Mortgage in Spain for non-residents: conditions, documents and costs

In brief

• Can a non-resident get a mortgage: yes, Spanish banks also grant mortgages to non-residents.
• How much the bank finances: usually up to 60–70% of the property value, so the down payment is about 30–40%.
• Loan term: up to 30 years, depending on the bank.
• Documents: including a passport, NIE number, proof of income, tax return and bank statements, some of which need a sworn translation.
• Purchase costs: beyond the price you usually need to add about 10–12% in transaction costs.

It is worth planning financing even before choosing a property. Below we explain how this usually looks in practice.

Can a non-resident get a mortgage in Spain?

Yes. Spanish banks also grant mortgages to people who do not live in Spain. Each bank sets its own conditions, so it is worth comparing several offers.

How much does the bank finance and what is the down payment?

The bank usually finances up to 60–70% of the lower of two values: the purchase price or the bank valuation (tasación). For a non-resident this means a down payment of about 30–40% of the price. By comparison, buyers living in Spain can count on a higher level of financing, up to about 80%.

For how long can you take a mortgage?

The loan term is up to 30 years, depending on the bank. Banks also take into account the level of income, and total loan repayments should usually not exceed about 35% of income.

What documents are needed?

The set depends on the bank, but usually includes:

• a passport and NIE number (more in the article NIE number in Spain),
• proof of income, e.g. an employment contract and recent payslips or business accounts,
• the latest tax return,
• bank statements from recent months,
• information on liabilities and credit history,
• a document confirming the down payment,
• a reservation agreement or arras (deposit) contract and an extract from the property register (nota simple).

The bank usually requires documents from your home country to be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.

What costs should you add?

Beyond the price of the property and the down payment come transaction costs, which usually amount to about 10–12% of the purchase price. In the context of a mortgage it is worth remembering several items: the bank valuation (tasación) is paid by the buyer, as are sworn translations, and some banks charge an arrangement fee, which can often be negotiated. The costs of the mortgage deed itself, that is, the notary, AJD tax and entry of the mortgage in the register, have been borne by the bank since 2019 in accordance with the regulations. We describe the details of purchase costs on the page Costs and taxes in Spain.

When to start arranging a mortgage?

Best before choosing a property or just after. An initial conversation with the bank shows what amount you can count on, which makes it easier to match an offer to your budget. After receiving the bank’s offer you usually have a few days to accept it, after which the documents go to the notary. We describe the whole course of a purchase in the article The property purchase procedure in Spain step by step.

Will World Residence help with these matters?

Of course, our advisers are at your disposal throughout the whole transaction process, including on matters related to financing the purchase. We also always recommend using an independent lawyer, and we have contacts with Polish-speaking lawyers on every coast of Spain. Usually right after the purchase we help with furnishing and equipping the property, with obtaining a rental licence, and with insuring the property and installing an alarm. Clients know that even after years they can come back to us with any matter, and this trust means they often recommend us to their friends.

This article is informational and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Each bank sets the terms of a mortgage individually.

Updated: 13 October 2026. Sources: Banco de España – Portal del Cliente Bancario, Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE).

Main photo: Olaf Tausch (CC BY 3.0) — Wikimedia Commons.