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- Week 1 ·
Padrón: your district centre
Bilbao's district centres (Centros Municipales de Distrito) issue padrón certificates (certificado de empadronamiento), and non-EU residents without permanent residence can register, change address or renew their padrón entry there. You will need the certificate for the Basque health card, so ask for it as soon as you are registered.
- Week 1 ·
Get a Barik card to get around
Barik is the contactless card for Metro Bilbao, Bilbobus, Bizkaibus, the tram and Euskotren. The card costs €3 and needs a minimum top-up of €5; the anonymous card is sold at metro vending machines, Bilbobus and Bizkaibus booths and over 450 shops such as tobacconists. A zone-1 metro trip costs €1.02 with Barik against €2.00 for a single ticket, and monthly tickets need the personalised card from a CTB customer service office.
How Barik works (CTB) · Metro Bilbao fares (CTB) · Bilbobus fares (CTB) · Bizkaibus fares
- Weeks 1–2 ·
NIE, EU certificate or residence card
Foreigner procedures are handled by Spain's National Police, whose e-office lists each one with its form: EX15 to be assigned an NIE, EX18 for the EU registration certificate (EU and EEA citizens staying more than three months) and EX17 for the foreigner residence card. Pick the exact procedure there and download its form before you apply.
- Weeks 2–3 ·
Health card (TIS)
The Tarjeta Individual Sanitaria (TIS) proves your right to public healthcare in Osakidetza and is used at health centres and pharmacies. Apply at the health centre nearest your home with your ID, your padrón certificate and the INSS document recognising your right to public health cover. Then book doctor appointments online with your 8-digit TIS number, first surname and date of birth.
- Weeks 2–3 ·
Open a basic payment account
Banks in Spain must offer a basic payment account in euros, and they cannot make it conditional on buying other products. It covers at least deposits, cash withdrawals, direct debits, card payments and transfers within the EU.
- Weeks 3–4 ·
Housing: Etxebide and Gaztelagun
To apply for public housing, sign up on the Etxebide register of housing applicants: one application per person or household, renewed every 2 years, online with an electronic certificate (B@kQ, DNIe or ONA card) or on paper. If you are 18 to 35 and renting, check Gaztelagun, the Basque rent aid: in Bilbao the initial rent can be up to €900 a month, and you need 6 months of uninterrupted residence in the Basque Country.
Etxebide, how to register · Gaztelagun requirements (Alokabide)
- Month 1 ·
Start Basque (euskera) classes
Bilbao has 12 euskaltegis (adult Basque schools) approved by HABE; all are private and open to anyone over 16, with regular, intensive, summer and self-study courses. HABE also publishes grants for Basque learners and INGURA, an online learning environment.
- Weeks 3–4 ·
Your first plan to meet people
HarreraGUNE, the public welcome service for migrants in Bilbao, gives information and orientation whatever your origin or status. You can also sign up for a course or workshop at your district centre, or go to one of the events below: they are picked because it is easy to go alone and talk to people.
Rules change: always confirm on the official page before you go.
This week in Bilbao
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