Glossary of Spanish Administrative Terms
The Spanish bureaucratic vocabulary Americans meet, translated into plain English.
Updated July 2026
- NIE
- Número de Identificación de Extranjero. Your foreigner ID number in Spain, needed for almost every official and financial action.
- TIE
- Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero. The physical residency card you receive after your visa is approved and you arrive in Spain.
- Empadronamiento (Padrón)
- Registration with your local town hall confirming where you live. Required for healthcare, schooling, and many procedures.
- Gestoría / Gestor
- A licensed administrative professional who handles bureaucratic procedures on your behalf. A colegiada gestora is a registered member of the professional college.
- Traducción jurada
- A sworn translation by a MAEC-certified translator, legally valid for official Spanish procedures.
- Apostille
- An international certification (Hague Convention) that authenticates a public document for use in another country.
- Modelo EX-00 / EX-01
- Official Spanish application forms used for various residency procedures.
- IPREM
- Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples. A reference income figure used to set financial thresholds, such as for the Non-Lucrative Visa.
- SMI
- Salario Mínimo Interprofesional. Spain's minimum wage, used as the reference for the Digital Nomad Visa income threshold.
- Autónomo
- A self-employed worker registered with Spanish social security and tax authorities.
- Beckham Law
- A special tax regime allowing qualifying newcomers to pay a 24% flat rate on Spanish employment income for up to six years.
- Modelo 720
- Spain's annual declaration of foreign assets above certain thresholds.
- Convenio Especial
- A pay-in scheme to access Spain's public healthcare when you are not covered through work.
- Certificado Digital
- A digital certificate that lets you sign and access Spanish government portals online.
- DGT
- Dirección General de Tráfico. Spain's traffic authority, which handles driver's license procedures.
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