Are you an administrative agency or a law firm?

No. Landesp coordinates your relocation process, and our partner lawyers handle the legal work when your case requires it. Procedures and documents are checked against official sources.

How much does it cost?

The Student Pack has a fixed price of €300 per person. Essential depends on your procedure and headcount: you define your case in two minutes, see the price and scope in writing, and only then decide whether to pay. No hidden costs or later charges.

I'm already in Spain. Can you help me?

Yes. Registration, bank account, digital certificate or utilities if you have just arrived; and family reunification if you have been here for a while. We handle it with you.

Can you guarantee an appointment for my procedure?

No one can honestly guarantee an appointment at a public office, whether immigration, the police, the town hall or the consulate: availability depends on each administration. What we do guarantee is our part: the file ready, official channels monitored and the request filed the moment a slot opens.

How long does the process take?

We recommend starting 8 to 12 weeks before arrival. Some procedures can be prepared from your home country; others are only possible in Spain. With early planning, many clients are operational within 15 to 30 days of arrival.

What are the 7 biggest mistakes people make when moving to Spain?

1) Paying rental deposits without verifying property ownership or reviewing lease terms; 2) Misunderstanding immigration rules (arriving as a tourist for procedures requiring a prior consular visa); 3) Delaying mandatory local municipal registration (empadronamiento); 4) Overlooking tax residency rules (such as the 183-day rule or Beckham Law deadlines); 5) Purchasing health insurance with co-payments rejected by immigration; 6) Arriving without police certificates or degrees properly apostilled and sworn-translated; and 7) Postponing TIE appointments and bank account opening without organized proof of funds.

Can you move and live in Spain?

Yes, absolutely. Spain offers well-established legal residency pathways: the Digital Nomad Visa (for remote employees and international freelancers under the Startup Act), the Student Visa (which permits working up to 30 hours per week), the Non-Lucrative Visa (for individuals with sufficient savings or passive income), highly qualified professional visas, investor visas, and residency through arraigo. The key is organizing your documentation and choosing the right legal route before travelling.

What are the do's and don'ts in Spain?

Do's: register your address (empadronamiento) immediately upon signing your lease; apply for your TIE residence card within 30 days of arrival; seek professional tax advice before your first 183 days; and verify property records before sending any money. Don'ts: never transfer rent deposits without lease verification and land registry check; do not exhaust your 90-day Schengen stay without a valid legal pathway; and do not purchase cheap insurance with co-payments.

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Housing

Renting an apartment in Spain while waiting for your visa: Protecting your deposit

The danger of upfront lease deposits if consular processing stalls, the essential visa contingency clause, and how to secure housing safely.

A pink-toned apartment building with balconies and a Spanish flag, against a deep blue sky

You found the ideal apartment in Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia on an online portal. The landlord demands two months' deposit and an agency reservation fee: roughly 2,500 euros. You sign with a start date of September 1st. But August arrives, the consulate still holds your passport, and the owner refuses refunds.

This is one of the most stressful financial traps reported by relocating expats and international students. The urge to lock in housing in competitive rental markets frequently collides with unpredictable multi-week visa processing backlogs.

The legal risk of paying lease deposits without protection

Under Spain's Urban Tenancy Act (LAU), a signed reservation agreement is legally binding. If the tenant cannot take possession on the agreed date because consular authorities have not issued the visa, the landlord is legally entitled to retain the deposit as compensation for lost rental opportunities.

The mandatory visa contingency clause you must demand

Before transferring any holding deposit, you must mandate an express suspensive condition (*condición suspensiva*). This clause explicitly conditions lease validity upon the issuance and delivery of your Spanish national visa prior to occupancy.

Should consular processing be delayed or denied, the clause legally compels the landlord to refund 100% of deposited amounts or postpone the lease commencement date without penalty.

Skepticism toward foreign applicants without Spanish payroll

Most landlords in Spain utilize rent default insurance (*seguro de impago*), which requires local Spanish employment contracts. Arriving with savings, scholarships, or foreign remote income often results in immediate refusal or demands for six months of rent upfront.

Keep readingDomesa & BLS Colombia: What to Do if Your Passport is Delayed or Trapped

Three secure options for your initial months in Spain

Medium-term seasonal leases (1 to 3 months)Flexible corporate or seasonal rentals that authorize municipal registration (empadronamiento) while permitting arrival date adjustments.
In-person property verification and lease reviewHaving a trusted on-the-ground team visit the apartment, detect hidden defects, and negotiate directly with listing agencies.
Tailored financial guarantees for foreignersPresenting structured solvency dossiers drafted by legal experts to secure approval from Spanish rent default insurers.

Two approaches to securing your Spanish home

Blindly from abroadSending deposits without safety clausesTransferring thousands of euros to landlords who refuse date changes, falling victim to listings scams, and losing money if BLS delays your visa.
Blindly from abroadRelying on emergency hotelsSpending over 2,000 euros on two weeks of rushed hotel stays while scrambling for municipal registration appointments under pressure.
With LANDESPVerified housing with legal protectionOur local advisors inspect the home in person, insert protective visa clauses, and coordinate town hall registration before your flight.

Sources: Law 29/1994 on Urban Leases (LAU); Spanish Civil Code regarding earnest money and contractual obligations (Art. 1454); Rental market index data from Idealista (2026).

Secure your home in Spain without financial vulnerability

Searching for an apartment from abroad does not have to mean risking thousands of euros in forfeited deposits due to consular backlogs.

At LANDESP, we serve as your boots on the ground in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia: we inspect properties, negotiate protective lease clauses, and guarantee your municipal registration.