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Expats in Spain

The Ultimate Guide to Phone Area Codes in Spain (+34)

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Moving to a new country, doing business, or simply staying in touch with friends in Spain requires understanding its unique telecommunications system. While it may seem straightforward, knowing the nuances of the area code in Spain, how to dial correctly, and what different number prefixes mean can save you time, money, and confusion.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the Spanish telephone numbering plan, from making your first call to understanding the difference between a landline in Madrid and a mobile in Mallorca.

The Basics First: Spain’s Country Code and Dialing Format

Before diving into area codes, let’s start with the most important number:

  • Spain’s Country Code is +34. Every phone call originating from outside of Spain must begin with this code (after dialing your country’s international exit code).

A key characteristic of the Spanish system is its closed dialing plan. This means that all Spanish phone numbers have 9 digits, and you must always dial all nine, including the area code, even if you are calling from within the same city. This system was fully implemented in 1998 to expand the availability of phone numbers across the country.

How to Call a Spanish Number from Abroad: A Step-by-Step Guide

Calling Spain is simple once you know the formula. The process varies slightly depending on where you are calling from.

Formula: Your Country's Exit Code + 34 + 9-Digit Spanish Phone Number

Examples:

  • From the United States or Canada: Dial 011 + 34 + XXX XX XX XX
  • From the United Kingdom or most of Europe: Dial 00 + 34 + XXX XX XX XX
  • From a mobile phone anywhere: You can usually just use the plus sign. Hold down the 0 key until + appears, then dial +34 + XXX XX XX XX.

Remember: The 9-digit Spanish number already includes the area code. Do not add any extra numbers or zeros after dialing +34.

Anatomy of a Spanish Phone Number: Landlines vs. Mobiles

The first few digits of a 9-digit number tell you what kind of phone it is.

  • Spanish Landlines (Teléfonos Fijos): These numbers begin with a 9 or an 8. The first two or three digits represent the geographical area code Spain uses, known as a prefijo provincial. For example, all landlines in the province of Madrid start with 91.
  • Spanish Mobile Phones (Teléfonos Móviles): These numbers begin with a 6 or, more recently, a 7. These prefixes are not tied to a geographical location. A mobile number starting with 6 could belong to someone living anywhere in Spain.

The Complete List of Spanish Area Codes by Province

Finding the correct area code in Spain is easy with this comprehensive table, organized by Autonomous Community for your convenience.

Provincia 📍Comunidad Autónoma 🇪🇸Prefijo (Area Code)
A CoruñaGalicia981
LugoGalicia982
OurenseGalicia988
PontevedraGalicia986
AsturiasAsturias98
CantabriaCantabria942
Álava (Araba)País Vasco945
Guipúzcoa (Gipuzkoa)País Vasco943
Vizcaya (Bizkaia)País Vasco94
La RiojaLa Rioja941
NavarraNavarra948
HuescaAragón974
TeruelAragón978
ZaragozaAragón976
BarcelonaCataluña93
GironaCataluña972
LleidaCataluña973
TarragonaCataluña977
CastellónComunidad Valenciana964
ValenciaComunidad Valenciana96
AlicanteComunidad Valenciana96
MurciaRegión de Murcia968
AlbaceteCastilla-La Mancha967
Ciudad RealCastilla-La Mancha926
CuencaCastilla-La Mancha969
GuadalajaraCastilla-La Mancha949
ToledoCastilla-La Mancha925
MadridComunidad de Madrid91
ÁvilaCastilla y León920
BurgosCastilla y León947
LeónCastilla y León987
PalenciaCastilla y León979
SalamancaCastilla y León923
SegoviaCastilla y León921
SoriaCastilla y León975
ValladolidCastilla y León983
ZamoraCastilla y León980
BadajozExtremadura924
CáceresExtremadura927
AlmeríaAndalucía950
CádizAndalucía956
CórdobaAndalucía957
GranadaAndalucía958
HuelvaAndalucía959
JaénAndalucía953
MálagaAndalucía95
SevillaAndalucía95
Las PalmasIslas Canarias928
Santa Cruz de TenerifeIslas Canarias922
Islas BalearesIslas Baleares971
CeutaCiudad Autónoma956
MelillaCiudad Autónoma952

More Than Just Area Codes: Understanding Special Numbers

Beyond standard landlines and mobiles, you will encounter special prefixes. It is crucial to know what they mean to avoid unexpected charges.

  • Toll-Free Numbers (Gratuitos) – 800 y 900: 🟢 Calling these numbers is completely free for the caller. They are often used for customer service lines.
  • Shared Cost Numbers – 901: 🟡 The cost of the call is split between you and the company you are calling.
  • National Call Rate Numbers – 902: 🟠 Use with caution! These numbers have the cost of a national call, but they are almost never included in flat-rate mobile or landline plans. This means you will be charged separately for them, and they can be expensive.
  • Premium Rate Numbers – 80X (803, 806, 807): 🔴 Avoid these numbers unless you are fully aware of the cost. They are for premium services (adult entertainment, tarot, professional services) and are charged at a very high per-minute rate.

Getting Your Own Spanish Number: A Simple Path for Expats

Having a local Spanish number is essential for daily life, from setting up utilities to using Bizum (a popular payment app). While the process can seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be.

Typically, you’ll need a form of Spanish identification (like a NIE) and a bank account. However, navigating the bureaucracy can be challenging. For expats, the easiest way to get connected is by using a service designed for the international community. Companies like Tiekom specialize in providing mobile and internet packages with contracts and customer service in English, eliminating the language barrier and simplifying the entire setup.

Calling in Spain, Made Simple

Understanding the Spanish telephone system is a key step in feeling at home in Spain. By knowing the area code Spain uses for each province, how to dial correctly, and which special numbers to watch out for, you can communicate with confidence. Whether you’re making a business call or getting a local number for your new life abroad, you now have the ultimate guide to get you started.

Digital nomads in spain: guide to survive

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Digital nomad is a person who works online while traveling the world. Most people see a digital nomad as someone who works on their laptop in some nice place to live.

Becoming a digital nomad is all about creating the perfect work-life balance. The part of life is adding more adventure, fun, excitement and satisfaction to your days. Digital nomads can do this by exploring new countries, experiencing new cultures, and meeting unique people from around the world.

In November 2022, the Spanish parliament approved the special digital nomad visa and fiscal regime for startups via a new law to come into effect in January 2023. The proposed legislation aims to open Spain up to new talent in all walks of the economy.

The business community in Spain and abroad has welcomed the news, which has been particularly well-received among remote workers. Under the new law, these so-called digital nomads would find it much easier to live and work in Spain.

With some of the best internet speeds in the EU, a low cost of living and plenty of warm weather, Spain is already a popular destination for remote workers.

How to be a digital nomad?

1. Work as a freelance, selling your knowledge and services to other companies remotely.

2. Create your own company, developing a project that is feasible to develop from anywhere in the world.

3. Work for someone else in a company that allows remote working.

What can you expect?

The main advantages of this new visa for remote workers are the following:

• Allows you to live up to 3 years in Spain.

• Does not present risk of rejection.

• It will allow the return of companies and citizens of the United Kingdom.

• Allows numerous tax benefits to companies.

Mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake you can make is not being prepared for a nomadic life:

  • Before you quit your 9 to 5 job and pack your bags, you need to make sure you can do this. In your dreams, a nomadic lifestyle is perfect for you. Everything seems to be sunshine and happiness. But all digital nomads eventually face the exhaustion and loneliness of the nomadic lifestyle. It is a different way of life. But it is not the cure for all your problems. You will have some amazing moments, but you will also have some unpleasant moments. It’s all part of the digital nomad package.
  • Having some money saved, the ideal will be to have saved at least the cost of basic expenses for emergencies. The cost will vary depending on the country you plan to stay in, Spain is a fantastic country for the cost of living.
  • You should do a test before making the decision. Take a week or two vacation from your 9 to 5 routine. During this vacation, you must travel to a new place. However, unlike a normal vacation where you usually just relax, this vacation will require you to work a couple of hours a day.
  • Join Social Groups: Digital nomads often experience loneliness. Avoid this by signing up for digital nomad Facebook groups, meetups, and coworking spaces. You can also join local digital nomad groups in your area to learn more about the nomadic lifestyle of digital nomads in your community.

Broadband affordable

Having a good internet connection is critical for you if you want to work as a digital nomad, don’t risk it here.

Tiekom offers you a multitude of connectivity options for when you are traveling in Spain. These services can be from a SIM of up to 400GB with an exclusive plan to connect to the internet and with roaming, an unlimited 4G/5G router, etc.

Visit our website. where you can find all the information about our company and our services.

Insurances for foreigners

Another of the key elements to take into account if you are going to travel to another country for a while is to have adequate insurance to avoid surprises.

Whether you’re looking to protect the health, your home or your car, Tiekom can help. Choose the insurance that best suits your needs, with the best coverage and special prices for expats.

Main most valued advantages that we provide in our insurance offer for expats:

• Work with a reference company to ensure quality, safety and solvency.

• English-speaking, telephone assistance, speed and efficiency in dealing with incidents and compensating the client.

• Instant quotes

• Online applications

Saving money with green energy 

Saving can be very important for you when you are residing in another country and also saving when the planet is essential.

Tiekom is committed to 100% renewable energy, to saving the planet’s resources and offers significant savings in the electricity bill of our customers. We believe that renewable energies are the way to guarantee the future of our planet.

We work every day to make electricity more easily understandable and accessible to all and also more respectful with the environment.

In order to choose the best service provider we advise you to choose those according to your needs, Tiekom is a telecom and services provider focus on the expats living in Spain. Your home will be fully equipped with the best broadband, mobile and other services… All with the best quality and personalized attention in your language.

Do not forget either that Tiekom offers you the best services for your home: Telecommunications (internet and mobile), energy, insurances, Television of your country, security systems…

You can find all the information about our company and our services on the Tiekom website or by email: sales@tiekom.com In all cases we will be happy to help you.

How can get internet in Spain if you are British

Por

As a British in Spain, it doesn’t matter where in our beautiful country you have chosen to live or spend time, what does matter is that you will need to set up your local utilities and set up an internet in your new home.

As a new arrival, knowing how to go about this can be daunting. However, it doesn’t need to be because setting up your home with all the Spanish telecommunications you need could be easy and simple. To give you a running start, our helpful guide lays out everything you need to know about.

Internet services in Spain

As in most other European countries, the telecoms market in Spain is liberalized. This means that new arrivals typically have plenty of choices when it comes to choosing the right internet and mobile provider.

In order to choose the best service provider we advise you to choose those according to your needs, Tiekom is a telecom and services provider focused on the expats living in Spain. Your home will be fully equipped with the best broadband, mobile and other services… All with the best quality and personalized attention in your language.

Getting connected in a new home

Wherever you’re heading in Spain, it’s safe to say that you’ll want to get your new home connected straight away. Generally speaking, if you’re buying a Spanish property, then you’ll need to hire your internet, mobile, tv… connections.

If the property has an existing phone line, you’ll simply have to check it still actually works and then choose your provider. However, if your property is new, or there is no existing line, you’ll need to set one up. You can do this easily by contacting with Tiekom.

How do I set up a phone connection in Spain?

The main advantages that Tiekom offers you over other conventional operators, in addition to the fact that we speak your language, is that to hire an internet or mobile service you’ll likely need to provide the following information:

• NIE

• Proof of addresses

• Spanish bank account

In many cases you only have a passport and a UK bank account. For us it is not a problem we can offer you our telecommunications service with your passport and your UK bank.

Setting up an internet connection in Spain

Having a reliable internet connection at home is increasingly essential. Whether you’re streaming the latest Hollywood releases, shopping for groceries or gadgets, or even chatting with family around the world, you’ll need good Wi-Fi. Thankfully, Spain has a decent internet network; although your options regarding download speeds will largely depend on where you live. Spanish connections are typically ADSL or fiber-optic cables (fibra), with the latter becoming an increasingly popular and accessible choice. In more rural locations, you may need to explore cellular 4G/5G internet options (Air-fibre) to ensure good connectivity.

When signing up for an internet package, make sure you find the right package for the needs of you and your family. For example, if the kids spend a lot of time on their consoles, then you’ll need a higher download speed. On the other hand, should you only use the internet for social media and subscription TV services like Disney+ and Netflix, then you’ll probably be fine with a lower download speed.

How to save with your broadband service

With Tiekom, in addition to the quality, the ease of contracting and the excellent service, you can save money by pausing your fiber service at home for a maximum of 6 months a year, only paying a single fee of €30 and you will no longer pay the monthly fiber for up to 6 months once a year. This service is only available on our Blue and Green fibers.

Is home internet without landline for you?

Internet without landline? This means you can get internet access without a land line. As we use the internet more, people are using their home phone lines and cable less. Meaning a landline isn’t always necessary. One of the most common options for those who only want internet and also in those areas where the fiber coverage of the large operators is not good is mobile broadband, which is delivered via 4G like a mobile network.

Payment methods

In Spain it is typically done on a monthly basis. The forms of payment required by conventional operators is by charging the amount of the monthly bill to your bank account in Spain. Tiekom offers you multiple options:

  • Charge to a bank account in Spain
  • Charge to a foreign bank account
  • I pay with credit card
  • Payment by bank transfer
  • and we are currently implementing other payment methods such as: paypall and Bizum.

In short, we make it easier for foreign customers residing in Spain.

Are there service providers specialized in British?

In order to choose the best service provider we advise you to choose those according to your needs, Tiekom is a telecom and services provider focus on the expats living in Spain. Your home will be fully equipped with the best broadband, mobile and other services… All with the best quality and personalized attention in your language.

Do not forget either that Tiekom offers you the best services for your home: Telecommunications (internet and mobile), energy, Television of your country, security systems…

You can find all the information about our company and our services on the Tiekom website or by email: sales@tiekom.com In all cases we will be happy to help you.

Winter is better in Spain

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Spain is consistently ranked one of the top travel destinations in the world, if you’re considering traveling there in winter we will give you some interesting information about our country.

Spanish´s climate is fantastic with averaging 137 days of sunshine, compared to other European countries, for example in the UK they have an average of 52 days each year.

There are some microclimate places in Spain that have mild weather all year round which is extremely beneficial for your health and longevity of its inhabitants.

In this article we will explain the main advantages that Spain offers to spend the winters taking into account the current price increases such as energy and other basic services: fuel, food, internet…

Why should I spend the winter in Spain?

The climate is one of the fundamental factors of why foreigners visit and spend time in our country, as well as because of the wonderful places, the people and the cost of living here.

Below we give you some interesting information to spend the winters in Spain depending on its different months:

December

With Christmas on the horizon and festive spirits at an all-time high, December in Spain is almost as lively and exciting as summer.

Plus, thanks to the country’s size and variety of climate, you can have any type of holiday you want in December – from ski trips to beach breaks, and everything in-between.

To get into the holiday spirit, head to Barcelona or Seville, where you’ll find some the most delightful Christmas markets in Europe.

Pay a visit to the city of Malaga and you’ll see a seriously impressive display of fairy lights on the main street, which draws thousands of spectators to the city centre every evening in December to watch it become illuminated.

December marks the beginning of ski season in Granada, with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada opening up to skiers and snowboarders alike.

And historic Zaragoza in northeast Spain is a great place to stay while visiting the nearby ski resorts in the Pyrenees.

January

January is a fine time to visit Spain. Since it’s outside of peak tourist season, you’ll likely get more bang for your buck no matter which region you go to, as hotel room rates and restaurant prices go down across the country after the Christmas holiday.

February

There are plenty of good reasons to visit Spain in February, including some lively carnival parties in Cadiz and the Canary Islands to celebrate the beginning of Lent.

March

This is the month when things begin to warm up in Spain.

The sea may not be quite warm enough to swim in – even the Mediterranean – but walking on the beach should be pleasant around this time of year.

Plus, there are lots of cultural events and festivals to experience in March, including Valencia’s unique Las Fallas festival in mid-March.

During this riotous week, the city is -quite literally – set ablaze with fireworks, gunpowder and bonfires, while live music and a healthy dose of satire give the festival a fun and humorous touch.

The main event sees hundreds of ninots (dolls made from papier-mache, wood or cardboard) set alight in a mass fire called La Cremà (the burning).

Where is the best place to live in Spain in winter?

Any of the destinations on our coast and in general anywhere in our country can be a wonderful place to spend a happy winter. Here is some information about the places where winter is warmest and most attractive:

The Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol is one of the most important tourist areas in Spain, especially for people flying in from the U.K. and one of the best places to retire to if you’re seeking beaches and warm weather. The Costa del Sol has more than 1.3 million inhabitants, a large community of expats and English speakers that are spread throughout the area, which is located in the Malaga region, from the luxurious Puerto Banús in Marbella, to the bustling beaches of Nerja, Benalmadena and Fuengirola. The Costa del Sol is perfect for the people who want a lively and active lifestyle – especially for those who enjoy a round of golf, given the province’s fame as home to some of the top golf courses in Spain and Europe.

Alicante

This is also one of the best places if you want to spend a winter in Spain. Due to its coastline which offers that much relaxing beach lifestyle which comes with almost an year amount of sunshine. Alicante is a cosmopolitan area with almost everything that any person needs such as beautiful scenes from its beaches, shops, and magnificent nightlife moments.

Mallorca Island

Mallorca Island is no doubt one of the best places to live in Spain. The fact that it is an island makes it suitable for the people who want a change from that city life. It has got beautiful scenery, amazing nightlife, excellent shopping scene and sandy beaches.

Canary Islands

The island’s temperatures are warm with small seasonal variations due to its sub-tropical climate. The islands are vibrant with visitors, making it the choice of many

Their beautiful scenery of beaches, mountains, and tourist attractions such as National parks makes it the perfect destination for people looking for relaxation and peaceful environments.

Is energy cheaper in Spain than in the UK?

Utilities in Spain are in relation to the cost of living in Spain, they are, in general, cheap and of good quality.

At this time, due to the serious energy crisis that all of Europe is suffering, it is very difficult to say that energy is cheaper in Spain than in the UK, but we can assure you that due to our climate, the hours of sunlight and the cost of life will not require heavy use of heating and electricity for your home and you will end up saving a lot of money on this.

Will I be able to get internet easily during my stay in Spain?

Having a reliable internet connection at home is increasingly essential. Thankfully, Spain has a good internet network; although your options regarding download speeds will largely depend on where you live. Spanish connections are typically fiber-optic cables (fiber), becoming an increasingly popular and accessible choice.

In more rural locations, you may need to explore air-fibre internet options to ensure good connectivity.

When signing up for an broadband package, make sure you find the right package for the needs of you and your family.

Are there service providers specialized in British?

In order to choose the best service provider we advise you to choose those according to your needs, Tiekom is a telecom and services provider focus on the expats living in Spain. Your home will be fully equipped with the best broadband, mobile and other services.. All with the best quality and personalized attention in your language.

Feel at home living in Spain

Spain is a fantastically well-developed country with an excellent standard of living. The cost of living there is low compared to other European countries, the friendly locals and breezy lifestyle are excellent for spending a season.

So if you’re thinking of somewhere nice and sunny to spend the winter, then you might want to stay in Spain.

Remember also that at Tiekom we are happy to help you and to make your life easier here. Check our services for foreigners in Spain.

Take a look at What does home insurance cover

Por

Following some of the previous publications Living in Spain as an Expat and Relocations in Spain, in this article we want to offer an informative guide for foreigners in Spain about home insurance coverage, the advantages of contracting it through Tiekom and some information about the most common incidents.

Main most valued advantages that we provide in our insurance offer for expats:

  • Work with a reference company to ensure quality, safety and solvency.
  • English-speaking, telephone assistance, speed and efficiency in dealing with incidents and compensating the client.
  • Instant quotes
  • Online applications

Depending on your situation, you may be thinking about getting Home and Contents Insurance when buying an apartment in Spain or renting out your apartment to tenants. Homebuyers should always get home insurance in order to keep their new investment protected. Below, we explain everything you need to take into consideration.

Looking after your house means protecting yourself and your loved ones and providing yourselves with the security that you need.

What are the types of coverages in Spain?

In Spain, there are generally two types of coverages: 

Continente:

Basic insurance for things like the structure of the apartment, walls, floors/tiles, and certain appliances, like the water heater. 

Contenido:

An additional insurance to cover damage to things like furniture and appliances, among other extra coverages.

What does standard home insurance cover? Basic Coverage

  • Fire, explosion and lightning
  • Severe weather conditions
  • Flooding
  • Water Damage
  • Burglary and theft
  • Malicious acts
  • Smoke or soot damage
  • Electrical Damage
  • Accidental spillage or leakage caused by firefighting equipment
  • Improper use of stolen credit/debit cards
  • Breaks
  • Cosmetic reconstruction
  • Food spoilage
  • Temporary transfers and holidays
  • Costs associated with accidents
  • If the property is rendered uninhabitable
  • Civil Liability

What does homeowners insurance not cover. Optional Coverage

  • All risk property damage
  • Vehicles or vessels in the garage
  • Personal injury caused by accident
  • Breaking of household appliances
  • Civil liability for dogs classed as dangerous breeds

No home is exempt from the appearance of flaws and damage to its structure or elements. Apart from the more serious accidents that rarely occur, in this publication we’d like to highlight the common accidents at home, serious enough to alter the daily routine of families. When this happens, the solution is to quickly call an urgent repair service, although before reaching this point it is advisable to pay attention to the condition of the property and solve the deficiencies when they are still slight.

But it is not enough to fix the damages that occur in the home as soon as possible; proper maintenance of some strategic elements is essential so that the comfort of the house is not truncated when we least expect it.

So, what are the most common accidents at home?

Front door locks

One of the most frequent issues occurs right at your front door… As soon as we insert the key and notice some resistance to opening or closing, it is best to change the lock before the day comes when the key breaks due to excessive force or it is not possible to enter the house. The breakage of this element is quite common in most houses due to the wear they suffer over time, due to closing normally by slamming the door, etc.

Power failures

Power failures or power outages are also a fairly common problem. The most common causes are failures in the plugs or sockets, so normally you have to call a specialist to fix it. Sometimes the power control switch is simply disabled, commonly referred to as “blowing a fuse,” because we have plugged too many electrical appliances into the outlet and overstepped the electrical power limit. To do this, you have to unplug an appliance, go to the electrical panel and turn up the switch or switches that have been disabled.

Damage to electrical appliances

Without a doubt, electrical appliances are the main source of breakdowns in a home. The most normal thing is that they are electrical damages in electrical appliances, especially in heaters, washing machines, refrigerators, vitroceramics, air conditioners, electric radiators, etc., since they suffer a lot from wear and tear. Do not think that it is better to buy a new one than to fix it, since it is not always the case. Before making that decision, contact specialists in the repair of electrical damage. When they break down continuously, it is preferable to replace them with more modern ones.

Water damage

Plumbing and moisture mishaps also have the honor to belong to the category “common accidents at home”. The causes can be very varied, from improper ventilation of spaces to damage to the structure or pipes. In this case, the most appropriate solution is to request the services of professionals to determine the origin and eradicate the problem.

Taking into account that almost all rooms in a home need this system to work properly, breakdowns range from jammed pipes in the bathroom or kitchen, a dripping tap, a failure of the heating system, etc.

Damaged boilers

The water might be running correctly, but without a working boiler we are left without heating and without hot water. It is not the most common, since the boilers are well maintained through mandatory periodic reviews, however, they must be taken into account. Normally they are failures in the pump or a flaw in the safety valve. For this, you must call the technical service.

These are just some of the most common breakdowns, but unfortunately the range of possible problems reaches beyond this selection. We hope that none of this happens in your homes, but if so, do not hesitate to call professionals so that the repair is quick and so as not to cause greater damage.

Homeowners insurance

At this point it is important to also mention that if you are renting your home out in Spain, whether temporarily or on a long-term basis, it involves taking on a certain degree of risk. After all, your knowledge of the tenant or their reliability may be limited. As a mortgaged homeowner renting out a property, you are legally obliged to take out home insurance, or, in this case we’ll call it “Landlord Insurance”. On the bright side, it provides the necessary protection against the potential damage to your home, even when you are not responsible, such as that caused by an unexpected fire, weather phenomena, floods or electrical faults. Other key cover, especially for landlords, is the all-important Civil Liability Cover, which protects against damage caused in your home that has an impact on a third party.

If you want your Spanish home to be well-covered at a great price and all this done by the second largest home insurer in Spain, then our Home Insurance is made for you!

Working in Spain after brexit: new rules for expats

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More than a third of the British expat population in Europe live in Spain. But gone are the days when you could freely move, live, work, study, or retire in any EU country of choice. Since 2021, all Brits are now classified as non-European citizens.

From an immigration perspective, this clearly has an impact on entry requirements to Spain, your duration of stay, and what kind of activities you’re legally allowed to do. To help you through this, we’ll go over the new rules for living in Spain after Brexit. We also recommend our previously published blogs: A british in spain: first tips and Moving to Spain from UK: 5 mistakes to avoid

What changed for UK people after brexit

Main consequences after Brexit, in three points

• End of freedom of movement: You can continue to travel without a visa, but only for short stays.

• Visas to work: the United Kingdom will implement a new system based on points and the EU will apply the rules for third countries.

• Exit from the single market: There will be no additional tariffs between exports and imports, but customs security controls will be imposed that could delay the fluid exchange of goods.

Can UK citizens live in Spain?

Can I still move to Spain now that the Brexit transition period has ended? Yes, you can still apply for residency in Spain like other non-EU nationals.

UK citizens can continue living in Spain after Brexit; as agreed upon in the European Union Withdrawal Act.

The Withdrawal ACT (WA) included a transition period during which UK citizens who’ve moved to Spain prior to January 1st, 2021 could register as a resident to get a special residence permit. This residence permit ensures that all UK citizens, and their dependents, can continue enjoying the same rights as pre-Brexit.

Under this Act, British citizens who’ve lived in Spain for 5 years or more had the opportunity to exchange their existing residence permit and get a long-term residence permit (permiso de residencia de larga duración) valid for 10 years. Those who’ve yet to complete 5 uninterrupted years of residence in Spain can still apply for this long term residence permit after 5 years of legal residence.

Moving to Spain from UK for work

If you are an employee then the company employing you is likely to take care of your application to remain in Spain.

If, however, you want either to begin living in Spain post Brexit, or you need to extend your period of residence as without permission to work to five years to be able to apply for indefinite permission to reside there, you will need to apply either for  (a) a “permiso de residencia no lucrativa”, or permission to reside without the right to work there, whether by working for oneself, or for someone else, or (b) permission to reside in Spain as a self-employed person, whether in your own name or as an owner and manager of a company, working for yourself.

Moving to Spain as a self employed person

If, on the other hand, you intend to work for yourself in Spain, then as well as complying with the same requirements for permission to reside as are applicable to someone without permission to work, you will need to demonstrate that you are able to comply with the Spanish rules currently in force in relation to the commercial activity in question, including evidence of any qualifications that entitle you to carry out that activity, that you have sufficient funds to invest in the activity to make it viable, and an indication of the number of people you may employ, if any. 

You will also need to show that in addition to the funds available for investment in your economic activity you have sufficient funds to support yourself, which will be the same as those required for people applying for indefinite permission to reside, as set out above.

Get a job and live your dream

One of the biggest blows for British people as a result of Brexit is finding a company that sponsors a work visa. Finding a job in Spain isn’t as easy anymore as you would need a Spanish company to convince the government that they couldn’t find any EU citizen suitable for the job. In other words, say goodbye to jobs like bartending, event planner, or office assistant because those employers won’t sponsor a visa.

To find a job that will get you a visa, you’d be better off by applying for jobs that either require highly skilled migrants or jobs that are on the government’s official job shortage list.

Another important point to take into account for a person who wants to work in Spain is the language, getting by day-to-day without any Spanish is possible in some areas. Major cities and tourist areas offer many services in English, but you do miss out on a part of life without learning the local language.

This is one of the main reasons that explain the success of Tiekom, becoming a specialized provider of telecommunications and other services for expats

In all cases, we seek a value offer that is adapted to the sensitivity and needs of each client, facilitating through our commercial channel a personalized attention in inglish.

The main services that we recommend making your stay in Spain more pleasant are:

Fibre Optic: We have the most varied broadband offer with the speed and price you need for your home.

International mobile plans: We offer you the possibility of contracting mobile plans with different GB and 600 minutes in international calls to keep in touch with your relatives in the UK.

Energy: If you want to save on your electricity bill, Tiekom Energy offers you the best solution.

IP TV for UK and DZAN: We also suggest that you hire the best TV offer in your country with the main channels, more than 150 channels from UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, and the Nordics.

Security systems: If you want to be completely safe when you are at home in Spain or when you are in the UK, we recommend that you hire our latest generation security systems.

Spain is a fantastically well developed country with an excellent standard of living. The cost of living there is very low compared to other European countries, the locals are friendly and the lifestyle is cheerful.

So if you are thinking of a nice sunny place to work, you might want to live in Spain.