Hi Folks,

I am Irish and currently living in Abu Dhabi. My wife is from Madrid and after another short time in Abu Dhabi it is our intention to move to Madrid (should I manage to find a job). Does anyone know if I would I need a residency visa to live in Madrid? or would I be exempt as I am a European citizen with a Spanish wife?

Thanks

as a European you need no visa, with or without a Spanish wife

once living here you do need to register as resident though

We do have the highest unemployment rate (20%) in Europe but there are jobs out there. Gaining employment will depend on either specialist skills, not minding what kind of job you can take or purley pot luck.

Hi.

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I know getting a job in Madrid is going to be extremely tough, particularly as I think my line of work doesn't exist there (I'm a Quantity Surveyor). I've had the wife trying to find out what the Spanish equivalent of my work is but no-one has any idea.

Afraid I haven't the faintest idea about your line of work but you could try signing up with several ETT companies (agencys). As for accomodation you couldn't pick a better time. Due to the economic crisis over here appartments are very well priced.

You would have to look into whether your qualifications are recognised here also.

Yes it does and indeed there is a branch of the RICS in Madrid. In the planning application process the Architect has to submit a BoQ with his Royal College Application and this is forwarded to the Ayuntamiento as the basis for them to charge the Building Licence fee.