Documents, creditworthiness, proof of income — the full checklist for an international mortgage in Spain and Portugal. Plus: the typical process from first enquiry to the notary appointment.
As a non-resident you can obtain a mortgage in Spain or Portugal when three things come together: a foreign tax number (the NIE in Spain, the NIF in Portugal), complete proof of income for the last two to three months plus tax assessments, and enough equity. Spanish banks typically lend non-residents up to 70 % of the lower of purchase price and tasación (the bank's own valuation); you cover the rest and all purchase costs yourself. The decisive figure is the debt ratio: your total monthly commitment — the Spanish instalment plus any existing German obligations — should not exceed roughly 30 to 35 % of your net income. Employees prove this with payslips and their contract, the self-employed with two annual accounts. If one piece is missing, it is rarely „the bank“ that says no — it is usually the wrong bank. That is exactly where the choice among several lenders decides the outcome.
These are the documents required for a mortgage application as a non-resident — Spanish and Portuguese banks usually require the following, at most banks now with a certified translation:
The self-employed face higher hurdles in the credit assessment. Banks require:
Rule of thumb: the self-employed typically pay 0.2–0.5 % higher interest and must expect a lower LTV (60 % instead of 70 %) — even with very good creditworthiness.
So that I can quickly compare your situation with the banks, please fill in our bilingual self-disclosure form (DE/EN, printable). It summarises personal data, tax status (incl. NIE/NIF), income, expenses and available equity — the basis of every bank enquiry.
Download the self-disclosure form (PDF)
Free and without obligation · no tax or legal advice · data processed only to prepare your enquiry (see privacy).
For non-residents, Spanish and Portuguese banks usually apply the 35 % rule: together with other obligations (consumer loans, rent commitments in your home country), the monthly mortgage payment may not exceed 35 % of available net income.
Simplified calculation. Actual assessment is made individually by the bank.
Model calculations without guarantee. Not binding offers. Terms vary depending on credit profile, property and bank. No tax or legal advice.
See how these five factors combine in your case in the mortgage readiness check — about a minute, including the lever that helps most.
Spanish and Portuguese banks routinely make buildings insurance a condition of the mortgage — the property is their security, and it has to be insured before completion. Life insurance tied to the loan amount is common as well, though less universally required than buildings cover. Both are typically among the bundled products that unlock the discounted (bonificado) interest rate — see our current mortgage interest rates page for what that discount is worth and what the bundled products cost in practice.
I compare banks in Spain, Portugal and Germany for your specific situation and find the right solution — without upfront costs.
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