It covers five areas: documentation (NIE, TIE, registration with the local council, Social Security, digital certificate, visas), housing (search, contract or purchase, due diligence, technical inspection), home (utilities, insurance, alarm), family (school, healthcare, vehicle, pets), and integration (language, social network, local services). WhyMalaga coordinates all five through a single point of contact.

It’s possible to do it yourself if you speak Spanish fluently, have the time to manage administrative appointments, and aren’t planning to buy property. Most people hire help for three reasons: the scarcity of official appointments, conflicting information from different agencies, and the risk of making mistakes when buying real estate abroad.

Between 2 and 6 months for EU citizens, depending on the availability of administrative appointments. For non-EU citizens, the timeframe depends on the visa: between 3 and 9 months from application to issuance of the TIE (Foreigner Identity Card). Searching for and purchasing property adds between 2 and 4 months.

EU citizens need a NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) and a registration certificate, and can reside in Spain without a visa. Non-EU citizens need an approved visa before entering—such as a Digital Nomad Visa, a non-lucrative visa, or a family reunification visa—and then apply for a TIE (Foreigner Identity Card). The non-EU process is longer and more expensive.

It is the registration at the town hall of the municipality where you live. It is a prerequisite for obtaining a health card, applying for a school place, registering a vehicle, and processing residency applications. It is the most underestimated procedure and the one that most often blocks other processes when it is missing.

Yes. Residency is not required to buy property; only a Spanish NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) and a Spanish bank account are needed. Purchase itself does not grant residency rights since the Golden Visa was abolished. If your goal is to reside in Spain, you will need a separate residency visa, independent of the purchase.

In most cases, yes. We recommend renting for six to twelve months before buying: it allows you to get to know the area during the off-season, check actual commutes, and avoid impulsive purchases. Many buyers move to a different town after spending a winter on the coast.