UCITS ETF guide for Spain residents
English guide to the UCITS ETFs available for investors residing in Spain: why UCITS only, why Irish domicile matters, and the most popular ETFs by category.
Top UCITS ETFs by category
| Category | Ticker | ISIN | TER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global (with EM) | VWCE | IE00B3RBWM25 | 0.22% |
| MSCI World | IWDA | IE00B4L5Y983 | 0.20% |
| MSCI World (cheapest) | SWRD | IE00BFY0GT14 | 0.12% |
| S&P 500 | CSPX | IE00B5BMR087 | 0.07% |
| Emerging Markets | EIMI | IE00BKM4GZ66 | 0.18% |
| Global Bonds EUR-hedged | AGGH | IE00BDBRDM35 | 0.10% |
| Nasdaq 100 | EQQQ | IE0032077012 | 0.30% |
| Physical Gold ETC | SGLN | IE00B4ND3602 | 0.12% |
FAQ
Why can't I buy VTI or VOO in Spain?▾
US-domiciled ETFs (VTI, VOO, SPY) are blocked for European retail investors under MiFID II PRIIPs regulation. Issuers do not provide KID (Key Information Document) in EU languages. Solution: use UCITS equivalents — CSPX, VUAA or SPXS replicate the S&P 500; VWCE replicates FTSE All-World; IWDA replicates MSCI World.
What is the best UCITS ETF for the S&P 500?▾
CSPX (iShares Core S&P 500, ISIN IE00B5BMR087, TER 0.07%) and VUAA (Vanguard S&P 500 Acc, ISIN IE00BFMXXD54, TER 0.07%) are the most popular and tied for the lowest TER. SPXS (SPDR S&P 500, TER 0.03%) is the cheapest. All are Irish-domiciled (15% US dividend withholding instead of 30%).
VWCE or IWDA for a global portfolio?▾
VWCE (FTSE All-World, TER 0.22%) includes emerging markets (~12%) in one ETF. IWDA (MSCI World, TER 0.20%) covers only developed markets — you would need to add EIMI (~12%) for full global exposure. VWCE is simpler; IWDA + EIMI gives more control over emerging market weight.
Why does Irish domicile matter?▾
Ireland has a tax treaty with the US reducing dividend withholding from 30% to 15%. Since ~63% of MSCI World is US-listed companies, this saves about 0.2% annually on dividend yield. Look for ISINs starting with IE.