Before moving to Spain, things to know!

 

According to the latest figures from the Spanish Government, the expat community in Spain comprises 5.6 million foreigners. With everything Spain has to offer, from the warm climate to the relaxed way of life, this number will increase, and after the coronaviral pandemic around the world, life is more attractive than ever in Spain. If you want to move to Spain as an expat, you need to know something important before you move: it's not always the sun, sand, and sangria.  housing

Learn Spanish before you move

Get ready for much bureaucracy

Nothing happens in August

The Spanish calendar

Living costs in Spain

Know how to rent apartments or purchase a property in Spain.

Opening a Spanish bank account

The Spanish

The Spanish Siesta Myth

Learn Spanish before you move

Moving to a new country means embracing a new culture and a new language. Even if you are planning to move to a region where many expats from your home country already live, there's still a good idea to learn Spanish before you go for several reasons. Although English levels in Spain are improving, Spaniards are notoriously fighting English and at least knowing some basic Spanish will go a long way.

Before you go you can learn some phrases or register for one of the many Spanish language schools when you arrive in Spain. Experts trying to learn Spanish usually have a higher level of satisfaction with their new Spanish life, and in addition to helping you find a higher paid job, being able to speak and understand Spanish will also be helpful when you start buying or renting a house, including endless documents.

Get ready for much bureaucracy

Spain is famous for its bureaucracy when it comes to paperwork. As an expat, when you arrive you will have to apply for a number of different items, such as an NIE (foreigner ID number) or your registration form (registering your address), among others. It can be a bit frustrating if you don't have such a word of advice: officials and officials' levels of professionalism and knowledge vary radically from province to province, just like processing times and procedures so be patient and assertive. Before you move, double check that you have all the paper you feel you might need, original documents and several photocopies and collect any additional documents you may have, even if you don't think you'll have them. If you plan to buy a property in Spain, you will also need a large amount of paperwork. These Spanish phrases you learned before you moved are also useful!

Nothing happens in August

Now that you know the paperwork you're going to have when you arrive in Spain, here's another span to throw in. Do not try to do any of these things in August; do not try renting or buying a house, renovating a house, fitting a new kitchen, or anything remotely productive. In the hot summer months, most of Spain's major cities are undergoing a mass exodus to the coast in most of August, and only a few stores, cafés and services open in the morning, not to mention government agencies.

The Spanish calendar

In Spain everything usually happens later, from meals to work hours, and if you want to integrate fully into the Spanish life you will have to adapt. You can therefore forget to have a lunch sandwich at midday and dinner at 6pm. Spaniards generally have a large lunch between 14 and 16 pm, an afternoon snack around 6 pm and dinner every day after 9 pm. Therefore, do not expect to serve you at 6pm if you plan to go for dinner, as many places will not be even open!

Spain also fails to comply with the traditional 9-5 work schedule. A standard working day in the country could start around 8:30 or 9:00 and end only at 8:00 p.m. with a large afternoon meal.