Anyone legally living in the EU has the right to a basic bank account. This comes from the EU Payment Accounts Directive. The bank must open the account or refuse it within 10 business days of a complete application. In practice, each country first wants a local number or registration:
- Germany: address registration (Anmeldung)
- Netherlands: a citizen service number (BSN)
- Spain: a foreigner’s identity number (NIE)
- Portugal: a tax number (NIF)
- Ireland: proof of address, and often a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN)
Plan to keep a UAE account open for your first weeks. Keep proof of where your money came from: salary, gratuity, a property sale or savings.
Checked on 4 November 2026 against Directive 2014/92/EU (Article 16), the Portuguese D7 checklist used in the UAE, and the German Consulate General Dubai guidance on blocked accounts and registration.
What you need to open a bank account, by country
| Country | Get this first | Can you open the account before you arrive? |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Tax number (NIF), usually through a fiscal representative | Yes, and you usually must. The D7 visa checklist in the UAE asks for Portuguese bank documents. |
| Spain | Foreigner’s identity number (NIE) | Often possible as a non-resident; you convert it to a resident account later |
| Germany | Address registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung); tax ID follows | Usually only after registration. Students open a blocked account before the visa. |
| Netherlands | Citizen service number (BSN) from municipal registration | Usually after registration. Some banks start the process with your passport. |
| Ireland | Proof of Irish address; Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) often requested | Usually after arrival |
| France | Passport and proof of address | Usually after arrival. If refused, you have a legal right to a basic account. |
Your legal right to a basic bank account
- Who has the right: anyone legally resident in the EU, including people with no fixed address yet.
- Deadline: the bank must open the account or refuse it within 10 business days of a complete application.
- Refusals: a bank must refuse if opening the account would breach anti-money-laundering rules. That is why clear source-of-funds documents matter.
- Features: a basic account lets you receive salary, pay rent and use a debit card. It does not include credit.
How to set up your banking when moving from the UAE: step by step
- Before you leave the UAE: collect 12 months of stamped bank statements, a bank reference letter, salary certificates and your gratuity letter.
- Get the local number early, if the country allows it from abroad: a NIF for Portugal or a NIE for Spain.
- Arrive with a bridge: a multi-currency card or a digital bank account, so you can pay deposits and daily costs in your first weeks.
- Register your address where required (Germany, the Netherlands, Spain). Then open a local bank account with your passport, visa or residence card, and registration.
- Give your employer the new IBAN before your first payday.
- Move your savings in planned amounts, with documents ready to explain where the money came from.
Digital banks: useful, with limits
App-based banks and multi-currency accounts can be opened quickly with your passport, and give you a European IBAN. But many require you to already live in an EEA country, and some landlords, employers or authorities prefer an account with a local bank. Use a digital account as a bridge, and open a local account once you have registered.
Moving money from the UAE without problems
- Keep proof of where the money came from. Salary certificates, end-of-service letters, property sale contracts and investment statements.
- Explain large deposits before the bank asks. Sudden large transfers from a country without income tax often trigger compliance questions.
- Avoid cash. Carrying €10,000 or more in cash into or out of the EU must be declared at customs.
- Think about tax before moving large sums. Once you are tax resident in Europe, interest and investment income are usually taxed there.
German blocked account for students
Students going to Germany open a blocked account (Sperrkonto) from the UAE before the visa appointment and deposit €11,904 for the year. After arrival, €992 is released each month. See study in Europe from the UAE.
Questions people ask
Can I open a European bank account from Dubai before moving?
Yes in Portugal (with a NIF) and often in Spain (with a NIE). In Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland, you usually open one after arriving and registering your address.
Can a European bank refuse me as a newcomer?
Not for a basic account if you are legally resident, unless anti-money-laundering rules require it. The bank must decide within 10 business days.
Should I close my UAE bank account when I move?
Not straight away. Keep it open until your final salary, gratuity and deposit refunds arrive. Ask your bank whether it allows non-resident accounts.
Do I need a Portuguese bank account for the D7 visa?
Yes. The D7 checklist in the UAE asks for Portuguese bank documents, so you need a NIF and an account before applying.
Related guides
- Leaving the UAE for Europe: the complete checklist
- Renting a home in Europe from the UAE
- Portugal D7 and digital nomad visa from the UAE
Sources
- Directive 2014/92/EU: Article 16, right of access to a basic payment account
- VFS Global Portugal UAE: D7 checklist
- German Consulate General Dubai: National visas (blocked account)
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer, financial adviser or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa or financial services. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 4 November 2026. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com and it will be fixed and logged.