For friends who have just arrived in Spain, applying for a visa and bank card are the two most important tasks. As someone who has been through the bank statement process, I want to share my experience to help everyone avoid some detours.
Basic Visa Application Process
First, let’s talk about the visa process. If you’re applying for a student visa, there are quite a lot of materials to prepare. The most important thing is to make an appointment in advance. Appointments at Spanish consulates are very tight now, so I recommend starting preparations at least a month in advance. Academic credential verification, criminal background check, medical examination report, and bank statements all need to be prepared beforehand, especially academic credential verification, which takes a long time.
Prerequisites for Bank Card Application
After arriving in Spain, getting a bank card is the top priority. But here’s a key point: most banks require you to have an NIE number before you can open an account. The NIE number is the foreigner identification number, which you need to make an appointment at the police station to obtain first. I didn’t know this at the time and made several wasted trips to the bank.
Here’s a comparison of account opening requirements for major banks:
| Bank Name | Minimum Deposit | NIE Required | Monthly Fee |
|---|
| Santander | 600 euros | Yes | 0-20 euros |
| BBVA | 300 euros | Yes | 0-15 euros |
| CaixaBank | 600 euros | Yes | 0-18 euros |
| ING | 700 euros | Yes | 0 euros |
Practical Tips and Important Notes
Regarding bank selection, I personally recommend BBVA and CaixaBank for their extensive branch networks and good service. Although ING has no management fees, it has fewer branches, making it less convenient. When applying for a card, make sure to ask about all fees clearly, as some banks have special policies for students regarding bank balance requirements.
Here’s a useful tip: if your Spanish isn’t very good, you can look for English-speaking bank staff or bring a translation app. Don’t be like me and stubbornly try to use broken Spanish - it’s easy to make mistakes.
Finally, I remind everyone that after getting your bank card, remember to activate online banking and mobile banking services. This makes daily transfers and payments very convenient. Plus, many places now support mobile payments, which is much more convenient than cash. I hope this experience helps newcomers!
