This is obviously the most crucial step to residing in Spain- being legal. If you’re a citizen of the EU/EEA, you can easily live and work in Spain through the Free Movement. Unfortunately, If you’re a citizen of the UK, USA or from another part of the world- it’s not as simple. It’s critical to do your research and check the individual residency requirements for your country and situation. Once you have all the paperwork required, don’t forget to check the timeframe of your paperwork! For example: many times if you need certain documents with an apostille or notary- they're typically only good and accepted within a timeframe of 90 days. This immigration portal is a really good place to get started to search the requirements.
Additionally, the processing times can vary drastically depending on what region you’re in (larger cities like Madrid or Barcelona will typically take much longer). My recommendation is to have patience, be assertive, take screen shots of everything and have several extra copies of all of your documents!
Depending where you’re coming from, you might notice the market works a bit different here in Spain. In the US, I would normally search for prospective apartments months in advance, but here I recommend you start searching about one month in advance. The landlords are typically ready for you to move in almost ASAP, so they usually won’t “hold” or wait too long for you if you’re not ready to fully commit. Usually, a 1-2 month deposit is required, anything more than that I would personally walk away from. I would also advise to be very thorough in your search, and make sure you actually tour the flat before you rent – there have been numerous rental scams reported.
If you’re moving to Spain for work, then congratulations - the hard part is already done!
However, if you’re moving for reasons other than work and need to navigate your way through the Spanish job market, my heart goes out to you. To be blunt, it is difficult finding a job here in Spain- but certainly not impossible. Spain has the highest unemployment rate in the EU at roughly 13%.
The Spanish job market varies drastically from region to region, of course. The larger cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia will typically have more opportunities in specialized roles as software developers and programers, especially for expats seeking English-speaking opportunities due to having more international companies. In other areas like the coastal regions, you’ll find more opportunities heavily dependent on tourism. So, I recommend doing as much research you can before your move, and start networking in the areas you’re interested in working in.
Since I moved, it has become very clear to me that Spain is on their own schedule from the rest of the world. Everything happens much, much later. A typical Spanish working day can start anywhere from 8-9am to around 8pm, with a long lunch in the afternoon. With these hours, the meal times uniquely follow suit where you typically won’t have lunch until 2-4pm and dinner is roughly around 9-10pm. Many restaurants won’t even open for dinner until 8pm.
I remember when I first visited Barcelona for holiday and seeing restaurants filled at 10pm on a random Tuesday night, thinking how strange – chalking it up to a lot of hungry tourists, but in reality it’s just a normal Tuesday night for Spaniards.
This topic can vary heavily depending on who you ask. From my personal experience as someone who moved from the US, yes- Spain’s cost of living is much lower and more desirable. Especially, if you’re able to keep your US income and work remotely. In general, Spain’s cost of living tends to be lower than most Western European countries as well. However, Spanish salaries are typically much lower (average monthly salary is roughly €1500-2000/mo)– so it’s important to take that into consideration. Attached is a really good article that breaks it down into more detail: Cost of Living in Spain: Prices and Comparisons.
Spain has wonderful public transportation systems including metros, buses and trains available to get you to wherever you need to go and are generally quite safe. However, in major tourist destinations such as Madrid and Barcelona, be extra mindful of pickpocketing! Always be aware of your surroundings. If you’re not up for public transport, no worries- you won’t have a difficult time finding taxis in the bigger cities. The common ride-share companies in Spain are Uber, Cabify and Free Now.
If you're wanting to drive in Spain, that can be a bit more of challenge. If you hold an EU/EEA drivers license – you’re good to go! Drive on like normal. However, if you’re one of the unlucky ones coming from the US, you’ll soon come to find out that the US and Spain does not have a reciprocal agreement regarding the US drivers license. So, if you plan on staying in Spain long-term and become a resident, you will need to take the Spanish driving test and obtain a Spanish driving license.
Spaniards are truly one of a kind. They’re extremely friendly, accepting, and always ready to have a good time. But, they do have their own special quirks that have me a bit baffled. First, they are extremely loud people. Whether it be their conversation, how they listen to their music or watch tv- everything is always unnecessarily loud. Another thing, Spaniards have the gift of being able to strike up conversation about anything with anyone for hours. They are truly a social breed and love to be out socializing. They also tend to be a bit more direct/blunt in how they communicate. It’s not them being rude, it’s just they like to cut straight to the point instead of beating around the bush.
Moving to a new country can be extremely exciting, yet very overwhelming. On top of experiencing a new culture, comes with a new language. Yes, you can survive with English in the larger cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, but in other regions of Spain, you will struggle if you don’t know at least the basics. I can’t stress the importance enough of learning Spanish. Not only will It will help you navigate your way tremendously, but you’ll be able to experience Spain and Spanish culture more authentically. There are many free apps and resources that can help get your started- I personally love and use Duolingo regularly.
Overall, these are just some thoughts and opinions from my personal experiences and are only just a fraction of things to be aware of before you move. It’s so important to do your due diligence before moving to help prepare and avoid any unpleasant surprises. The biggest advice I can give is to come with an open mind and embrace the new experiences and culture – Spain is truly a beautiful place to live.
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