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Living and working in Spain
If you hope that living and working in Spain will mean a slower pace of life, you’d be right: the Spanish lifestyle is indeed a little more laid-back than the British one
But just as in the UK, the pace of life depends upon where you live, with big cities moving quickly and rural parts taking more time about everything. You may even find that the Spanish habit of taking siestas is waning, although in the hottest parts of Spain – generally the central areas – the habit is still in evidence during the height of summer, where temperatures soar above 100°F. Despite the occasionally scorching heat, the Spanish are among the healthiest people in the world, with the highest life expectancy in the European Union. Healthcare standards in Spain are high. The country's public health system offers free or low-cost healthcare to those who contribute to Spanish social security, as well as members of their family.
Making it official
Spain's slower approach to certain matters can tangle you in red tape. Reports vary as to exactly how frustrating it is to obtain the paperwork necessary to live and work in the country, but don't be too surprised if you end up in a Catch-22 – needing to produce paperwork you've been unable to obtain to help you obtain other paperwork you want! As an EU resident, there is nothing to stop you from working in Spain. You'll need a Numero de Identificacion de Extranjeros (NIE) and, quite possibly, a Numero de Seguridad Sociale (from the local social security office – check in the Spanish yellow pages). To obtain a NIE, you must apply at a national police station (comisaría de Policía nacional) with a foreigners' department (departmento de extranjeros). Here, you will have to fill in a form, submit it and possibly return several days or weeks later to pick up your NIE.
But what kind of work can you expect to find? On the Costas, especially those most popular with Brits, there are many construction, holiday, hotel, catering, and property companies looking for English speakers – and recruitment agencies specialising in finding work for English speakers on hand to help you. Beyond this, teaching English as a foreign language is open to those with the appropriate qualification. The Spanish equivalent of the Job Centre is the Instituto Nacional de Empleo (INEM). Those, on the other hand, thinking of becoming self-employed should start by visiting their local gestoría. Those intending to live permanently in Spain should ensure that they apply for a residence permit (tarjeta de residencia) within 15 days of arrival. In fact, as waiting times for this essential piece of paperwork can take up to six months, it's best to apply before moving to Spain. This is done in person, with an armful of paperwork, at the departmento de extranjeros of the local comisaría de Policía nacional; the permit is then issued at the provincial police station nearest to where you will be resident.
Driving licences
Non-residents can drive in Spain (on the right, of course) for a maximum of six months in a calendar year if they have an international driving licence as well as the licence of their home country; and an official translation of their licence and a Certificate of Equivalence (Certificado de equivalencia) issued by the Spanish RAC. If you are planning to be in Spain for over the stated 182 days then you can either get your licence stamped and registered at the Jefatura de trafico or change your driving licence within six months to a Spanish one. In practice, the latter is recommended as fines are issued by some police for failure to produce a Spanish licence.
Learning the lingo
living and working in Spain, be wary of exactly how you attempt to communicate with the Spanish. Waving your arms about and adding 'o's to English words – 'my armo hurto', for example – is unlikely to be well received. Undoubtedly, knowing a little of the Spanish language will help you settle in. Even if you buy a property in a development with many British residents, speaking at least a smattering of the lingo for use in official circles is all but essential. Moreover, make sure that you learn the correct lingo. Generally, Castellano, the 'official' form of Spanish, should suffice for the Costas, apart from the areas near Barcelona – where Catalan would be a much better bet. In the Basque provinces of Vizcaya, Guipuzcoa and Alava, Basque (or Euskera) is the lingua franca.
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