International Buyers

Opening a bank account: mortgages for foreigners

15 JUN 2022
READING TIME:  5  Minutes
Are you a foreigner looking for a mortgage in Spain? In that case, you may need a bank account in the country. Having one is one of the usual requirements to obtain a mortgage for foreigners in Spain .

But don't despair! Doing so is easier than you think, although the procedures and documentation vary slightly depending on whether you are a foreigner resident in Spain or a non-resident. This is what you should do in each case.

Steps to open a bank account in Spain as a non-resident

To open an account and apply for a mortgage for non-residents you have to prove that you do not live in the country. In other words, you need the Non-Resident Certificate .

The Non-Resident Certificate can be obtained at a police station or at the immigration office in Spain. However, it can also be processed remotely through the Spanish Consular Offices if you are not in the country.

This certificate is valid for three months and takes about a week to process. With it and your passport or identity document you can open a bank account in Spain. In some banks you can do it even without setting foot in the country. 100% online!

In addition to the non-resident certificate and your passport, some entities may request additional documentation such as:
• Proof of solvency and income, such as a pay slip.
• Documents verifying residency, such as a recent bank statement or bill.
• Certificates from the bank you use in your country of origin.
However, these documents will depend on the financial institution. Not all of them require them!

Steps to open a bank account in Spain as a foreign resident

As a foreigner resident in Spain, the process for opening a bank account is much simpler. What's more, it is not that different from that followed by any person with Spanish nationality.

In this case you will have to present:
• Your NIE or Foreigner Identity Number.
• Some document proving your address in Spain, such as household utility bills.
• Proof of your employment status, from a contract if you are working to your registration with the SEPE if you are unemployed.
• Your passport or identity document if you are a citizen of the European Union.

A bank account will make it easier to obtain a good mortgage as a foreigner. If you are a foreign resident, you will need it for your daily expenses and if not, you already know that it will be good for you to have one.

Nowadays you can apply for a mortgage as a foreigner 100% online and even access green mortgages , self-build mortgages and mortgages to buy a house and renovate . In fact, you will be able to access the entire range of mortgage loans available in the country. However, you should also know that most mortgages for non-resident foreigners are made at a fixed or mixed rate, especially if they are from outside the European Union (EU). And for what reason?, you may be asking yourself. Well, so as not to depend on European indicators when your residence is outside the EU. No more, no less.

As we have mentioned, in most cases financial institutions require opening a current account based in Spain, although there are also exceptions, such as Hipotecas.com, which does not require doing so.

The UCI blog posts cover current issues that are intended to be useful to our readers. However, it is possible that some of the less recent posts contain out-of-date information, so it is necessary that you always check the publication date of the post.

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