Transferring money to Spain for a property: no approval, a declaration only above EUR 3 million.
// Short answer
You do not need approval to send money into Spain to buy property, or to take the sale proceeds out. Foreign investment is liberalised. A non-resident's purchase is declared to the Investment Register only above EUR 3,005,060.52 or where the funds come from a tax haven. Cash of EUR 10,000 or more crossing the border is declared. The exit friction is tax.
Rules and rates as of September 2026. Purchase tax is set by each region and a proposed tax on non-EU buyers is pending, so check the dated items again before you sign. Every figure links to its source.
On this page
Do I need approval to send money to Spain to buy property?
No. Foreign investment into Spain, including buying real estate, is liberalised under Real Decreto 664/1999. No prior approval is needed for an ordinary purchase. The declaration duties are narrow and depend on the amount and on where the money comes from.
The NIE and the notarial deed are what make the purchase happen. See buying property in Spain as a foreigner.
When must a foreign property purchase be declared in Spain?
A non-resident's purchase of Spanish real estate is declared to the Registro de Inversiones only where it exceeds 500,000,000 pesetas, which is EUR 3,005,060.52, or where the funds come from a tax haven. For tax-haven funds a prior declaration is also required.
The euro figure is a conversion of the peseta threshold at the fixed rate of 166.386. Below it, and with funds from an ordinary jurisdiction, no investment declaration is due.
Can I bring cash into Spain to buy property?
Only with a declaration. Anyone entering or leaving Spain with EUR 10,000 or more in cash or bearer instruments must declare it beforehand. Movements of EUR 100,000 or more within Spain must also be declared, and unaccompanied cash of EUR 10,000 or more by post or courier is declared in the 30 days before.
The rule covers both directions: into Spain and out of it.
Can I take the money out of Spain when I sell?
Yes. The liquidation of a foreign investment is also liberalised, so no approval is needed to take sale proceeds out. The practical friction is tax: the buyer withholds 3% of the price until the non-resident seller's return is settled.
If the 3% exceeds the tax due on the gain, the excess is refundable after the seller files Modelo 210. Detail: selling property in Spain as a foreigner.
Sources
Should I borrow in Spain instead of transferring cash?
It is an option. Spain's mortgage law applies by type of loan and borrower, not residency, so non-residents can borrow. The lender must give you the FEIN information sheet at least 10 calendar days before signing, with free advice from a notary of your choice.
Non-resident loans are reported to come at lower loan-to-value ratios than resident ones. Confirm the figure with the lender.
// Buying in Spain?
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See the $499 report, page by pageFrequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit on how much money I can send to Spain for a property?
Do I have to declare cash I bring into Spain?
Can I repatriate the proceeds after selling Spanish property?
Can a non-resident get a mortgage in Spain?
Header photo: frank müller, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. All credits: image credits.