During the past couple of months, I’ve been offering first-hand advice about mobile services in Spain for those of you who, like me, have decided to move to sunnier climes or are thinking about it. Many of you will be wondering how to get a Spanish telephone number while maintaining your UK number (or the number you use in your home country if you aren’t a Brit). It’s easier than you probably think, so let me give you a few helpful hints.
Why you need a Spanish phone number as an expat
As a British expat who has been through the wringer, I can tell you that it is pretty much impossible to navigate daily life in Spain without a Spanish phone number. Official bureaucracy, appointments with the public administration, banking and medical appointments all rely heavily on you having a Spanish number. Let me explain in more detail.
Bureaucracy and appointments with the public administration: Nearly every official administrative process in Spain — booking an appointment to apply for your NIE/TIE, registering as resident at your local town hall (“empadronamiento/padrón”), opening a bank account, registering in the healthcare system and receiving confirmation of medical appointments — relies on you having a Spanish phone number as a contact point. In fact, some online appointment booking systems (known as the “Cita Previa” system) reject foreign numbers.
Verification codes: Spanish banks, government portals, and many local public services send verification codes via SMS to confirm your identity. A foreign number often doesn’t work reliably in these cases.
Everyday life: Restaurant reservations, deliveries (Amazon, courier services, Glovo, Just Eat), doctor’s appointments, and local businesses often call or text to confirm. Having a Spanish number makes these interactions much simpler and avoids WhatsApp-only contact.
Cost: Calling and texting other Spanish numbers with a local SIM is typically free or included in mobile phone plans, whereas using a foreign number can mean expensive roaming charges for calls and texts within Spain.
Integration and trust: On a practical level, having a Spanish number is a signal to businesses, landlords, or service providers that you’re a genuine local resident rather than a short-term visitor, which can promote better/smoother interactions and facilitate finding somewhere to live, job applications and contracting utilities.
In short, expats who intend to settle down in Spain for the long term need a Spanish number to navigate bureaucracy, banking, and daily life.
What does a Spanish phone number look like? (format and prefixes)
Spanish phone numbers have 9 digits and no area code. Mobile numbers start with 6 or 7, landlines with 8 or 9, and there is no leading zero you need to drop when dialling from abroad: you simply add Spain’s country code (+34) in front of the number.
Mobile numbers: 9 digits in total, always starting with 6 or 7
Format: 6XX XXX XXX or 7XX XXX XXX
Example: 600 000 000
Landline numbers: Also 9 digits, starting with 8 or 9
The second digit often indicates the region (91 → Madrid; 93 → Barcelona; 94 → Bilbao; 95 → Sevilla/Málaga; 96 → València/Alicante)
Examples: 910 000 000(Madrid); 960 000 000 (Valencia)
International format: Spain’s country code is +34
No area code or leading zero needed; you just add +34 before the 9-digit number
Example: +34 600 000 000 (mobile) or +34 910 000 000 (landline)
How to get a Spanish phone number in 3 steps
Today, getting a Spanish phone number is plain sailing.
- As an expat all you need to get a Spanish phone number is a form of official photo ID; namely, your passport or your national ID card. Personally, I would urge you to have your passport on you just in case, as some mobile companies are reluctant about accepting ID cards.
- Order your new Spanish SIM online and have it sent to the address you stipulate. Alternatively, you can buy it in person from one of our sellers or order it by telephone (call 1661 if you’re in Spain or +34 711 000 711 if you’re outside Spain). Or, if you prefer to purchase an eSIM, you can buy it online and access it immediately.
- Activate your SIM as soon as it arrives and start using your new Spanish phone number.
How to keep your UK number in Spain: get a dual SIM or eSIM
You can’t port a UK number to Spain: your Spanish number will be separate and additional to the one you use back home. To be able to use both, you can run the two side by side on the same phone, either with a dual SIM handset or by using a Spanish eSIM alongside your physical UK SIM.
My clear advice would be to keep your UK SIM card in your phone in PAYG mode with the minimum top up amount while you are away from the UK/home country and to combine it with an eSIM that you use as your main phone line while you are in Spain.
Calling and texting the UK from your Spanish number
Standard calling/texting (through your carrier)
Dial the UK’s country code before the number: +44 (or 00 44 if your phone doesn’t support the “+” shortcut), followed by the UK number without its leading 0.
Example: A UK number 07911 123456 becomes +44 7911 123456 when you call it from Spain.
For texts, the same format applies; save the full +44 number as a contact and then text.
Warning: Check if the UK is included in your plan’s international minutes bundle; if not, you’ll be charged per minute/text at your carrier’s standard international rates. Lobster’s international plans (Small, Medium, Large) include unlimited calls and SMS to UK mobiles and landlines.
Calling free via internet apps (most common, no per-minute cost)
Install WhatsApp, FaceTime (for calls between iPhones) or Telegram.
Add the UK contact using the full international number (+44…)
Call or text using Wi-Fi or your mobile data: it’s free of cost regardless of the destination
This is the go-to method of calling for most expats, especially Brits, since the vast majority of people in the UK use WhatsApp.
How to get your Spanish SIM card from Lobster.es
In case you didn’t already know, Lobster is an English-language mobile provider aimed specifically at expats in Spain and functioning exclusively in English, with native English-speaking customer support. This makes for a smoother experience than dealing with a mainstream Spanish carrier’s app or website if your Spanish isn’t good.
All you need to sign up for a SIM is your passport and a credit or debit card. The whole sign-up process is in English and you won’t be tied in for a minimum period (no “permanencia”).
Here’s a step-by-step guide to buying a Lobster SIM with a Spanish telephone number:
- Choose your plan: Lobster offers several pay-as-you-go plans (e.g. their Large plan with 750GB, Medium with 500GB), all running for 28 days at a time, with no annual contracts.
- Sign up for your SIM: sign up on their website, call them for free on 1661 if you are in Spain or +34 711 000 711 if you are abroad, or visit one of their selected retail stores.
- Register and verify your identity: create an account with an email address and password, then confirm your identity with a passport or another form of official ID. The whole process is in English.
- Provide payment details: enter your credit or debit card payment details (through a secure process). It doesn’t need to be a Spanish card, though American Express and Diners Club cards aren’t accepted.
- Wait for delivery: Your SIM will be delivered by post within a few days, for free. Correos (the Spanish postal service) will send you a tracking number so that you can follow its progress. Make sure the delivery address you’ve given is complete (floor and door number/“piso y puerta” for apartments).
- Activate your SIM: Once it arrives, you can activate your new Spanish SIM immediately, and if you’re porting over an existing Spanish number, Lobster will transfer it over within 24 to 48 hours, during the night, though weekends/holidays may add a slight delay.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Spanish phone number without a NIE?
Yes. With Lobster all you need is your passport or EU national ID card. You can order online before you’ve even arrived in Spain.
Can I use my UK bank card to pay?
Yes. You don’t need a Spanish bank account to sign up or top up.
How long does it take to get a Spanish number?
A physical SIM is delivered free to your Spanish address, usually within a few working days.
Do I need a contract?
No. Lobster’s mobile phone plans have no minimum term. You can change plans or cancel whenever you like.
Can I keep my UK number and use a Spanish one on the same phone?
Yes, if your phone supports dual SIM or eSIM. Most phones from the last five years do.
Will my Spanish number work when I visit the UK, Germany or other countries?
Yes. Lobster includes EU/UK roaming, so your Spanish number keeps working when you go home.
Will I lose my Spanish number if I go back to the UK for a long period?
Lobster’s plans allow you to park your number and to keep your Spanish number active (even if you’re not using it) for as long as 12 months.
