FilSheff

Hi guys,

In the process of planning a move to Spain maybe in April / May-time but we have a few queries before we go any further.

We have heard from various places that we will require a resident's card as soon as we arrive there, and are worried that we will not be able to find work until we have one. We have also read that it can take a matter of months to even get an appointment at the Oficina de Extranjeros, and we'd be wanting to look for work as soon as we get out there. Is this true?

Is it easy to open up a bank account? We already have a friend who lives over there who has stated that it's as easy as showing up at the bank with a valid UK passport.

Also, how much on average as a percentage of your wage per month will be taken out for tax and medical coverage?

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks guys!

cricketman

Hi FilShef

First question is are you British? If so you dont need a residence card to get a job. You will need an NIE which is very easy to get and should take about a month at the most. Opening a bank account is easy once you have an address in Spain.

Re, jobs do you have something lined up? And do you speak Spanish? Any specialised skills etc? This is the most important. There is 20% unemployment in Spain. You will be very lucky to get a job within your first 1 year here even if you speak fluent Spanish. This also depends exactly where in Spain you are moving to.

How much is taken off for taxes and national insurance depends on how much your salary will be. Its more or less the same as in the UK except if you earn over 45k euros a year, when taxes become a bit higher than in the UK

icharus

Are you sure about tax's over 45k a year being higher in Spain ?

I was under the impression from various sources that the upper rate in Spain is 40% vs 50% in the UK. This was widely reported in the UK media at the time of the introduction of the 50% tax rate in the UK.

cricketman

100% sure. The upper tax rate is 43% in Spain for all income earned over 53k euros (sorry I stated a bit lower)

You can see this here
http://impuestosrenta.com/retenciones-irpf/

You will see that taxes are higher in Spain compared to the UK unless you earn over £150k/year when the 50% UK tax kicks in

TheLostPhotographer

Don't come to Spain looking for work. Honestly, you will find it 10 times more difficult here than in the UK ATM.

Spain has always been a retirement destination for ex-pats. Those still looking for work have always found it difficult. You would have to be very lucky today. Not good times at all.

campolife

Are you sure where you want to go.

Your posts of 5 months ago were about moving to Australia!!

FilSheff

Maybe so campolife, but people are allowed to change their minds, circumstances change and plans have to adapt to certain situations. Australia is still an option, but Spain is just more practical at this moment in time.

campolife

I totally agree I change my mind all the time.
The problem really is the practicalities of moving anywhere if you need to be working and I think the other posters have indicated the problems in this area.

On the other hand if you were considering Oz then you will have a good trade behind you which may be needed in Spain providing the language skills are OK.

FilSheff

We're on our way to Spain this coming Sunday, on a 'reccie' if you will, to establish just what the job and housing situations are like nowadays. It's not a move we'll consider lightly - we have jobs and houses to give up here. It's a nerve-wracking experience and we just hope there's some way round it.

We already have friends over in Spain who will help us integrate. I am 'almost' fluent in Spanish and the other half who has the skill that was wanted in Oz is learning it at the moment.

Here's hoping the trip goes smoothly on Sunday!

Madridboy

^^^^Exactly what he said!

Michael74

Have lived in Spain for the last 5 years and fortunately do not have to work as both of us are retired and have decent pensions. At the moment we are on our last weeks holiday in Australia out of three months staying with our daughter near Geelong in Victoria. We are both looking forward to returning to Spain next week as we do miss the life there very much.

Having said that, if I was not of retiring age Australia would be the place for us. Its a wide open, friendly country with work available both for skilled and non skilled workers. The housing situation is approx just over half the price of what you would pay in the UK. My daughter has been here for 15 months now and the three grandsons 26,24 and 19 are all in work. The youngest having just started a plumbing apprenticeship.

We would have no problems coming to live here but just at the moment Spain suits us better. Several of my Spanish neighbours are out of work, house prices have fallen through the floor. The tourist industry has taken a severe knock and there is a very high unemployment rate as mentioned before. There has been an increase in Brits leaving Spain because they have not been able to find work and are not pensioners with a steady income. As pensioners we have had to tighten our belts because of the falling exchange rate resulting in an increase in the cost of living here.

My advice is - if you have a trade go to Australia even if you speak fluent Spanish. Subject to meeting Australia's strict immigration laws obviously.

johncar61

Once you move away from UK you are, usually, unable to open bank/building Soc accounts there, but normally you can still keep those you have.

So make sure you have 'all the accounts' you might need before moving.
The Nationwide provide excellent services FREE for drawing cask whilst in Spain (and worldwide).

Mitzyboy

Ive always believed this as well. Interestingly though I am having to open an account with Santander in the UK for a company and went in whilst I was in the UK to ask the question. They told me that as I lived here in Spain I might have to go to a Santander Bank or even a consul to prove my identity, but that it was possible to open one. I'm not holding my breath, but if it works I'll let you know.

montgomail

There is a fee now for drawing cash outside of Europe, introduced around May last year.

Mitzyboy

Not according to their web site