Practical Information about living in Spain

There are many things to think about when you first arrive in a foreign country, especially if you plan on staying there for an extended period of time, but documentation such as visas, residence permits, bank accounts and driving licenses can make things overly stressful, especially when the process of applying for such things can be so ambiguous. Endless passport sized photos, copies of everything from birth certificates to proof of home address and a lot of patience later and you’ll probably be ready to begin applying for everything you need. But don’t worry, this is Spain, like most things in life, everything happens “mañana, mañana. No pasa nada” (tomorrow, tomorrow. It’s all fine).

Visas

When it comes to what kind of documents you actually need, everything depends on where it is that you’re coming from and getting a visa is probably the most important thing that you need to organise before you leave for Spain. EU citizens who come from countries that are members of the Schengen agreement only need an official ID card in order to enter Spain, no passport is required. For other countries in Europe, such as the UK, Ireland and Cyprus, travellers require a passport in order to pass through border control.

For any EU citizens planning stays of longer than 3 months you are required to obtain an NIE residence card which you can apply for at your local police station or foreign office, details of what the process entails can be found here: www.practicalspain.com

If you’re coming from outside of Europe, and are staying for longer than 3 months, you must apply for a special visa to allow you to reside and work in Spain legally. Arrangements for such visas can be made through your Spanish consulate along with your employer in Spain and require a substantial amount of documentation, but it will all definitely be worth it in the end!

You can find details on how to apply for a long-term working visa in Spain here: vfsglobal.co.uk

Driving Licenses

If you’re planning to drive during your time in Spain then there are a number of things that you need to consider. If you’re from the EU then your original driving licence is valid in Spain as long as you’re aged 18 or over, even if you’re planning on a long-term stay. You should check whether or not your home country requires that you notify them when moving abroad, but in the UK this isn’t necessary.

Travelling from outside of the EU is a little different. Your driving licence is valid for the first 6 months of your residency, although it must be accompanied by an official translation orInternational Drivers Permit if the original isn’t in Spanish. After 6 months your licence can either be exchanged for a Spanish one (selected countries only) or you must take a Spanish driving test in order to obtain one.
Countries with which Spain currently has an agreement for licence exchange include: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Japan, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Switzerland, Uruguay and Venezuela (countries are subject to change).

For tips on how to stay safe when driving in Spain visit the RAC website.

Bank Accounts

Most banks in Spain will offer English-speaking services and many may offer other languages as well. Banking in a foreign country can be confusing so making sure that they can understand exactly what you require will make things a lot easier so it is definitely recommended to choose one of the larger banking companies that are used to dealing with the needs of new residents.

The next thing that you need to consider when choosing a bank is practicality. Being able to get to your local branch easily is definitely a necessity, as is ensuring that the branch’s ATMs are well distributed so that you won’t have to travel far in order to withdraw cash.

The process of opening an account depends on which branch you are joining but most require that you provide copies of your passport, your NIE (if you have one), passport photos, proof of occupation and a bill or driving licence that acts as proof of address. You will have to pay a fee in order to open the account followed by a possible monthly charge to keep the account open, this is completely normal in Spain.

If you’re only going to be in Spain for a short period of time then it’s probably more convenient for you to keep your original, home bank account open. In this case, you should do some research into which ATMs you can use that carry the lowest charges for withdrawing cash abroad. Additionally, withdrawing larger amounts of money at a time and keeping it securely hidden can also reduce charges.

Abono (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia)

The Abono is a monthly travel pass that can be used on all forms of public transport in Spain including metro, bus and Cercanías trains. The same ticket can be used as many times as required during a one month period and costs around 40€ depending on which city you live in. Before you can purchase the ticket however, you must first apply for the abono sleeve which contains your details and a photo. To do this you must fill in an application form at your local tobacco store and attach a passport sized photo. A couple of weeks later you will be able to pick up your abono sleeve and are then are able to purchase your monthly tickets.

Don't forget!

A crucial part of your preparation is ensuring that your passport is valid for the required amount of time that you’ll be abroad with a few months extra. Although this might seem like the simplest of tasks, having to travel back home and wait around for a new passport can be a lengthy and annoying process, especially when you are trying to settle in to a new environment.