Do I have to pay inheritance tax in Tenerife?

Most close relatives receive a 99.9% inheritance tax reduction in Tenerife. This means spouses, children, parents, siblings and grandchildren usually pay almost no tax.

Do I need to travel to Tenerife to complete an inheritance?

No. Most heirs sign a Power of Attorney and the entire process can be completed without travelling to Tenerife.

How long does Tenerife inheritance take?

Most Tenerife inheritance cases take between 1 and 3 months if the death occurred in Spain, or 3 to 6 months if it occurred abroad.

Can I sell an inherited property in Tenerife?

Yes, but only after the inheritance deed has been signed and the property is registered in the heirs' names. All heirs must agree to the sale.

What documents do I need for a Tenerife inheritance?

You need a death certificate, Certificate of Last Wills, the will (if any), passports, NIE numbers, property deeds, and bank information where applicable.

Step-by-Step: How to Claim an Inheritance in Tenerife

If you’ve inherited property or assets in Tenerife, the process can seem confusing at first.

Different country. Different paperwork. And usually a few documents you’ve never heard of before.

The good news is that the system itself is fairly structured. Once the paperwork starts moving, it tends to follow a clear sequence.

Here’s how it normally works.

Step 1: Obtain the Death Certificate

Everything starts with the death certificate.

If the death occurred outside Spain, the document will normally need to be apostilled and officially translated into Spanish before it can be used here.

It’s one of the first documents the notary will request.

Step 2: Request the Certificate of Last Wills

Next, a document called the Certificate of Last Wills is requested from the Spanish authorities.

This confirms whether the deceased made a Spanish will, and if so, which notary holds it.

Even if the person lived abroad, this check still has to be done.

Step 3: Locate the Will

If a Spanish will exists, the process tends to be quite straightforward.

If the only will is from another country, it can still be used, but it usually needs to be legalised, apostilled and translated before Spain will accept it.

Step 4: Gather the Main Documents

Before the inheritance deed can be prepared, several documents need to be collected.

These typically include:

Passports of all heirs
NIE numbers for each heir
Property deeds
Bank account information if funds are involved
Utility bills
Details of any mortgages or debts

Having these organised early usually saves time later.

Step 5: Sign the Inheritance Deed

A Spanish notary prepares the inheritance deed, known as the Escritura de Herencia.

This document lists the assets and confirms how they are distributed between the heirs.

The heirs can either sign in person or give Power of Attorney so someone signs on their behalf.

Step 6: File the Inheritance Tax Declaration

The inheritance tax declaration, Modelo 650, must normally be filed within six months of the date of death.

Even if the tax payable is very small, the declaration still has to be submitted.

Step 7: Pay Local Taxes

The main local tax involved is Plusvalía Municipal, charged by the town hall.

It’s based on the increase in the land value during the time the property was owned.

Step 8: Register the Property

The final step is updating the Land Registry so the property is officially recorded in the heirs’ names.

Once that’s done, the heirs are free to keep the property, rent it out, or sell it.

A Practical Shortcut

Many heirs live outside Spain.

In those cases, the simplest approach is often giving Power of Attorney to a lawyer or gestor who can handle everything locally.

No travel, no queues at offices, and the paperwork usually moves along much faster.

Once the documents are gathered and the process is underway, claiming an inheritance in Tenerife is mostly a matter of working through the steps in order.

Nothing mysterious… just Spanish paperwork doing its thing.