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Opening a Spanish bank account
What Spanish banks usually ask for, and what to check before choosing one.
All studentsLast checked against official sources on 3 November 2026. Rules change, so confirm before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.
- Usually asked for
- Passport or ID, plus your NIE or TIE
- Not resident yet
- You'll need to prove that status
- Compare
- Monthly fees and transfers from abroad
What banks ask for
- Identification comes first. EU citizens may be asked for a passport or national ID together with their NIE. Non-EU citizens are asked for their TIE.
- If you aren't resident in Spain yet, the bank will ask you to prove that status.
- Banks may ask where money coming into the account is from. If you can't show this, the account may be blocked.
Before you choose
- Ask the bank for its exact document list, because requirements vary.
- Compare monthly fees and the conditions for avoiding them.
- Check how much it costs to receive money from abroad.
- Ask for the fee information in writing before you sign.
Spanish for this step
Practical help, not official wording. Staff may not speak English, so it helps to have these ready.
Words you'll see
- cuenta bancaria
- bank account
- cuenta de no residente
- account for people who aren't resident in Spain yet
- cuenta de pago básica
- basic payment account
- comisiones
- fees
- transferencia
- bank transfer
- tarjeta de débito
- debit card
What to say
- Quiero abrir una cuenta. Soy estudiante.
- I'd like to open an account. I'm a student.
- ¿Qué documentos necesito?
- Which documents do I need?
- ¿Esta cuenta tiene comisiones?
- Does this account have fees?
- Hola, tengo cita a las diez.
- Hello, I have an appointment at ten o'clock.
- No hablo bien español. ¿Habla inglés?
- I don't speak Spanish well. Do you speak English?
- ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
- Could you speak more slowly, please?
- ¿Puede escribirlo, por favor?
- Could you write it down, please?
- ¿Me falta algún documento?
- Am I missing any document?