Living and Working in Spain
Quick links: Accommodation / Healthcare / Pay & Bens / Tax / Visas / Travel
Accommodation
Once you are settled in your chosen city you’ll need to find a place to rent. Ask friends and contacts - good property is often found through word of mouth. You may have some luck with the local press or responding to a sign in a window but your best bet is the national classifieds paper, Segundo Manu.
Rental contracts are either short-term ('de temporada') or long-term, a year or more. Spanish law affords less rights to short-term tenants than you might expect, so be aware.
Prices are based on the number of bedrooms and total floor area. Rents in the city are more expensive but you may be pushed for choice in small towns and rural areas. A deposit ('fianza') is required and is returned after inspection at the end of the tenancy. Check contracts carefully and make sure you obtain all receipts and proof of payments.
Healthcare
The new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to free emergency healthcare and will ensure you don’t pay for treatment during your first few months in Spain.
The Spanish state offers socially funded health care to all of its residents. More than 90% of the population use this system to access medical, pharmaceutical and hospital care. Medicines cost less than in other countries thanks to price capping by the government.
Even though they’re entitled to choose their own GP, approximately 15% of the population pays for some form of private medical insurance to complement the public health service. Prices depend on the age and sex of the beneficiary: A man of 40, for example, will typically pay around £33 per month, while a woman of the same age will pay £38.
Most state health centres have a dentist who will provide free treatment to anyone registered with the social security system. Private dental treatment is also widely available and prices are low compared to private treatment in the UK.
Pay & Benefits
With high unemployment levels outside the major cities, ensure you have guaranteed work before leaving your country of origin. Non EU citizens may not work in Spain without approval from the Spanish Labour Ministry.
The golden rule for anyone seeking professional employment in Spain is to speak the language. Networking is also an important skill as a reference from a Spanish friend would work very much in your favour.
Wages in Spain are, on average, lower than many other member states, with admin roles starting at €1000. While you may not be remunerated in the manner to which you’re accustomed, the cost of living in Spain is low and the lifestyle is much more relaxed – the summer Siesta is a 2-3 hour break in the afternoon, with most businesses closing to re-open in the evening.
At the upper end of the spectrum, highly qualified graduate jobseekers - interpreters and translators, accountants, psychologists and lawyers – enjoy benefits packages similar to those in other member states: transport allowances, share options, medical insurance etc.
Tax
In 2006, Spanish income tax rates ran from 15% to 45%. If you have spent more than 183 days in the country within one tax year, you are eligible to pay taxes. If you are classified as a Spanish resident or own property there you will need an identification number (NIE), which doubles as your social security number.
You will pay taxes on global income, regardless of what residence or work permit you have. Half of your net rental income is taxable, that is, the amount due after deducting costs such as local taxes, repairs, and depreciation. There is a system in place to stop you from paying tax twice on the same income.
Taxes payable on property in Spain include VAT, stamp duty and a local tax called 'plus valia'. Property owners must also pay a tax called IBI which funds local services, education etc.
Visas
Residence cards for EU nationals are no longer compulsory but they are easier to carry than a passport and simplify administration procedures on arrival in Spain. To obtain this card from the Comisaría (the station for the national police force) you will need to bring:
- The following completed form: Solicitud de Tarjeta de Residencia.
- A valid passport, relevant visas and photocopies.
- 3 passport photographs
- The NIE document
- A Certificate of Employment available from the local town hall.
To apply for a residence card, collect an application form from your nearest Foreign Office. Enlist the help of a Gestor to help with your paperwork and hand this in, along with a photocopy of your passport, to the Comisaria.
If you’re an EU national there are no restrictions to your working in Spain. You do, however, need an NIE number - a tax number for foreigners.
To obtain an NIE number your first step is to register at the local town hall. Once you’ve done this, go to the ‘extranjeros’ (foreigners) department of the Comisaria with the following:
- A completed NIE form, available here: Solicitud Numero NIE.
- A valid passport, relevant visas and photocopies.
- 2 passport photographs
- A Job contract, original and photocopy
You will receive your number within six weeks of applying.
Travel
Spain drives on the right. Drivers with EU licenses can use the licence from their issuing country but must register it, together with their Spanish address, at the Jefatura de Tráfico. You can also exchange your domestic licence for a Spanish one.
Non EU members have to take a driving test, with the only exceptions being Japan, Switzerland and Korea. Driving in Spanish cities can be unpredictable and parking is in short supply. If you’re going to rent a car, get one with GPS if possible.
RENFE is the national rail network and provides reliable long-distance trains across Spain. The short-distance trains, however, have a reputation for delays, especially in the Barcelona area.
The most reliable form of public transport is the bus. Many major routes go direct and all run frequently.
There is a different operator for each route but staff at the bus station will be happy to tell you who operates which route. You can research fares and times on www.movelia.es beforehand.
