The hard part is done, and most of what's left is admin rather than drama. But a few things are worth sorting in the first weeks and months, because getting them right early saves trouble later. Think of this as settling in properly, not just moving in.
In this article
Sort your residency and tax status
This is the big one, and it follows from a decision you ideally made much earlier: how much time you'll spend in Spain. Spend more than 183 days a year there and you're generally considered tax resident, which brings a Spanish annual tax return and tax on your worldwide income, though double taxation treaties usually stop you paying twice. Whether you become resident or not, tell the tax authorities in your home country about the change, and consider an accountant or gestor to handle the bureaucracy. Tax residence is a genuinely complicated subject, and it's one where good advice pays for itself.
Make a Spanish will
It sounds morbid the week you get the keys, but it matters. Making a will that covers your Spanish assets protects your family from a tangle later, and under EU rules you can generally choose whether your home country's law or Spanish law governs how your estate is divided. Spanish inheritance rules differ from those elsewhere, so take legal advice and get it documented.
The practical settling-in list
- Register on the local padrón at the town hall (the empadronamiento), which you'll need for all sorts of local services.
- Put the utilities, water and council tax into your name and set up payment from your Spanish account.
- If you've moved permanently, look into healthcare registration and, if relevant, exchanging your driving licence.
- Introduce yourself to the neighbours. The buyers in this series who settled happiest are almost always the ones who became part of the community, not just owners of a house in it.
None of this is urgent in the way completion was, but working through it steadily turns a property you own into a life you live.
Your checklist for this step
- Decide and document your residency position (the 183-day line)
- Tell your home country's tax authority you've moved or bought abroad
- Consider a gestor or accountant for Spanish tax and admin
- Make a Spanish will covering your assets there
- Register on the padrón and move utilities and council tax into your name
- Listen to the Working and Paying Taxes podcast episode
Settle in properly
The free Spain Buying Guide covers tax status, wills, healthcare and the practical side of living in Spain.
Download the free Spain Buying Guide →
Or carry on reading. The next post is for owners thinking ahead: "I'm thinking about renting it out when I'm not there."
Written by
Nick StoreyNick Storey is the Operations Director at Kyero.com, where he leads platform operations, product delivery, and commercial strategy.
Having lived and worked in Spain for 14 years, Nick began his career as an estate agent on the south coast of Granada and brings first-hand market experience to his work.
He joined Kyero in 2007 and has since played a central role in scaling the business, shaping its product direction, and strengthening how international buyers connect with agents across Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy
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