Indians in Barcelona
Just arrived in Barcelona?
Your first 7 days checklist
You’ve landed at El Prat, got through customs, and made it to your temporary flat — probably exhausted, probably a little overwhelmed, and definitely without a NIE. Here’s exactly what to do in your first seven days so that week two feels significantly less chaotic.
Day 1
Book your NIE appointment — immediately
The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is your foreign identification number in Spain, and almost everything else on this list depends on having it — or at least having it in motion. You cannot sign a lease in your own name, open a Spanish bank account, or get a phone contract without it. Do this on your very first day, before you even unpack.
- Go to sede.administracionespublica.gob.es and bookmark it
- Select Barcelona as your province and choose your procedure (non-EU citizens: form EX-15)
- Set an alarm for 8:00 AM on Monday — new slots are released then and disappear within minutes
- Try slots at satellite offices: Badalona, L’Hospitalet or Sabadell often have faster availability
- Download and fill out form EX-15 (keep a spare copy)
- Pay the €12 fee via form 790 Code 012
- Prepare documents: passport + copy, EX-15 × 2 copies, proof of why you need NIE (offer letter, contract, etc.), proof of legal entry
In Barcelona, appointment slots go in minutes. If you cannot get one on your first try, check the booking portal at 8 AM every weekday and again after midnight — cancelled slots sometimes reappear late at night. Getting the cita previa (appointment) is genuinely the hardest step.
As a non-EU national you must apply at the immigration office on Passeig Sant Joan 189 or the Directorate-General of Police — not the standard NIE offices used by EU citizens. Budget 4–8 weeks from appointment to receiving your number; in some cases it can take longer, so start as early as possible.
If the appointment system is completely blocked, a gestoría (an administrative agency) can handle the process for you. Expect to pay €100–200 for a standard NIE application including document prep and accompaniment. Ask in the Catalunyaar community for recommendations from fellow Indians who have used one recently.
Day 2
Get a SIM card — any phone shop, no paperwork needed
A Spanish number is one of the fastest wins you can get in your first week. You need it to receive OTP codes from Spanish banks, book appointments online, and communicate with landlords or estate agents. The good news: Spanish prepaid SIMs require no documentation and cost as little as €5 at any Carrefour, Media Markt, or mobile phone shop.
- Visit any supermarket or phone shop — no documentation required for prepaid
- Pick up a prepaid SIM from Yuptel, Vodafone, Movistar or Yoigo
- Consider a data-heavy plan if you’ll be using maps and translation apps constantly
- Save your Spanish number — you’ll need it for bank registrations
Several Indian expats in Barcelona use Yuptel or Digi for their affordability and strong coverage in the Eixample and Gràcia areas. Yuptel in particular offers unlimited data plans from €6/month with a Spanish ID, which you can upgrade to once you have your NIE.
Day 3
Open a temporary bank account — no NIE needed yet
You need a Spanish IBAN to pay rent, set up utilities, and receive a salary. Most traditional banks require a NIE, but two options let you start banking immediately while your NIE is pending.
- Open a Revolut or N26 account using only your Indian passport — takes 10 minutes
- Both give you a DE or LT IBAN that Spanish employers and landlords accept
- Once you have your NIE and empadronamiento, open a proper Spanish account at BBVA Cuenta Online or CaixaBank DayOne
- Avoid staying on a non-resident account — fees can quietly cost €120–180/year more than a resident account
Start with Revolut (passport only, same-day) → get NIE + empadronamiento → switch to BBVA Cuenta Online or Openbank (€0/month with nómina, full Spanish IBAN, English app). Keep Wise for sending money back to India — it remains the cheapest option for INR transfers.
Day 4
Book your empadronamiento (padrón) appointment
The empadronamiento is your official registration at your Barcelona address with the Ajuntament. Think of it as telling the city “I live here.” Without it, you cannot access public healthcare, enrol children in school, or get the full-blown bank account. The good news: compared to the NIE process, it is almost pleasant — you book, you go, you walk out with the certificate the same day.
- Go to ajuntament.barcelona.cat to book an OAC (Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana) appointment
- Bring: passport (original + copy), rental contract in your name (original + copy)
- If your name is not on the contract, get a signed authorisation from the contract holder + copy of their ID
- Appointments book up 2–3 weeks in advance — book as early as Day 1 or 2
- Walk out with your volant d’empadronament (certificate) the same day
- Make 2–3 copies — you’ll need it repeatedly over the coming weeks
Many Indian expats arrive in Barcelona and stay in a habitación (room) where the main contract is not in their name. In this case, ask your landlord or flatmate for a signed Autorització expressa form and a copy of their ID. Some OAC offices will accept a valid rental contract alone — but it’s safer to have the authorisation.
Day 5
Sort travel, safety & health essentials
Before you get into the deeper bureaucracy, make sure your immediate physical wellbeing is covered — transport, health insurance, and knowing your neighbourhood.
- Get a T-Casual metro card from any TMB machine (€11.35 for 10 trips across zones 1–2)
- Download the TMB app for real-time metro and bus maps in English
- Locate your nearest CAP (Centre d’Atenció Primària — public health centre) for after you get the empadronament
- If you have employer health insurance or private cover, register it now so you’re covered immediately
- Save the emergency number: 112 (police, ambulance, fire); non-emergency police: 088 (Mossos d’Esquadra)
- Locate the nearest Indian pharmacy workaround: farmàcies (green cross sign) are on almost every block and many common Indian OTC medicines have Spanish equivalents — show the pharmacist the active ingredient
To access Catalan public healthcare (CatSalut) you need: empadronament + NIE → apply for TSI (Targeta Sanitaria Individual) at your CAP → assigned a family doctor (metge de capçalera). Until then, private insurance or paying out-of-pocket at a clinic is your option. SegurCaixa Adeslas and Sanitas are popular among Indian expats and have English-speaking GPs in Barcelona.
Day 6
Connect with the Indian community in Barcelona
One of the best resources you have in a new city is people who’ve been through exactly what you’re going through. The Indian diaspora in Barcelona is smaller than London or Dubai, but it’s tight-knit, welcoming, and genuinely helpful.
- Add your listing on Catalunyaar to connect with Indian expats, events and services near you
- Look up the Indian Association of Barcelona for cultural events and a formal community network
- Find Indian WhatsApp and Telegram groups for your city area — invaluable for gestor recommendations and housing leads
- Visit an Indian grocery shop — even just to orient yourself. The Raval neighbourhood and Besos market area have the highest concentration
- Mark the Catalunyaar events calendar for upcoming Indian community meetups and festivals
Fellow Indians in Barcelona are your best source for which notary to avoid, which gestor gets NIE appointments in two weeks, and where to find fresh methi. Don’t underestimate the value of this network — things move faster here with the right introduction.
Day 7
Review progress & plan your second week
By the end of day seven, the goal is not to have everything sorted — it’s to have everything in motion. Take stock of where things stand and set clear priorities for week two.
- NIE cita previa booked (or gestoría engaged)?
- Temporary bank account (Revolut/N26) active and receiving money?
- Empadronament appointment booked?
- Spanish SIM active?
- Health insurance or CAP location confirmed?
- At least one connection made with the local Indian community?
- Week two goal set: empadronament done → Spanish bank account → TSI health card
NIE appointment booked → empadronament done → Spanish bank account opened → TSI health card applied for. Each step unlocks the next. Don’t try to do them out of sequence — you’ll hit a wall. Most Indian expats in Barcelona find that the empadronament is done in week 2, and the NIE itself arrives 4–6 weeks after the appointment.
You’re not doing this alone
Catalunyaar connects Indians living in Barcelona and Catalunya — housing, events, and a community that’s been through every queue. Add your listing or find your people.
