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Mobile phone and SIM card when you move to Spain

How to get a Spanish phone number: ID rules, prepaid vs contract, main operators, eSIM on arrival, EU roaming and keeping your home number.

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26 seconds ago

October 2026

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Practical · Updated 2026

Mobile phone and SIM card when you move to Spain

A Spanish phone number is one of the first things you need after arriving. Banks, landlords, doctors, delivery companies and many online government services send codes by SMS to a Spanish mobile. This guide explains how to get connected from day one, what ID you need, prepaid versus contract, the main operators and how to handle your old number from home.

Last checked: October 2026

The short version

Four things to know before you buy a SIM in Spain.

Every line needs ID

Spanish law requires operators to register the holder of every mobile line, including prepaid. There are no anonymous SIM cards with a Spanish number.

Passport for prepaid

New arrivals can usually buy a prepaid SIM with a valid passport.

eSIM bridges the gap

A data eSIM installed before you travel keeps you online from the moment you land, while you sort out a Spanish number.

Keep your home number

Your foreign number cannot be moved to a Spanish operator, but a dual-SIM phone lets you keep both lines active.

What ID do you need for a Spanish SIM?

Spain has required identification for prepaid mobile cards since Law 25/2007, so every line with a Spanish number is linked to a named holder. You must show an original, valid document – photocopies and expired documents are not accepted.

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For prepaid, a passport is normally enough, and you will usually be asked for an address in Spain (a temporary rental address is typically fine). For a monthly contract, most operators ask for an NIE or TIE plus an IBAN for direct debit. Several digital and budget brands do not accept a passport for contracts at all, and the big operators only do so in specific cases. If you do not have your NIE yet, the easiest route is to start with prepaid and switch to a contract later.

Foreign bank accounts

Contracts are paid by direct debit. Under SEPA rules an IBAN from another EU country should be accepted, but some operator websites still reject non-Spanish IBANs. If that happens, call the operator or visit a shop and ask them to register it manually.

Prepaid or contract?

Prepaid (prepago)

Quick to set up with a passport, no credit check and no bank account needed. You top up (recarga) in the operator’s app, online, in supermarkets, petrol stations or small phone shops. Many prepaid bundles cost roughly €5–€15 a month. The downside: if you stop topping up, the line is usually deactivated after several months.

Contract (contrato)

Better value for heavy users and often bundled with home fibre. You need an NIE/TIE and an IBAN, and the large operators may run a credit check. Most SIM-only contracts today have no long commitment, but read the terms before signing if a phone or fibre installation is included.

Main operators and budget brands

Spain’s market is dominated by a few groups, each with a premium brand and cheaper digital brands.

Movistar (Telefónica)

The former national operator, with Movistar as the main brand and O2 as its simpler, cheaper brand. Often slightly more expensive.

MásOrange

Created by the 2024 merger of Orange and MásMóvil. Brands include Orange, Yoigo, MásMóvil, Jazztel, Simyo and Pepephone – the last two are popular for straightforward, low-cost plans.

Vodafone

Now owned by Zegona. Alongside Vodafone itself, the group runs Lowi, a well-known budget brand, and Finetwork.

Digi

A low-price operator that has grown fast in Spain. It is popular with expats for cheap prepaid and contract plans, but it requires an NIE for contracts.

Use an eSIM for your first days

An eSIM is a digital SIM you install by scanning a QR code – no plastic card needed. It is useful when you arrive: you can be online at the airport to use maps, order a taxi or message your landlord, before you have had time to visit a phone shop.

One option is Amigo eSIM, a travel eSIM with data plans for Spain and for Europe as a whole. You buy the plan online, receive a QR code by email and install it before you leave; the plan starts when you arrive. According to Amigo, its Spain plans use the Orange and Vodafone networks, hotspot sharing is allowed, and the larger plans include some minutes and texts. Plan sizes, validity and prices change, so check the details before buying. You can see the current Amigo eSIM plans for Spain here (ad).

A travel eSIM is not a Spanish number

A travel or data eSIM keeps you online, but it does not give you a Spanish mobile number. For bank accounts, Cl@ve and other official services, utility contracts and most local apps you will still want a Spanish line. See the eSIM as a bridge for your first days or weeks, not a replacement.

To check if your phone supports eSIM, dial *#06#. If an EID number appears, the phone is eSIM-capable. It must also be unlocked to use another operator’s SIM or eSIM. Most major Spanish operators can also issue your new Spanish line as an eSIM – ask when you sign up.

EU roaming and your home number

If you come from another EU/EEA country, “roam like at home” rules have been extended until 2032, so your home SIM can be used in Spain at no extra charge while you travel. However, the rules are meant for periodic travel. Operators can check whether you spend more time, or use your SIM more, abroad than at home. If you live in Spain permanently and only use your home SIM here, your home operator may warn you and then add surcharges. Once you have moved, a Spanish line is the safer choice.

Many people keep their old number for bank codes and family. A dual-SIM phone (a physical SIM plus an eSIM, or two eSIMs) lets you keep both lines active. Turn off data roaming on the home line to avoid surprise charges, but leave it able to receive SMS.

How to get connected, step by step

1. Before you travel

Check that your phone is unlocked and eSIM-capable. If you want to be online from the moment you land, install a data eSIM at home over Wi-Fi.

2. In your first week

Buy a prepaid Spanish SIM or eSIM with your passport at an operator shop or a large electronics store. Use this number for your NIE appointment, bank and rental paperwork.

3. Once you have your NIE and a bank account

Compare contracts and fibre bundles. If you move from prepaid to a contract with another operator, request portability so you keep the same Spanish number. In Spain, porting is free and normally takes about one working day; for prepaid lines you will need the ICCID number printed on the SIM card.

4. Update your number everywhere

Give your new number to your bank, gestor, doctor and employer so verification codes reach the right phone.

Tips for expats

Avoid airport mark-ups

SIM cards sold at airports can cost more than in town. If you have a travel eSIM, wait and buy at an operator shop or large retailer.

Keep prepaid lines alive

Top up regularly. A prepaid line that is not recharged for several months can be deactivated, and you can lose the number.

Mobile phone and SIM card in Spain – FAQ

Can I buy a Spanish SIM card without an NIE?

Yes, in most cases. Prepaid SIM cards can usually be bought with a valid passport. For a monthly contract, most operators ask for an NIE or TIE and a bank account, and some budget brands do not accept a passport for contracts at all.

Can I transfer my foreign mobile number to a Spanish operator?

No. Number portability only works between operators in the same country. You can keep your home number active with its current operator and use it alongside a Spanish line in a dual-SIM phone.

Can I just keep using my EU SIM after moving to Spain?

For short stays, yes – roam like at home applies until 2032. But the rules are designed for travel, not permanent residence. If you mostly use your home SIM in Spain over a long period, your operator may apply surcharges. A Spanish number is also needed for many local services.

Is a travel eSIM enough when I live in Spain?

A travel eSIM is a good bridge for your first days or weeks, but it does not give you a Spanish phone number. Banks, government services and many local businesses expect a Spanish mobile number for SMS codes and contact, so plan to get a local line as well.

Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal or contractual advice. Prices, plans, ID requirements and roaming rules change, and each operator sets its own conditions. Always check the current terms with the operator before you buy or sign. This article contains an affiliate link marked (ad); we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.