Getting a Spanish SIM Card and Mobile Plan as an Expat

Pay-As-You-Go (Prepago) vs Contract

For new arrivals, a prepaid SIM (prepago) is the fastest option — you can buy one in any phone shop, El Corte Inglés, supermarket, or petrol station with just your passport. No NIE required. Providers like Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and Lebara all offer prepaid options.

Once you have your NIE and are settled, switching to a monthly contract (contrato) usually offers better value — more data, lower monthly cost, and often including home internet or combined family packages.

Best Value Providers

• Digi: consistently the cheapest operator in Spain; unlimited calls and 30GB+ data from around €8–15/month. No English customer service but excellent value.
• Lebara: popular with expat and immigrant communities; affordable with good international calling options
• Movistar: Spain's largest network, best coverage in rural areas; more expensive but reliable
• Vodafone / Orange: mid-range pricing, good coverage, some English support
• Yoigo / MásMóvil: competitive pricing, good for unlimited data plans

Number Portability

If you get a new Spanish SIM and later want to switch provider while keeping your number, Spain has mobile number portability (portabilidad). You can keep your Spanish number when changing providers. The process is straightforward — your new provider handles the paperwork.

Keeping Your Home Country Number

Many expats keep their home country SIM initially (in a second device or second SIM slot), especially while managing banking apps or contacts that need the home number. UK SIMs may incur data roaming charges after extended use in Spain. Irish (EU) SIMs can be used in Spain without roaming charges.

Required Documents for a Contract

For a postpaid contract, you'll need your NIE, passport, and Spanish bank account (for direct debit). Some providers accept foreign bank accounts initially but this can complicate billing. A Spanish IBAN makes the setup cleaner.