What documents do I need to buy a property in spain?

Documents and Required Information for Granting Power of Attorney to a Lawyer (EU Citizen or Company)

To enable our lawyer to prepare a power of attorney for notarization, the following information is required, depending on whether the client is an EU individual or a company operating within the EU economic area.

Representation of an Individual (EU)

Note: If there are multiple buyers, information must be provided for each buyer.

• Copy of a valid passport
• NIE copy, if available
• Full name
• Nationality (in English)
• Residential address
• Occupation (in English)
• Marital status (in English)
• Precise description of the powers granted (e.g., purchasing a specific property, whether selling is authorized, number of bank accounts, validity period, etc.)

Note: If you are married and have a prenuptial agreement, it must be notarized, translated into Spanish, and apostilled.

Representation of a Company (EU)

For company representation, documents from the home country must be notarized, translated into Spanish by a translator approved by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and apostilled.

• Certificate of registration from the commercial registry, including the company name, date of incorporation, address, business activity, company registration number, members of the board, and shareholders/partners (indicating their ownership percentages).

• Powers of attorney for the company representative. If the representative is not the majority shareholder, a document (board resolution) is required, proving that the representative is authorized to carry out the real estate transaction. The document must explicitly state that the representative is empowered to grant power of attorney to a local Spanish lawyer who will handle the necessary matters related to the property transaction.

• Documents and information proving the identity of the company representative (see documents for individual representation).

• A precise description of the powers granted.

Based on this information, our lawyer can register your company with the Spanish Tax Agency, and your company will be issued a NIF tax number.

Note:
If you are unable to visit Spain in person, our lawyer can liaise directly with a notary in your home country, providing all the necessary information about themselves. This allows you to issue the power of attorney from your home country.

The power of attorney must be in Spanish, notarized, and apostilled, and the physical document must be delivered to our lawyer.

Documents and Required Information for Granting Power of Attorney to a Lawyer (Non-EU Citizen or Company)

In general, the required documents are nearly the same as those for EU citizens or companies.

Representation of an Individual (Non-EU)

If the individual resides outside the EU and their native language is not English, their passport copy must be notarized in their home country, translated into Spanish, and apostilled.

If there are multiple buyers, information must be provided for each buyer.

• Notarized copy of the passport
• NIE copy, if available
• Full name
• Nationality (in English)
• Residential address
• Occupation (in English)
• Marital status (in English)
• Precise description of the powers granted (e.g., purchasing a specific property, whether selling is authorized, number of bank accounts, validity period, etc.)

Note: If you are married and have a prenuptial agreement, it must be notarized, translated into Spanish, and apostilled.

Representation of a Company (Non-EU)

Documents from the home country must be notarized, translated into Spanish by a translator approved by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and apostilled.

• Certificate of registration from the commercial registry, including the company name, date of incorporation, address, business activity, company registration number, board members, and shareholders/partners (indicating ownership percentages).

• Articles of association of the company.

• Powers of attorney for the company representative. If the representative is not the majority shareholder, a document (board resolution) is required, proving that the representative is authorized to carry out the real estate transaction. The document must explicitly state that the representative is empowered to grant power of attorney to a local Spanish lawyer who will handle the necessary matters related to the property transaction.

• Proof of tax residency in the home country.

• Documents and information proving the identity of the company representative (see documents for individual representation).

• Precise description of the powers granted.

Based on this information, our lawyer can register your company with the Spanish Tax Agency, and your company will be issued a NIF tax number.

Required Information and Documents for Obtaining an NIE for Both EU and Non-EU Citizens

The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is a unique identification number for foreigners in Spain, necessary for purchasing property. If you have granted power of attorney, our lawyer will apply for your NIE on your behalf.

Documents and Information Required for the Lawyer to Apply for an NIE:

• A valid copy of your passport – notarized, translated, and apostilled if necessary.

• Your current residential address – proof of residence may be required, such as a population register extract or an electricity bill.

• Your phone number.

• Your email address.

• Confirmation of the property you intend to purchase or a reservation agreement.

• Full names of your parents – provided in Latin script and in full.

You can apply for an NIE in your home country at a Spanish consulate or in Spain at a local police station.

Documents and Required Information for Opening a Bank Account for EU and Non-EU Citizens or Companies

The level of service provided by Spanish banks can vary greatly and often depends on the account manager. If you are purchasing property with the assistance of our lawyer, they can open a bank account on your behalf and use it to make payments related to the purchase and management of the property.

Required Documents for Individuals

Banks generally accept documents in English, but in some cases, they may require notarized, Spanish-translated, and apostilled documents.

• Bank account statements from the last 12 months

• Proof of employment from your company or institution

• Pay stubs for the last 6 months

• Tax returns for the last one or two years

• A valid copy of your passport – notarized, translated, and apostilled if necessary

• Proof of your current residential address

• Property reservation agreement

• NIE copy

• Tax identification number from your home country, if available

• Proof of sufficient funds for financing the property purchase

Required Documents for EU Companies

Banks generally accept documents in English, but in some cases, they may require notarized, Spanish-translated, and apostilled documents.

• Company turnover for the last 2 years

• Paid payroll taxes for the last 2 years

• Paid VAT for the last 2 years

• Bank statements from your home bank showing sufficient funds for the property purchase

• Certificate of registration from the commercial registry, including the company name, date of incorporation, address, business activity, company registration number, board members, and shareholders/partners (indicating ownership percentages)

• Articles of association of the company

• Powers of attorney for the company representative. If the representative is not the majority shareholder, a document (board resolution) is required, proving that the representative is authorized to carry out the real estate transaction. The document must explicitly state that the representative is empowered to grant power of attorney to a local Spanish lawyer who will handle the necessary matters related to the property transaction.

• Proof of tax residency in the home country

Anti-Money Laundering Declaration for EU and Non-EU Citizens or Companies

This is a mandatory form to be completed by both individuals and companies, requiring the following information:

• What transaction are you conducting?
• Your contact details.
• Are you a public official, or are your acquaintances connected to a high-ranking public office?
• Are you purchasing on your own behalf or representing a third party?
• What is your occupation or business activity?
• Where are your funds for the purchase coming from, if you are not self-employed?
• If you are using other sources for financing, specify them.

This form must be completed in English and is mandatory for everyone.

Download the KYC form here.

Got a question?

Write to eve@merlishomes.com