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Welcome! If you’ve just moved to Spain, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed. Besides coping with a new culture and language, you have to sort out lots of practical things — a place to live, finances, permits and papers are just the beginning.
INTRODUCTION PAGE 2 What makes Spain tick and where is it heading?
Let the Expat Survival Guide be your starting point: it’s got the basic information you need, plus loads of helpful phone numbers.
MONEY Banking; Taxation; Insurance
This guide is published by Expatica — news and information for expatriates and the leading voice of expatriate Europe. Our website (www.expatica.com) has a world of information and services to make life in Spain easier and more fun.
JOBS Work Permits; Job Searching
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HEALTH The Healthcare System
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TRANSPORT Planes, Trains and Automobiles
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We hope you find this guide and our other products useful — and we wish you a fantastic stay in Spain! Research: Zoe Dare Hall Additional research: Graham Keeley Editor: Ciaran Murphy Sales: David Concheso, David McGowan, Mike de Haan, David Davis, Mike Mazurkiewicz. To advertise in next year's Expat Survival Guide, email sales@expatica.com or call +31 (0)20 888 4263. Published December 2004 ©Expatica Communications BV Kruislaan 400, 1098 SM Amsterdam, Netherlands feedback@expatica.com
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Cover pictures: Stephen Bond/Alamy, Ken Welsh/Alamy and Expatica
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RELOCATION PAGE 5 Your first few days; Residence Permits; Relocation Services; Social Security HOUSING PAGE 11 Renting a Home; Buying a Home, City Essentials Madrid and Barcelona PAGE 19
EDUCATION PAGE 27 Education System; How to Choose a School; International Schools; Language Schools
SETTLING IN PAGE 50 Utilities; Telephone, Internet; Television, Video, DVD; English-language Bookstores; Food from Home LISTINGS AND INDEX PAGE 59 Embassies; Groups and Clubs; Phone Book Decoder; Weights and Measures; Emergency Numbers All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Expatica Communications, Kruislaan 400, 1098 SM, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Expatica makes great effort to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this guide. However, we will not be responsible for errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, which result from its use, and make no warranty of claims as to the quality or competence of businesses or professionals mentioned. Company names highlighted in red have paid for advertising in the guide. Users are advised to take care when selecting professional services, and to use common sense in adjusting to life in a new country.
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Introduction What makes Spain tick? What are the concerns of its people? Where is it heading and why? Here is a brief introduction to the country as it enters 2005. Anyone coming to live in Spain now will find themselves in one of the most dynamic and fast-moving societies in Europe. Much of what you might call the 'Old Spain' is being swept aside and a New Spain is rapidly emerging. Indeed, this is a country which, far from lagging behind many of its north European neighbours, appears to be showing them the lead. A broad range of social reforms mean that what Spain is doing today, the rest of Europe may do tomorrow.
IMMIGRATION But perhaps immigration offers the clearest indicator of where Spain is going now Spain has the fastest rising rate of immigration in Europe. The relentless stream of new arrivals is led by people from South America; then Africa; followed by northern and eastern European countries, like Britain, Germany and the former Soviet bloc states. A key question for Spaniards, and for those who have chosen to make Spain their new home, is how is Spanish society adapting to this change? There is no phrase in Spanish for 'bloody foreigner' -
simply guiri, a gentler and more welcoming tone. Beyond linguistics, how these new expats are received is important as many are drawn to Spain by the traditionally welcoming Spanish people. But, some are asking, as Spain begins to adapt to all the social problems associated with mass immigration, will this still be the case? Recently, racist chanting at football matches has been taken by some to indicate that Spanish society is not used to the presence of black or Asian people en masse.In fact, tit is rather a somewhat predictable backlash against rising immigration which happened in other countries, like Britain, in the 1960s and 1970s.
TERRORISM Another major question facing Spanish society now is how it comes to terms with the terrorist bombings in Madrid in March of last year. On 11 March 2004, 191 people were killed and more than 1,500 injured when four commuter trains were blownup by Islamic extremists linked to AlQaeda. For Spain it was a rude-awakening to a new age. It had been used to its own domestic ter-
Spain has all the bustle you could want in cities like Madrid and Barcelona, but it also has the perfect escape in Mallorca and its other islands.
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Introduction rorist problem, after more than 30 years and 830 deaths at the hands of the Basque separatist movement ETA, but the bomb attacks in the capital were on an altogether different scale. And Spanish society is still trying to come to terms with the trauma. One obvious effect of the bombings was the way they influenced the general election result three days later, when the Socialists won a shock victory.
YOUNG DEMOCRACY But why did this happen and what does it say about Spain? There have been various interpretations of why the former conservative government of Jose Maria Aznar lost. Within Spain, it appeared Aznar had lost the confidence of the people by repeatedly claiming ETA carried out the attacks despite mounting evidence to the contrary; it seemed like he was lying to his own people in order not to take the blame for making Spain a terrorist target because of its involvement in the Iraq invasion. Many in the outside world, however, saw things rather differently, viewing the Socialist election victory as a capitulation to the terrorists. Whatever the view, this was an important test of a relatively young democracy and the government which those attacks ushered in has had a dramatic effect on Spain in less than a year. Led by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the new government has introduced a number of measures which have gone some way to banishing an older era in Spain.
TRADITION CHALLENGED Many may think of Spain as a conservative, Catholic country, still recovering from the hangover of the Franco era. That is how the clichĂŠ goes. Now, 30 years after
the death of the dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, Spain finally seems to be shrugging off some of the trappings of that time. New laws will make gay marriage legal, make divorce both much easier and faster, separate the Roman Catholic Church from involvement in state education, and crack down on domestic violence in what has traditionally been thought of as a macho culture. Barcelona has banned bullfighting, Spain's most controversial 'sport', starting a trend which could follow throughout the country. Also, for the first time since Franco's death a commission will try to establish what happened to those who were murdered or jailed illegally under his regime. Though Spain is littered with reminders of the Civil War, be they exhibitions, street names or simply memories, not much has actually been done in concrete terms to put right some of the still raw wounds. The commission is a start.
ECONOMY Beyond politics, for anyone coming to make a new life in Spain, its growing economy is, perhaps, a cause for celebration. Two factors are key to this continued growth; the seemingly relentless housing boom and a still-healthy tourist sector, which was unaffected by last year's terrorist attacks. The property explosion in Spain provides knock-on effects for the rest of the economy. And tourism is another vital motor for the Spanish economy Spain is now only second to France in terms of its popularity as a world tourist destination. But the structure of the Spanish economy
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Introduction continued from page 3 is changing; no longer is it so attractive to multinationals because of the low cost of its labour. Indeed many multi-nationals have left Spain, to take advantage of lower labour costs in eastern Europe or Asia. Spain knows it must change or be left behind; it cannot provide the cheap labour of less-developed countries, but it does not have the same advanced economy of France, Germany or Britain. Investing in research and development, something it has lacked in any real measure, seems to be the way to a future where Spain is able to compete with the other major European economic players. Though expats have traditionally found work in Spain as managers for multinationals, language teachers or selling property, there is a new breed of foreign entrepreneur in Spain which is starting up companies, mostly through the internet. Indeed a recent report by the Spanish daily El Pais said Britons, Germans and Chinese expats were starting up companies at a faster rate than the Spanish themselves. But these people do not just come to Spain to work themselves into an early grave; they want to enjoy what Spanish society has to offer.
LIFESTYLE Apart from the traditional attractions of the climate, the Mediterranean diet and embracing the Spanish way of life, most want to enjoy the trappings of a more civilised quality of life. Most expats define this as a less-hassled life, perhaps more centred around the family and with most of the amenities they might have enjoyed in their own countries in a more accessible and affordable form. But beyond the glitter, what are the real Spaniards like? According to social surveys, this is increasingly a country of non-
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practising Catholics, who live together without marrying and have their children later in life. The majority don't want the Church to be involved in education or to take their taxes.
SPONTANEOUS Women have been working more and more, though still getting paid 37 percent less than men. The higher rate of female employment has pushed the birth-rate down, so some leave it too late to have their own children and adopt from other countries, principally Russia and China. Most don't leave home until they are in their late-twenties or even thirties, because they cannot afford the soaring house prices and don't want to rent; a Spaniard's home is his castilla. Socially, they appear more spontaneous and seem to loath being locked into plans. The clichĂŠ comes alive here.They smoke more than in most countries; indeed, if northern Europe has a drinking culture, Spain has the smoking equivalent. There is no culture of complaining if you are wronged by bureaucracy. There is a widespread belief that if you do complain, nothing will change very much anyway. This may be a hangover from the Franco dictatorship or just that metaphorical Latin shrug of the shoulders: 'What can you do?' One thing remains central to life in Spain, however; there is a genuine energy here, a sense of a society on the move.
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Your First Few Days When you first arrive, it’s tempting to just go out and explore. Do that, but don’t forget there’s a whole pile of paperwork to do too. Here’s a guide. FIND A SCHOOL
Deciding where to live is one of the most important decisions you will make, so check out our detailed city guides.
It is likely you will have thought about schools long before arriving. If not, you will need to make appointments to visit schools to decide which is the best option. The same applies for nurseries and childcare facilities.
See Page 11 REGISTER WITH THE AUTHORITIES
See Page 27 One of your first tasks will be to register yourself. Although engaging with Spanish bureaucracy isn’t the most enticing of prospects, the law requires that you go through the process if you are staying in the country.
See Page 6
FIND A JOB If you are not here on an expat assignment, it’s likely you are going to need to find yourself a job. And if you are from outside the EU it is possible you will need a work permit.
CONTACT THE UTILITIES
See Page 38
When you are ready to move into your permanent home, you will need to contact the relevant utility companies to either connect you or to change the billing to your name.
LEARN THE LANGUAGE
See Page 50
RELOCATION
DECIDE WHERE TO LIVE
Buy yourself a good phrase book if you're not too confident with the language or enrol on one of the many courses available.
See Page 27 OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT GET MOVING One of the first things you will need to organise when you arrive in Spain is a bank account. This is a fairly straightforward procedure which requires your registration card and passport.
Probably sooner rather and later you will encounter the public transport system or venture onto the roads. But before you do, find out the rules and regulations.
See Page 19
See Page 44
FIND OUT ABOUT MEDICAL CARE
MEET PEOPLE
Spain’s healthcare system has undergone a radical shake-up recently and has shed its dodgy image. It’s a good idea to look into what the changes will mean for you and your family.
Discover the shops, bars and restaurants in your neighbourhood or join one of the hundreds of expatriate groups and clubs in all major centres. Then you can start to enjoy your new life in Spain.
See Page 40
See Page 61
Confused? For the latest news on your permit and visa requirements, visit www.expatica.com/spain
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Residence Cards Making sure you have the paperwork to stay in Spain will likely result in your first contact with the nation’s bureaucracy. Here’s how to be legal. WHAT IS A RESIDENCE CARD? It is a credit card-sized ID card showing your photo, personal details and a fingerprint. In Spain it is mandatory to carry it (or another form of photo ID) with you at all times.
US employees who pay tax and social security at home can work for a limited period (ie. the length of their visa) in Spain without a residence card. Before you come to Spain, contact your local Spanish consulate or embassy to check what visas or documents are required. US nationals should bring their Green Card.
EU NATIONALS
GETTING A NIE
Since 14 February 2003, EU or Swiss citizens, whether employed, self-employed or student, do not need a residence card to live or work in Spain.
You can live in Spain without a residence card but you won't get far without a NIE. It should be the first thing you apply for when you arrive in Spain. First, get the relevant form from your local Comisaria or Oficina de Extranjeros (see list below) or from a gestor.
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(tarjeta de residencia)
However, it can be very useful. It means you do not have to carry your passport around with you all the time. When you buy things with a credit card, you must show a form of photo ID such as your residence card. If you are retiring to Spain you do need to apply for a residence card. You will need proof of a private health insurance scheme that is valid in Spain or of the right to Spanish public medical treatment.
Fill out the form, then take the original and a photocopy, with two passport photos and a letter proving why you need residency (eg. a letter from an employer, a copy of your rental contract or mortgage agreement) to the Oficina de Extranjeros. They will give you a return date to pick up your NIE.
FOREIGNERS’ OFFICES: You will also need a residence card if you are of independent means or if you are a non-EU national dependent of an EU (including Spanish) national. Although EU nationals (of non-retirement age) do not need a residence card, they do need a NIE a tax ID number - if they intend to register for work, or buy a property or a car in Spain. See below for details.
NON EU NATIONALS Non-EU nationals need a residence card to live in Spain for more than 90 days, depending on their visa. The visa can be renewed for a further 90 days, allowing the person to stay in Spain for six months in any year.
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(Oficinas de Extranjeros) •Madrid: C/ General Pardiñas, 90, tel. 91 322 6839/40/41 •Barcelona: C/ Marqués de la Argentera 4, tel. 93 482 0544 •Malaga: Pl. de Manuel Azaña, 3, tel. 95 204 6200 •Estepona: C/ Veracruz, 2, tel. 95 280 3600 •Fuengirola: Av. Conde San Isidro, s/n. tel. 95 219 8368 •Marbella: Av. Arias de Velasco, s/n. tel. 95 276 2647 •Torremolinos: C/ Skal, s/n. tel. 95 237 8437 •Alicante: C/ San Fernando, 18, tel. 96 514 2613 •Benidorm: C/ Apolo XI, 36, tel. 96 585 5308 •Denia: C/ Castell d'Olimbroi, 5, tel. 96 642 0555 •Murcia: Avda. Ciudad de Almería, 33, tel. 96 822 3166 Open 9am-2pm unless otherwise stated
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Residence Cards GETTING A RESIDENCE CARD If you apply yourself, rather than employ the services of a gestor who will charge €150-250 to deal with all the residence card bureaucracy for you, make sure you know exactly what documentation is required at every stage.
RELOCATION
Otherwise, you could find yourself queuing for hours when you simply needed to make an appointment for a later date or realise too late that you do not have the relevant documents on you. First of all, go along to the Oficina de Extranjero to make an appointment. This will be set for about 2-3 months later. When you return for your appointment, take with you: •three passport size photographs •original and photocopy of passport •NIE document At this point, they will start processing your application and give you various forms (including one with which to pay your €6.31 fee at any bank - keep the receipt). They will also give you a date to return to have your thumbprint taken and hand in completed forms. Also take the remainder of your three passport photos. You will also need a certificado de empadronamiento, obtained from your local town hall. For that, you will need to show your rental contract and passport. You will be asked to return about five weeks later to collect your residence card. The rules regarding residence cards are constantly changing. Currently the Spanish authorities are legalising as many people as possible before clamping down some time in 2005. For the latest information contact the Ministry of the Interior (Secretaria de Estado de Inmigracion y Emigracion), tel: 900 150 000, www.dgei.mir.es.
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NON-EU NATIONALS DOCUMENTATION: •a passport valid for at least six months, relevant visas and photocopies of each. •official papers showing your marital status with a Spanish translation. •form 120 for employed persons and form 140 for non-employed persons. •passport-size photographs (one for each application form); •proof of residence (e.g. your property contract, rental contract or receipts for rent). •fees, which must be paid via a bank (you will be given a paying-in slip). •medical certificate obtainable from any Spanish doctor. •official certificate of criminal record declaring that you don't have a criminal record in your home country, requested through your local police authorities. •certificate of registration confirming that you are resident in Spain, available from your country's local consulate in Spain. •Job contract, offer of employment or evidence that you meet the requirements to perform a particular profession in Spain, if self-employed
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Social Security Spain's comprehensive social security benefits cover health, sickness, maternity, work injuries, housing, unemployment, retirement and death.
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Most of Spain's social security spending goes on benefits for the elderly, disabled, widowed and for housing, all dealt with by the Instituto Nacional de Seguridad Social (INSS). Unemployment benefit is distributed by the Instituto Nacional de Empleo (INEM) and the remaining 30 percent or so of revenue is spent by the Instituto Nacional de Salud (INSALUD) on health services and by the Instituto de Servicios Sociales (INSERSO) on social services. For more information, contact your local social security office (see under Seguridad Social in the Yellow Pages) or the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social, www.segsocial.es, tel. 900 616 200 (free information line).
WHO CONTRIBUTES? Any foreign employee (cuenta ajena) working for a Spanish company or anyone who is self-employed (cuenta propia) should contribute to Spanish social security. You do not need to pay social security contributions in your home country if you are an employee in Spain, though agreements between Spain and 40 countries including Australia, Canada and the US mean that expats can remain members of their country's social security system for a certain period. EU nationals who are either self-employed or posted to Spain by their company can continue to pay social security in their home country for one year. After working in Spain for two years, EU nationals must pay contributions to the Spanish social security system. You must have lived in Spain for a limited period and contributed a minimum amount before you are entitled to benefits.
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Pensioners in Spain who receive a state pension from another EU country are automatically entitled to health benefits in Spain, providing your have an E121 form with you from your country's social security system. British expats can receive further information from the Department of Social Security, www.dwp.gov.uk, tel. 0044 191 218 7777.
HOW DO YOU CONTRIBUTE? Your employer will usually deal with the paperwork. If not, or if you are selfemployed or retired with an EU state pension, you need to register at your local social security office. Pensioners should take copies of their E121 form, passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable and proof of residence (rental contract or deed of sale escritura). Once you receive your registration card (tarjeta sanitaria) a few weeks' later, your spouse and dependants are also covered.
HOW MUCH ARE CONTRIBUTIONS? (cuotas) Contributions are calculated according to your taxable income. You start paying as you as you start working in Spain, whether resident yet or not. The minimum monthly salary on which you must pay contributions is around â‚Ź450, depending on the type of contract and work sector: 37.2 per cent of that wage is paid in social security, only about 6.4 percent of that by the employee and the rest by the employer. The self-employed - even part-time workers - pay a minimum of â‚Ź220 a month in social security contributions, which can be a sizeable chunk of a monthly wage in Spain.
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Relocation Agencies RELOCATION
Barcelona Relocation Services C/. Ganduxer No. 14 Entrl. 4 & 5Calle Ganduxer No. 14 Entl. 4 & 5 08021 Barcelona tel. + 34 93 203 4935 www.barcelonarelocation.com Crossing Cultures S.L. Josep Carner 5 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona) tel. + 34 935 808 729 info@crossing-cultures.com www.crossing-cultures.com Crown Relocations Ctra. de Mejorada 1, Planta 1, of. 1
San Fernando de Henares Madrid 28830. tel. + 34 91 485 0600 madrid@crownrelo.com www.crownrelo.com Etudios y Logistica ELFOS, S.L. C/Manel Farres 89 Local 2a 08190 Sant Cugat de Vallés Barcelona tel. + 34 93 589 1344 elfos@copc.es www.elfosbarcelona.com Executive Relocations España Avenida Mistral 10, entio, 9 Despacho 9, 08015 Barcelona
tel. + 34 93 426 3288 ehery@exerelospn.com www.exerelospn.com Gil Stauffer Relocation Services C/Mar Mediterraneo 20 Poligono Industrial 28830 San Fernando De Henares (Madrid) tel. + 34 91 678 49 98 international@gilstauffer.com Olympic Advisors S.L Calle Platon 6, Atico 1 08021 Barcelona tel. + 34 93 414 4000 oasl@kaos.es/www.oasl.net
RELOCATIONS ESPAÑA Relocations España is an organisation committed to providing a high-quality, personalised, yet completely professional relocation and cross-cultural services for international expatriates moving to Spain.
http://www.relocationspain.com
Madrid Office Arturo Soria, 263 B 28033 Madrid (Spain) tel. +34 913843 900 info@relocationspain.com
Barcelona Office Duran i Bas, 1 Alella Park 08328 Alella Barcelona (Spain) tel. +34 902 190 317 info@relocationspain.com
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Where To Live: Madrid Finding that little piece of heaven is never easy. Here’s a neighbourhood guide to the suburbs of Madrid, from the Real and posh to the real and authentic. LAVAPIES
Within walking distance of the centre, Lavapies also has good metro and bus services to every corner of the city. Similar in mood and facilities are Malasaña and Chueca on the northern side of the Gran Vía, though both tend to be noisier at night. Chueca is the heart of Madrid's gay culture.
CHAMARTÍN Located around one of Madrid's two main stations - this one dispatching trains to northern Europe - Chamartin is a spacious and residential area with a well-established expat community, favoured by couples or families who want comfortable accommodation within easy reach of the centre. Bus and metro communications are excellent and the latter's 1 and 9 lines are the most modern and comfortable in Madrid, taking you to the Castellana Avenue and AZCA financial business zones of the city in 15 minutes. Behind the wide avenues are pricey apartment complexes and sought-after residential 'colonies' whose villas have private gardens.
The local two-storey covered market is the most chic in Madrid and there are endless options for stylish cafes and restaurants.
HOUSING
The former Jewish quarter south of the central Sol square is the most ethnically mixed of the city's neighbourhoods with local European, North African, Chinese, Pakistani and Turkish communities providing a bohemian ambience. Properties tend to be small studios and one bedroom flat conversions - and secured for relatively cheap rents - favoured by single expats in low-paid jobs.
Tucked away behind Chamartín's wide avenues are medium to costly modern two to four-bedroomed apartment complexes, as well as a couple of secluded and sought-after residential "colonies" El Viso and Rosales.
Socially this is a busy area too with plenty of international clubs, societies, churches and schools and the suburb's top sports facilities include Madrid's only Olympicsized indoor swimming pool.
POZUELO DE ALARCÓN, MAJADAHONDA AND LAS ROZAS Half an hour outside the city to the north west is this close-knit trio of new towns which have been transformed from neglected post Civil War hamlets into large ultra-modern urbanisations of spacious, upmarket apartments, semi-detached houses and villas with tastefully planned green zones. Their original centres have been overhauled to provide banks, shops and restaurants (often with a north African rather than European influence). There are several international schools in the area and plenty of organised sports and social facilities. Properties are expensive and the zone is a favourite among executives with families seeking home comforts in a peaceful setting that's within easy commuting distance of work. Cercanías (suburban) train and
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Where To Live: Madrid
HOUSING
continued from page 11 bus services both into the capital and up into the mountains are excellent and for car owners access via the main Carretera de Coru単a highway - best avoiding rush hours of 7.30am to 9am and 7pm to 9pm is first rate. Rail routes in and out of the city are unexpectedly attractive as they pass through the southerly fringe of the pinewooded El Pardo national park.
LA MORALEJA Top of the scale comes the rarefied-air development of La Moraleja in the north east of the city just below the "satellite" town of Alcobendas. Rental and purchase prices in La Moraleja are extremely high
and its residents include the internationally rich and famous, including David and Victoria Beckham. Like Mirasierra to the west and Piovera to the south, this Madrile単o version of Beverly Hills is a tranquil and spacious oasis of luxury villas with private gardens. Most of Madrid's best private schools and sports clubs can be found her, and the few eating spots are select and costly. Buses and trains run regularly from nearby Alcobendas to Madrid centre half an hour away but a private car is essential both for shopping in nearby commercial centres and for going into the city independently via the busy Carretera de Burgos N1 highway.
The Palacio de Com in the Plaza Cildes in Madrid is indicative of the granduer of much of the architecture.
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Where To Live: Barcelona Barcelona has the rare privilege of being a vibrant city by the sea, which is why so many foreigners move there. Here’s the city, suburb-by-suburb. CIUTAT VELLA
HOUSING
The oldest, liveliest and most touristy neighbourhood which runs south of Placa Catalunya down to the sea oozes history, character and tourists. It may not be the most practical place for long-term living or for families as buildings tend to be tall, narrow and without lifts and the streets old, dark and impossible to get a car through (let alone park). But the area is full of atmosphere and great for young couples and single professionals. El Born is a particularly sought-after place to live at present, with its narrow streets of bars, restaurants and boutiques converging on the beautiful Santa Maria del Mar basilica. On the other side of the Ramblas is the Raval, a former no-go neighbourhood known for crime and prostitution, now being lapped up by artists, designers and musicians. Chic bars and restaurants are springing up on every corner and property is still relatively cheap. Be prepared for some extensive DIY though to bring these buildings up to scratch.
L'EIXAMPLE In stark contrast to the maze of backstreets in the old town, Eixample boasts an immaculate grid of avenues, designed in 1859 to extend the city beyond the overcrowded centre. The area is conspicuously upmarket, with designer boutiques, tree-lined boulevards and wonderful Modernist buildings by famous Catalan architects Antoni Gaudí, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Lluís Doménech i Montaner. The Eixample is divided into the left side,
L'Eixample Esquerra and the right side, L'Eixample Dreta. Both have a mixture of high-end and more modest housing, with shops and restaurants galore, schools and other services filling the first and second floors of early 20th-century buildings dedicated to housing or office space.
GRÀCIA Long the haunt of artists and free-thinkers, Gracia was once an independent village of narrow streets and small plazas until Barcelona swallowed it up in 1897. It retains that villagey feel in its shady squares and pretty streets of cafes, tapas restaurants, low-key nightspots, alternative theatres and quirky shops. Housing ranges from large, sunny flats to cramped spaces that have been carved out of one-time private homes, but in general renting or buying here is more affordable
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HOUSING
Where To Live: Barcelona continued from page 13
SAN CUGAT
SARRIÀ AND THE ZONA ALTA
An ideal place for families, the suburb of San Cugat is well connected to the city centre by the ferrocarril (regional train). The pace here is slower than in central Barcelona and while property prices are still high, it's possible to find a larger townhouse or even a small one-family home, something which is difficult in Barcelona.
Barcelona's most privileged address, Sarrià, and the larger area Zona Alta are home to mansions, elegant apartment blocks and the most expensive international schools. You'll need your own transport to get around comfortably, but the neighbourhood has a tranquil, residential feel impossible to find in other parts of the city. All housing here is expensive, but it's also newer and generally in better condition than many of the apartments on offer in more historic parts of Barcelona. For many people, a big plus of the Zona Alta is that it's close to the Ronda, the belt-like highway that circles Barcelona.
Forests of the Collserola mountain ridge make for great strolling, and the large park on the grounds of a Romanesque monastery is a good place for children to play. San Cugat's concentrated centre has all the services you need, including an international school.
La Sagrada Familia, Antonio Guadi’s unfinished masterpiece in Barcelona.
Looking for the lowdown on life in Spain? Visit the forum to talk to old hands: www.expatica.com/spain 14
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Buying A Home When you are ready to take the plunge and enter the Spanish property market, where do you start? Town or country, there are plenty of property options.
Prices are predicted to continue to rise by about 10 percent in 2004, though venture slightly inland from the coast or just outside of big cities and there are far more affordable properties to be found offering greater value for money. The appeal of buying on the coast is obvious. Coastal properties, as well as apartments in cities, also profit from a strong buy-to-let market. In Barcelona, buying a central two-bed apartment to rent out for â&#x201A;Ź150 a night during the summer months will cover your mortgage payments nicely. Compared with the UK, the house-buying process in Spain is quick and the entire transaction is often complete within a month or two.
With resales, you must ensure that you collect and check all the relevant documents from the seller before you pay your deposit. Also check that the sale and purchase contract are carefully drafted as in Spain personal debts, tax bills, court judgements and mortgages are charged against the property rather than the individual.
HOUSING
With average property prices in Madrid and Barcelona at â&#x201A;Ź3,100 per square metre, you will be lucky to stumble across a bargain anymore (properties in provincial capitals and small towns are about half this figure). Such is the demand among foreigners for central apartments in these cities that Spanish families are increasingly selling up and moving into something far bigger out of town for the same price.
Check on the escritura publica that the seller's name corresponds with the person you are dealing with, that the description of the property matches what you think you are buying and that the property is free from charges, restrictions and court orders for seizure. If the seller has a mortgage, make sure the payments are up to date. Otherwise the bank could seize the property. The Property Registry (www.registradores.org/principal/indexx.jsp, tel. 902 201 200) can provide you with details of the owner and any charges on any property in Spain. You can pay by credit card to receive this information online, usually within 24 hours. The website also lists details of local branches (search under 'Localice su registro'). See below for the main branch in major cities.
CHECKING OUT THE PROPERTY If you are interested in a new-build property, which by Spanish law must come with a 10-year guarantee, make sure you check plans for future developments in the area. Buying new-build off-plan is popular in Spain, especially on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, though if you are intending to rent it out, do not instantly take the agent's claims of guaranteed year-round income at face value. Also consider that when complete, the property may not be worth as much as originally anticipated.
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Make sure the house is not rented out as you will struggle to get rid of tenants. Ask the building's president or whoever is in charge of the community of property owners about monthly community fees, whether the current owner owes anything, and whether any major works on the building are due. Check that the owner has paid all municipal real estate tax (IBI- Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) owed, otherwise you will foot the bill and penalties.
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Buying A Home THE BUYING PROCESS The are four principle stages when buying a house in Spain:
1. HOLDING DEPOSIT: Once the buyer has
HOUSING
established the property is free from any debts, he puts down a non-refundable deposit which takes the property off the market and avoids gazumping. Make sure you get a receipt if the deposit is paid directly to the developer rather than held in a solicitor's account. If you pull out of the purchase, you lose your money.
2. SALE AND PURCHASE CONTRACT: This contract is drawn up a few weeks after you have paid the holding deposit and should outline: •name, identity number and address of seller. If the seller is a company then the company details and the particulars of its representative must be disclosed. •details of the property being sold with reference to its registration in the land registry. •description of what the property consists of (eg. garage, storeroom, furniture, communal pool, garden etc.) •price, terms and method of payment. •completion date •details of guarantees associated with any deposits or stage payments on the property (legally required if demanded by the buyer). •implications regarding non payments of stage payments or late completion. •legal jurisdiction. The remainder of the deposit, typically 10 percent of the value of the property, is normally payable at this point.
3. ESCRITURA PUBLICA: The official document of title deeds and transfer of ownership. It must be signed in front of a notario, an official government representative, who confirms the identities of the signing parties and that the contents of the document and the statements made in the Escritura by each of the contracting parties.
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Bear in mind that the notario does not guarantee that the contents are true. It is up to you to check the validity of the facts. On signing the Escritura, you must pay the remainder of the cost of the property. If the property has charges or debts attached to it then you should make out bankers’ drafts to each of your sellers creditors with the balance payable to him. Remember the debts stay with the property so don't rely on your seller paying off his obligations out of the proceeds; you should do it directly.
4. REGISTRATION OF DOCUMENTS: Once signed, the buyer must ensure all this documentation is correctly registered in the land registry. Otherwise you could come up against all sorts of problems later on when you come to sell. It is usually best to ask a local gestor to take care of this for you. GETTING A MORTGAGE: The bank requires the following documents: •passport or NIE •work contract •last three payslips •latest income tax return •pre-agreement with the seller •proof that the property tax (IBI) on the house is paid up •details of other mortgages or loans that you may have •all property titles, both in Spain and overseas •certificate from work authorities (vida laboral), showing your past work history •records of your assets (bank/mutual fund statements, etc.) •prenuptial agreements, if applicable •certificate of non-residency if applicable (form available from the bank) •details of tax paid in the past year, if selfemployed
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Renting A Home There is little more stressful than arriving and wondering where on earth you are going to live. Here’s how to make the hunt for a place to rent less painful.
Like any European cities, finding a property to rent in Madrid or Barcelona depends as much on striking lucky by being recommended somewhere through a contact as pounding the pavements for days on end before you find something you like.
WHERE TO LOOK Make the most of anyone you know in the city – friends, family, distant acquaintances, work links – who can advise you on where to start and what to avoid. Check advertisements for apartments to rent (se alquila) in shop windows, on noticeboards in supermarkets, universities and colleges, expat clubs, newsletters, and bars. You will also see many apartments advertised or on lampposts. Don’t be fooled though by the apparent scrappiness of the advert. The property may still be dealt with by an agency, in which case you will have to pay their commission, which is usually one month’s rent for long-term rentals. The advantage of going through an agency is that you have a proper rental contract and they act as a useful gobetween between you and the owner if anything goes wrong in the apartment. The local and regional press is a useful source of accommodation adverts, usually
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on Friday and Saturday. Phone as soon as you spot something you are interested in as, particularly in Madrid or Barcelona, any remotely desirable property will have a queue of people waiting to view it. As with lamppost advertising, you will usually find there is an agent involved in newspaper adverts.
HOUSING
Before you look at anything, establish the basics: whether you want to rent a room in a shared apartment or live alone; the maximum amount you are prepared to pay and in which area you want to live and how long you want to rent for. You can rent properties on a short-term basis, by the week or month, but this will cost considerably more. Otherwise, rental contracts are usually for a minimum of one year.
If you do not speak Spanish, look at expat publications and websites (including Expatica). In Barcelona the main source of rental accommodation is Metropolitan magazine with its Catalunya Classified accommodation supplement, distributed in expat bars. Visit estate agents (agentes de propriedad inmobiliaria) in the area you are interested in. Most will also deal with properties to rent or be able to recommend letting agents locally.
RENTAL COSTS Cities, of course, cost far more than small towns and villages. Then within that you have to consider the neighbourhood, the age of the building (in cities with a significant old town such as Barcelona, be prepared for endless flights of stairs and no lift), the size of the flat – always measured in square metres - and the amenities. If the building has a lift, the higher the apartment, the higher the rent generally, as you have more light, security and less noise. In a building without a lift, the higher the apartment, the lower the rent. It is no easy matter trudging up six storeys several times a day. In Madrid and Barcelona there is far greater demand than supply for rental accommodation so rents are high. For a two-bed unfurnished apartment of a decent size (eg.75m2) in a good central area, expect to pay around €1,200 a month.
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Renting A Home In smaller towns, rural areas and on less expensive coastal resorts it will be half the price. High rise developments (urbanizaciones) on the outskirts of major cities, where many Spanish families live, offer cheaper accommodation, though less aesthetic and practical than living centrally.
HOUSING
Rents are lowest in small towns and rural areas, although good rented accommodation is often difficult to find. Check out public transport and other facilities before you are lured by a more remote rental.
EXTRA COSTS Gas and electricity are unlikely to be included in your long-term contract, though community fees, property taxes (IBI) and water rates are usually paid by the owner. If you want a telephone, you will most likely have to install it yourself as few Spanish properties have a landline.
CONTRACTS Rental contracts dated from January 1 1995 must adhere to the new Law of Urban Lettings (Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos) of 1994. A short-term contract (contrato de arrendimiento de temporada) applies to holiday lettings or anything up to one year. Long-term contracts are for a minimum of one year and usually up to five years. After that time the owner can terminate the contract, provided he gives the tenant 30 days' notice. Otherwise the contract will be automatically renewed for three years.
DEPOSIT When you sign a rental contract, you must pay the landlord a desposit (fianza) equal to one month’s rent. This will be returned to you when you move out, providing you leave the property in the same state as it was in when you moved in. Make sure you check the inventory otherwise you may find chunks of your deposit moved for items not there in the first place.
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Many landlords, especially in big cities, demand additional guarantees that you can pay your rent. They may wish to see a payslip (nomima) or they may require an aval bancario, a letter of credit from a Spanish bank which guarantees that if you default on your payments, the bank will pay whatever is owed for the remainder of the contract.
REPAIRS It is the landlord’s responsibility to keep the property in a fit and habitable condition but not to repair any damage the tenant causes through daily use. If you need to make any urgent repairs, inform the landlord first so that s/he can reimburse you of the costs. If repairs are required which affect health, hygiene and comfort in the property, the landlord must give you three months’ notice, in which time you may decide to end your rental agreement (by giving one month’s notice) or negotiate a reduced rental while the apartment is in a state of repair.
RESCINDING THE CONTRACT The landlord can terminate the rental contract if the tenant does not pay their rent or deposit, sublets the property without the landlord’s permission, deliberately causes damage to the property or undertakes repairs without the landlord’s consent. Equally, the tenant may pull out of the rental contract if the landlord fails to make the necessary repairs to keep the property in a fit and habitable condition or disturbs the tenant while they are living there.
PROBLEMS WITH YOUR LANDLORD Go to a Spanish lawyer to make a formal complaint. Then, if necessary, your lawyer will take the case to court (procedimiento civil ordinario).
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Banking The currency in Spain is the euro, but the old pesetas have not been totally forgotten. Here’s how to open an account and pay for goods and services. Spain may now be a land of the euro (and prices bear little resemblance to those in the days of the peseta) but you will still hear many people quoting figures in their old currency.
CURRENCY
OPENING AN ACCOUNT Once you've acquired your big wads of high-denomination euros, it's time to open a bank account. You have the choice of a regular bank or a savings bank (a Caja de Ahorros, which doesn't have shareholders and invests profits in social, educational and cultural projects). Internet-only accounts like ING Direct (www.ingdirect.es, tel. 901 020 901), Patagon (www.patagon.es, tel. 902 157 213) and Uno-e (www.uno-e.es, tel. 901 111 113) offer higher interest current accounts and fast access to your money.
Once you make a minimum deposit of €20, you receive a paying book - which states whether you have a resident or non-resident account (the rates differ slightly). Non-residents can open a nonresident euro account (cuenta de euros de no residente) or a foreign currency account only. You will be sent an ATM card within a couple of weeks.
MONEY
As in most EU countries, the currency in Spain is the euro, with 100 centimos to the euro, €1 and €2 coins and notes of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and higher. But it’s best not to flash those last ones around and certainly don't expect many places to be able to change them for anything smaller.
Opening a savings account (cuenta de ahorro) or current account (cuenta corriente) in any Spanish bank is a straightforward process. You simply need your passport or residency/ID card and an address in Spain and then let the bank manager fill in the forms for you.
You will need a bank account if you wish to pay bills such as water, electricity and telephone by direct debit. Once you give the company your bank's name and sort code you will be directly debited for these services. If you wish to stop a direct debit, visit your branch to ask them to cancel it and write to the company concerned. You must also write to your branch if you change address.
continued on page 20 You have the choice of a regular bank or a savings bank (a Caja de Ahorros, which doesn't have shareholders and invests profits in social, educational and cultural projects).
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Banking continued from page 19
given to you in a sealed envelope at the bank rather than posted.
BANK BRANCHES
MONEY
Bank staff and managers are strangely friendly in Spain. They smile and recognise you on subsequent visits. They may even know your name. The major national banks can be found in all cities and towns, but each region also has its own banks such as Banco de Andalucia, Caixa Catalunya and Banco de Alicante. Opening hours are usually 8am/9am2pm on Monday-Friday and 9am-1pm on Saturday. You may find designated hours and days for paying bills (usually first thing in the morning).
PAYMENT METHODS Cheques are rarely used. Most Spaniards use debit/cash cards (tarjeta de débito) or, even better, cash for those crucial tax fiddles. You should receive your debit/cash card and chequebook at the same time and your PIN number will probably be
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Spain and issued by most banks for a fee of between €10-25 a year or up to €60 for a gold card. You can withdraw around €300 a day from ATMs - the major networks are Telebanco 4B and Servired - and obtain balances and mini-statements, pay bills and top up your mobile phone with credit. Although you can use your card in any ATM, you will be charged at any banks other than your own. You can also use non-Spanish credit or debit cards in cash machines, but if you wish to purchase goods in Spanish shops with a credit card you must show your passport or residence card.
BANK CARD CANCELLATION NUMBERS If your Visa or Mastercard is stolen, tel. 4B 902 114 400 or Servi Red 902 192 100. To cancel an American Express, tel. 902 375 637.
MAIN SPANISH BANKS La Caixa tel. 902 200 202 www.laCaixa.es BBVA tel. 917 416 904 www.grupobbva.com Grupo Banco Popular tel. 915 207 900 www.bancopopular.es Santander Central Hispano tel. 902 242 424 www.gruposantander.com Solbank tel. 2 343 999 www.solbank.com
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Spain may now be in euro-land and prices bear little resemblance to those in the days of the peseta — but you will still hear people quoting figures in their old currency.
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Taxation Taxes are inevitable and inevitably confusing, especially in a foreign country. Here is a potted guide to how to cope with Spain's fiscal system.
MONEY
The tax regime has changed dramatically in Spain in the past decade. It is far harder now to avoid paying tax and the penalties are high. Income tax in particular has risen considerably, although it remains lower than the EU average. But it is still very difficult to get consistent advice on what you should and shouldn't be paying. The rules keep changing, the system is complicated and you are likely to receive different advice from every tax adviser you consult. Foreign residents would be wise to find yourself an English-speaking adviser to explain the intricacies of your tax situation as it will depend upon numerous complicating factors such as where you live in Spain, whether you are resident or non-resident, the source of your income and your assets. The Spanish tax year runs from 1 January to 31 December and taxes are levied by governments at three levels: centrally, regional and locally. There are assessment and tax collection centres in all provincial capital towns whose information section (oficina de informacion al contribuyente) will offer free advice and help you fill in your tax declaration, though they won't do it for you.
WHO PAYS There is a difference between being a Spanish resident for civil purposes (ie. by having a residence card) and being a resident for tax purposes. If you live in Spain for more than 182 days per year, you are automatically considered a Spanish resident for tax purposes. This means you will be liable to pay income tax (Impuestos sobre la renta de las personal físicas, IRPF) on your worldwide income when you complete a declaration
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(Declaración de la Renta) during May or June the following year. Personal Income Tax starts at 17 percent and rises to 48 percent. It is a direct tax levied on the income of individuals, minus the expenses deductible according to Spanish law. At present if you earn less than €21,035 you do not have to fill in an income tax return. Non-residents Income Tax (IRNR) is calculated according to any income derived in Spain, including a money deposit with a Spanish bank, a property in Spain or income made from any business in Spain. The United States, however, is the only country that taxes its non-resident citizens on income earned abroad. Residents are taxed on their worldwide income. But you may deduct income tax paid in your home country to avoid double taxation.
MAIN TAX OFFICES •C/ Guzmán el Bueno, 139, 28003 Madrid, tel. 91 582 67 67 •Pza. Doctor Letamendi, 13-.23, 08007 Barcelona, tel. 93 291 11 00 •Ctra Malaga 174, 04700 El Ejido, Malaga, tel. 95 048 3311 •Pz. de la Montañeta, 8, 03001 Alicante, tel. 96 514 97 00 •C/ Cecilio Metelo, 9, 07003 Palma de Mallorca, tel. 971 44 88 00 •Moll de Ponent, 1, 07701 Mahón, tel. 971 35 23 87
Contact the Agencia Tributaria (tel. 901 335 533, www.aeat.es) for details of all local tax offices in each region. For information about income tax and VAT refunds, tel. 901 121 224.
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Taxation THE VARIOUS TYPES OF TAXES
WASTE COLLECTION/MAINS DRAINAGE TAX
INCOME TAX - IRPF (see page 22) —
(basura y alcantarillado) — annual tax payable by all property owners.
employees' income tax is deducated at source by employers; self-employed workers pay the tax quarterly (pago fraccionado).
MONEY
Non-residents who earn money from a Spanish source, and non-residents who own property should file an income tax declaration.
CAPITAL GAINS TAX (impuesto sobre incremento de patrimonio de la venta de una bien inmeuble) — residents pay 15 percent, non-residents 35 percent of the profits made on the sale of property and other assets such as a business, antiques or stocks and shares in Spain.
INHERITANCE AND GIFT TAX (impuesto Residents and non-residents with income in Spain (other than that made from property letting) must make their annual income tax declaration between May 1 and June 20.
sobre sucesiones y donaciones) — payable by beneficiaries within six months of a death if the person died in Spain.
BUSINESS TAX (impuesto sobre activiWEALTH TAX (Impuesto sobre el patrimonio) — payable by residents and non-residents on high-value capital assets, including property, cash in bank accounts, vehicles, boats, life insurance, jewellery, stocks and shares in Spain. Residents are entitled to an allowance of €258,435 against wealth tax. There is no allowance for non-residents who must pay tax on all their assets in Spain.
PROPERTY/REAL ESTATE TAX OR RATES (impuesto sobre bienes inmuebles urbano, IBI)— paid by all property owners, resident or non-resident, to go towards street cleaning, education, council administration, local sports amenities etc. IBI is calculated according to the fiscal or rateable value of your property. Ask at your town hall when to pay as they may not send out a bill.
dades economicas/IAE) — paid by all businesses with annual turnover exceeding €1 million.
COMPANY/CORPORATION TAX (impuesto sobre sociedades) — 35 percent on profits made by partnerships and registered companies such as Sociedad Anonima (SA) or Sociedad Limitada (SL).
OFFSHORE COMPANY TAX (impuesto especial) — annual tax on offshore companies that do not declare the individual owner of property in Spain or the source of investment.
MOTOR VEHICLE TAX (impuesto de circulacion) — paid by anyone who owns a Spanish-registered vehicle. The amount is based on the age and the power of the vehicle and the region you live in. The larger the city is, the higher the tax. For an average car, it costs about €60 a year.
For detailed information on managing your finances as an expat, check out www.expatica.com/spain
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Insurance The Spanish take out fewer policies than Northern Europeans, but the insurance market in Spain has still grown considerably over the last ten years. Some types of insurance are obligatory in Spain: third-party car insurance, thirdparty property liability insurance for tenants and home owners and mortgage life insurance for anyone who has a mortgage.
If you need to make an insurance claim, you may need to report the incident to the police within 24 hours. Spanish law is likely to differ from that of other countries so obtain legal advice if you need to make anything more than a minor claim. There are many foreign insurance companies, direct telephone insurers, insurance agents and brokers (corredor de seguros) who deal specifically with expatriates. Look in the Yellow Pages under Seguros for local details. In Spanish resorts you will find many
Since 1994, Spanish residents can insure their car, home or life with any insurance company in the EU, with the insurer needing to be registered in Spain. Using a foreign insurance company means the policy and any claims will be written in your language. They may charge more than a Spanish company, however, and the policy may still need to be written under Spanish law.
MONEY
Voluntary insurance includes private pensions, health, household, travel, car breakdown and life insurance.
independent British and foreign brokers. Shop around for quotes and ask friends and colleagues for recommendations to avoid using a disreputable company.
If the policy is written in Spain, get a legal adviser to check it before you sign anything. If you wish to cancel a policy, most companies request that you write to them with two or three months notice, otherwise they will automatically extend your policy for a further year.
Even if your possessions are simple, home and contents insurance is a sound investment. There are many foreign insurance companies, telephone insurers, agents and brokers (corredor de seguros) who deal specifically with the needs of expatriates.
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Insurance HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE
MONEY
Although homeowner's insurance (seguro del hogar) is not compulsory, it is advisable to take out cover for building damage (storm damage can be common in some parts of Spain), theft, vandalism, etc. Your mortgage lender may also insist you take out fire insurance until the loan is repaid. The price of the policy will depend on the value of your home, the value of the contents and the risks you wish to be covered. If you are renting a property, the landlord only can take out insurance but you, as the tenant, can insure its contents.
LIFE INSURANCE A life insurance (seguro de vida) policy pays the beneficiary an agreed sum upon the death of the person whose life has been insured. If the beneficiary is named, they do not have to wait for the estate of the deceased to be distributed before they can receive their money.
Always check what is included and excluded with any policy. Spanish companies have the right to cancel a policy at the end of the insurance period if you have an ongoing serious illness with high expenses. Many expats find that Spanish policies offer more limited cover than schemes in their own countries.
CAR INSURANCE HEALTH INSURANCE Most people in Spain are covered for health treatment under social security, but more than six million Spanish residents take our private health insurance to avoid waiting lists and gain access to a wider range of hospitals and specialists if they need to.
There are two types of automobile insurance in Spain. Third party liability insurance (seguro de terceros o de responsabilidad civil obligatoria) is the minimum mandatory insurance required to drive a car. It covers personal injury and damage to a third party's property (passengers and car).
Always check what is included and excluded with any policy. Spanish companies have the right to cancel a policy at the end of the insurance period if you have an ongoing serious illness with high expenses.
Then there is fully-comprehensive insurance (seguro a todo riesgo), which covers injury and damage not covered by thirdparty liability insurance. It also covers theft of the vehicle and damage of its contents.
For daily news and analysis â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in English â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of current events in Spain, read www.expatica.com/spain
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Education System Spain’s education system can offer a lot to the expat family, but do your research and find the school that is best suited to the needs of your children. When you reach the grand old age of five in Spain, it's time to go to school. But should your parents want to hand you over earlier, you will find nursery schools for children from as young as nine months.
Parents need to buy all textbooks and materials, but they save on uniform as few state schools have one. Homework may be given from the first year onwards. School hours vary depending on the school and are usually from 9am to 4pm with an hour's break for lunch.
NURSERY EDUCATION (3-6 YEARS) (Educación Infantil, EI) Children usually receive three years of nursery education to develop their physical and mental skills. From the age of four they learn to read and write and by the time they complete their EI they will know the alphabet. Emphasis is placed on learning about various aspects of different cultures, the environment and road awareness skills
PRIMARY EDUCATION (6-12 YEARS) (Educación Primaria, EP) The six years of primary education are split into three two-year periods. If the child has not reached the required standard by the end of any period they may have to repeat the second year of that stage. Pupils learn Spanish language, maths, Conocimiento del Medio (which includes history, geography and biology), Physical Education, Art and a second language, usually English. Religion is also taught at this stage in most schools, focusing on Catholicism. There is no streaming in Spain; classes are all mixed ability, and parents can see teachers once a week to discuss their child's progress and problems. Children are introduced to exams from around the
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Some schools, however, prefer to work through to 1.30pm or 2pm without a break and then the children finish for the day.
EDUCATION
Parents usually need to register their children for the September intake in May, either directly at the school or via the local town hall.
third year of primary school, but there are no national level testing exams as is the case in the UK.
If your child's school day continues into the afternoon and you are unable to get home for lunchtime, school dinners are available. Prepare your child for the fact that they will be sizeable lunches, as it is the main meal of the day for Spaniards, and that they will be encouraged to eat it, along with all the Spanish children. This may be traumatic at first for your child, being made to eat strange food with names they don't understand.
SECONDARY EDUCATION (12-16/18 YEARS) (Educacion Secundaria) The secondary school system in Spain has seen major changes in the past decade. It has moved away from the traditional rotelearning model and is now more akin to the British comprehensive system. Pupils attend secondary school (instituto) aged 12 to begin their four years of compulsory education. At the end, they receive a certificate and can either leave or go on to study for the 'bachillerato'.
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Education System continued from page 27
EDUCATION
If a pupil does not reach the required level of maths or Spanish at the end of each year they can be made to repeat the year, which can cause discipline problems when an older child is placed in a class of younger children. Subjects include the usual range and the ethos is now far more geared towards project work and continuous assessment than the old-style endless fact-learning. Spanish schools have a relaxed atmosphere with less discipline than British schools, for example, and the family is expected to help the child with their studies. Pupils who stay on after 16 can study for the two-year 'Bachillerato' academic course (either Arts, Humanities, Sciences or Technology), or enrol on practical training courses called 'modulos'. Those who have passed the Bachillerato with good marks and who want to go on to university take an entrance exam in June.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS For information about British English-language schools in Spain, contact the British Council, Paseo Mart铆nez Campos, 31, 28010 Madrid. tel. 91 337 3500, www.britishcouncil.es, or consult ECIS (00 44 1730 268244 or www.ecis.org). For information about American schools in Spain, write to the Instituto de Cooperaci贸n Ibero-americana, Avenida de los Reyes Cat贸licos 4, 28041 Madrid (91 583 8526). Information is also available from embassies in Spain.
ENROLLING YOUR CHILD Foreign parents should prepare for a long process of enrolling their child in a Spanish state school.
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Go to your local town hall in the area you are moving to in order to ask their requirements as the process and paperwork vary quite substantially from region to region. Generally, enrolment takes place in May and you will need to take the child's birth certificate or passport with an official translation of the parent's passport. You will also need proof of the child's immunisation, proof of residence and two passport photographs. To enrol your child in a Spanish state secondary school, you need proof of convalidation - the official record of your child's education. It is best to do this before you move to Spain, having obtained the appropriate forms from the Department of Education at the following address: Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia C/Alcala,34 28014 Madrid tel. 91 701 8000 Send the completed form together with your child's school record book and/or examination qualifications, plus his birth certificate. A child will not be accepted at school until the official papers have been received and stamped by the Department of Education. Expect the process to take between 3 and 6 months although a receipt from the Ministry for the convalidation documents for your child should be acceptable.
INTEGRATION Some primary schools in areas with large expat populations such as the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca provide extra Spanish classes to bring foreign pupils up to speed and to minimise disruption in classes for the Spanish children. They may also encourage a pairing scheme between Spanish and foreign children to help new pupils settle in.
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Choosing A School Finding the right school for you children will make your time in Spain a much more rewarding experience. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a guide to what to look out for. The main choice to make is whether you want your child to go to a Spanish school or an international school.
An international school will enable your child to ease their way into school in a foreign country yet in familiar surroundings, with smaller classes taught in their language. But their level of Spanish may not be any better than if they had studied it as a second language back home.
However, in areas with large expat communities such as the Costa del Sol, there is a growing problem of foreign pupils flooding schools (in Andalucia, the number of foreign pupils in Spanish schools quadrupled between 1997 and 2001). The result is disrupted classes, inadequate teaching and worse exam results as teachers are unable to deal with so many nonSpanish speaking pupils.
EDUCATION
Current figures show that 80 percent of expats send their children to state schools in Spain, an experience that allows the child to integrate fully in local life and (depending on how young they are when they start) be speaking the language fluently within a year. But immersing the child in a foreign language from day one may put pressure on them, beyond all the ordinary strains associated with starting a new school.
Spain's public schools have improved considerably in recent years and the qualifications gained are valid if your child wants to study at a university elsewhere, such as the UK.
Bear in mind, too, that if you send your child to a public school in Barcelona, most teaching will be in Catalan, and in the Alicante area a proportion of classes will be in Valencian.
SPANISH PRIVATE SCHOOLS PUBLIC (STATE) SCHOOLS Spain's public or state schools are non-fee paying, though parents must pay for school books, school supplies and extra curricular activities such as sport, music and art. Foreign pupils can attend Spanish state schools, but you need a document known as the 'empadronamiento'. For this, you will need to register at the local town hall. Take originals and photocopies of your passport, proof of address and details of your Spanish bank account. The bureaucracy and paperwork required for enrolling your child in a Spanish school is lengthy and only manageable if you speak at least some Spanish.
There are many varieties of Spanish private schools, some which teach entirely in Spanish and are subsidised by the State providing they have at least 25 percent Spanish students. Others are bilingual schools which place a strong emphasis on English. Most are day Catholic schools and co-educational with classes from Monday to Friday. Fees vary greatly, though they are generally lower than private schools in the UK and US. Schools in Madrid and Barcelona are naturally the most expensive. A subsidised Spanish school costs about â&#x201A;Ź600 a year.
continued on page 30
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Choosing A School continued from page 29 FOREIGN SCHOOLS
EDUCATION
This umbrella term includes schools solely for expats and schools which encourage a mix of Spanish and foreign children. Classes are smaller and the atmosphere more relaxed than in Spanish schools. There is also a wider choice of academic subjects on offer and examination pass rates are high - as is the number of pupils going on to university. If you prioritise an easy transition for your child over integration, it is worth considering a foreign school. Also if you are only staying in Spain on a short-term contract, you may feel it is not worth putting your child through the strain of having to learn another language - although the immersion will stand them in good stead in future years. International schools vary hugely, however, and they are not necessarily ghettoes for foreign pupils. Spain has the largest number of 'foreign' schools of any European country, meaning schools where the majority of pupils are from the host nation, and many Spanish seek the prestige of sending their child to an Englishspeaking school. So although lessons may be in English, Spanish may rule in the playground. Fees vary from around â&#x201A;Ź1,500-6,000 a year, with some schools in Barcelona and Madrid considerably more. American schools follow the American system and prepare pupils for SATs and college admission in the US. British schools study the British curriculum and learn Spanish as a foreign language. International schools take pupils from several different countries, including Spain, and prepare them for the internationallyrecognised bachillerato for university entrance.
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Spain's public schools have improved considerably in recent years and the qualifications gained are valid if your child wants to study at a university elsewhere, such as the UK. Figures show that 80 percent of expats send their children to state schools in Spain.
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School Holidays It’s great news for the kids, but maybe not so exciting for parents — Spain has among the longest school holidays of anywhere in Europe. Be prepared. The long summer break is a particularly tough test of any parent's mettle as to whether they can keep their child entertained during the hottest months with no school between the end of June and midSeptember.
EDUCATION
Children moving up from primary to secondary school get an extra two weeks summer holiday, which usually includes an end-of-school trip abroad.
The other two main holidays are at Christmas, when schools breaks up for about two weeks, and Easter, with about 10 days holidays. Half terms do not exist, though there is plenty of compensation in the numerous local festival days and non-teaching days (dias no lectivas, included below under 'Festivals') to give children and teachers more breaks in the school year.
SCHOOL YEAR 2004-2005 Infants
Primary
Secondary
MADRID
13/9/04-24/6/05
13/9/04-24/6/05
15/9/04-24/6/05
CATALUNYA
15/9/04-22/6/05
15/9/04-22/6/05
15/9/04-22/6/05
VALENCIA
9/9/04-24/6/05
9/9/04-22/6/05
17/9/04-24/6/05
MURCIA
8/9/04-24/6/05
8/9/04-24/6/05
15/9/04-30/6/05
ANDALUCIA
9/9/04-21/6/05
9/9/04-21/6/05
13/9/04-21/6/05
BALEARICS
13/9/04-22/6/05
13/9/04-22/6/05
15/9/04-22/6/05
HOLIDAY DATES 2004-2005 Christmas: 23//12/04-7/1/05 Easter: 21/3/05-27/3/05 Festivals: 11/10/04, 12/10/04, 1/11/04, 6/12/04, 7/12/04, 8/12/04, 31/1/05, 18/3/05, 28/3/05, 16/3/05
Christmas: 23/12/04-7/1/05 Easter: 21/3/05-28/3/05 Festivals: 12/10/04, 1/11/04, 6/12/04, 7/12/04, 8/12/04, 19/3/05, 2/5/05, 9/6/05 (plus local Saint's day and other local festival days, and three days determined by regional school advisory board.
CATALUNYA
ANDALUCIA
Christmas: 23/12/04-9/1/05 Easter: 19/3/05-28/3/05 Festivals: 12/10/04, 1/11/04, 6/12/04, 8/12/04 (2005 dates yet to be confirmed. Also two further festival days of school's choosing.)
Christmas: 24/12/04-7/1/05 Easter: 21/3/05-28/3/05 Festivals: 12/10/04, 1/11/04, 6/12/04, 7/12/04
MADRID
VALENCIA Christmas: 23/12/04-6/1/05 Easter: 24/3/05-4/4/05 Festivals: 11/10/04, 12/10/04, 1/11/04, 6/12/04, 7/12/04,8/12/04, 7/1/05
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BALEARICS Christmas: 24/12/04-7/1/05 Easter: 24/3/05-1/4/05 Festivals: 12/10/04, 1/11/04, 6/12/04, 7/12/04,8/12/04, 28/2/05, 1/3/05 (plus two local fiestas and one extra day to be decided)
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International Schools MADRID Hastings School (British) c/ Azulinas 8 tel. 91 359 9913 www.nabss.org/hastings.htm
EDUCATION
The American School of Madrid Apartado 80 28080 Madrid tel. 91 740 1900 www.amerschmad.org International College C/Vereda Norte, 3 La Moraleja tel. 91 6502 398 www.icsmadrid.com
The English Montessori School Av. LaSalle s/n, Aravaca tel. 91 357 26 67/68 or 91 307 15 42 www.nabss.org/montse.htm Runnymede College Calle Salvia 30 La Moraleja tel. 91 650 8302 www.runnymedecollege.com St Anne's School Avda Alfonso XIII, 162 tel. 91 345 90 60 www.stannesmadrid.com
International School Of Madrid (British) Rosa Jardón, 3 tel. 91 359 2121 www.nabss.org/ismadrid. htm
BARCELONA
King's College (British) Paseo de los Andes, 35 28761 Soto de Viñuelas tel. 91 803 4800 www.kingscollege.es
The American School of Barcelona C/Jaume Balmes, 7 Esplugues de Llobregat tel. 93 371 40 16 www.a-s-b.com
Kensington School (British) Av. de Bularas, 2, 28023. Pozuelo de Alarcon tel. 91 715 4797 www.nabss.org/ken.htm El Enebral Montessori School Paseo de Belmas, 2, Collado Villalba tel. 91 850 1053 or 91 857 9117 www.nabss.org/enebral.htm
Oak House School (British) San Pedro Claver, 12 tel. 93 252 40 20 www.oakhouseschool.com
The British School of Barcelona C/Ginesta 26 Castelldefels tel. 93 665 1584 www.nabss.org/bsob.htm
Benjamin Franklin School (American) C/ Martorell i Peña, 9. Tel.: 93 434 2380 www.bfis.org Col.legi Europa International School Av. Pla del Viñet, 110 Sant Cugat tel. 93 589 8420. www.col-legieuropa.com Colegio Alemán de Barcelona (German) Av. Jacint Esteva Fontanet 105 Esplugues tel. 93 371 83 00 www.dsbarcelona.com ESCAAN Passeig de les Acàcies s/n, Passeig Issac Albèniz s/n Sitges tel. 93 894 20 40 Lycée Français de Barcelona (French) c/ Bosch i Gimpera, 6-10 tel. 93 103 79 50 www.lfb.es Kensington School (British) c/ Cavallers 31-33 tel. 93 203 54 57 www.kensingtonschoolbcn. com. Colegio Japonés de Barcelona (Japanese) Camí de Can Graells, s/n Polígon Can Graells San Cugat tel. 93 589 33 07 www.colegiojaponesbcn.com
More information on clubs and groups, for children and adults, in your area is at www.expatica.com/spain 34
SPAIN EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE
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International Schools COSTA BLANCA British School Alicante Glorieta del Reino Unido nº 5 Alicante tel. 965 106 351 www.bsalicante.com
Newton College Camino Viejo de Elche Elche tel. 96 661 02 38 www.nabss.org/newton.htm Sierra Bernia School (British) La Cañeta s/n, San Rafael Altea/Benidorm tel. 96 687 51 49 www.nabss.org/sierra.htm The Lady Elizabeth School Seniola 70 Javea tel. 96 579 0252 www.theladyelizabethschool.com
St Anthony's College (British) Camino de Coín Km. 5.25 Mijas Costa tel. 952 47 31 66 www.stanthonyscollege.com
Sotogrande International School Apartado 15, 11310 Sotogrande San Roque tel. 956 795 902 www.sis.ac
MALLORCA
Sunny View School Torremolinos (British) C/Teruel, 32 Urb. Cerro del Toril Apartado 175 29620 Torremolinos tel. 952 38 31 64 www.nabss.org/sunny.htm
Bellver International Colleage C./ José Costa i Ferrer 5 Marivent-Calamayor tel. 971 40 16 79/40 42 63 www.bellver.baleares.net
The English International College Urb. Ricmar, Crtr de CadizMalaga km 189,5 Marbella tel. 95 283 1058 / 95 283 1059 www.eic.edu The British College C/Guadalmedina s/n, Benalmádena Costa tel. 952 44 22 15 www.thebritishcollege.com
Baleares International School Calle Cabo Mateu Cock, 17 07015 Palma de Mallorca tel. 97 140 31 61 www.balearesint.net
EDUCATION
Xabia International College Ctra. Cabo la Nao 21 Apartado de Correos 311 Javea 03730 tel. 96 647 1785 www.xabia-internationalcollege.com
School (3-18) Ctra de Cádiz, Km 171 San Pedro Alcántara tel. 95 278 14 79 www.calpecollegeschool. com
The Academy Son Ametler Vell, 16 Marraxti tel.971 60 50 08 www.theacademyschool.com Queens Colleage Juan de Saridakis, 64 Palma De Mallorca tel. 971-40 10 11 www.qcmallorca.com
ANDALUCIA Aloha College (3-18) Urbanización El Angel Nueva Andalucia Marbella tel. 95 281 41 33 www.aloha-college.com Calpe College International
Coming to Spain with a family in tow? For all you need to know, visit www.expatica.com/spain
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Universities Spain’s higher education system offers international standards that will make studying in Spain not only a daily delight but a career boost as well. Spain's high number of university students - with women outnumbering men are scattered across 75 institutions throughout the country, 56 of them staterun and 19 run by private enterprises or the Catholic Church.
EDUCATION
Salamanca University, founded in 1218, is the oldest university in Spain, while Madrid's Complutense and Barcelona's Central are the largest and most prestigious, with 103,000 and 59,000 students respectively. Malaga and Murcia also have high competition for places, though tough end of first year exams soon whittle down high student numbers. There are four levels of higher education: university schools (escuelas universitarias), which offer three-year courses such as vocational diplomas for teachers or nurses; university college (colegios universitarios), where you leave with a degree (licenciatura) at the end of three years; faculties (facultades), where you study for five to six years for the equivalent of an MA or MSc; and higher technical schools where you receive a degree in engineering or architecture after a period of 5-6 years. The highest level of university study is a PhD programme, after which you become a Doctor en Filosofia y Letras. Once you have chosen your course and university, you cannot change half way through.
mark and then wait to hear in July whether they have an offer of a place to start that October.
FOREIGN STUDENTS EU nationals have an equal right to places in Spanish universities and most universities allocate five percent of places to nonEU students. To apply, write to the student secretariat (vice-rectorado de alumnus) at your chosen university. British A Levels are accepted as entrance qualifications, but American students need more than a high school diploma - preferably a BA, BBA or BSc degree or two years previous study at college. You will need to have your qualifications officially approved - a process known as convalidation or homologation (homologación). For further information about entrance requirements and how to validate your qualifications, contact the Ministry of Education: Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Subdirección General de Cooperación Internacional, Centro de Información sobre Reconocimiento de Títulos y Movilidad de Estudiantes, C/Alcalá 34, 28014 Madrid. tel. 917-018 000. Also see their website at www.mec.es
FEES Remember, at Barcelona University courses may be in Catalan. Getting in is no easy matter as there are too much demand and too few places. Spanish students must pass the Prueba General de Bachillerato (PGB) with a good
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SPAIN EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE
About one in seven Spanish or foreign students receives a grant or scholarship. Otherwise, fees are relatively low for residents and EU nationals, from €300 to €1,000 a year, depending on the faculty and location.
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Universities Add about €350-1000 a month for living costs, depending on where you are. Madrid and Barcelona are the most expensive cities to live in Spain. Some universities have student halls of residence (colegios mayores), although you have to fight for a place as there aren't enough to go round. Most Spanish students attend the university in their home town to avoid the high costs of renting.
EDUCATION
Foreign children may not be eligible for grants from their home countries if they are resident in Spain. They may also have to pay higher fees.
AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES At American universities such as Schiller International, St. Louis University and Suffolk, all in Madrid, classes are taught in English. The European university has branches in Barcelona and the University of Surrey (Britain) also has a branch in Madrid. Many foreign university students (and Spanish students abroad) can study in Spain under European Union exchange programmes for periods ranging from a few weeks to several months.
UNIVERSITIES IN SPAIN UNIVERSIDAD DE MÁLAGA tel: 95 213 1109 www.uma.es
UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA tel: 95 455 1049 www-en.us.es
UNIVERSIDAD DE ALMERÍA tel: 95 001 5046 www.ual.es Further information about higher education in Spain contact: University Council (Consejo de Coordinación Universitaria) Secretaría General Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid tel. 91 453 9800 Or contact the cultural section of Spanish embassies. For details of all universities, see the Spain exchange website: www.spainexchange.com
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UNIVERSIDAD DE MURCIA tel: 96 836 3620 www.um.es
UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTE tel: 96 590 3400 www.ua.es
UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA tel: 93 402 1709 www.ub.es
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Work Permits Preparation is key to landing in a new country and picking up work, whether in your profession or as a short-term option. Here’s the lowdown on work permits. EU residents do not need a work permit (permiso de trabajo) to work in Spain. NonEU nationals do, however, whether an employee or self-employed in Spain. The permit will initially be valid for one year and then is renewable for a period of up to five years.
JOBS
EU NATIONALS EU nationals can enter Spain as a tourist and register with the Spanish national employment office (Instituto Nacional de Empleo - INEM) to look for a job. You then have 90 days to find employment you can obtain an extension after that date or leave Spain and re-enter for a further 90 days.
del Ministerio de Trabajo) or at your local Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjero see list under 'Residence Cards' in this guide). If you already have a prospective employer, they will probably deal with all of this process. Then the provincial labour offices (Direcciones Provinciales de Trabajo, Seguridad Social y Asuntos Sociales) will decide whether to issue the work permit. Any job must be advertised to EU citizens through the INEM before a non-EU citizen can be offered the post and a work permit will only be granted if it can be demonstrated that no unemployed EU national is available for the position.
Before coming to Spain, non-EU nationals must obtain a visa (visado) from the Spanish consulate in their home country to work, study or live in Spain.
Priority is then given to non-EU nationals who are married or closely related to a Spaniard, who previously held Spanish nationality, or who come from Latin America, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal. Jews of Spanish origin, the family of a work permit holder, and anyone who was born in Spain, is living legally in Spain or has been resident here for five years is also given priority.
Once in Spain, you must apply for a work permit at the provincial office of the Ministry of Labour (Delegación Provincial
Non-EU students in Spain require a temporary work permit, available from INEM offices (www.inem.es). The type of work
Once you get a job, you will need your employment contract if you want to apply for a residence card.
NON-EU NATIONALS
Before coming to Spain, non-EU nationals must obtain a visa (visado) from the Spanish consulate in their home country to work, study or live in Spain.
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Work Permits permit you apply depends upon the job, whether it is a permanent or temporary position, and the region within which you are planning to work.
TYPES OF WORK PERMIT EMPLOYEES Type A: for seasonal or temporary work, valid for nine months and not renewable. Type B: it enables the foreigner to work in a specific profession, activity and geographic area, valid for one year and renewable.
ESSENTIAL WORK PERMIT DOCUMENTS
SELF-EMPLOYED (AUTÓNOMO) Type D: for self-employed people in a specific field of work and location. Valid for one year and renewable for two years. Type E: issued after the renewed D permit has expired, this entitles the foreign worker to operate in any profession, including self-employment, anywhere in Spain. Valid for three years and renewable - or worker may be issued with Permanent work permit. Self-employed non-EU nationals must show they are investing about €120,000 in Spain to start a business or that their professional activity will produce a profit and benefit to Spain, for example by employing Spanish (or European Union) workers.
EITHER EMPLOYED OR SELF-EMPLOYED Type F: for workers who cross over the Spanish border every day from their usual country of residence. Valid for five years and renewable.
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EMPLOYEES
JOBS
Type C: issued after the B permit has already been renewed and has expired. A C permit is unrestricted, allowing the foreign employee to work in any job anywhere in Spain. Valid for three years and renewable or can become a Permanent work permit.
•Passport •Medical certificate •Certificate of criminal records issued by the authorities of your home country, except when it was presented upon application for the visa •Three passport-size photographs •Fiscal registration number (NIE or CIF) and the Social Security registration number of the employer •Offer of employment containing labour conditions •Full description of the job and the company's activity •Proof of the employer's solvency could also be required
SELF-EMPLOYED •Copy of your valid passport •Certificate of criminal records issued by the authorities of your home country, except when it was presented upon application for the visa •Official medical certificate •Three passport-size photographs •Full description of the job and the company's activity •Proof of professional qualifications or licences if applicable, or registration to the Spanish Social Security system, or your NIE.
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Healthcare System Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s healthcare system was once a byword for shoddiness. However, that reputation no longer holds true for a system revamped and revitalised. WHO CAN BENEFIT EU nationals are covered for treatment by a reciprocal agreement with the Spanish public health care system. Bring an E111 form with you, or E121 if you intend to live permanently in Spain.
HEALTH
If you are a British citizen over 65 and have an E121 form, you are entitled to public healthcare in Spain, but it's advisable to seek advice from The Pension Service in the UK (tel. 0044 191 218 7547/7777) as they can advise on what you are entitled to abroad. Also see the 'Living Overseas' section of their website www.thepensionservice.gov.uk. For those who plan to stay in Spain, you need to get an official Medical Card (Tarjeta de SS), also from your local Social Security Office. To apply, take your E111/E121 (if you are an EU citizen) and other relevant documents such as your residence card or passport. Once you start paying Social Security contributions, you and your family are entitled to free or subsidised medical and dental treatment on the same terms as Spaniards. To visit a public health service doctor is free as long as you take your social security card. Non-EU citizens in Spain should contact their consulate before leaving their home country to find out what forms and documents are required.
services, discounted drugs and medicines, basic dental care, maternity care, appliances and transportation. However, social security covers only around 75 percent of the cost of treatment and the other 25 percent must be paid by the patient or a supplementary insurance scheme. Completely free treatment is available only in certain hospitals, where waiting lists are very long. Members must also pay a percentage of the cost of certain treatment and items such as drugs and medicines.
DOCTORS You may choose a doctor, not necessarily the one in your area, and you are entitled to change practices. It is always best to go with a recommendation from a friend or neighbour. If you are unable to visit the surgery, a doctor will visit you at home at any time of day or night. If you need a doctor or medicine in a nonurgent situation and are unable to contact a doctor, ring the telephone information service 1003 or your local police station, either of whom will give you the telephone number of a doctor on call or the address of the pharmacy that is open. You may also choose to go to a healthcare centre (centro de salud), which usually has about half a dozen doctors. They try to ensure you see the same doctor, although it doesn't always happen. You need to make an appointment first.
WHAT YOU GET Medical care in Spain is administered through the National Health Institute (Instituto Nacional de Salud, INSALUD) and benefits include general and specialist medical care, hospitalisation, laboratory
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SPAIN EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE
All healthcare centres are listed in the Yellow Pages (www.paginasamarillas.es). Take your E111/E121 or your medical card. You do not need to pay your doctor for a consultation, or when referred to a
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Healthcare System specialist. In Madrid, English-speaking doctors are available at the AngloAmerican Medical Unit, c/Conde de Aranda 1, tel. 91 435 1823, open MondayFriday 9am-8pm, and on Saturday from 10am-3pm.
USEFUL CONTACTS Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo), tel. 901 400 100. English/Spanish/French website: www.msc.es
DENTISTS Unless you have private health insurance which covers dental work, you must pay for treatment at the dentist.
The dental service in Spain is generally very good and efficient, with most practitioners having access to the latest in dental technology. You do not have to show any forms when visiting the dentist - simply make an appointment. It is, however, always advisable to take some form of identification with you.
HOSPITALS Hospitals are generally very good, with an efficient and fairly rapid service. If it is an emergency you do not, of course, have to be referred by a doctor, but make sure you take your E111/E121 form or medical card and a form of ID. You do not have to pay for any service other than prescriptions (if you are not a pensioner). If you have to stay in hospital and do not speak Spanish, you will find that even in smaller cities there are usually a couple of doctors and a nurse or two who can speak English, to varying levels. It is always wise, though, to take along a dictionary, just in case.
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Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social C/ Padre Damiรกn, 4 28036 Madrid. tel: 91 568 8300 or freecall 900 166 565 www.seg-social.es
HEALTH
This is not overly expensive though, and as with many businesses and services in Spain, if you need time to pay, most dentists will allow the freedom to pay later rather than making you pay on the day of consultation.
Instituto Nacional de la Salud C/ Alcalรก, 56, 28014 Madrid. tel. 91 338 0000
Contact your local office of the National Social Security Institute for a list of all national health centres and hospitals.
PHARMACIES Pharmacies are plentiful and marked with a large green cross. You can buy many medicines over the counter in Spain that you may not have been able to at home, but if you are a pensioner it would be cheaper and more advisable to see your doctor and to get a prescription from him. Each item is priced differently but still a lot cheaper than prescription items in most counties. Pharmacies usually open from 9.30am-2pm and from 5-9.30pm Mondays to Fridays and from 9.30am5.30pm on Saturdays. Even in small villages there will be a 24-hour pharmacy or contact number.
EMERGENCY TREATMENT Throughout Spain the number to call for a medical emergency is 061. In each province however it would be wise to familiarise yourself with the address of your nearest hospital and its own emergency number. In any city there is more than one hospital for accidents and emergencies.
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!"#$!%&'$()*+,,-./-0/0--1,,2-341,,5%6!,70
Hospitals MADRID Ambulances: 112, 915 884 500 or 915 222 222 Hospital La Paz Paseo de de Castellena, no. 261 28046 Madrid tel. 917 277 000
HEALTH
Hospital Clinica Puerta de Hierro del Insalud c/- San Martin de Porres, 4 28035 Madrid tel. 913 164 040 Hospital de Madrid Plaza Conde del Valle de Suchil, 16 28015 Madrid tel. 914 476 600 Hospital de Cantoblanco Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, KM. 14,500 28049 Madrid tel.: 915 867 555
BARCELONA Ambulances: 061 or 93 300 2020
Hospital Vall de Hebron Paseig de la Vall de Hebron, no. 119 08035 Barcelona tel. 932 746 000 Hospital Creu Roja Carrer del Dos de Maig 301 tel. 93 507 2700 Hospital de la Santa Creu I de Sant Pau Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167 tel. 93 291 9000
Hospital MarĂtimo de Torremolinos C/Sanatorio 5 Torremolinos tel. 951 032 000 www.hospitalmaritimo.com
ALICANTE Hospital General de Alicante Pintor Baeza tel. 96 593 8300
BENIDORM
Hospital del Mar Paseig MarĂtim, 25-29 08003 Barcelona tel. 932 483 051
Hospital de la Vila Joiosa Pla d'Aljuv Villajoyosa tel. 96 685 9800
Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol Ctra. del Canyet s/n 08916 Barcelona tel. 934 978 900
MALLORCA
Costa del Sol Hospital Hospital Costa del Sol Ctra. Nacional 340 Km 187 29600 Marbella tel. 95 282 8250 www.hcs.es
Hospital Son Dureta Emergencies Andrea Doria 55 07014 Palma de Mallorca www.hsd.es tel. 971 175 012 Hospital Manacor Emergencies Ctra Manacor-Alcudia s/n tel. 971 847 060
LOCAL HEALTH CENTRES (see Yellow Pages under Centros de Salud for a full list of health centres) Madrid: tel. 91 566 1008/1104 (www.comadrid.es/sanidad /srs/index.htm) Barcelona: tel. 93 329 4495 Marbella: tel. 95 282 6596
Malaga: tel. 95 260 4266 Fuengirola: tel. 95 246 8945 Torremolinos: tel. 952386484 Alicante: tel. 96 514 3587 Benidorm: tel. 96 680 3802 Calpe: tel. 96 583 50 11 Denia: tel. 96 578 08 56 Torrevieja: tel. 96 670 08 77 Menorca (Mahon): tel. 971 35 29 90
For detailed information on the community services in your area, check out www.expatica.com/spain
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Public Transport Spain has one of the most highly efficient public transport system in Europe. Here is a basic guide to getting around on its trains, planes, buses and taxis. PLANES Spain's national airline is Iberia (www.iberia.es, tel. 902 400 500), which operates international and national flights. Domestic flights may be cheaper with budget airlines Spanair (www.spanair.es, tel. 902 131 415) or Air Europa (www.aireuropa.com, tel. 902 40 15 01).
TRAINS
TRANSPORT
RENFE (www.renfe.es, tel. 902 240 202) operates the Spanish national train network. Smaller towns are served by regional networks such as FFCC in Catalunya. The high speed train - AVE - service is constantly being improved and extended considerably so that by 2007 all provincial capitals will be within a four-hour journey of Madrid and all provinces within six and a half hours from Barcelona. A full refund is offered if an AVE train arrives more than five minutes late at its destination. On any route you will find a variety of trains whose travel time to your destination can vary enormously. Make sure you realise this before you board, as you may find yourself on a slow one which stops at every station en route. Fares are cheap - about €0.60 per 10km for second class, €1 per 10km for first class though they vary wildly according to the train's speed and comfort. Talgo trains are long-distance trains, though slower than the AVE, sometimes with sleepers (cochescama) for overnight journeys. The Talgo TEE operates international routes. Intercity (IC) trains are air-conditioned and fast, while Electrotren (ELT) and Tren Electrico Regional (TER) are slightly slower than the Talgo. Suburban commuter trains (cercanías) stop at all stations. A regional express or interurbano is a second class, air-condi-
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tioned diesel train and an exprés is a slow night train, usually with sleeping cars. A rápido is a daytime version of the exprés, but neither are particularly fast.
BUYING TRAIN TICKETS Buying tickets is always confusing, given the range of trains, routes and fares on offer - and the ticket office clerk may not offer you, or know about, the cheapest options so make sure you ask. Fares for long-distance and high-speed trains are published in leaflets available from stations and RENFE offices and all fare information is available on the RENFE website (www.renfe.es). Children under four travel free and those aged between 4 and 12 travel for half price. You can buy tickets at station ticket windows (taquillas de billetes), from machines (máquinas de billetes), at RENFE offices and RENFE appointed travel agents or online. For the latter, however, you will need a password which requires calling RENFE (tel. 902-157 507). RENFE also provides a telephone booking service (tel. 902-240 202) open from 5am to 11.50pm and tickets can be delivered to addresses in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Valencia. Otherwise you have to collect your tickets yourself directly from a train station. There are two classes on most long-distance trains: first class (primera clase, shown as 1ª) and second class (segunda clase, shown as 2ª). AVE trains usually have three fare classes: turista (T-tourist), preferente (P-business) and club (C-first) and some trains such as IC and TEE international trains are first class only. Avoid travelling on public holidays and long weekends (puentes) as the trains will be fully packed.
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Public Transport For details of season tickets (abonos) and special discount (descuento) tickets, including for students, OAPS or commuters, ask at the information or ticket office at any railway station.
BUSES The bus (autobús) service in Spain's cities and towns and the long-distance coach (autocar) service are excellent. Make sure you establish which station they leave from, as there are often several (especially in Madrid). All buses are no-smoking. Buy a ticket from the ticket office or machine before you board or from the driver as you enter the bus.
However, they usually run on time. Timetables are often published in local free newspapers and magazines. For long-distance bus travel Alsa-Enatcar (www.alsa.es, tel. 902 422 242) is the largest company. Other companies include Auto Res (www.auto-res.net, tel. 902 020 603) and Continental-Auto (www.continental-auto.es, tel. 902 330 400). Inter-city buses are usually faster than trains and cost less. A bus from Madrid to Barcelona costs about €56 and from Madrid to Alicante €42.
TAXIS Taxi fares in Madrid and Barcelona are moderate in comparison to other European cities and run off a meter. They can be hailed in the street: look for a green light and a 'libre' sign on the roof. It is not usual to tip taxi drivers, though they won't say no if you try.
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port (tel. 902 404 704), 16km east of Madrid, you can take a bus (€3 to Plaza Colon) or metro (Line 8, €1.15) into the centre of Madrid. The metro takes 15-30 minutes and the bus 30-45 minutes. The bus runs from 5.30am-9.30pm. Taxis from the airport to the centre of Madrid cost about €20.
BUSES: Madrid has a highly efficient and cheap bus network. A single trip costs €1.10 or a book of 10 tickets costs €6, available from bus offices and tobacconists. The main bus station for international and long-distance travel is the Estación Sur de Autobuses (tel. 91 468 4200), south of the city centre. To travel to the north of Spain, you need to take Continental Auto buses (tel. 91 745 63 00) buses which depart from a terminal near Nuevos Ministerios metro and train station. Call EMT (Madrid's city bus company) on tel. 91 580 4260.
TRANSPORT
In cities, buses usually run from around 6am to 11pm and then a night service takes over. In rural areas and resorts services are usually more erratic, with a few buses a day and a long break taken for lunch.
MADRID AIRPORT: From Barajas International air-
METRO: The Madrid metro (info line: tel. 902 444 403) is one of the oldest in Europe and the largest in Spain, with 12 lines and 160 stations, and it is highly efficient. Trains runs from 6am-2am and tickets cost €1.10 per journey and €6 for a 10-journey ticket, which may include bus travel (metrobús). You can check-in luggage at Nuevos Ministerios station for the airport, 15 minutes away. For metro information, see www.metromadrid.es (tel. 902 444 403). TRAINS: The Spanish railway system is centred on Madrid, from where three main lines radiate out to other parts of the country (two extend to the French border and the other to Andalusia and the Levante). Madrid has two main stations: Chamartín (the largest) serving destinations to the north of Madrid, and Puerta de Atocha station (south of the Prado museum) serving towns to the south. TAXIS: tel. 91 405 55 00/91 447 51 80/91 445 90 08
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TRANSPORT
Public Transport BARCELONA AIRPORT: Most scheduled flights arrive at
MALAGA AIRPORT: Malaga airport (flight informa-
Barcelona's El Prat de Llobregat Airport (tel. 93 298 3838), 12km to the south of the city. Easyjet also flies there, while charter flights and budget airline Ryanair fly to Catalunya's other airports Girona or Reus. The quickest way to get to the city centre is by train from the station opposite Terminal A. Trains to central Barcelona leave every 30 mins (€2.15). The Airbus service leaves every 15 mins and takes from 30-60 mins depending on the traffic. It costs €3.45, stops at Plaza Espana and terminates in Placa Catalunya. A taxi to central Barcelona costs about €20.
tion: tel. 952 048 484) is situated 10km south west of the city centre, just off the main N340 coast road to Estepona. The no.19 bus runs every 30 minutes from in front of Terminal B to the centre of Malaga, from 6.30am-11.30pm (€1). Trains from the airport into Malaga's CentroAlameda leave every 30 minutes (€1).
TRAINS: Malaga's RENFE station is on Explanada de la Estación. The regional network takes in Seville, Cordoba and Granada, and local trains to Torremolinos and Fuengirola leave every 30 minutes.
BUSES: The main bus station is Estacio del
BUSES: Malaga's bus station (tel. 952 350
Nord, Carrer d'Ali Bei 80 (tel. 93 265 6508) and Eurolines/Linebus (tel. 93 265 0700) operates the majority of services. Most long-distance and international services use the Estacio d'Autobuses de Sants beside Sants train station. Contact Eurolines/Julia Via (tel. 93 490 4000); AlsaEnatcar (www.alsa.es, tel. 902 42 2242) also operate routes across Spain.
061) is behind the RENFE station. All Malaga's bus companies operate from this terminal. In summer arrive an hour or early as tickets can sell out, especially to Granada. Buses to Fuengirola run every 40 minutes; to Marbella every 30 minutes.
TRAINS: The main station is Sants (Placa dels Paisos Catalans), which has a link to the airport and serves major Spanish cities and France. The Estació França (Avinguda del Marques de l'Argentera) has daily international trains to Geneva, Milan, Paris and Zurich. Local Rodalies trains go all over Catalunya and stop at every station. Deltas stop slightly less and Catalunya Expres are the fastest. For train RENFE information tel. 934 900 202. For regional routes in Catalunya, FGC (www.fgc.catalunya.net, tel. 93 205 1515).
METRO: A single journey costs €1 but a T10 (tarjeta multiviaje) for €6, is valid for 10 journeys. For a month's unlimited travel, buy a T-mes (€39). A T-familiar is valid for up to 70 journeys and transferable and the T-joven, for under 21s, is valid for 90 days' unlimited travel. See: (www.tmb.net).
TAXIS: tel. 933 300 804
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ALICANTE AIRPORT: El Altet airport (tel. 966 919 000) is 11km from Alicante by the A7 motorway. The airport bus leaves for central Alicante every hour and takes about 40 minutes. A single journey costs €1.50. There are also a dozen buses a day from the airport to both Benidorm (about €3 single journey, 1hr) and to Denia (€7, 1hr 30mins).
TRAINS: Alicante's main train station is Estacion de Madrid on Avenida Salamanca with trains to Madrid, Murcia and Valencia (tel. 902 240 202 for info.). Trains on the FGV line to Benidorm and Denia leave from the far end of Playa Postiguet. For info, tel. 965 262 233. Renfe Alicante information is at www.renfe.es or tel. 902 240 202.
BUSES: The bus station for local and international services is on Calle Portugal (tel. 965 130 700). For Ubesa routes within the province of Alicante, you can contact tel. 96 513 0143.
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Driving Spanish cities are better negotiated by foot or by public transport, but you will need a car sometimes… and some tips on how to deal with Spanish drivers. A driving licence from any EU country is valid in Spain. You do not need a Spanish licence, but you will need to take your existing licence to the local provincial traffic department to be stamped and registered (see addresses below right). If you are a non-resident, you can only drive in Spain for six months a year. Anyone from a non-EU country can drive for six months in one calendar year on their existing licence but must then obtain a Spanish licence.
TRANSPORT
To drive a foreign-registered car in Spain you must carry at all times your passport, current driving licence, valid insurance, vehicle registration document, a national identity plate (GB etc), two red warning triangles, first aid kit, fire extinguisher and a set of spare bulbs. It’s a lot to remember, but failure can result in a hefty fine. Many non-residents bring their car to Spain and retain their national number plates, though this is strictly speaking illegal as it is assumed that you are returning to country of origin and paying tax and MOT (vehicle registration) there. But anyone, from the European Union or otherwise, who is intending to take up Spanish residency can bring their car with them without having to pay IVA or car registration tax - providing you can prove you owned the car for at least six months before bringing it to Spain, that you are a non-resident in the country you have come from and you have paid VAT in the country where the car was purchased.
LOCAL TRAFFIC DEPARTMENTS • Jefatura Provincial de Trafico de Madrid, Arturo Soria, 143, tel. 91 301 8500. Open 8.30am-1.30pm. • Prefectura Provincial de Transit, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 184, Barcelona, tel. 93 298 6500. • Jefatura Provincial de Trafico de Malaga, c/Mauricio Moro Pareto 13, tel. 95 235 7200. Open Mon-Fri 9am-2pm. • Jefatura Provincial de Trafico de Alicante, Ferré Vidiella 4, esquina San Juan Bosco, 12, tel. 96 512 5466.
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Driving continued from page 47
RULES OF THE ROAD DO...
Certificates of non-residence don't exist in the UK, but you can obtain them from the Commisaries in all main towns or at the consulate office in Spain. Residents have six months after obtaining their 'Residencia' to sort out legally 'importing' their vehicle. It's a tricky form-filling process which takes a few months and costs about 12 percent of the value of your car.
TRANSPORT
SPANISH ROADS The quality varies from excellent on the main arteries to dire out in the sticks - and the standard of driving is equally erratic. Road deaths are a constant fixture on the Spanish television news, with 14.3 deaths per 100,000 population - more than double that of the UK. You only have to experience a Spanish motorway (autopista) to see the problem. Machismo still rules among male drivers in Spain and a favourite game is to intimidate anyone in the fast lane by driving right up to your bumper to force you to pull across into a slower lane. Motorways have an 'A' or 'E' prefix to the road number and are often toll roads. For short distances you pay at a booth (peaje) as you exit the road (some toll roads allow you to collect a ticket at the start for longer journeys, so you pay the total when you exit). Useable lanes will have a green arrow, closed lanes will be indicated with a red cross. Choose the lane with an attendant if you are not paying with a credit card or exact change. Motorways and dual carriageways (autovías) - fast roads but not necessarily with a central reservation - have a 100120kph speed limit as marked. Main roads (carreteras nacionales) have an N or CN
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• expect the unexpected. The received wisdom is to expect the unexpected. • Watch out for traffic lights, which are invariably positioned very high up in the blinding sun. • take care at pedestrian crossings, especially if you are the pedestrian as cars will rarely stop at them. On dual carriageways vehicles may overtake on whichever side they feel like and some cars drive without lights when it is dark. • carry all documentation (passport, driving licence, vehicle registration form) at all times. You can be also be fined for not carrying two red warning triangles, spare bulbs, fire extinguisher and first aid kit. • give way to traffic from the left, especially at roundabouts.
DON'T... • be surprised when a car indicating left turns right or doesn't indicate then turns, or stops without warning in the middle of the road, then takes off again apparently oblivious to anyone behind. • pull into the middle of the road to turn left if there is a solid line in the road. There are often special lanes for this, signposted cambio de sentido. • drink and drive - the limits are very low, the penalties very high and breathaliser tests are common. • speed - fines are calculated at €6 per km over the speed limit. • drive while talking on a mobile. Fines are heavy.
before the road number and country roads (carreteras comarcales) begin with a C and have lower speed limits applied (though many drivers feel this is discretionary). The speed limit on country roads is 90kph, on urban roads 50kph and in residential areas 20-50kph as marked. For road information, tel. 900 123 505 or visit www.dgt.es.
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Driving FUEL (GASOLINA) At any garage you will see a choice of four pumps: Normal 92 octane, Super 98 octane, Sin plomo (unleaded) 95/98 octane and Diesel (gasoil/gasoleo). Attendants will usually come out and serve you.
PARKING
In cities, underground car parks are by far the best option for when you want to park - they easy to enter and exit and provide extra security. Otherwise look for parking spaces marked in blue and buy a ticket from a machine or attendant. Watch out for a two-hour maximum parking time. Tow trucks love foreign cars - and it will cost you about €70 to get it back again. Avoid parking where the kerb is painted yellow, red or white - or where there is a no parking sign, obviously. Other signs to look out for are 'Estacionamiento prohibido' or a red circle on a blue background with a red line through it. In some residential areas parking is permitted on one side of the street for the first half of the month (see blue and red sign market '1-15') while changing to the otherside for the remainder of the month (sign says '16-31').
When you do get out on the Spanish roads there is no end to the places worth visiting, like Alcazar Castle near Segovia
TO APPLY FOR A SPANISH LICENCE YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING • a completed application form TASA 2.3 (available from your local traffic department) • Spanish residence card and photocopy • Current foreign drivign licence and photocopy (non EU residents will need an official translation and certificate of equivalence, available from the Real Automóvil Club de España, tel. 902 120 441, www.race.es) • registration number of a Spanish-registered vehicle or a sworn statement that you do not own a Spanish-registered vehicle • one passport photograph (non EU citizens need three, one signed by a doctor performing the medical examination. All non EU driving licence holders must obtain a medical certificate of fitness to drive) • €16.20, payable at the traffic department
TRANSPORT
If the strain of driving was too much, wait until you try to park. In small towns, leave your car on the outskirts and walk in as otherwise you will invariably find yourself trapped in a maze of narrow one-way alleys with no hope of immediate escape. (And although getting lost in small Spanish towns is a most charming pastime to pursue in its own way, it does get a bit frustrating when you are rushing for an appointment.)
For further information, see the Department of Transport at www.dgt.es (in Spanish only).
Want to see Spain but don’t know where to start? Get the inside track at www.expatica.com/spain WWW.EXPATICA.COM
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Utilities Once you have found yourself a home, next you need to get everything up and running. Here's how to get yourself sorted out on the domestic front. If you're lucky, the estate agent you bought your property through may transfer all utilities to your name or accompany you to the relevant office for no extra charge. Confirm that all previous bills have been paid before you set up your accounts and make sure the account is put into your name from the day you move in to avoid any debts from the previous owner.
SETTLING IN
Non-residents should also give a foreign address in case of any problems such as the bank not paying the bills. You may also need to pay a deposit.
ELECTRICITY As soon as you buy or rent a property you should sign a contract with the local electricity company. Electricity is cheap in Spain and Grupo Endesa (www.endesaonline.com, tel. 900 737 373) is the biggest supplier. Regionally they are known as Fecsa in Catalonia (tel. 934 04 1111), Sevillana Endesa in Andalucia and Gesa (tel. 971 46 77 11) in the Balearics.
You will be billed every two months, usually after a meter reading but sometimes on the basis of an estimate, so learn to read your meter toc check you are not overpaying. The best way to pay is by direct debit (transferencia) from a Spanish bank account. You can also pay at a post office, local banks listed on the bill or at the electricity company's offices (in cash).
WASTE DISPOSAL
The electricity supply in most of Spain is 220 volts AC with a frequency of 50 hertz (cycles), although some areas still have a 110 volt supply.
Spain is slowly getting into the idea of recycling (reciclaje) and you will see bins dotted around most towns to collect glass, paper, cardboard, aluminium, cans, plastic, batteries and other materials. Many municipalities also recycle garden waste, which is then sold as compost. You may receive leaflets through your door about where to take your household rubbish for recycling. Bins are usually emptied every night, except on Sundays. If your property has personal bins, ask neighbours when to put out your rubbish for collection as you may be fined if you leave it out too early. In rural areas residents may have to take their rubbish to a collection point out of town, although most urbanizaciones have communal bins or skips.
If you live in an area where power cuts are frequent and you depend on electricity to operate a computer and other equipment for your livelihood, you may want to install a backup generator. Most companies offer the choice of registering online
Depending on whether you live in an urban or rural area, you will be charged for rubbish collection, from â&#x201A;Ź30-150 a year. Check with your town hall and set up a direct debit arrangment with your bank to avoid fines for overdue payment.
The second biggest, Iberdrola (www.iberdrola.es, tel. 901 202 020) serves Madrid, Catalonia, the Costa Blanca and Northern Spain. In big cities there are others to choose from including Enher (www.enher.es, tel. 902 507 750) in Barcelona and Union Electrica Fenosa (www.uef.es, tel. 915 676 000) in Madrid.
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or by telephone rather than having to go to their office. You will need some form of ID (passport or residence card), the reference number for your electricity supply (see the left hand corner of an electricity bill under Contrato de Suministro NÂş) and the contract and bills paid by the previous owner.
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Utilities GAS At present, you will only have access to mains gas in major cities in Spain. When you move into a property with mains gas, contact the local gas company to switch the gas on, read the meter and provide a supply contract. You will receive a bill every two months, including VAT (IVA) at 16 per cent. The most efficient method of payment is by direct debit from a Spanish bank account.
In Madrid, there is Gas Directo (tel. 91 567 6682). Mallorca is served by GESA Gas (www.gesa.es, tel. 900 303 032). In rural areas, bottles of gas (bombonas) are delivered to homes. They are incredibly heavy and can run out just when you need them, but they work out about half the price of mains gas in most northern European countries. To be supplied with gas bottles, you need to set up a contract by Repsol Butano (tel. 901 100 100; supplies tel. 965 710 937) with a €25 deposit. Each 12.5kg bottles costs about €8.50 and can last for a couple of months if used just for cooking. After an initial inspection on installation, Repsol Butano will service and inspect your gas appliances every five years.
WATER A hot topic given the dire lack of the stuff in certain regions, Spain has enough water
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If you need to transfer a water contract into your name, go to the town hall with ID and previous bills from the former owner. Non-residents will need to give their foreign address too. If you need to install your own water heater, it must be at least 75-litre capacity. Water is controlled by local municipalities, and you will usually be charged anything from €50 to €300 to install water in a new home, or up to €1,500 in an isolated area. In most areas there is a standing quarterly charge for a minimum consumption (canon de consumo), even if you don't use any water during the billing period.
SETTLING IN
There are various gas companies in Spain. Gas Natural (www.gasnatural.com, customer services for all areas: tel. 900 760 760) is the main supplier to all the regions. Its suppliers include CEGAS in Alicante (tel. 900 760 760), Gas Andalucia (tel. 954 48 01 00), Gas Natural Catalunya (tel. 93 402 5100), Gas Natural Murcia (tel. 968 25 07 69) and Gas Natural Madrid (tel. 91 589 6116). Endesa (www.endesaonline.com) also supplies gas and has regional distributors including Gas Alicante (tel. 902 200 393).
to supply the country. The problem is, it's unevenly distributed. Areas likely to see water shortages are the Mediterranean coast and the Balearics, where usage is heavily restricted.
When you receive your water bill each quarter, check it carefully as overcharging is common. To reduce costs, install a 'water saver' for about €40, available from hypermarkets, DIY stores and El Corte Ingles. It mixes air with the water that you use to reduce the total amount of water used in your home. Tap water in cities is often a dubious rust colour and has a chemical taste, which would account for the millions of litres of bottled water consumed every year in Spain.
WATER COMPANIES: •Barcelona: Aigües de Barcelona (www.aiguesdebarcelona.es) tel. 900 710 710 •Madrid: Canal De Isabel II (www.cyii.es) tel. 91 545 1000 •Costa del Sol: Acosol (www.acosol.es) in Marbella area: tel. 95 283 93 29; Emasa (www.emasa.es), Malaga: tel. 952 135 013 or customer service tel. 900 777 420 •Costa Blanca: Aguas de Alicante (www.aguasdealicante.es) tel. 965 925 141
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Around The Home It can be tedious at times, but getting set up at home is something that can’t be put off too long. Here’s a guide to take out some of the hassle ahead. INSTALLING A TELEPHONE This is the source of greatest woe for most expats in Spain, because the country has the lowest landline phone ownership in the EU - with two phones per five people and because of the high costs involved with installation and making calls, having a home phone is still considered a luxury and most people rely on mobile phones.
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Although Telefonica no longer has the monopoly on the telephone service and there are six other companies who provide call services including Tele 2 (tel. 901 107 366), Uni 2 (tel. 902 011 412), Auna (tel. 015 or 902 500 060) and Jazztel (tel. 1565), Telefonica owns the cabling and is the only company that offers local calls - so you will invariably find yourself dealing with it at some point. Calling Telefonica with a query is always a challenge as staff seem to have been trained to slam the phone down when they can't be bothered to find out the answer. Ask for the English department (servicio ingles) if you do not speak Spanish, or see their English website www.telefonicainenglish.com. If the property you have moved into already has a phone line (it must have belonged to an expat if so), transfer it immediately into your own name and ask Telefonica to read the account on the day that you want your account to start and the previous tenant's to end so you do not find yourself paying for calls made before you moved in. If you need to install a line, call Telefonica (tel. 1004 freephone) and they will turn up within a few days and charge €110, which is usually distributed over the next three bills. Line rental costs €30 for two months. Always study your bill carefully as it is not unknown for Telefonica data inputters
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to leave their finger on the '0' key - especially on expats' bills it seems - and issue you with a phone bill that resembles a mortgage statement. You may also find they have charged you for all sorts of telephone services you didn't request or, indeed, may never even have had. Though the emergence of competition in the market has seen a fall in the cost of calls, they are still expensive by EU standards. Local calls cost 7 centimos to connect and 2.5 centimos per minute peak rate, 1 centimo off-peak.
TELEVISION Most Spanish television sets receive five terrestrial channels: the state-run TV1 and TV2, independent stations Antenna 3 and TeleCinco and film and sport subscription channel Canal Plus, for which you can buy a decoder at supermarkets. Regional channels include Barcelona TV, Tele Madrid, TVC3 Catalunya and Canal Sur in Andalucia. If you don't speak Spanish or you are not a born fan of chat shows where over-excited guests shout at each other, you will soon tire of terrestrial TV - and decent foreign product will be dubbed anyway. One solution is to go out. The other is to subscribe to satellite TV, which is popular in Spain, or cable or digital TV. The main digital providers are Canal Satélite Digital (tel. 902-110 010, www.csatelite.es), a sister company of Canal Plus, and ViaDigital (www.viadigital.es), owned by Telefónica. Canal Satélite Digital offers a complete package with over 40 channels for €40.60 a month. ViaDigital offers a complete package (Paquete completo) with over 40 channels for €37 a month. Auna (www.auna.es, tel. 900 50 00 60) is promoting a television, internet and
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Around The Home phone package for €45 a month until 2006. It offers regional packages for Catalunya, Madrid, the Valencia and Alicante and Andalucia which include channels such as BBC World, CNN, Fox, Paramount Comedy and MTV. Nearly 3 million homes in Spain have satellite TV - and no doubt a large proportion of them belong to expats. Through Astra you can watch Sky One, Sky Sports, Film Four, UK Gold, Channel 5, Eurosport and many more in Dutch, German, Swedish and other languages.
VIDEO, TV AND DVD Due to differences in transmission standard TVs and video recorders which operate on the British system (PAL-I), French (SECAM) or American (NTSC) won't work in Spain which uses the PAL-BG system. But you can buy a multi-standard European TV and video recorder which can adapt to different systems. Some can operate using the American system too, but check before purchasing. Videos and DVDs films are pricey to buy so you are better off joining a local video shop for about €3 a day. There are some English-language rental shops in the major cities and resorts and Blockbuster (www.blockbuster.es) exist all over Spain.
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Growing numbers of expats in Spain has meant an increasing demand for easy internet access from home. Telefonica is the largest internet service provider - and even if you don't choose to use it, other companies still have to ask their permission to use the phone line to install ADSL Broadband, so the process is invariably a long and painful one. You do have a choice of ISPs, though, which offer free connection if you register over the phone or online, giving your NIE or passport number and bank details. ISPs include Wanadoo (www.wanadoo.es, tel. 902 012 960), Arrakis (www.arrakis.es, tel. 902 020100), Metro Red Online (www.metrored-online.com, tel. 952 880032), Mercury (www.mercuryin.es, tel. 952 837575) or Ola internet (www.olainternet.com, tel. 902 250 100). For 24-hour usage, ask for the 'tarifa plana' package. It usually costs about €20 a month. ADSL costs about €40 a month and is 10 times faster than dial-up.
SETTLING IN
British expats can feel at home by installing Sky satellite TV for about €60 a month and soak up a taste of home with BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, CNN, Sky News and BBC24. You need to subscribe to Sky and pay through a UK bank account or you can buy an instant viewing card for €200 to last 2-6 years. Contact a satellite installation company for advice (see list below right). You can also import your own satellite dish and receiver and install it yourself. Before buying a system, ensure that it can receive programmes from all existing and planned satellites.
INTERNET
Or you can use internet cafes, which usually charge about €1.50 per hour, or less if you pay for multiple hours in advance. For a list of internet cafes in Andalucia, see www.andalucia.com/internet/cybercafes/home.htm. In Barcelona and Madrid easyInternetcafe (www.easyeverything.com) offers the best value, including an unlimited usage weekly pass for €10.
SATELLITE TV INSTALLATION COMPANIES: •SmartSat (www.smartsat.tv), Barcelona tel. 93 810 2458 •Brit Sat (www.britsat.tv), covers Barcelona/Costa Brava region tel. 977 493 820 •Sky's the Limit (www.skysthelimit.tv), Costa del Sol tel. 952 371 699 •Satellite Superstore (www.satellitesuperstore.com/spain), all Spain, tel. 00 44 870 027 1888
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Post Offices There are over 6,000 post offices spread across Spain, offering all the modern services you could require — except the speedy delivery of your mail. There are some 6,000 post offices (oficinas de correos) scattered across Spain which offer the potential for a wide range of modern services such as sending telegrams and faxes, accessing the internet, and dealing with various international giro money orders.
SETTLING IN
That said, the postal service itself is still one of the slowest in Europe and although you may be able to send a letter from Spain to the UK in two days, you may find a letter from one address in Barcelona to another takes more than a week. Sending letters 'express' (expres/urgente) is unlikely to speed up the process, though you could use a courier (mensajeria) if you are desperate. If you want to guarantee the letter arrives, pay about double the ordinary price to send it by registered post (certificado) or get proof of delivery (aviso recibo). To send a basic letter or card up to 20g costs €0.27 within Spain or €0.52 for EU and €0.77 for the rest of the world. If you can't face the queues, you can also buy stamps in tobacconists shops (estancos). Postboxes (buzones) are yellow with red stripes around the bottom and two slots, for local and national/international post. In Madrid, Barcelona and at airports there are branches open 24 hours. The main post offices in cities usually open from around 8-9am until 9-10pm on weekdays and until 2pm on Saturdays. In smaller towns, they are much more likely to close for lunch and not re-open again afterwards. For more information on the services offered and addresses of local branches, see www.correos.es or call Customer Service 902 197 197. You can also check on this website for postcodes.
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MAIN POST OFFICE BRANCHES: •Palacio de Comunicaciones Plaza Cibeles s/n Madrid Mon-Fri 8am-10pm/Sat 8.30am-8pm •Placa Antoni Lopez s/n Barcelona Mon-Fri 8am-9pm/Sat 9am-2pm •Avenida de Andalucia 1 Malaga Mon-Fri 8am-9pm/Sat 9am-2pm •Plaza Gabriel Miro Alicante Mon-Fri 8am-9pm/Sat 9am-2pm •Patricio Ferrandiz, 38 Denia Mon-Fri 8.30am-2.30pm, Sat 9.30am-1pm. •Constituti 6 Palma de Mallorca •Ramon Areces s/n Marbella •Avenida Europa 8 Benidorm •Plaza de la Constitucion Fuengirola •Desiderio Rodriguez 37 Torrevieja
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Telephones Mobile is definitely the way to go in Spain — in some cases it is the only way to go — but there are ways to avoid the high costs of keeping in touch. There is no shortage of public telephones in streets and bars which take coins or, in the case of more modern booths, only phone cards (tarjetas telefonicas), which you can buy from tobacconist shops and post offices. They come in denominations of €6, €10 or €20 and you insert the card into the phone to make a call. Call centres are also common. You make your call in a private cubicle and pay at the desk afterwards.
INTERNATIONAL CALLS
See Direct Telecom's website (www.directtelecom.es) for details of how to make cheap international, as well as local and national, calls in Spain. Or Cellhome (www.peoplecall.com) offer a way of making international calls at national rates by dialling 902 055 123 then entering the number you want to call following by #. See their website for details.
MOBILE PHONES Mobiles are big business in Spain. The Spanish may not like landlines but they love their mobiles and own more than any other EU country. They use them a lot too, given calls are cheaper from mobile to mobile than from mobile to landline. There are three digital networks Movistar (owned by Telefonica), Airtel (which includes Vodaphone) and Amena. You cannot get a contract with a mobile phone company if you do not have a residence card, so you need to use prepaid phone cards either in your existing mobile brought from abroad (if it will take a Spanish SIM card) or you can buy phones
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SETTLING IN
International calls are very expensive from Spain. Instead, buy a pre-paid phone card such as Europa or Eurocity for €6 from various outlets. You tap in the code on the card and you can call for at least 200 minutes at any time of the day. without contracts from about €65, including free calls, from telephone shops and at FNAC stores in Madrid (C/ Preciados, 28), Barcelona (Centro comercial El Triangle Plaza Catalunya, 4), Alicante (Avenida de la Estación, 5-7) and Marbella (Parque Comercial La Cañada, Autovía 340, Salida Ojén). Pre-paid cards are available from supermarkets, petrol stations etc. Or you can top up your phone directly from ATM machines.
TELEPHONE NUMBERS Mobile phone numbers in Spain begin with a 6 and landline numbers with a 9. Numbers beginning with 90 are for special services. 900 is freephone numbers and is used (along with low-cost 901 numbers and standard-cost 902 numbers) by businesses as a national number. 903 to 906 are premium rate lines such as call-in competitions on TV. 909 is used for flat rate internet access. To call directory enquiries, for any national numbers, call 18818.
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Expat Shops When you tire of tapas and yearn for a familiar taste from home, here is where to look to start stocking-up on all your essential favourite foods. BRITISH Sabri Food Store San Emilio, 4, Madrid, tel. 91 726 9833 10am-2.30pm, 5-9pm Mon-Sat; 11am2.30pm Sundays. Indian and Pakistani spices, herbs, vegetables and British favourites including PG Tips teabags, all imported from London.
SETTLING IN
Living in London Santa Engracia 4, Madrid tel. 91 310 3932 Teas, shortbread biscuits and homemade jams. Helen's Paseo de la Castellana 204, Madrid tel. 91 359 6377 8am-midnight Deli selling imported English products including apple and pumpkin pies. The British Market Carrer de Verdi 14, Barcelona tel. 93 415 9468 An all-British store selling all the favourite brands, including Walkers Crisps, Jammy Dodgers and British beers. A Taste of Home Calle San JosĂŠ 38, Sitges, tel. 93 894 9879 www.sitges-spain.com Another well-stocked grocery full of favourite British brands. Brit Buys Alfaz Del Pi, Alicante, tel. 96 686 0370 www.britsbuys.com English supermarket with website ordering facility.
AMERICAN Taste of America Serrano 149, Madrid, tel. 91 562 0278 0am-9pm Mon-Sat Pretzels, fudge brownies, Paul Newman
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sauces and everything you need for a Thanksgiving feast.
ASIAN AND FAR EAST San Bernardo 5 and 7, Madrid tel. 91 559 7741 10.30am-2pm, 4.30-8pm Mon-Sat Exotic Far East products from Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, China, India and Japan. Also some Mexican favourites. Extremo Oriente Plaza de EspaĂąa s/n, Madrid tel. 91 547 9191) 10am-2.15pm, 4.30-8.30pm, Mon-Sat Miso, ginseng, seaweed, oriental teas and more from the Philippines, China, Japan, Korea and Thailand. Foodland Virgen de Lluc 4 and Amparo 88, Madrid tel. 91 404 1902 and tel. 91 467 2880 for respective branches) Arabic, Middle East and Oriental products, including Lebanese tahini, Japanese soya sauce, hot Vindaloo curries, Indian basmati rice and Assam tea. Superstore Asia Food Calle Tallers 77, Barcelona tel. 93 317 8976 Specialities, sauces, plus noodles galore. Sakura-Ya Centro Comercial L'illa Diagonal, Barcelona, tel. 93 301 1961 All the ingredients to make your own sushi, plus prepared foods and desserts. Tokio Ya Presidente Carmona 9, Madrid tel. 91 579 2311 10am-2pm, 4-8pm Mon-Sat Upmarket store selling everything from saki and sushi to traditional ceramics, as well as stocking a wide range of Japanese newspapers.
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Expat Shops HUNGARIAN, GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN La Húngara, Padilla 33, Madrid tel. 91 402 6574 9.30am-2 pm, 5-8.30pm, Mon-Sat Specialities include brioches, chocolates and raspberry and apple tarts for that real taste of home
SETTLING IN
Edelweiss, Galileo 93, Hilarion Eslava 38 and Paseo Yeserias 15, Madrid. tel. 91 534 72 04/ 91 544 08 75/ 91 517 82 94 9.30am-2.15pm, 5-8.45pm. Austrian, German and Hungarian pastries including apfelstrüdel, pear and sacher tarts. Fass, Rodríguez Marín 84, Madrid tel. 91 563 60 83) 9am-8pm Mon-Fri, Sat until 3pm. International supermarket with largest choice of German products to be found in Madrid.
EUROPEAN La Boulette, Ayala 28, Madrid tel. 91 431 7725 8am-3pm, 5.30-8pm Mon-Fri and Sat morning. A European cheese haven including Swiss Emmenthal, Danish Blue and English Stilton, plus French pastries. Tot Formatge Passeig del Born 13, Barcelona tel. 93 319 5375 Cheeses from all over Europe.
SWEDISH Ikea Avenida de Europa 22, CC Parque Oeste Alcorcón, Madrid, tel. 91 664 5200. Avinguda de la Granvia 115-133, Barcelona , tel. 902 400 922 11am-10pm Mon-Sat Swedish beers galore, apple and pear cider on the go, herrings, meatballs and even some glogg wine in winter - it’s the closest to Scandinavia you can get.
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There’s no need to panic - your favourite foods from home can often be found at specialty shops throughout Spain.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE BOOKSHOPS: MADRID
BARCELONA
Petra's International Bookshop C/Campomanes 13 tel. 91 541 7291
Elephant Book Shop C/ Creu dels Molers 12 tel. 93 443 0594
Turner English Books Genova 3 tel. 91 310 1245
Hibernian Books C/ Pere Serafi 33-35 tel. 93 217 4796
JJ Books & Coffee C/Espiritu Santo 47 tel. 91 521 8576 Booksellers José Abascal 48 tel. 91 442 8104
BCN Books Roger de Llúria, 118 tel. 93 457 7692 FNAC Centre Comercial L'Illa Avinguda Diagonal, 555-559 tel. 93 444 5900
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Embassies Australia Plaza Descubridor Diego de Ordás 3 Madrid 28003 tel. 91 441 6025 www.spain.embassy.gov.au Austria Paseo de la Castellana 91 28046 Madrid tel. 91 556 5315 Belgium Paseo de la Castellana 18 (6) 28046 Madrid tel. 91 577 6300 www.diplobel.org/spain/
China C/Arturo Soria 11, 28043 Madrid tel. 91 519 4242 www.embajadachina.es Denmark Claudio Coello 91 - 4º 28006 Madrid tel. 91 431 8445 E-mail: madamb@madamb.um.dk Finland Paseo de la Castellana 15 28046 Madrid tel. 91 319 6172 www.finlandia.org France Salustiano Olozaga, 9 28001 Madrid tel. 91 423 8900 www.ambafrance-es.org
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Greece Av. Doctor Arce 24, Madrid 28002 tel. 91 564 4653 India Av. Pío XII, 30-32 28016 Madrid tel. 902 901 010 www.embajadaindia.com (Republic of) Ireland Paseo de la Castellana 46 28046 Madrid tel. 91 436 4093 Israel C/Velazquez 150 28002 Madrid tel. 91 782 9500 www.embajada-israel.es Italy Calle Lagasca 98 28006 Madrid tel. 91 423 3300 www.ambitalia.org
Netherlands Avenida Comandante Franco, 32 28016 Madrid tel. 91 353 7500 www.embajadapaisesbajos.es New Zealand Plaza de la Lealtad 2 28014 Madrid tel. 91 523 0226 Norway Paseo de la Castellana 31 28046 Madrid tel. 91 310 3116 www.emb-noruega.es Poland Calle Guisando, 23-bis 28035 Madrid tel. 91 373 6605 www.embajada-polonia.org
LISTINGS AND INDEX
Canada Núñez de Balboa, 35 28001 Madrid tel. 91 423 3250 www.canada-es.org
Germany C/Fortuny 8 28010 Madrid tel. 91 557 9000 www.embajada-alemania.es
Portugal Calle Pinar, 1 28006 Madrid tel. 91 782 4960 www.embajadaportugalmadrid.org (Federation of) Russia c.Velázquez 155, 28002 Madrid tel. 91 411 2524 www.russianembassy.net/is ervice.nsf/cities/madrid or http://visados.narod.ru
Japan C/Serrano 109 28006 Madrid tel. 91 590 7600 Mexico Carrera de San Jeronimo 46 28014 Madrid tel. 91 369 2814 www.sre.gob.mx/espana/
South Africa Claudio Coello, 91 28006 Madrid Tel 91 436 3780 www.sudafrica.com Sweden Calle Caracas, 25 Madrid 28010 tel. 91 308 1535 www.embajadasuecia.es
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Embassies Turkey C/Rafael Calvo, 18 2A-B 28010 Madrid tel. 91 319 8064 www.tcmadridbe.org
United Kingdom Calle de Fernando el Santo, 16 28010 Madrid tel. 91 319 0200 www.ukinspain.com
United States Serrano 75 28006 Madrid tel. 91 587 2200 www.embusa.es
LISTINGS AND INDEX
Up, up and away: Living in Spain puts all of Europe on your doorstep, so get your papers in order and your travel shoes on.
CONSULATES IN SPAIN: UNITED KINGDOM: Paseo de Recoletos, 7/9 28004 Madrid tel. 91 524 9700 madridconsulate@ ukinspain.com Avenida Diagonal, 477, 13ยบ 08036 Barcelona tel. 93 366 6200 barcelonaconsulate@ ukinspain.com Plaza Calvo Sotelo 1/2-1 03001 Alicante tel. 96 521 6190 enquiries.alicante@ fco.gov.uk
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Edificio Eurocom, bloque Sur C/Mauricio Moro Pareto, 2, 2ยบ 29080 Mรกlaga tel. 95 235 2300 malaga@fco.gov.uk Plaza Mayor 3D 07002 Palma de Mallorca tel. 97 171 2445 Sa Casa Nova Cami de Biniatap 30 Es Castell 07720 Menorca tel. 97 136 3373
SPAIN EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE
UNITED STATES: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23 08034 Barcelona tel. 932 802 227 Consular Section C/ Serrano, 75 28006 Madrid tel. 91 587 2200 Edificio Reina Constanza Porto Pi, 8, 9D 07015 Palma de Mallorca tel. 971 40 37 07
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Groups And Clubs Even though you may be on your own or with your family, remember that there are plenty of expats out there just like you. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how to make contact. Torrevieja tel. 965 719 907
NATIONAL CLUBS British Spanish Cultural Foundation, Madrid tel. 91 345 6344 Canadian Circle, Madrid tel. 91 446 4591 Australian Club, Madrid tel. 669 458 341 gudonya@australiaspain.co m www.australiaspain.com/gu donya
The American Society of Barcelona www.amersoc.com tel. 696 751 654 The American Club of Marbella tel. 95 277 4092 The British Association of Marbella tel. 952 825 191 Club International de Marbella tel. 95 277 0706 British Society of Catalonia tel. 93 688 0866 Brit Club of Torrevieja tel. 669 640 803 English-speaking Club of
Dutch Club Sitges tel. 93 410 6210 www.nederlandseverenigingbarcelona.com Masala - Promotion of India culture masalabcn@yahoo.es Scandinavian Club www.clubescandinavo.com/ index_sve.htm tel. 93 325 8905
BUSINESS NETWORKING Entrepreneurs Network, Barcelona www.en-barcelona.org The Business Lunch, Barcelona www.thebizlunch.com
SOCIAL CLUBS Gay Madrid (Cogam) tel. 91 522 4517 www.cogam.org The International Newcomer's Club of Madrid www.incmadrid.com tel. 91 604495 The Rotary Club, Fuengirola tel. 696 492 492
LISTINGS AND INDEX
EuroAmerican Club of Madrid tel. 629 218 169
Catalan Irish Association tel. 93 729 1393 chatterbox@qrz.net
Eurocircle, Madrid and Barcelona www.eurocircle.com. Email: info@eurocircle.com
Jazz Appreciation Society, Marbella tel. 95 278 7364 Torrevieja Discussion Group tel. 966 760 448. Belly Dancing Classes, Torrevieja tel. 619 512 714
Business Networking Barcelona (BNB) www.business-networkingbarcelona.com; email: info@business-networkingbarcelona.com British Chamber of Commerce, Barcelona www.britishchamberspain.c om; britchamber@britchamber.com, tel. 93 317 32 20
Bridge Club Torrevieja tel. 96 671 84 40 New Solos Club, Torrevieja (40s-60s) tel. 966 702 556/600 985 656 Women's clubs American Women's Club of Madrid tel. 91 457 1108
Keep up to date on all the latest bureaucratic and legislative changes at www.expatica.com/spain WWW.EXPATICA.COM
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LISTINGS AND INDEX
Groups And Clubs Working Mothers Group, Madrid tel. 91 530 7978
www.geocities.com/ barnahhh tel. 93 415 9738
Gaelic Football Club, Barcelona tel. 616 306 284
Spanish Federation of Business and Professional Women (FEMENP), Madrid empresaria@bitmailer.net
Mijas Hash House Harriers www.mijashhh.com sy_koala@yahoo.com. tel. 651 315 691
Marbella Hill Tennis Club tel. 659 677 539
Barcelona Women's Network www.bcnwomensnetwork. com; tel. 93 753 3066
Madrid Lions Rugby Football Club tel. 91 373 5613 info@madridlionsrfc.com www.madridlionsrfc.com
International Women's Club of Barcelona tel. 93 204 0231 iwcb@hotmail.com
Real Federaci贸n Espa帽ola de Golf tel. 91 555 2682
Parent and Toddler Group, Torrevieja tel. 660 222 637
Barcelona International Football club tel. 93 218 6731
POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS
Barcelona Cricket Club tel. 93 488 2852 cricketinbarca@yahoo.com
Labour international, Torrevieja tel. 96 692 50 59 or 96 571 41 45 Conservatives Abroad Contact: D. Napier tel. 972 256 677 Sports and fitness clubs British Football Club tel. 91 742 2998 Madrid Cricket Club tel. 91 314 2268 cricketinmadrid@ yahoo.co.uk www.cricketinmadrid.com
Torrevieja Cycling Club tel. 636 183 314 Costa Blanca Runners tel. 96 570 60 16 Euro Divers club, Torrevieja tel. 965 703 803 Latin Line Dancing, Torrevieja tel. 96 679 85 88 or tel. 96 676 19 98 Netball Club, Torrevieja tel. 617 575 168
Madrid Hash House Harriers (running club) tel. 91 518 8131 www.madridhhh.com
Manolo Santana Racquets Club, Marbella tel. 95 277 8580 Marbella Golf Institute tel. 619 180 009 www.marbella-golf-institute.com Special interests clubs Barcelona International Wine Society tel. 93 412 6801 Barcelona Toastmasters tel. 93 811 1299 ruthlw@aol.com Natural Health Club naturalhealthclub@ctv.es
THEATRE CLUBS The New English Theatre Society, Barcelona tel. 93 896 0165 Madrid Players Theatre Group 91 326 2439 www.madridplayers.org
SELF-HELP GROUPS Relationship Therapy Group, Barcelona tel. 93 675 9276 Alcoholics Anonymous, Madrid tel. 91 309 1947 www.aaspain.org
Barcelona Hash House Harriers
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LISTINGS AND INDEX
Phone Book Decoder
64
ACCOUNTANT
CHILDREN'S CLOTHING
FURNITURE
Contable
Ropa infantíl
Muebles
AIRLINE
CINEMA
GARDEN CENTRE
Línea aérea
Cine
Centro de jardinería
ART GALLERY
CONFECTIONERS
GREENGROCER
Museo de arte
Pastelería
Frutería
BABY GOODS
DENTIST
GROCERIES
Artículos para bebes
Dentista
Comestibles
BAKERY
DEPARTMENT STORE
HAIRDRESSER
Panadería
Grandes almacenes
Peluquería
BARBER
DO-IT-YOURSELF SHOP
HARDWARE STORE
Barbero/peluquería
Bricolaje
Ferretería
BATHROOM
DOCTOR
HEALTH CLUB
Cuarto de baño
Médico
Gimnasio
BEAUTICIAN
DOG KENNEL
HOSPITAL
estetecista
Perrera
Hospital
BICYCLE
DRIVING SCHOOL
HOUSE CLEANING
Bicicleta
Autoescuela
Limpieza de la casa
BOOKSHOP
CHEMIST
INSURANCE
Librería
Farmacia
Seguros
BUILDER
DRY CLEANING
JEWELLER
Constructor
Tintorería
Joyería
BUTCHER
ELECTRICAL GOODS
KEY CUTTING
Carnicería
Electrodomésticos
Cortar llaves
CAR DEALER
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
KITCHEN
Venta de coches
Agencia de trabajo
Cocina
CARPENTER
EYE DOCTOR
LADIES CLOTHING
Carpintero
Oculista
Ropa feminina
CARPET
FIRE BRIGADE
LANGUAGE SCHOOL
Alfombra
Bomberos
Escuela de idiomas
CAR RENTALS
FISHMONGER
LAWYER
Alquiler de coches
Pescadería
Abogado
CENTRAL HEATING
FLOWER SHOP
LEGAL ADVICE CENTRE
Calefaccion
Floristería
Asesoría juridical
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Phone Book Decoder MENSWEAR
REAL ESTATE AGENT
TAX CONSULTANT
Ropa de caballero
Inmobiliaria
Asesor de impuestos/notario/gestor
OPTICIANS
REMOVALS COMPANY
Optica
Mudanzas
PAINTERS
SHOE SHOP
Pintores
Zapatería
PEST CONTROL SHOP
SUPERMARKET
Control de plagas
Supermercado
POLICE
SWIMMING POOL
Policía
Piscina
POST OFFICE
TAILOR
Correos
Sasterería
THEATRE Teatro
TOOLS Herramientas
TRAVEL AGENTS Agencia de viajes
VET Veterinario
WINDOW CLEANER limpiacristales
LISTINGS AND INDEX
When you need more than just a way to decode the phone book, go to www.expatica. com/spain and learn how to decode the whole country.
For breaking news and considered analysis of current affairs in Spain, check out www.expatica.com/spain WWW.EXPATICA.COM
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Weights And Measures WOMEN’S CLOTHING
MEN’S SHIRTS
US 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
US 14½ 15 15½ 16 16½ 17 17½
UK 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
ES 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
UK 14½ 15 15½ 16 16½ 17 17½
WOMEN’S SHOES
MEN’S SHOES
US 5½ 6 6½ 7 7½ 8
US 8 8½ 9 9½ 10
LIQUID MEASURES
DRY MEASURES ES 37 38 39 41 42 43 44
g 30 115 170 225 450
ml
fl oz
30 60 150 240 300 450 900 1000
1 2 5 8 10 15 32 34
oz 1 4 6 8 16 (1lb)
LISTINGS AND INDEX
OVEN TEMPERATURES UK 3½ 4 4½ 5 5½ 6
ES 36.5 37 37.5 38 38.5 39
UK 7½ 8 8½ 9 9½
ES 40 42 43 44 45
MEN’S CLOTHING
MEN’S SWEATERS
US 36 38 40 42 44
US small medium large x-large
UK 36 38 40 42 44
ES 46 48 50 52 54
UK 34 36-38 40 42-44
LINEAR MEASURES 1 centimetre 2.54 centimetres 30.05 centimetres 91.4 centimetres 1 meter 1 kilometer (1000 m) 1.609344 kilometers
0.39 inch 1 inch 1 foot 1 yard 39.37 inches 0.62137 miles 1 mile
ES 44 46-48 50 52-54
OVEN
C
very cool cool warm moderate fairly hot hot
130 150 170 180 200 220+
THERMOMETER
F
GAS MARK
260 300 325 350 380 460
0.5-1 2 3 5 5-6 7-8
BODY TEMPERATURE
C
F
C
F
25 23 20 18 15 13 10 8 5 3 0 -5 -10 -15
77 73 68 64 59 55 50 46 41 37 32 23 14 5
36.0 36.5 37.0 37.5 38.0 38.5 39.0 39.5 40.0 40.5 41.0
96.8 97.7 98.6 99.5 100.4 101.3 102.2 103.1 104.0 104.9 105.8
Get the most out of living in Spain, read Expatica news and views every weekday at www.expatica.com
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Emergency Numbers EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
UTILITIES
Police, fire, ambulance: 112
GAS:
National Police-091 - ask for translator service Border police (at railway stations, airports and borders) 0180 5234566 Ambulance - 061 Fire - 080 Civil Guard - 062 Coastguard -900 202 202 Red Cross -915 222 222 Civil Protection - www.protecioncivil.org
Gas Natural: 900 760 760 HidroCantabrico: (24-hrs) 902 860 600 Repsol Butano: (24-hrs) 901 100 100
ELECTRICTY: Fecsa Endesa: (24-hr) 902 507 750 HidroCantabrico (24-hr) 902 860 860 Iberdola(24-hr) 901 202 020 Enher(24-hr) 900 770 077
CREDIT CARDS MEDICAL SERVICES Barcelona: 649 938 392 Madrid: 639 364 670 or Sanitas helpline: 918 043 802/918 032 484 Malaga: Carlos Haya Hospital 95 103 01 00 Civil Hospital 95 103 03 00 Materno Infantil Hospital 95 103 02 00 Hospital ClĂnico 95 103 20 00 Alicante: 965 144 000 Aids Helpline: 900 212 222 Spanish Aids Foundation: 900 111 000 Poisons Helpline: 915 620 420 Cancer Helpline: 900 100 036 Social services helpline: 900 703 030 Federation for Relatives and Partners of the deaf: 915 765 149, DTS: 915 771 230; Domestic violence Victim Support: 900 121 884 or 900 100 009
EMERGENCY DENTISTS: Barcelona: 607 332 335 Madrid: 661 857 170 Malaga: 966 730 603 Alicante: 965 717 512
LISTINGS AND INDEX
EMERGENCY DOCTOR:
American Express: 91 572 03 03 Cajamadrid: 91 519 38 00 4B: 91 726 00 00 / 91 532 62 00 Eurocard-Mastercard: 91 519 21 00 Dinner's: 91 547 40 00 Sistema 6000: 91 355 30 00 / 91 596 53 35 Visa: 519 21 00
HELPLINES CONSUMER: Spanish Agency for Protection of Consumers: 913 996 200 Ministry of Health and Consumers: 915 961 090 or 915 961 091 National Consumers' Institute: 914 311 836
IMMIGRATION: Immigration Service, Ministry of Interior: 900 150 000 Institute of Immigration and Social Security: 913 638 888 Or 913 638 916, 913 638 917; 913 638 909 High Commission for Refugees (ACNUR): 915 563 503 www.acnur.org
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Advertiser Index Abogados Leal 21 Alliance and Leicester 23 AXA PPP inside back cover
I
B
Blasco & Advocats Associats 21
P
H.
HSBC
W
A
back cover
K
International Health Insurance - Danmark inside front cover King College - The British School of Madrid 33 Paraninfo Intensive Spanish 31 World Pack 9
LISTINGS AND INDEX
To advertise with us in the next Expat Survival Guide, please email sales@expatica.com
Another perfect Spanish sunset...
The Expat Survival Guide will be distributed to over 20,000 expats in Spain through embassies, international companies and organisations, expat clubs, and expat housing and relocation companies. If you are involved in managing expats (maybe you are involved in international HR management) or through work and leisure activities come in to contact with expats who would find this guide useful, please contact Mark Batty at mark.batty@expatica.com You can order as many guides you feel are necessary, for free, and delivery is also free
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within the major cities (outside of the major cities we ask that you simply cover the costs of postage). Details of where you can pick up individual copies of the Survival Guide can be found at www.expatica.com. Venues include international bookstores, relocation agencies, expat food stores, and bars and restaurants throughout Spain. If you run a bookshop, cafe, bar or restaurant popular with expats and would like to distribute the free Expat Survival Guide to your customers, please email mark.batty@expatica.com for details.
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