In short: home insurance is not generally required by law, but it is if you have a mortgage (the bank requires at least fire cover). When renting it's not legally required, though advisable and sometimes asked by the landlord. Contracted online or by phone.
In person or by representative? Online or by phone, with your details and the property's. No office visit.
What it covers:
- Building (continente) — structure (walls, roof, installations). Relevant for the owner.
- Contents (contenido) — your belongings (furniture, appliances, clothes). Relevant also for the tenant.
- Liability (responsabilidad civil) — damage to others/neighbours (e.g. a leak affecting the flat below). Key in flats.
- Common extras: theft, water damage, home assistance, glass breakage.
By situation:
- With a mortgage → fire insurance mandatory; the bank offers its own, but you can take it out with anyone (you're not obliged to accept the bank's).
- Owner without mortgage → optional but recommended (building + contents + liability).
- Tenant → usually contents + liability is enough; check what your rental contract requires.
What you need as a foreigner: NIE/TIE, the property address and basic details (size, year, address). Spanish nationality is not required.
How to get it / compare: decide cover based on owner/tenant, compare prices, contract online/phone in the holder's name.
Common pitfalls: accepting the bank's policy by default (often pricier) without comparing; as a tenant, insuring the building which isn't your responsibility; under-valuing contents (lower payout later).
Informational, not advice. Home insurance is not mandatory by law in general; fire/damage insurance is required by the bank as a mortgage condition (Ley 5/2019, art. 17.3 — BOE-A-2019-3814), not directly by law on the owner. Compare and check conditions.