Welcome to the expat in spain blog! We aim at smoothing the arrival of foreigners to Spain by summarizing the administrative burdens and providing useful links to the appropriate administration services. We hope the quick reading of this blog might save some of your precious time. We wish you a nice stay in Spain!
Administrative task order
The regular order would be: transportation card, bank account, precontract, pre social security number, contract, social security number, flat, padron, NIE, social security card. Most tasks can be started simultaneously but take care that some have to be done before others. NIE and padron are requiered for the social security card.A precontract is needed to egister at the social security, and you need to register at the social security to obtain a contract. You usually need an appointment (two to three weeks delay) to fulfill each task. Showing up spontaneously at the corresponding office with all the documents can allow you to accelerate the process .
Padron muncipal/ City hall registration
It is mandatory in Spain to register at the city hall, this will allow you to obtain a social security card, to vote at the local elections, to qualify for the Spanish driver license… To obtain the padron you can fill in this webform for Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla, Bilbao, Malaga, Oviedo, Gijon, Alicante, Zaragoza.
NIE, foreign identification number
To obtain your NIE – Numero de Identidad de Extranjero – you will need to go to a police station with your passport or ID card and this form, you will need to pay 10 euros which you can pay online here. You can obtain an appointment here for Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Malaga, Alicante, Zaragoza. If you’re from Sevilla, you can write to this email adress for an appointment. If you’re in another city, you will have to fill in this form or this one if you prefer to obtain it in a police station. If you’re not yet in Spain, you can ask for a NIE at your embassy don’t forget to specify you need it to open a bank account!
Social security number
You will have to ask for a social security number. If you have a digital certificate you can do it here. Else you will have to go to an office which you can find at this adress. You will have to go there with your ID card, passport and this filled form. Official informations here.
With your NIE, padron and social security number, you can ask for a social security card. For this you first have to ask the documents acreditating your rights for the social security, ask for an appointment here. Then ask for the card here for Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla, Bilbao/San Sebastian, Malaga, Zaragoza or here if you live in another city.
Flat and accomodation
The most used website to find flat is called idealista, you can also use milanuncios or enalquiler. The renting prices are regulated in Barcelona and Valencia, the deposit cannot excede two monthes in Bilbao, the raise of the rent is also regulated by the IPC (indicio de precio de consumidor).
Learn Spanish
Life quality increases when one is understood by the people around, so hopefully you’re motivated to learn Castillan! They are Spanish classes proposed by different municipalities, in Madrid , Valencia, Bilbao, Alicante, Zaragoza. They are other classes in Barcelona, Malaga. In addition to the language app such as memrise or duolingo, they are these websites which can help you practice the grammar aprenderespanol, institut cervantes. They are also many tandem and language exchange opportunities, although you might meet other expats at internation, and other people with the same interests as yours on meetup.
Public transportation system
We encourage you to use the public transportation system. You can consult the prices of public transport in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla, Bilbao, Malaga, Asturias and Zaragoza. You can buy your annual card or register for it here in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla, Asturias and Zaragoza.
Driver license
If you’re from the USA, the European Union, Islande, Norway, Lichtenstein then you can drive in Spain with your national driving license. If you’re from South America, except Suriname, or if you’re from Algeria, Korea, Japan, Macedonia, Morocco, Monaco, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia, United Kingdom, you can ask for the canje here and fill in this form. The canje is a recognition of your home country driver license. Else you will unfortunately have to pass the test.
Taxes deducted at source
The taxes in Spain are directly collected from your salary. You will need to go to the agencia tributaria with all your pay slips in April and an employee will help you fill up your revenue declaration. You can ask for an appointment here eventhough it’s not mandatory. Afterwards, since the paid taxes also depends on the personal situation of each citizen, they will correct for the difference between the tax percieved and the tax due. Be carefull that if you start working in Spain after July, you will only pay taxes starting in January, such that your monthly salary will decrease by about 10% between December and January the first year.
Spain for expat, an administrative toolbox 