Your first 30 days in Madrid: a step-by-step plan

Before you start

• Your passport or national ID card, and your visa if you needed one
• Somewhere to stay with a lease of at least six months or the owner's authorisation for your padrón registration

Documents you need

• Passport (or national ID card for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens)

  required

• National visa or residence authorisation

  Non-EU citizens.

  optional

• Lease of at least six months

  optional

• Owner's or main tenant's authorisation

  If you are not on a lease.

  optional

• Employment contract or employer's certificate

  optional

• Fee form 790 code 012

  optional

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Day 1: Book your police appointment

   Go to the government's cita previa system, select Madrid and choose fingerprinting for your TIE (toma de huellas) if you are a non-EU national, or the EU citizen registration certificate if you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. In Madrid, TIE cards are issued by the National Police's foreigners' documentation section at Avenida de los Poblados, s/n (Aluche) and at local police stations; information on EU registration certificates is given at Avenida de Padre Piquer, 18. See NIE and TIE in Spain and EU registration certificate in Spain.

2. 2

   Step 2: Days 1-3: Save emergency numbers and get around

   Save 112 (all emergencies). For your first trips, load single or 10-trip tickets (€7.30 for ten Metro trips in zone A in 2026) on an anonymous Multi card from a Metro machine; the monthly pass needs a personal card, which in turn needs your padrón registration. See Public transport in Madrid.

3. 3

   Step 3: Week 1: Register in the padrón

   Book an appointment at a Línea Madrid citizen service office online or on 010, or apply online if you have a digital ID. Bring your original ID, the signed registration form and a lease of at least six months signed by everyone named in it, or the owner's or main tenant's signed authorisation. The council has up to three months to decide, but at an in-person appointment you can be given a registration certificate. See Registering in the Madrid padrón.

4. 4

   Step 4: Week 1: Get your social security number (if you will work)

   Request it online on Import@ss or ask your employer to request it. Your employer must register you with Social Security before your first day. See Getting your Spanish social security number.

5. 5

   Step 5: Weeks 1-2: Open a bank account

   Compare a few banks and bring your passport and, if you have it, your NIE. Everyone legally resident in the EU has the right to a basic payment account. See Opening a bank account in Spain.

6. 6

   Step 6: Weeks 2-4: Attend your police appointment

   • TIE: bring the application form, your passport with entry stamp, a photo, your padrón registration, your visa or authorisation and the €16.08 fee receipt (form 790 code 012, 2026). You collect the card later at the police office.
   • EU registration certificate: bring form EX-18, your passport or ID card, proof of work, study or sufficient resources and health insurance, and the €12 fee receipt (2026).
7. 7

   Step 7: Weeks 2-4: Order your personal transport card

   Once registered, order the personal card online (delivered in about a week) or at a transport office with an appointment, with your ID, a photo and a padrón document issued in the last three months. The first card costs €4. Then load a 30-day pass (€32.70 for zone A, or the €10 youth pass if you are 15 to 25).

8. 8

   Step 8: Weeks 2-4: Request your health card

   When you are in the padrón and your right to public health care is recognised (for workers, after Social Security registration), request the card at your health centre or online. Bring your TIE or EU certificate and a padrón volante from the last 90 days. The card arrives at your health centre in about three to four weeks; in the meantime the centre can give you access to care. See Getting a health card and a family doctor in Madrid.

9. 9

   Step 9: Weeks 2-4: Search for a long-term flat

   Visit homes in person, check who owns them, and remember that agency fees cannot be charged to tenants and additional guarantees are capped at two months' rent. Madrid has no cap on the starting rent. See Finding a flat to rent in Madrid and Tenant rights in Spain.

10. 10

    Step 10: If you have children: apply for a school or nursery place

    Children who arrive outside the spring admission period apply through the extraordinary process, at a school with vacancies or through the city's school placement service (SAE) at Calle Vitruvio, 2. See Schools and childcare in Madrid.

Watch out

Common mistakes

• Waiting for a long-term flat before registering in the padrón. A temporary address with the owner's authorisation is enough.
• Using a padrón document that is too old for the health card (90 days) or the transport card (three months).
• Forgetting that each family member needs their own TIE or certificate, health card and padrón registration.

Tips

• Keep a folder (paper and digital) with originals, copies and every receipt; you will reuse them for renewals.
• Ask your employer's HR team for an employer's certificate early; it helps with the EU certificate, banks and landlords.
• The municipal immigrant information offices also offer Spanish courses and job counselling, free and by appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Official links

In your plan

• Find free help for newcomers in MadridAdd to plan
• Book your police appointment for the TIE or EU certificateAdd to plan
• Apply for your TIE card at the policeAdd to plan
• Register in the Madrid padrónAdd to plan
• Get your EU registration certificateAdd to plan
• Get your social security numberAdd to plan
• Request your Madrid health card and choose a family doctorAdd to plan
• Open a Spanish bank accountAdd to plan

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 5 Feb 2027.