Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question about bank accounts for non-residents in Spain
Are there any online bank accounts for non-residents in Spain available? Or do they all require a branch visit?
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“N26… you can open with your passport & all online. Many local ATMs throughout for free withdrawal.”
“N26 now requires a TIE, so you can no longer open an account unless you’re resident in Spain.”
“As far as I know, non-resident accounts must be opened in person. Online accounts can only be opened if you are in possession of a TIE or DNI. While there are banks that offer remote opening of non-resident accounts (CaixaBank is the only one I can think of), this process isn’t online and you’ll be interfacing with a person on the other end. I have a VERY long post from 2021 on opening a bank account in Spain as a tourist (so no NIE/TIE). I was intent on contracting with a specific insurance provider before moving here and they wanted me to have a bank account in Spain, so I spent a couple of days going to several banks around Madrid.”
“Try Santander… For brick ‘n mortar banks, I try to stay with big name banks as there is higher possibility they won’t close. My faves would be Santander & BBVA in that oder. I have Santander and opened mine online (no fees associated this way). Check this type of account for non-residents: https://www.bancosantander.es/particulares/cuentas-tarjetas/cuentas-corrientes/cuenta-no-residentes“
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Explore Cities →“I think you can open an account with N26 with your passport. I’m not sure though.”
“I opened one with N26 solely online in early Feb 2023 with my NIE number (from passport stamp). But you need to be in Spain – the website recognises your location and won’t work if you’re not here.”
“You can do it with Sabadell. Just ask any branch for the branch for international clients. But be aware, if the applicant is from a developing country they won’t process it.”
“They all require a branch visit to sign documents and identify yourself.”
In conclusion, while Spainguru’s Facebook group members suggest that there are online bank accounts available for non-residents, such as N26 or Santander, others believe that a branch visit is always required to sign documents and identify oneself. It appears that the process may also depend on the individual’s country of origin and whether they have a TIE or NIE number. Therefore, it is recommended that individuals do their own research and contact the banks directly to determine the requirements for opening an online bank account as a non-resident in Spain.
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