For a single UK applicant going through UGE-CE in-country with full legal help, the realistic out-of-pocket cost is €2,500–€4,500 all-in. The minimum income to qualify is €2,763/month gross for a single applicant — but you should plan for ~€3,040/month with a 10% FX buffer.
Income threshold for 2026
The DNV requires 200% of the Spanish SMI (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional). Under Real Decreto 87/2025, the SMI is prorrogado at €1,184/month over 14 payments — €16,576/year. So the threshold for 2026 is:
Configuration
% of SMI
EUR / month gross
EUR / year
Single applicant (titular)
200%
€2,763
€33,156
+ spouse / registered partner
+75%
+€1,036
+€12,432
+ each dependent child
+25%
+€345
+€4,144
Single, with 10% FX buffer (recommended)
≈220%
€3,040
€36,480
Married couple, 1 child
300%
€4,144
€49,728
Why the 10% FX buffer matters. UGE-CE converts your GBP salary into EUR using a recent ECB or Banco de España reference rate, not the rate on your payslip. A small adverse move on the day they assess your file can drop you under the threshold even if you cleared it on submission. Lawyers consistently recommend planning around 220% of SMI (≈€3,040/month single) rather than the strict 200%.
If the SMI is uplifted in 2026 (forecasts run €1,221–€1,425/month), the threshold rises to roughly €2,442–€2,849/month gross single, lifted by 75%/25% for family members. Always recheck the SMI in force on your submission date.
Income evidence has tightened in 2025: UGE-CE typically wants the last 3 months of payslips and 3–6 months of bank statements showing salary credits matching the payslips, plus a salary certificate stating the GBP/EUR exchange rate used. Some 2025 files were also asked for evidence of savings equivalent to two years’ income — not a legal requirement, but worth having available.
All-in cost: single applicant, UGE-CE in-country
Item
Notes
Low (€)
High (€)
Tasa 790-038 (visa permit fee)
Paid online before submission
73
99
Tasa 790-052 (TIE biometrics)
Paid before toma de huellas
21
21
FCDO apostilles (3–4 documents)
£45 postal route, faster via courier
200
500
Sworn translations (MAEC traductor jurado)
€70–€150 per page, 5–7 documents typical
400
800
ACRO Police Certificate
£55 standard / £90 premium
65
110
Companies House extract
Full Certificate of Good Standing
15
15
DGSFP-compliant health insurance, 1 year
€50–€80/m under 40, up to €350+/m at 60+
600
1,500
Spanish lawyer / gestor (DNV only)
Online services from ~€600; full-service ≥ €1,500
600
3,500
Beckham Law application (one-time)
Form 149 within 6 months of SS registration
500
1,500
Padrón / TIE / routine paperwork (gestor)
€100–€350 per task
100
350
Empadronamiento certificate
Free or €1–€3
0
3
Buffer for chasers / re-translations
10–20% contingency
100
300
Total — single applicant, in-country
—
2,674
8,698
Total — single applicant, consulate route from UK
Replace Tasa 790-038 with BLS £74.65 visa fee + £14.85 service charge + NIE Tasa €10
2,200
4,500
Family applications run €4,000–€7,000 with three to four members. Add ~€500–€1,000 per family member on the legal side, plus apostilles, sworn translation and health insurance per person.
Where the money actually goes
FCDO apostille
Standard postal route via gov.uk/get-document-legalised: £45 per document, 15–20 working days.
Same-day London business courier route: £79–£99 next day plus an agent fee.
ACRO certificates cannot use the digital e-Apostille — they must be paper.
Sworn translation
€70–€150 per page from a traductor jurado registered with MAEC.
Standard pack (ACRO, Companies House, employer letter, degree, marriage certificate) typically runs €200–€500 in total.
UK ‘certified translation’ services do not qualify and are routinely rejected.
Health insurance
Late-2025 prices: €50–€80/month under 40, €80–€150/month for 40–59, €150–€350/month for 60+.
Annual prepayment commonly required for the visa application.
DGSFP-registered insurer only (check rrpp.dgsfp.mineco.es). Sanitas, Adeslas, DKV, Mapfre, Asisa, ASSSA, Caser, Cigna España all offer compliant policies.
Bupa Global and Cigna Global international products typically do not qualify.
Spanish legal help
DNV alone, full-service: €1,500–€3,500 single applicant. Cheaper online services from ~€600–€1,200.
Add €500–€1,000 per family member.
Beckham Law application: €500–€1,500 one-time. Ongoing tax filing €500–€1,500/year.
Gestor administrativo (cheaper than an abogado) handles padrón, TIE and routine paperwork at €100–€350 per task.
Costs people forget about
Long-term rental deposit and agency fees. Spanish landlords typically want one month’s deposit + one month’s rent + agency fee (often one month) = three months upfront in cash.
Spanish bank account opening. Non-resident certificate (~€10) plus possible monthly fees of €0–€15 (often waived with a salary direct debit).
UK driving licence exchange. Must exchange for a Spanish one within six months of becoming resident. ~€95 plus a medical certificate (~€50).
Re-applying for ACRO if your A1 takes too long. ~£55 + apostille + translation. Roughly €150 if it happens.
Convenio especial if your A1 expires and you’re not yet on Spanish SS: €60/month under 65, €157/month over 65, per family member.
Get the full cost estimator Editable spreadsheet, three-route comparison, family multipliers