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Spain Bureaucracy Phrasebook
For the appointments where nobody hands you an interpreter: your residency office, healthcare registration, the bank, and signing a lease.
A pocket phrasebook in Peninsular Castilian Spanish for an American relocating to Spain. Every phrase uses the formal usted register appropriate for addressing officials, bank staff, healthcare workers, landlords, and shop staff, and reflects Peninsular vocabulary (piso, móvil, ordenador, tarjeta sanitaria) rather than Latin American usage.
Before you go
Almost every government procedure in Spain (Extranjería, empadronamiento, DNI/NIE renewals) requires a cita previa booked online in advance; walk-ins are rarely accepted. Government offices generally open mornings only (roughly 9:00 to 14:00), Monday to Friday. Bring your passport plus photocopies to every appointment, since originals are often required alongside copies. The empadronamiento (registering your address at the local ayuntamiento) is a prerequisite for both the tarjeta sanitaria and many other procedures, so it is usually the first stop after finding housing. Fees for official procedures (tasas) are typically paid via a bank-stamped form (modelo 790 or similar) before or at the appointment, not in cash at the counter.
Residency and immigration appointment (Extranjeria, NIE, TIE)
Booking and attending an appointment at the Oficina de Extranjeria or Comisaria de Policia to apply for or collect the NIE and TIE, including the cita previa booking system and the fingerprinting step.
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Good morning, I have an appointment for 10:30.
Buenos días, tengo una cita a las diez y media.
BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs, TEHN-goh OO-nah SEE-tah ah lahs DYEHS ee MEH-dyah.
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I'd like to book an appointment (cita previa) to apply for the NIE.
Quisiera pedir una cita previa para solicitar el NIE.
kee-SYEH-rah peh-DEER OO-nah SEE-tah preh-VYAH PAH-rah soh-lee-see-TAR el NEE-eh.
NIE is often spelled out letter by letter in official speech (ene, i, eh).
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Where do I check in for my appointment?
¿Dónde tengo que registrarme para mi cita?
DOHN-deh TEHN-goh keh reh-hees-TRAR-meh PAH-rah mee SEE-tah?
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I don't speak Spanish very well. Do you speak English?
No hablo muy bien español. ¿Habla usted inglés?
noh AH-bloh mwee byen ehs-pah-NYOL. AH-blah oos-TEHD een-GLEHS?
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Here is my passport and my appointment confirmation.
Aquí tiene mi pasaporte y el justificante de la cita.
ah-KEE TYEH-neh mee pah-sah-POR-teh ee el hoos-tee-fee-KAHN-teh deh lah SEE-tah.
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Do I need to give my fingerprints today?
¿Tengo que dar las huellas dactilares hoy?
TEHN-goh keh dar lahs WEH-yahs dahk-tee-LAH-rehs oy?
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When will my TIE card be ready?
¿Cuándo estará lista mi tarjeta TIE?
KWAHN-doh ehs-tah-RAH LEES-tah mee tar-HEH-tah TEE-eh?
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Could you speak more slowly, please?
¿Podría hablar más despacio, por favor?
poh-DREE-ah ah-BLAR mahs dehs-PAH-syoh, por fah-VOR?
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Healthcare registration and at the doctor
Registering at your local centro de salud to obtain the tarjeta sanitaria, which normally requires proof of empadronamiento, and describing a basic symptom or booking a doctor's appointment.
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I would like to register at this health center.
Me gustaría darme de alta en este centro de salud.
meh goos-tah-REE-ah DAR-meh deh AHL-tah en EHS-teh SEHN-troh deh sah-LOOD.
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I need to apply for the health card.
Necesito solicitar la tarjeta sanitaria.
neh-seh-SEE-toh soh-lee-see-TAR lah tar-HEH-tah sah-nee-TAH-ryah.
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Here is my certificate of municipal registration.
Aquí tiene mi certificado de empadronamiento.
ah-KEE TYEH-neh mee ser-tee-fee-KAH-doh deh em-pah-droh-nah-MYEHN-toh.
The simpler version is a volante de empadronamiento; both are accepted for most procedures.
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I'd like to make an appointment with a general practitioner.
Quisiera pedir cita con el médico de cabecera.
kee-SYEH-rah peh-DEER SEE-tah kohn el MEH-dee-koh deh kah-beh-SEH-rah.
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I have a headache.
Tengo dolor de cabeza.
TEHN-goh doh-LOR deh kah-BEH-sah.
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I have a fever and a sore throat.
Tengo fiebre y me duele la garganta.
TEHN-goh FYEH-breh ee meh DWEH-leh lah gar-GAHN-tah.
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Is this covered by public health insurance?
¿Esto está cubierto por la sanidad pública?
EHS-toh ehs-TAH koo-BYEHR-toh por lah sah-nee-DAHD POO-blee-kah?
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I need a prescription refill.
Necesito renovar una receta.
neh-seh-SEE-toh reh-noh-VAR OO-nah reh-SEH-tah.
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Opening a bank account
Opening a Spanish bank account as a new resident, which typically requires the NIE and proof of address, plus requesting a debit card and asking about fees.
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I would like to open a bank account, please.
Quisiera abrir una cuenta bancaria, por favor.
kee-SYEH-rah ah-BREER OO-nah KWEHN-tah bahn-KAH-ryah, por fah-VOR.
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Here is my NIE and my passport.
Aquí tiene mi NIE y mi pasaporte.
ah-KEE TYEH-neh mee NEE-eh ee mee pah-sah-POR-teh.
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Do you need proof of address?
¿Necesita un justificante de domicilio?
neh-seh-SEE-tah oon hoos-tee-fee-KAHN-teh deh doh-mee-SEE-lyoh?
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Can I get a debit card with this account?
¿Puedo obtener una tarjeta de débito con esta cuenta?
PWEH-doh ob-teh-NEHR OO-nah tar-HEH-tah deh DEH-bee-toh kohn EHS-tah KWEHN-tah?
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What are the fees for maintaining this account?
¿Cuáles son las comisiones de mantenimiento de esta cuenta?
KWAH-lehs sohn lahs koh-mee-SYOH-nehs deh mahn-teh-nee-MYEHN-toh deh EHS-tah KWEHN-tah?
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Can I set up online banking?
¿Puedo darme de alta en la banca online?
PWEH-doh DAR-meh deh AHL-tah en lah BAHN-kah on-LAHYN?
Banca online is standard in Spain; banca por internet is also understood.
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Is there a minimum opening deposit?
¿Hay un depósito mínimo de apertura?
eye oon deh-POH-see-toh MEE-nee-moh deh ah-pehr-TOO-rah?
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I need to transfer money from the United States.
Necesito transferir dinero desde Estados Unidos.
neh-seh-SEE-toh trahns-feh-REER dee-NEH-roh DEHS-deh ehs-TAH-dohs oo-NEE-dohs.
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Housing and signing a lease
Viewing an apartment (piso), negotiating the rental terms, understanding the fianza (deposit), signing the contract, and clarifying utilities.
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I'd like to view the apartment, please.
Me gustaría ver el piso, por favor.
meh goos-tah-REE-ah vehr el PEE-soh, por fah-VOR.
Piso is the standard Peninsular word for a flat; apartamento is understood but less common.
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How much is the monthly rent?
¿Cuánto cuesta el alquiler al mes?
KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah el ahl-kee-LEHR ahl mehs?
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How much is the deposit?
¿Cuánto es la fianza?
KWAHN-toh ehs lah FYAHN-sah?
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Is the deposit one month or two months' rent?
¿La fianza es de un mes o de dos meses de alquiler?
lah FYAHN-sah ehs deh oon mehs oh deh dohs MEH-sehs deh ahl-kee-LEHR?
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Could we sign the contract this week?
¿Podríamos firmar el contrato esta semana?
poh-DREE-ah-mohs feer-MAR el kohn-TRAH-toh EHS-tah seh-MAH-nah?
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Are utilities included in the rent?
¿Los suministros están incluidos en el alquiler?
lohs soo-mee-NEES-trohs ehs-TAHN een-kloo-EE-dohs en el ahl-kee-LEHR?
Suministros covers water, electricity, and gas.
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When can I move in?
¿Cuándo puedo mudarme?
KWAHN-doh PWEH-doh moo-DAR-meh?
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Is there an agency fee?
¿Hay honorarios de la agencia?
eye oh-noh-RAH-ryohs deh lah ah-HEHN-syah?
Under Spain's Law 12/2023 (Ley por el Derecho a la Vivienda), rental agency fees are legally the landlord's responsibility, not the tenant's, though some agencies still try to pass the cost on to tenants in practice.
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Everyday essentials on arrival
Basic greetings, courtesy phrases, asking about English, buying a SIM card, and asking for help, directions, or prices.
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Good morning.
Buenos días.
BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs.
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Good afternoon / good evening.
Buenas tardes.
BWEH-nahs TAR-dehs.
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Please, and thank you very much.
Por favor y muchas gracias.
por fah-VOR ee MOO-chahs GRAH-syahs.
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Excuse me, do you speak English?
Disculpe, ¿habla usted inglés?
dees-KOOL-peh, AH-blah oos-TEHD een-GLEHS?
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Where can I buy a SIM card?
¿Dónde puedo comprar una tarjeta SIM?
DOHN-deh PWEH-doh kohm-PRAR OO-nah tar-HEH-tah seem?
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Could you help me, please?
¿Podría ayudarme, por favor?
poh-DREE-ah ah-yoo-DAR-meh, por fah-VOR?
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Excuse me, where is the nearest pharmacy?
Perdone, ¿dónde está la farmacia más cercana?
pehr-DOH-neh, DOHN-deh ehs-TAH lah far-MAH-syah mahs sehr-KAH-nah?
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How much does this cost?
¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah EHS-toh?
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Planning the move itself?
This phrasebook is the language layer. For the visa route, the true cost, and the tax reality of Spain, read the full corridor guide.
Take Root Abroad is a planning tool, not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Phrasing and office names change; confirm the current requirements for your situation locally. Translations are a starting point, not a substitute for a professional interpreter in high-stakes settings.