Australia is among the non-European nationalities that regularly buy along the Spanish coast: a second home, retirement, an investment before taking the final step of moving. The purchase process is the same as for any foreign buyer; what changes is which documents come from Australia and which of them need translating. Worth saying from the first line: not every purchase requires sworn translations. It depends on the notary and on whether you bring Australian documents into the file.
The process, step by step
Buying in Spain follows a predictable sequence:
- NIE (Foreigner Identification Number): mandatory to buy or sell property. Without it, the deed can't be signed.
- A Spanish bank account: not a legal requirement, but in practice needed for direct debits, taxes and utilities, and to issue the banker's draft for the purchase.
- Reservation contract (arras): secures the property (usually 10% of the price) until the final signing.
- Public deed before a notary: the notary certifies the sale and reads out the full deed.
- Land Registry: subsequent registration consolidates your ownership against third parties.
The NIE: the first step
The NIE can be requested in two ways: at the Foreigners' Office in Spain, or at the Spanish Consulate in Australia (Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne). A duly authorised representative can also request it, avoiding the trip if you grant a power of attorney. Full detail on the procedure in our NIE guide, and the overall purchase process in buying property in Spain as a foreigner.
Where sworn translations come in
The notary's office works in Spanish. Any Australian document brought into the file needs translating into Spanish by a translator accredited by the MAEC. These are the pieces that come up most often for an Australian buyer.
1. Power of attorney granted in Australia
If you can't be present on signing day, you grant a specific power of attorney for the purchase before an Australian notary public. That document reaches the Spanish notary apostilled and translated. The apostille always comes from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) — at its passport offices within Australia, or at the relevant Australian embassy or consulate if you already live abroad. The order matters: apostille first, translation second, because the apostille itself is part of what gets translated.
2. Proof of funds and banking documentation
Under Law 10/2010 on the prevention of money laundering, the notary is required to gather information on the means of payment and the lawful origin of the funds. When that money comes from Australia, banking documentation (statements, bank certificates on the source of funds, the sale of an Australian property, an inheritance) may need to be submitted translated into Spanish. Not always: some Spanish banks accept English-language documentation for their internal scoring, but for the deed the notary's office usually requires the sworn version.
3. Marital status, if applicable
If you're buying while married, the notary's office may need to establish your marital status and, where relevant, how the couple's assets are divided. Worth an honest note here: Australian law doesn't set a default marital property regime the way Spanish law does — the Family Law Act resolves the division of assets case by case, usually only if the marriage breaks down. Exactly which document your notary will ask for to reflect this depends on the case; your notary or lawyer should tell you what to provide.
What we're not
Worth stating clearly: we're not an estate agency, nor legal or tax advisers. We won't tell you which area to buy in, how to structure the deal, or what taxes you'll owe. That's what your lawyer, your gestor and your notary are for. Our field is a single one: making sure the Australian documents going into the notary's file are translated with validity before the Spanish administration.
In summary
- The NIE is non-negotiable; a bank account, in practice, is too.
- Not every purchase needs a sworn translation: it depends on which Australian documents you bring and what your notary requires.
- The two usual suspects are the power of attorney and proof of funds.
- DFAT is the only apostilling authority, whichever state the document was issued in.
→ Request my sworn translation
At Textualia we translate the Australian documents for your purchase — powers of attorney, bank statements and certificates — into Spanish, signed by a translator accredited by the MAEC. Before we start, we review the file: if a document arrives without an apostille, we tell you before translating anything.