Personal accounts: Spain

Updated 8 October 2026

An honest assessment before work starts, the quote is fixed in writing.

Both residents and non-residents open personal accounts in Spain. Banks are supervised by the Bank of Spain and European banking supervision. For a foreigner the key is the foreigner identification number: without it, banks and the tax office arrange almost nothing. A non-resident opens a non-resident account, and the bank applies different tax rules.

An account is needed for rent, utilities and taxes, and when buying a home the transfer tax and then the annual property tax are paid through a Spanish account.

Can you open an account in Spain without residence or a visit

A residence permit is not needed: a non-resident opens a non-resident account. They prove their status with a non-residence certificate from the police or a tax residence document from their own country, and the tax on interest depends on it.

The foreigner number cannot be skipped. A non-resident obtains it at a Spanish consulate in their country of residence or from the police in Spain, stating the reason: buying a home, opening an account, inheritance, work or study. The number is assigned once and does not change when you become a resident. The bank checks identity at a branch or by video if it allows that.

Those already lawfully living in the EU can get a basic payment account: banks must offer it, cannot require other products, and its fee is capped. It is a good option for the first months after moving.

Which banks open accounts for non-residents

Each bank decides for itself. The logic of choosing is this:

• Banks that open non-resident accounts suit you before the move, but check the source of funds and purpose more strictly.
• A basic payment account must be opened for anyone lawfully living in the EU, even without a permanent address.
• For Russian citizens without EU citizenship or EU residence, any bank caps deposits at €100,000 under EU sanctions Regulation 833/2014.

Documents for the account

Timelines and running costs

The timeline depends mostly on the foreigner number, which is obtained before going to the bank. With documents ready, the account itself is opened in one visit or video call. Fees vary by bank, and the basic account fee is capped by law.

Deposits are protected up to €100,000, about $113,000, per depositor per bank. Interest for a non-resident from an EU country is not taxed in Spain; for residents of other countries the bank withholds 19%. For a resident, interest is part of savings income on a progressive scale. A resident is someone who lives in Spain more than 183 days in a calendar year or whose centre of economic interests is there; someone whose spouse and minor children live in Spain is also presumed resident unless proven otherwise.

The cost of Murblz support depends on the bank and your status; a manager will calculate it in chat.

Tax data exchange and account notifications

Spain takes part in the automatic exchange of tax information: the bank fills in a residence form with the client, and data on non-residents' accounts go to their country of tax residence.

Russian tax residents notify the tax service of opening a foreign account within one month, separately for each account, and file a report on account flows for the previous year by 1 June. Anyone who spent more than 183 days outside Russia in a calendar year is exempt from both. If the bank's country exchanges tax information with Russia, the report is not filed when no more than 600,000 roubles, about $7,100, came into the account during the year, but the opening notice is still required. How to file is explained in our articles on the foreign account notification and the account flow report.

Common refusals

• No foreigner identification number.
• Resident or non-resident status not documented.
• The source of funds is not documented.
• Sanctions risks linked to citizenship or counterparties.

What we do

Murblz specialists obtain the foreigner number and non-residence certificate, choose the bank and account type, prepare documents and the explanation of the source of funds and accompany the opening to a decision. If you are moving, we link the account to the residence permit; see the alternatives to the Spanish golden visa page.

This topic in other countries

Accounts for non-residents in other countries:

• Bank account in Georgia for non-residents
• Bank account in Armenia for non-residents
• Bank account in Turkey for non-residents
• Bank account in Serbia for non-residents
• Bank account in Kyrgyzstan for non-residents
• Bank account in the USA for non-residents
• Bank account in Uzbekistan for non-residents
• Bank account in Cyprus for non-residents
• Bank account in Switzerland for non-residents
• Bank account in Singapore for non-residents
• Bank account in Hong Kong for non-residents
• Bank account in Germany for non-residents
• Bank account in Portugal for non-residents
• Bank account in Thailand for non-residents
• Bank account in Argentina for non-residents
• Bank account in Paraguay for non-residents
• Bank account in Uruguay for non-residents

More on this country:

• Residence in Spain
• Spanish digital nomad visa
• Spain: all programmes

All countries and rules are in the overview a foreign bank account in 2026.

What we do

• Personal account - opening assistance

See also

Company formation · Business account · Investment property · All country programs

FAQ