]. The Policía Nacional TIE page says the same: the card is requested after entry [2]. Keep the passport stamp, boarding pass and ticket until you have the card: they prove the date.

  • In person
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Border control point on entry; then a Comisaría de Policía with cita previa
How to book
TIE appointment through the cita previa portal, Policía Nacional section
Documents
  • passport with entry stamp
  • boarding pass or ticket
Cost
free
Period
one month from entry to apply for the TIE

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 68

Can a tourist flat (HUT) be used as your home address?

Under Generalitat de Catalunya rules, a habitatge d'ús turístic (HUT) is let as a whole, for payment, for continuous periods of no more than 31 days, and letting by the room is prohibited [1]. The flat must have a habilitació from the ajuntament, and its number in the Registre de turisme de Catalunya (NIRTC) must appear in all advertising and be displayed visibly in the flat itself [1]. A contract for several months in such a flat does not fit its status.

  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Check online: the Generalitat register of tourist establishments, by NIRTC number
Documents
  • listing with the NIRTC number
  • booking confirmation
Cost
free
Period
checking takes minutes; a stay in a HUT is limited to 31 consecutive days

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 69

How do you arrange a temporary rental in Barcelona for work, study or while looking for housing?

Catalan Law 11/2025 added article 66 bis to Ley 18/2007: a temporary rental for work, study, medical treatment or while waiting for housing follows the housing rental rules on fianza, guarantees, rent and expenses, and its purpose is written into the contract and backed by documents [1]. Unless the register shows otherwise, the contract is treated as a rental of a permanent home [1]. For temporary housing contracts signed from 01.01.2026, Incasòl asks for a document proving the purpose when the deposit is lodged [2].

  • In person
  • Costs
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Contract with the landlord; the deposit and the purpose document go to Incasòl
Documents
  • contract stating the purpose of the temporary rental
  • proof of purpose: employment contract, enrolment, medical referral
  • deposit receipt
Cost
deposit of one month’s rent, returned when you move out
Period
the landlord lodges the deposit with Incasòl within two months of signing

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 70

What is a cédula de habitabilidad and why ask the landlord for it?

In Catalonia, the cédula de habitabilidad is a document from the Agència de l'Habitatge confirming that a home is fit to live in; according to the Habitatge page, it is needed to connect water, electricity, gas and telecoms [1]. The owner gets a copy of a valid cédula online on the tràmits portal [1]. Without it you cannot put utility contracts in your name, so you will not have the bills Barcelona accepts for the padró. Ask for the energy performance certificate at the same time.

  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
The owner provides the copy; checks at the Agència de l'Habitatge de Catalunya
Documents
  • copy of the flat’s cédula de habitabilidad
  • energy performance certificate
Cost
free
Period
before signing the contract; the Agència issues a new cédula within up to 30 working days

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 71

How do you check that a rent in Barcelona does not exceed the stressed market area cap?

Barcelona is in a stressed residential market area: the BOE resolution of 15.03.2024 applies for three years from the day after publication [1]. According to Habitatge, the cap on permanent homes applies from 16.03.2024: the new rent may not exceed the last rent of the past 5 years plus indexation; for a large landlord the lower of that rent and the index applies, and if there was no rental in the past 5 years the index applies [2]. According to Incasòl, temporary rentals and rooms are capped from 01.01.2026, and a SERPAVI report is required from 26.03.2026 [3].

  • Online
  • Free
  • Barcelona only
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Check online: the index and FAQ at habitatge.gencat.cat, the report at serpavi.mivau.gob.es
Documents
  • the last rent of the past 5 years, which the landlord must state
  • SERPAVI report attached to contracts from 26.03.2026
Cost
free
Period
before signing; the area applies for three years from the day after the resolution was published (from 16.03.2024), check any extension and changes

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 72

How much is the fianza for a flat in Catalonia and who lodges it with Incasòl?

Article 36.1 Ley 29/1994 (LAU) makes the fianza mandatory: one month’s rent for housing, two for other uses [1]. In Catalonia the landlord lodges the deposit with Incasòl on form Model 2 within two months and receives a número de control [2]. An additional guarantee on a housing contract of up to five years (up to seven if the landlord is a company) may not exceed two months’ rent (article 36.5) [1]. The tenant can check the status of the deposit online [3].

  • Online
  • In person
  • Costs
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Incasòl (Institut Català del Sòl); the landlord lodges the deposit
How to book
No appointment needed for the tenant: check online with “Consulta sobre l'estat de la fiança”
Documents
  • rental contract
  • receipt for the deposit payment
  • control number (NC) or fianzas register number from the landlord
Cost
one month’s rent; if the deposit is not returned within a month of handing back the keys, interest accrues (article 36.4 LAU)
Period
lodged within two months of the contract date; interest on an unreturned deposit runs from a month after the keys are handed back

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 73

Who pays the agency when you rent a flat in Barcelona?

Article 20.1 Ley 29/1994 (LAU) expressly puts the cost of the estate agency’s services (gestión inmobiliaria) and of drawing up the contract on the landlord [1]. By law the tenant pays the rent, the deposit and individually metered services: water, electricity, gas (article 20.3) [1]. General building expenses can be passed on to the tenant only in writing and with the annual amount stated as at the contract date [1].

  • In person
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Contract with the landlord or the agency
Documents
  • draft contract with a section on expenses
Cost
free
Period
before signing the contract

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 74

Is a deposit required when renting a room in Barcelona?

Incasòl explains that for room rental contracts and any other division of a home signed from 14.07.2026, lodging a deposit and entering it in the Registre de Fiances are mandatory, and the deposit is one month’s rent [1]. Article 66 ter Ley 18/2007 (Law 11/2025) defines a room rental as exclusive use of a room plus shared areas; in a stressed market area the sum of the rents under all contracts may not exceed the maximum rent for the whole home [2]. For the padró you need this contract or authorisation from the main tenant.

  • In person
  • Costs
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Contract with the main tenant or the owner; the deposit goes to Incasòl
Documents
  • written room rental contract
  • deposit receipt
  • copy of the ID of the person letting the room
Cost
deposit of one month’s rent for the room
Period
the deposit is lodged with Incasòl within two months of signing

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 75

Which housing document do you need to register on the padró in Barcelona?

To register a tenant, the Ajuntament de Barcelona accepts a valid fixed-term rental contract of at least three months; a shorter contract is accepted only with an expressly documented extension [1]. If you are neither the owner nor the tenant, you need an authorisation bearing the original signature of an adult owner, tenant or registered resident, plus a signed copy of their ID; an authorisation to register other adults or other families is valid for one month from the date on the document [1]. Ask for the papers when you move in, not just before your visit to the OAC.

  • In person
  • Free
  • Barcelona only
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Landlord or main tenant; filing with the Ajuntament de Barcelona
Documents
  • rental contract of 3 months or more in your name
  • or an authorisation from the owner or tenant with an original signature
  • copy of the signatory’s ID, signed by them
Cost
free
Period
collect before applying for the padró

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 76

Which documents do you need to transfer electricity, water and gas into your name in Barcelona?

The Ajuntament de Barcelona lists the documents for utility contracts: NIE or passport, bank details, the number and start date of the rental contract, the latest bill and the cédula de habitabilidad [1]. Electricity, gas and phone can be contracted with any company; water in the city is supplied by a single operator [1]. If the service is already connected, it is enough to change the account holder; otherwise the city warns of a lead time of about a week and extra charges [1].

  • Online
  • By phone
  • Costs
  • Barcelona only
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Utility providers: electricity and gas comercializadora, Barcelona’s water operator
How to book
Online or by phone with the provider, no appointment needed
Documents
  • NIE or passport
  • IBAN of a Spanish or European account
  • rental contract
  • latest bill for the address
  • cédula de habitabilidad
Cost
at the provider’s rates; a change of holder without changing the contracted power has no connection charge
Period
a change of holder usually means no interruption; a new connection takes about a week according to the Ajuntament

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 77

Does an internet bill count for padró registration in Barcelona?

No. The Ajuntament de Barcelona does not accept mobile phone or internet bills for the padró [1]. It accepts the latest electricity, water or gas bill in the tenant’s name, paid within the last 3 months, with a receipt or bank statement and the same details as in the contract [1]. But this supplements the contract in specific cases (a contract extended without an express clause, an open-ended contract older than 4 years); it does not replace it [1].

  • Online
  • In person
  • Free
  • Barcelona only
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Ajuntament de Barcelona, Oficina d'Atenció Ciutadana (OAC) or Oficina Virtual
Documents
  • latest electricity, water or gas bill in your name
  • payment receipt or bank statement
  • rental contract
Cost
free
Period
bill no older than 3 months on the filing date

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 78

How long can a mobile and internet contract in Spain last?

Ley 11/2022 General de Telecomunicaciones limits consumer contracts with telecom operators to 24 months (article 67.7) and requires the operator to provide a contract summary before signing (article 67.2) [1]. When you switch operator, the number is activated with the new operator within one working day of the agreed date (article 70.3) [1]. According to the Ajuntament, a prepaid SIM is issued on an identity document such as a passport [2].

  • Online
  • In person
  • Costs
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Any telecom operator, shop or website
Documents
  • passport or NIE
  • IBAN for a contract with a monthly bill
Cost
at the operator’s rates
Period
SIM on the day you ask; number transfer in one working day

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 79

Which phone numbers should you note down in your first days in Barcelona?

Emergency services in Catalonia: 112 [1]. The Ajuntament de Barcelona’s 010 line: information on city services and tax payments; the number for calls from outside the metropolitan area is on the page [2].

  • By phone
  • Free
  • Barcelona only

Checked 03.10.2026 more in the article

Item 80

How much is a T-usual in Barcelona and how do you buy one?

The T-usual is a personal ATM (Autoritat del Transport Metropolità) travel card valid for 30 days from first validation with unlimited journeys; zone 1 costs €22.80 and two zones €30.55 according to the ATM page as of 03.10.2026 [1]. The pass is loaded onto a T-mobilitat medium: a personal plastic card for €4.50, a mobile wallet for €1, or a cardboard card with a €1 surcharge [1]. The T-usual is valid to the airport stations on L9 Sud [1].

  • Online
  • In person
  • Costs
  • Barcelona only
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Network ticket machines, the T-mobilitat app, ATM and TMB customer service points
How to book
No appointment; the personal card is ordered on the T-mobilitat website or app
Documents
  • ID document to register with T-mobilitat: ATM does not publish a list for adults
Cost
€22.80 for zone 1 for 30 days plus a T-mobilitat medium from €1
Period
the machine issues a cardboard card with the pass on the spot

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 81

Is there a travel pass for under-30s in Barcelona?

ATM sells the T-jove: a personal 90-day pass for people under 30 with unlimited journeys, €45.50 according to the ATM page as of 03.10.2026 [1]. For comparison, a T-casual for 10 journeys in zone 1 costs €13.00 [1]. Children under 16 use the T-16 card. The T-jove is also loaded onto a T-mobilitat medium.

  • Online
  • In person
  • Costs
  • Barcelona only
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Network ticket machines, the T-mobilitat app and website
Documents
  • document proving your age when registering with T-mobilitat
Cost
€45.50 for 90 days
Period
90 days from first validation

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 82

How long can you drive in Spain on a foreign licence after moving?

The DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) recognises licences from countries outside the EU and EEA until six months have passed since you acquired residencia normal in Spain [1]. After that the licence is no longer valid for driving: you need an exchange (canje) or, if there is no agreement with your country, a new Spanish licence [1]. Before coming, the DGT advises getting an international driving permit at home, valid for one year [1].

  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
DGT, Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico de Barcelona
Documents
  • national driving licence
  • international driving permit on the convention model
  • passport
Cost
free
Period
six months from the date you acquired residencia normal

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 83

Does Spain exchange driving licences from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine?

Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are not in the DGT table of countries with a convenio de canje, updated on 26.06.2026, so their licences are not exchanged and after six months you need to pass Spanish exams [1]. Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia are on the list: motorcycle and car licences are exchanged without an exam [1]. For an exchange without an exam the table gives tasa II.3 of €28.87; check the amount on the DGT payment form [1].

  • Online
  • In person
  • Costs
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
DGT, applications through sede.dgt.gob.es or at the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico by appointment
How to book
Cita previa DGT: check how to book on the DGT website
Documents
  • national licence obtained before you became resident in Spain
  • document showing residencia normal
  • check the rest of the list on the exchange form on the DGT website
Cost
tasa DGT II.3: €28.87 for an exchange without an exam, per the DGT table of 26.06.2026; check the amount on the payment form
Period
a foreign licence is valid for no more than 6 months from residencia normal; check the deadline for applying for the exchange on the DGT website

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

What you can do yourself and what we take on

You can complete every item of this stage on your own: each one says where to go, how to book and what to bring. Where going ahead without a lawyer is risky, there is a separate panel with options for help, including free ones. ReloVictory prepares the document set, accompanies the filing and handles the case: 15 minutes free, a full consultation €121 for 45 minutes, case handling priced by quote, fees and translations extra. Book a consultation

Frequently asked questions

How much cash can you bring into Spain without declaring it?
Less than €10,000 per person per journey. From that amount, or its equivalent in another currency, cash, traveller’s cheques and anonymous prepaid cards must be declared before crossing the border: coming from outside the EU, to customs officers on form E-1. The threshold applies to each person separately, and a child’s money counts towards the accompanying adult (article 34 of Ley 10/2010).
Can I stay in a tourist flat while I look for somewhere to live?
For the first few days, yes, but not as a permanent address. A habitatge d'ús turístic (HUT) in Catalonia is let as a whole for periods of up to 31 consecutive days, and the owner must hold an ajuntament licence and show the NIRTC number in the listing. A contract for several months in such a flat does not match its status, and the padró requires a contract of at least 3 months or the owner’s authorisation.
How much deposit can a landlord legally ask for a flat in Barcelona?
One month’s rent for a home (article 36.1 of the LAU); the landlord lodges it with Incasòl within two months. An additional guarantee under a housing contract of up to 5 years (up to 7 if the landlord is a company) cannot exceed two months’ rent (article 36.5). Together, the deposit and that guarantee come to no more than three months, so a demand to tie up 6 months’ rent goes beyond what the law allows.
Do you need to exchange your driving licence after moving to Barcelona?
Yes, once you become resident: according to the DGT, a licence from a non-EU country is valid for no more than six months from when you obtain residencia normal. Exchange without an exam is only possible for countries on the DGT list; as of 03.10.2026 it includes Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, but not Russia, Belarus or Kazakhstan. Holders of those licences have to take the exams for a Spanish licence.
Which bills does Barcelona accept for padrón registration?
A tenant’s main document for the Barcelona padró is a current fixed-term contract of at least three months. An electricity, water or gas bill in the tenant’s name, paid for the last 3 months, with a receipt or bank statement, is accepted by the Ajuntament as a supporting document in certain cases, for example alongside an open-ended contract more than 4 years old. Mobile phone and internet bills are not accepted.

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