Who are you?
Identity, address, tax residence, NIE and information about everyone or every company involved in the purchase.
Buying Property In Spain
Documents Needed to Buy Property in Spain
Buying in Spain can involve identity checks, source-of-funds evidence, legal paperwork and — if you're borrowing — mortgage underwriting. What you need depends on who you are, how you're buying and where your money comes from.
Free NuSun Realty buyer preparation tool · Personalised to
your circumstances · Printable at the end
Personal Buyers
Individual or joint purchases
Company Buyers
Spanish or overseas companies
Cash & Mortgage
Different preparation routes
Source Of Funds
Understand the money trail
Prepare Before You Purchase
Don't wait until you've found the property.
Your Spanish lawyer will guide you through the formal legal and anti-money-laundering checks, while your bank or mortgage adviser will tell you exactly what is required for a mortgage application.
But there is a big advantage to understanding the likely requirements before you reserve a property.
A salaried buyer using long-held savings may have a very different document trail from a business owner using dividends, someone selling investments, a buyer receiving a family gift, or a company purchasing the property.
Our preparation tool asks a few simple questions and builds a checklist around your circumstances.
Three Things To Prepare For
It's easier when you understand what each check is trying to prove.
Where did the money come from?
The source of your purchase funds and, where relevant, the wider story behind how your wealth was accumulated.
Can you support the mortgage?
If you're borrowing, the lender will also assess your income, assets, debts and overall ability to support the mortgage.
AML Made Simpler
Source of funds and source of wealth are not quite the same thing.
Understanding the difference makes many of the questions your professional team may ask much easier to understand.
Where is this purchase money coming from?
This is about the money being used for the particular property transaction and being able to demonstrate its route into the purchase.
Example:
€400,000 came from selling an investment portfolio, and the proceeds are now held in your bank account.
€400,000 came from selling an investment portfolio, and the proceeds are now held in your bank account.
How did you build your overall financial position?
In some circumstances you may also need to explain the broader origin of your wealth — for example employment, a business, property, investments or inheritance.
Example:
You built and later sold a business after operating it for 15 years.
You built and later sold a business after operating it for 15 years.
Interactive · Personalised · Printable
Your Buying Preparation Plan
Find out what you should start getting ready.
Tell us how you're buying, how you earn your income, whether you're borrowing and where your purchase funds will come from. We'll build a preparation plan around you.
NuSun Realty · Buyer Preparation Tool
Your Buying Preparation Plan
Answer a few simple questions and we’ll show you the paperwork worth getting ready before you buy — including identity, source of funds, mortgage preparation and company documents where relevant.
Documents You May Be Asked For
Your exact list depends on your circumstances.
These are examples of the types of evidence that can become relevant. Your personalised plan above narrows this down according to the answers you give.
ID
Identity & setup
Information identifying the people or entity purchasing.
- Passport or identification
- Proof of address
- Tax-residence information
- NIE
- Co-buyer information where relevant
€
Source of funds
Evidence explaining the money being used for the purchase.
- Bank statements
- Property sale documentation
- Investment sale statements
- Inheritance documentation
- Gift or third-party contribution evidence
M
Mortgage application
Financial information supporting affordability and underwriting.
- Employment and salary evidence
- Tax returns or income evidence
- Bank statements
- Existing mortgage and loan information
- Assets and savings
CO
Company buyers
Additional information where a company will own the property.
- Company registration documents
- Directors and authorised representatives
- Beneficial ownership
- Company accounts and banking
- Authority to purchase
A Simple Way To Think About AML
Keep the story of your money clear.
If your purchase funds have moved through several assets, accounts, businesses or people, keep the evidence connecting each stage rather than only the final bank statement.
1 · Origin
How the money or wealth was created
2 · Evidence
Documents supporting that origin
3 · Movement
Bank or investment trail showing where it went
4 · Purchase
The account and payments used to buy in Spain
When Should You Start?
Ideally, before you've found the property.
✓
Understand your ownership structure
If you're unsure whether to buy personally, jointly or through a company, discuss it early.
✓
Get your mortgage file started
If borrowing, understanding your likely lending position before reserving can reduce uncertainty.
✓
Organise your source-of-funds trail
Especially important where money comes from a business, investments, property, inheritance, gifts or several different sources.
✓
Let your lawyer verify the final requirements
The tool helps you prepare. Your lawyer and other regulated professionals confirm what is actually required for your transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Property paperwork in Spain
What documents do I need to buy property in Spain?
The exact documents depend on your circumstances.
Buyers should generally expect identification and
purchase-fund checks, while mortgage buyers will also
have lender underwriting requirements. Joint purchases,
company purchases and funds coming from businesses,
investments, inheritance or gifts can require additional
evidence.
Do I need an NIE to buy property in Spain?
Foreign buyers commonly require an NIE — the Spanish
foreigner identification number — as part of the property
purchase process. Your Spanish lawyer can advise on the
application and timing for your particular transaction.
Why do I need to prove where my money came from?
Professionals involved in the transaction have
anti-money-laundering obligations. This can mean
understanding the origin of purchase funds and being
able to evidence the movement of money used in the
transaction.
What if my deposit comes from selling another property?
Keep the documents showing the property sale and the
bank trail showing the proceeds reaching your account.
Your lawyer will confirm the evidence required in your
particular circumstances.
What if I'm self-employed or own a company?
You may need more detailed financial evidence,
particularly if you are applying for a mortgage or if
the purchase money originates from your business.
Company accounts, tax information, banking and evidence
of salary or distributions can become relevant.
What documents are needed for a Spanish mortgage?
Requirements vary by lender and applicant. Mortgage
buyers should expect the lender to assess their financial
position and ability to repay, which can involve income,
banking, assets, existing debts and — for business owners
or self-employed applicants — additional business and
tax information.
Can I buy Spanish property through a company?
A company can be involved in a property purchase, but
the appropriate ownership structure should be discussed
with your Spanish legal and tax advisers. Company
purchases can involve additional corporate,
representative, beneficial-ownership and source-of-funds
documentation.
Is the NuSun preparation plan a legal or mortgage approval?
No. It is designed to help you understand and prepare
for the types of documentation that may be requested.
Your lawyer, bank, mortgage adviser, notary and other
regulated professionals determine the actual requirements
for your transaction.
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01
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02
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03
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Buy with a clearer picture.
Understand the market. Prepare properly. Choose the right property. And have the right people around you throughout the purchase.