Spanish legal & admin glossary for migrants

NIE

Número de Identidad de Extranjero — your personal foreigner ID number, required for almost any legal, work, banking or tax procedure in Spain.

TIE

Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero — the physical card that proves your legal residence. Non-EU residents carry it; it shows your NIE, photo and permit type.

Arraigo

A route to a residence permit for people already living in Spain through work, social, family or training roots — a way to regularise even after an irregular period.

Homologación

Official recognition of a foreign university degree so it has the same legal effect as the Spanish one — distinct from the lighter “equivalencia”.

Convalidación (del permiso de conducir)

Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Spanish one without retaking the test, where a bilateral agreement with your country exists.

Empadronamiento / Padrón

Registering your address at the town hall (ayuntamiento). The padrón certificate is the base for NIE, healthcare, schooling and arraigo — possible even without a formal lease.

Certificado digital

A digital certificate installed on your browser or phone that identifies you online, so you can do almost any administración trámite without queues or appointments.

Apostilla de La Haya

An international stamp that authenticates a foreign public document (degree, birth certificate) so Spain accepts it — usually needed before homologación or nacionalidad.

Traducción jurada

A sworn translation by a translator accredited by the Spanish Foreign Ministry. Official documents in another language usually must be presented with one.

Reclamación previa

A formal complaint you must file with the administración before certain decisions can go to court — it is the obligatory first step that opens the deadline clock.

Recurso (de alzada / de reposición)

An administrative appeal against a resolución you disagree with, filed within a deadline before (or instead of) going to court.

Silencio administrativo

When the administración does not answer within the legal deadline. Depending on the procedure your request is then deemed granted (positivo) or denied (negativo).

Resolución

The formal written decision that ends an administrative procedure (granting or denying). It states the outcome, the deadline and how to appeal.

Subsanación

A request to fix or complete a file that is missing documents. You usually have 10 business days to respond, or the procedure is dropped.

Burofax

A certified postal message with legal proof of its content and delivery date — the standard way to send a claim or notice that “counts” before a court.

Cita previa

The compulsory pre-booked appointment for most administración offices (extranjería, Seguridad Social, DGT). “No hay cita” — no slots available — is a common blocker.

Tasa (modelo 790)

An administrative fee you pay before a procedure (e.g. tasa 790-012 for NIE/TIE). You submit the stamped form as proof of payment.

Justicia gratuita

Free state-funded legal aid (a lawyer and procurador) for people below an income threshold — key in evictions and many disputes.

Fianza

The rental deposit (usually one month) the landlord must return at the end if there is no damage or unpaid debt; it must be lodged with the regional housing body.

Enervación

A tenant’s right to stop an eviction for non-payment by paying everything owed — generally available only once.

Desahucio

The legal eviction procedure (for non-payment or end of contract). It has strict deadlines and a fixed court hearing date — react fast and get justicia gratuita if needed.

IPC / IRAV

Reference indexes that cap how much rent can rise each year. The IRAV is the newer rental-specific cap that replaces the IPC for many contracts.

Autónomo

Self-employed / freelance status. You register with Hacienda and Seguridad Social and pay a monthly social-security cuota.

Cuota de autónomos

The monthly social-security contribution the self-employed pay, now based on real net income, with a reduced “tarifa plana” for new autónomos.

SMI

Salario Mínimo Interprofesional — the legal minimum wage, used as a reference for many permits, benefits and income thresholds.

IRPF

Impuesto sobre la Renta de las Personas Físicas — personal income tax. The annual “declaración de la renta” settles what you owe or get refunded.

Nómina

Your payslip. It must itemise gross pay, deductions (IRPF + Seguridad Social) and net pay — a key proof of income for permits and rentals.

Tarjeta sanitaria (TSI)

Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual — the public-health card that links you to a médico de cabecera. Access starts from the padrón, even while you are still regularising.

Convenio especial

A paid agreement with the regional health service that lets people without other coverage buy into public healthcare for a monthly fee.