Emigrate to Mallorca 2025/2026: Your relocation guide for Santa Ponsa and El Toro
Hand on heart: Who doesn't dream of it? The laptop is on the terrace, the view is of the greenery or the sea. After work, you can be on the beach in Santa Ponsa in a few minutes and in the evening you can sit in Port Adriano with a glass of wine.
However, there are a few hurdles between this image and real life on Mallorca. Bureaucracy, taxes, the neighbourhood, the decision to rent or buy. That's where we come in.
We are Maja and Leo. We've been living and working in the southwest for years, drink our coffee in El Toro, know the neighbourhood and know exactly what the first few months on the island feel like. In this guide, we summarise for you what's important in 2025/2026. Loosely explained, but with the necessary depth.
Why Santa Ponsa and El Toro are so popular
We hear the same phrase in many conversations with our customers:
„We want life around us, but not just a party mile.“
This is exactly what the south-west, and Santa Ponsa and El Toro in particular, stands for.
What makes this corner of Mallorca so special:
- You have international neighbours, but also real Mallorcan life.
- Everything you need is on site: supermarkets, doctors, restaurants, cafés, sports, beaches.
- International schools and good medical care are within easy reach.
- Depending on the location, you can reach Palma in around 20 minutes and the airport in around 25 minutes.
El Toro is something like our small, cosy village. Quiet, informal, with a small beach and directly above Port Adriano. Santa Ponsa is livelier, with several beaches, many restaurants and a good infrastructure, even in winter.
Insider tip from Leo:
Don't underestimate winter. Santa Ponsa is one of those places that is still lively in January. When other coastal towns seem almost empty, you can still get breakfast in the café here.
If you would like an initial overview, take a look at our current properties in Santa Ponsa & El Toro:
Bureaucracy in Mallorca: what to expect
To ensure that your emigration does not fail due to formalities, here are the most important points you should plan for.
1. almost nothing works without a NIE number
The NIE number is your tax identification number in Spain. Without it, practically nothing works:
- No property purchase
- No tenancy agreement with many landlords
- no car in your name
- No electricity or internet contract
Our advice:
If possible, apply for the NIE at the Spanish consulate in your home country. Many people underestimate the waiting times.
If you are already in Mallorca or need to move quickly, we help our clients through our network of gestorías and lawyers. We will guide you through the process so that you don't get bogged down by forms.
2. residence: EU citizens and non-EU citizens
EU citizens
As an EU citizen, you can of course come to Mallorca, stay and live here. However, if you are here for longer than three months, you must register in the central register of foreigners. This is the well-known green card. It's not an option, it's compulsory.
Non-EU citizens (e.g. UK, Switzerland, USA)
The 90/180 day rule usually applies here. If you want to live in Mallorca permanently, you need a visa. Examples are the Digital Nomad Visa for certain professional groups or the Non Lucrative Visa, which allows you to live in Spain but not work here.
The subject of visas and residence law is complex and constantly changing. We will be happy to give you an initial assessment and then put you in touch with specialised lawyers.
3. taxes on Mallorca and the 183-day rule
Roughly speaking:
Anyone who spends more than 183 days a year in Spain is generally liable to pay tax here. This affects income tax, property issues and often also the structure of your property purchase.
We are property agents and not tax consultants. But we won't leave you to deal with the issue on your own. Through our network, we work with tax advisors and law firms that specialise in expatriates and property issues. We will talk to you personally to find the right expert for your situation.
Rent first or buy directly
When it makes sense to rent
- If you don't yet know whether Mallorca will be the centre of your life in the long term
- If you want to try out different places
- If your job or family situation is not yet completely clear
When buying can be the better choice
- If you are sure that Mallorca should become your long-term home
- If you would prefer to invest capital in your own property instead of renting
- If you have a specific location in mind, for example Santa Ponsa, Nova Santa Ponsa or El Toro
In El Toro in particular, there are smaller flats, terraced houses and detached houses that are a good place to start. In Santa Ponsa and Nova Santa Ponsa you will find many properties with sea views, close to the golf course or in high-quality complexes.
Our promise:
We only show you properties that we really stand behind. We check the documents with lawyers and clarify whether everything is clear in the land register. We talk openly about potential issues such as old building licences, community costs or renovation requirements.
Incidental purchase costs and running costs
So that you can plan realistically from the outset, you should keep an eye on the ancillary costs as well as the purchase price.
As a rough guide, you can expect additional costs of around 8 to 11 per cent when buying a property in Mallorca. Depending on the property and the situation, these may be made up of the following points, for example:
- Real estate transfer tax or value added tax for new buildings
- Notary fees
- Fees for the land register
- Legal fees, if applicable
- Translation costs
- Fees charged by authorities
Then there are the running costs such as property tax, rubbish charges, communal costs in residential complexes, insurance and consumption costs.
We will go through these points with you in a personal meeting and work through an example together using a specific property. This way, you can see exactly what you can expect.
Our Maja & Leo service for emigrants
Buying a property is just one part of your emigration. We take the bureaucratic stress off your hands so that you feel at home straight away.
The re-registration of Electricity, water and internet is an integral part of our service. We personally make sure that these connections are made within 48 hours in your name. You simply unlock the door and everything works.
But we won't leave you on your own with any other questions and will use our network to help you:
- Who can reliably help with a renovation?
- Where can I find a good school or kindergarten?
- What do I do with my existing property in my home country?
We accompany you not only up to the notary appointment, but also beyond. Thanks to our own history as emigrants and our work with many international clients, we know exactly where the challenges lie,
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about emigrating to Mallorca
How long should I plan for my emigration to Mallorca?
If you want to plan in peace and quiet, a period of around 6 to 12 months is realistic. During this time, you can initiate issues with the authorities, look at properties, prepare financing and take things step by step. It can also be done more quickly, but with a little lead time, things will be much more relaxed.
How much does it cost to live in Santa Ponsa and the surrounding area compared to the mainland?
Food and restaurant visits are slightly higher than in some regions of Europe, depending on habits. The biggest item is usually housing. Rents and purchase prices are higher in the south-west in particular, but you get a very good infrastructure, short distances and a high quality of life. In a personal meeting, we can assess how your budget feels here based on your situation.
Can I simply move to Mallorca with my home office job?
Many of our customers work remotely, for example as a permanent employee or self-employed. In principle, this is possible, but you should check the consequences very carefully. Tax liability, social security, health insurance and the location of your company play an important role.
Do I need Spanish to get by in Santa Ponsa or El Toro?
For the first few steps, you can get by in the south-west with English and often even German, as many service providers are international. In the long term, however, it is very pleasant to have at least a basic knowledge of Spanish. It opens doors, makes everyday life easier and makes you feel at home more quickly.
When is it really worth buying your own property in Mallorca?
That depends very much on your initial situation. If you are here for a long time every year, want to stay for the long term and have capital available, buying often makes more sense than renting permanently. In good locations, you also benefit from stable or even increasing value growth. We'll look together at what suits your life and your figures.
Your next step
If you're thinking of going to Mallorca in the near future, now is a good time to get the first stones rolling. The earlier you plan, the more relaxed the transition will be.
Just let us know where you are at the moment and how concrete your plans are. Then we'll see together whether Santa Ponsa, El Toro or perhaps another place in the south-west suits you and whether renting or buying is the better option for you.
Fancy a non-binding introductory meeting? Click here for our Contact form.
We look forward to getting to know you.
Maja and Leo