Opening a bank account for non-residents can be a daunting task, but with BBVA Spain it's can be possible. BBVA Spain offers a range of services, including online banking, to make it easier for you to manage your finances from anywhere in the world. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps to open a bank account in BBVA Spain as a non-resident.
BBVA Bank Account for non-residents - Required Documentation
To open a bank account in BBVA Spain as a non-resident, you will need to provide the following documentation:
- A valid passport or national identification card
- Proof of address: BBVA Spain requires proof of your address, such as a utility bill or bank statement from your country of residence.
- Evidence of your income: This can be in the form of a salary statement or proof of business ownership.
- Proof of your reason for opening the account: You will need to provide evidence of why you want to open an account, such as a letter from your employer or a copy of your rental agreement.
You may also be required to make an initial deposit to open the account, and you may be charged fees for maintaining the account. It is advisable to contact BBVA Spain directly to inquire about their specific requirements and fees for non-resident bank accounts.
The list of requirements also includes:
- Being at least 18 years old
- Having a mobile phone with an Internet connection
- Not being on the list of defaulters
On the BBVA website you will find information that upon providing all the above information, an account will be opened for you. But in reality, everything depends on the specific municipality and office. The decision on whether to open an account for you or not will be made by a specific specialist. So, unfortunately, no one will give you exact guarantees whether you will be able to open an account with BBVA as a non-resident. The only way to check is to try.
Let's look at each requirement in more detail.
Requirement 1: Identification document (NIE, TIE or Passport)
To open a bank account with BBVA, you can use the following identification documents:
- NIE This document is suitable for EU citizens and residents of Spain. Therefore, if you are an EU citizen and want to open an account with BBVA as a non-resident, use this document.
- TIE Recommended for non-EU citizens who live in Spain as residents (for example, with a residence permit or a student visa). In the case of non-residents, this option is not suitable.
- Passport of the country of origin This option is suitable for EU and non-EU citizens (both residents and non-residents) who want to open a bank account in Spain.
You can open an account in BBVA either at the bank's office or online. But if you are not a resident of Spain, you will have to visit the bank's office in person.
Requirement 2: Proof of address
The requirements listed on the website do not include a point about registration. But in reality, BBVA bank often requests confirmation of your registration for both residents and non-residents. Be prepared to provide a utility bill or a document confirming your registration at your place of residence.
Requirement 3: Evidence of Income
This point is also not in the official list of requirements on the website, but rest assured, you will definitely be asked about the source of income. More trust will be caused by having a job or business in Spain, for example, if you are a sole proprietor in Spain (in Spain this is called autonomo). In this case, you will be asked to provide form 036 or documents on tax payment. The bank will be more confident if you have been paying taxes in Spain as an entrepreneur or employee for more than six months.
Requirement 4: Proof of your reason for opening the account
What if you cannot provide income documents, for example, you are just planning to start working in Spain in order to receive income on a BBVA card. In this case, to open a non-resident account in BBVA, you need to provide a letter from your employer that he plans to hire you or an invitation from the educational institution where you plan to study.
Tips to consider when opening an account in BBVA
First of all, remember that the decision is made by a specific specialist, not the "system". It is important to take into account the mentality of the Spanish, because they may refuse you out of personal hostility. More precisely, the employee may even be friendly, accept your documents, but ask for some additional document or promise you to review the documents later with the words "I will pass the documents to the management, the decision does not depend on me."
Therefore, follow these rules: try not to arrive at lunchtime or at the end of the working day (which is often the same thing). A Spanish bank employee is usually already thinking about how to finish the working day, and not about how to be late with your documents. For the same reason, try to open an account before the holidays, namely - do not come at the end of July, because August is the holiday season. Be as patient and polite as possible, even if it seems to you that the procedure is too slow. The Spanish do not recognize fuss, they work to live, and do not live to work.
Hope this information will help you open an account in BBVA as a non-resident.
Is it possible to open a bank account in BBVA Spain without being a resident?
Yes, it is possible
Is it possible to open an account in BBVA online for a non-resident?
No, it is impossible. You need to come to the office.
See also: Digital Nomad Spain
BBVA Online Banking Services
If you are a customer of BBVA in Spain, you can take advantage of the bank's online banking services even if you are an expat. With BBVA online banking, you can manage your accounts, pay bills, transfer money, and more from your computer or mobile device. Here are some of the features available through BBVA Compass online banking:
- Viewing account balances and transaction history: You can check your account balances and transaction history anytime, anywhere.
- Transferring money between accounts: You can easily transfer money between your BBVA accounts or to other banks in Spain.
- Paying bills online: You can pay your bills online without the need to write checks or visit the bank.
- Setting up account alerts: You can set up account alerts to receive notifications about your account activity.
- Depositing checks using mobile deposit: You can deposit checks using your mobile device without the need to visit a branch.
- Managing your budget: You can manage your budget using tools like spending reports and categorization.
Opening a bank account in BBVA Spain as a non-resident is a straightforward process, and with BBVA online banking, you can easily manage your finances from anywhere