Thinking of moving to the Costa del Sol? This guide covers the decisions that matter first. Visas, paperwork, where to live, work, healthcare, schools, tax and daily life. Use it as a starting point, then take advice for your own case.
By The Marbella Directory Team · Published 17 September 2026 · Updated November 2026 · No paid links
Most moves start with three things. The right visa, an NIE and your padrón. EU citizens need no visa but must register after three months. Most others need a visa. The Golden Visa closed to new applicants in April 2025. Then pick your area. Marbella suits town life, Estepona a calmer pace and Benahavís privacy.
When people say they live in Marbella, they often mean the wider triangle of Marbella, Estepona and Benahavís. Each has its own feel, from marinas to quiet hill villages. This guide merges our two expat guides into one, with the 2026 rules re-checked. For a deeper look at each place, read our guide to the best areas to live.
Pins match the numbers in the list. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Six areas, from town life to hillside privacy. Each card shows the type of home, who it suits, where it is and what makes it stand out. Drive times to Málaga Airport are our estimates without traffic.
Featured area
HomesOld Town flats to Golden Mile villas
Whitewashed Old Town streets, tapas bars and the beach. The Golden Mile adds villas and beach clubs.
Explore the areaGolf and nightlife, a real Spanish town, wide beaches, a slower pace and hillside privacy. Pick the one that fits how you want to live.
La Campana, Aloha and Las Brisas golf in the valley. Nightlife and designer shops at the marina.
Explore the area
Spanish character with a family feel. The beach at Cortijo Blanco has a relaxed pace.
Explore the area
Wide beaches and schools nearby. Quieter than the centre, but still close to it.
Explore the area
A restored Old Town full of flowers, and a port with places to eat. More relaxed than Marbella.
Explore the area
HomesGolf homes to gated hillside estates
Restaurants in the village and some of the most exclusive gated estates on the coast.
Explore the areaPrices change fast here. Ask a local agent for current rents and prices.
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The Marbella Directory Team
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. You need no visa. If you stay more than three months, register as a resident. You get an EU registration certificate, and the fee is €12.
UK citizens. Since Brexit, you need a visa to live here. If you lived in Spain before 2021, you should hold a Withdrawal Agreement TIE instead.
Non-lucrative visa. For retirees and people living on savings or a pension. You cannot work in Spain. You must show 400% of IPREM, which is €2,400 a month in 2026, plus €600 a month for each family member. You also need private health insurance.
Digital nomad visa. For non-EU remote workers whose employer or clients are outside Spain. You must show 200% of the minimum wage, which is €2,442 a month in 2026. Add €915.75 for the first family member and €305.25 for each one after that. Other rules apply to your work history and contract.
Golden Visa. The investor route, including buying property, closed to new applications on 3 April 2025. Permits granted before then stay valid.
Work and self-employed visas. These exist, but the rules depend on your job and your case. Many movers hire an immigration lawyer. Browse law firms in the directory.
NIE. Your foreigner identity number. You need it to buy property, open some bank accounts, work and pay tax. You apply with form EX-15, at a police station in Spain or at a Spanish consulate. The fee is €9.84, paid with form 790 code 012.
TIE. Non-EU residents get a foreigner identity card once their residence is approved. The first card costs €16.08.
Padrón. This is the town hall register of where you live. Sign up at the town hall in Marbella, Estepona or Benahavís. Bring your passport, your NIE if you have it, and proof of address such as a rental contract. You need the padrón for public healthcare, state schools and many residence steps.
Tip. Spanish paperwork can be slow and needs appointments. A gestoría can book and file for you.
Rent first. It is the best way to test an area before you buy. Landlords usually ask for ID and proof of income. Expect a deposit, and ask which parts are refundable.
Buying. Budget for tax and fees on top of the price. New homes carry VAT. Resale homes carry transfer tax. Read our complete guide to buying property in Marbella and see what €500k to €3M buys you.
Running costs. Allow for community fees on shared pools, gardens and security, plus IBI, the yearly property tax set by each town hall.
Local help. Find estate agents, mortgage brokers and relocation services in the directory.
As an employee. Your employer handles most of the paperwork. You need an NIE, a social security number and a Spanish bank account.
As a freelancer (autónomo). Register with the tax office and the Seguridad Social. Most new sign ups pay a flat fee of €80 a month for the first 12 months. It can run for 12 more months if your net income is below the minimum wage. After that, you pay on your real income. You also file quarterly VAT and income returns, so most freelancers use a gestor.
A company. For bigger plans, set up an SL, the Spanish limited company. It needs a notary, tax registration and local licences.
Looking for a job? See our jobs board for Marbella and Málaga. For accountants, browse financial services.
Spain has public and private healthcare. Your access to the public system depends on your residence and social security position. Some visas need private health insurance instead.
Public. Once registered, you use your local health centre (centro de salud). The main public hospital for the area is Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella.
Private. Shorter waits and doctors who speak several languages. Private hospitals include HC Marbella, Quirónsalud Marbella and Hospiten Estepona.
In an emergency, call 112. Browse hospitals and clinics in the directory.
State schools. Free and taught in Spanish. You need the padrón to apply.
Concertado schools. Partly state funded, with lower fees than private schools. Many are bilingual or Catholic.
International schools. British, American, German, French and bilingual options. Well known names include Aloha College in Nueva Andalucía, Swans International School in Marbella, Laude San Pedro International College, Atalaya International School and Mayfair School in Estepona.
Visit before you choose, then rent near the school. Browse schools and education in the directory.
Tax residence. You are usually tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year, or if your main business or economic interests are here. Residents declare their worldwide income.
Wealth tax. Andalusia reduces regional wealth tax for most residents. Larger fortunes, above €3 million net, can still pay under the state solidarity tax rules. Take advice.
Property tax. IBI is paid each year to the town hall.
Banking. Non-residents and residents can both open an account. Big banks include Santander, Sabadell, CaixaBank and Bankinter. Ask each bank which documents it needs.
Use a qualified tax adviser or gestoría to set up. Browse financial services in the directory.
EU licences. These stay valid in Spain.
UK licences. You can drive on a UK licence for six months after you become resident. Then you must swap it for a Spanish one. Spain and the UK have an exchange deal, so there is no driving test.
Other licences. Check the DGT website for your country.
ITV. This is the vehicle safety test. A private car needs its first test at four years old, then every two years. From ten years old, it is every year.
Without a car. Coastal buses link Marbella, San Pedro and Estepona, and taxis and ride apps work too. Most people still find a car useful. See the best areas to live without a car.
Language. You can get by in English in many shops and services. Living here is different from visiting. Spanish helps with tradespeople, deliveries, utilities and public services. You do not need to arrive fluent, but learning some Spanish makes settling in much easier.
Pets. The coast is pet friendly, with terraces, walks and dog parks. Check the current Spanish rules, as some large dogs need extra measures such as insurance or a muzzle. In summer, walk dogs early and late to avoid the heat.
Utilities. Electricity providers include Endesa, Iberdrola and Naturgy. Water and rubbish are run by each town hall. Fibre internet is widely available.
Local life. Each town has a feria. Marbella in June, Estepona in July and San Pedro in October. Semana Santa brings Easter processions.
When to move. Spring and autumn are good times to view homes and handle paperwork. Summer is busy, but works for families who move in the school holidays. Read more in what it is like to live in Marbella.
| Area | Feel | Best for | To Málaga Airport | Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marbella centre | Historic town and beach | Car-free life, couples | About 50 min | Jump to section → |
| Nueva Andalucía and Banús | Golf valley and marina | Golfers, nightlife | About 60 min | Jump to section → |
| San Pedro de Alcántara | Spanish town, family feel | Families | About 60 min | Jump to section → |
| East Marbella | Beaches and green space | Families, beach lovers | About 50 min | Jump to section → |
| Estepona | Authentic and relaxed | A slower pace | About 75 min | Jump to section → |
| Benahavís | Hills, golf and privacy | Privacy, golf | About 70 min | Jump to section → |
Drive times are our estimates without traffic, from each town centre to Málaga Airport. Allow longer at peak times and in summer.
Pick: Marbella centre. The Old Town, shops and beach are close together.
Pick: Nueva Andalucía or La Quinta in Benahavís.
Pick: San Pedro or East Marbella, close to beaches and schools.
Yes, unless you lived in Spain before 2021 and hold a Withdrawal Agreement TIE. New arrivals need a residence visa, such as the non-lucrative visa or the digital nomad visa. A visit of up to 90 days in any 180 needs no visa.
No. The investor route, including the property option, closed to new applications on 3 April 2025. Permits granted before then stay valid. Buying a home no longer gives you residence on its own.
The rule is 400% of IPREM. In 2026 that is €2,400 a month for the main applicant, plus €600 a month for each family member. You also need private health insurance, and you cannot work in Spain.
Many families choose San Pedro de Alcántara or East Marbella, near beaches and international schools. Nueva Andalucía is home to Aloha College. Visit the schools first, then rent in the same area for a year before you buy.
Usually when you spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year, or when your main business or economic interests are here. Tax residents declare their worldwide income. Speak to a tax adviser before you move.
Sources, checked on 31 October 2026: Real Decreto 126/2026 (minimum wage); SEPE (IPREM); Ley Orgánica 1/2025 (end of the investor visa); Ministry of Inclusion (non-lucrative residence); Ministry of Inclusion (digital nomad FAQ); Policía Nacional (fees); Ley 20/2007, article 38 ter (new autónomo rate); Spain and UK licence exchange agreement (BOE); Punto de Acceso General (ITV); Ley 5/2021 (Andalusia tax rules); Ley 38/2022 (solidarity wealth tax); Ley 35/2006, article 9 (tax residence). Drive times: our estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, without traffic.
Coming soon: our guide to schools in Marbella and Estepona. Until then, browse schools and education in the directory.
Photo credits.
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