Can a foreigner buy property in Spain?

Foreigners may buy on much the same terms as citizens

Spain lets foreigners buy property freely. A buyer needs a foreigner's tax number (NIE), and non-EU buyers need extra permission for land in zones of national-defence interest.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the structure of the rule, not prices, taxes or quotas. Confirm the current position with the official source listed below, and with a lawyer in the country, before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.

Land

Foreigners may own land. In zones of interest for national defence, which include some coastal and border areas, buyers from outside the EU need military authorisation.

Houses and flats

Houses and apartments can be bought without nationality-based approval.

Buying through a company

A foreign buyer may buy through a Spanish company.

Limits and closed zones

The national-defence zone rule applies to non-EU buyers only, and it covers limited areas of the country.

What to watch for

The NIE is needed before almost any purchase, so apply early. Check the land registry for debts or charges on the property before you pay.

Understand the legal system first

Spain belongs to the Civil law family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Spain legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
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Official sources

TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.