Empadronamiento
Each island municipality registers its own residents, from Santa Cruz and La Laguna to Adeje and Arona in the south.
Decided by Your ayuntamiento.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
Moving to Tenerife
The Canary Islands sit outside the EU VAT area and apply their own indirect tax, IGIC, instead. That single fact changes purchases and several cost calculations compared with mainland Spain.
Last reviewed 1 February 2026
Spanish procedures and official fees change. We review this page against the official sources below and show the amounts each authority publishes, never our own estimate.
Who decides what in Tenerife
- Your municipality
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the island municipalities
- Town hall (registration, local taxes)
- Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de Tenerife or your local town hall
- Immigration (NIE, residency)
- Oficina de Extranjería, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- Region
- Canary Islands, province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Move Spain prepares your forms, checks your documents and coordinates the appointment. The decision itself always stays with the authority above.
Living in Tenerife, the practical part
Remote workers, retirees and families attracted by the climate and the island's own tax regime.
Taxes
IGIC replaces mainland VAT, and the Canary Islands apply their own rates and reliefs. IBI remains municipal.
Schools
The Canarian education department allocates public school places, with international schools concentrated in the south of the island.
Healthcare
Servicio Canario de la Salud assigns your health centre by registered address.
Housing
The south has a large holiday rental market, so a long-term contract that a town hall will accept as proof of address is worth checking before you sign.
Banking
National banks operate across the island and a NIE is required for a resident account.
Utilities
Water is municipal or concessioned per town and electricity is supplied on the island grid.
Getting around
TITSA buses and two tram lines serve the metropolitan area, but a car is normal elsewhere on the island.
Moving with family
Register the household together, then use the padrón for school and healthcare applications.
How Move Spain works
The complexity sits behind the interface. Your part is short, guided and online.
- 1You
Tell us about yourself
A few plain questions about your move, your household and your situation.
- 2Move Spain
We determine your route
Move Spain works out which Spanish procedures apply to you, in which order, and what they cost.
- 3Move Spain
We prepare your documents
Your official forms are filled with the details you already gave us, and every document is checked before it is used.
- 4You
You complete the required actions
You sign, pay official fees and attend the appointments that legally require you in person.
- 5Authority
Government or external processing
The authority or external provider does its part. You can see the status at any moment.
- 6Move Spain
You receive confirmation
Your documents, receipts and certificates end up in one place, with whatever comes next spelled out.
What this actually costs
Four separate answers, because they go to four different places. Your personal total is calculated from your own route, not from an average.
Government fees
Not Move Spain revenue. Paid to the authority or provider that charges it.
- Modelo 790 code 012 fee€12.36
Spanish government, Policía Nacional
Policía Nacional, tasa 790/012 - Padrón certificateDepends on your case
Your Ayuntamiento. Each town hall sets its own certificate fee, and many charge nothing at all.
Third party
Not Move Spain revenue. Paid to the authority or provider that charges it.
- Sworn translation€40 to €90
Sworn translator (traductor jurado). Translators charge per document and per word.
- Notary or certified copy€20 to €80
Notary. Notary tariffs depend on the document.
- Courier or postal costs€15 to €50
Courier service
Amounts set by an authority can change. See your own cost picture before you commit to anything.
What Move Spain cannot do for you
Some steps are legally yours alone. We say so up front, because a surprise halfway through a Spanish procedure costs you far more than an honest sentence here.
You attend in person
- NIE number: Extranjería takes your signature and checks your original ID at the counter.
- Empadronamiento: Most town halls ask you to sign at the counter, a few accept an online submission.
You pay the authority directly
- Modelo 790 code 012 fee, charged by Spanish government, Policía Nacional.
- Padrón certificate, charged by Your Ayuntamiento.
An external provider is involved
- Sworn translation, charged by Sworn translator (traductor jurado).
- Notary or certified copy, charged by Notary.
- Courier or postal costs, charged by Courier service.
Move Spain is a private relocation service, not a government authority. We prepare, check and coordinate. Why we started Move Spain.
Questions people actually ask
The national rules are the same everywhere in Spain. These answers add what is specific to Tenerife.
Why people trust us
Here is what you can hold us to. (Tenerife)
Fixed price, shown before you pay
You see our fee, the government fee and any third party cost before you commit. No hourly billing, no surprises afterwards.
Avoid a rejected appointment
A missing signature or wrong document can mean a second appointment, weeks of delay, or another trip to Spain. A human checks everything before it reaches an official desk.
Updates in your own language
Status updates by email and WhatsApp in English, Dutch, German or Spanish, at every step of your application.
We say what we cannot do
We prepare, check and guide. We are not a law firm and we cannot attend an appointment in your place, and we tell you that up front.
Not sure what applies to you?
Answer a few plain questions and Move Spain determines your route, your documents and your real costs before you pay anything.