In Spain you will usually need a Spanish bank account to pay rent, set up direct debits for utilities, receive a salary or pay social security contributions. When opening an account, banks classify customers as resident (residente) or non-resident (no residente). That classification affects the documents required, the account conditions and what the bank reports to the tax authorities.
Resident and non-resident accounts
The bank's notion of "resident" is closely linked to tax residence and does not always match whether you hold a residence permit. People who live in Türkiye and will buy a property in Spain, receive rental income there or prepare before moving usually open a non-resident account. Once you move to Spain, obtain your TIE and become tax resident, you use a resident account.
For a non-resident account, banks often ask for a non-resident certificate (certificado de no residente) issued by the Policía Nacional. It is requested in Spain with form EX-15 and fee 790 code 012, at police offices or immigration offices. According to the police, if you are outside Spain the request can be made through Spanish consulates. Some banks ask for the certificate within a set period after the account is opened; practice varies from bank to bank.
Account fees and product options differ between banks, and sometimes between resident and non-resident customers. When comparing conditions, the explanations on the Banco de España's customer portal (Portal del Cliente Bancario) can help.
Documents required
Spain's anti-money laundering law (Law 10/2010) requires banks to know their customers. Banks therefore ask for information on your income and activity as well as your identity. The usual documents are:
- Identity: A valid passport; for residents, the TIE
- NIE number: Your foreigner identity number in Spain
- Proof of address: For an address in Spain, a rental contract or padrón certificate; for non-residents, a document showing your address in Türkiye
- Occupation and income: An employment contract, payslips, a tax return or a letter from your employer
- Tax residence declaration: A form stating the country where you are tax resident and your tax number there
Documents from Türkiye may need to be translated. Bank forms are usually completed at the branch or in the bank's app.
The basic payment account (cuenta de pago básica)
Royal Decree-Law 19/2017 gives consumers legally resident in the European Union the right to open a basic payment account. That right extends to Turkish nationals living in Spain with a residence permit. A bank may only refuse to open this account in the limited cases set out in the law, for example where opening it would breach anti-money laundering rules or where the person already has a payment account in Spain. If it refuses, it must say so in writing and give reasons, and you can complain about the refusal to the Banco de España. The account covers basic services such as deposits and withdrawals, transfers, direct debits and a debit card.
According to the Banco de España, as of 2025 the maximum fee for a basic payment account is €3 a month, covering up to 120 euro payment transactions within the EU per year. The account can be free for people who meet certain low-income criteria.
People living in Türkiye who are not resident in the EU do not have this right; the bank's own conditions apply to them.
After you move
- Tell your bank about your new situation and provide your TIE, so your account is converted to a resident account.
- Update your tax residence declaration. Under international automatic exchange of information, banks may report account information to the tax authority of the country where you are resident.
- Once you are tax resident in Spain, reporting obligations may arise in Spain for your accounts and assets abroad. Discuss this with a tax adviser.
- Give your employer the account for your salary and, if you are self-employed, give the social security authority the account for your contributions.
- If you want to change banks, you can use the account switching service (traslado de cuenta).
Visa applications and a Spanish account
A Spanish bank account is generally not required for a visa application; income and savings can be shown with statements from your bank in Türkiye. However, your account activity in Spain may also be requested when you renew your permit. Making transfers in a way that shows where the money comes from, with a description and supporting documents, makes things easier with both the bank and the authorities.
When converting a non-resident account into a resident one, some banks may ask for further documents or an in-person meeting at the branch. Keeping the information you give later consistent with what you gave when opening the account avoids problems such as restrictions on the account.
When advice is worth getting
If you will be transferring a large sum from Türkiye to Spain, part of your income comes from company profits or the sale of property, or you hold accounts and assets in both countries, preparing documents that show the source of the funds in advance makes both opening the account and your visa file easier. For tax consequences, advice from a tax adviser in Spain is appropriate; for documents and transactions in Türkiye, legal advice in Türkiye.
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This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Legislation and case law may have changed since it was written.