Working in Spain

Currently in Spain

Currency

Euro

Weather

Madrid

Partly Cloudy, 8 C

Barcelona

Partly Cloudy, 13 C

Population:

40,525,002 (July 2009 est.)

Time difference:

(GMT+1)

Telephone code:

+34

Capital:

Madrid

Languages:

Castilian Spanish (official Catalan, Galician, Basque are official regionally)

Tax Authority:

Agencia Tributaria - www.agenciatributaria.es

Social Security:

Seguridad Social - www.seg-social.es

Social Security & Tax System:

Social Security is guaranteed by Law to all the legal residents who are employed or self-employed in Spain.

Under the general Social Security code, the amount that the worker should pay is between 6,4% (for temporary contracts) and 6,35% (for indefinite contracts) of their salary with a maximum of €2,000 per annum. This payment is made by every employee employed by third party.

The Personal Income Tax (IRPF): is calculated on the basis of the volume of income earned in the tax year and is a progressive tax. The obligation to declare starts from EUR 22,000 from a single employer. If you have worked in Spain for less than 183 days and then are going to move to another EEA country, you can request the return of a proportion of the deductions made under your name. To do this, submit form 215 to the Tax Agency, a certificate of residency in the country to which you are moving and a certificate of the deductions made. The deadline to request that is four years.

Employees individuals pay progressive income tax.

Income rates	Tax
Up to €17,707	24%
from €17,707 to 33,007	28%
from €33,007 to 53,407	37%
above 53,407	43%

Average Monthly Rent

	Barcelona/Madrid
Shared Room	€250 - 280
Studio	€500 - 700
2 room apartment	€650 - 990
2+ room apartment	€990 - 1200

Accommodation:

When you rent an apartment in Spain, make sure that you read the clauses of the rental contract. We recommend that you have it translated if you don’t have a sufficient level of Spanish. When you agree to rent accommodation in Spain, you will set the length of the contract. A standard contract will extend automatically every year (with possible increase in the rent) until the 5th year. Then the landlord can decide not to extend your contract but he always has to give you one month notice.

Normally the rent is paid monthly by bank transfer within the first 7 days of the month. In the first payment you will include at least one month’s deposit and the rent.

Opening a bank account in Spain:

If you are not a Spanish resident you need to go to a police station and after showing your passport they will send you a letter to authorise you to open a bank. You have to show this letter and passport to your bank.

How much will I need to relocate to Spain?

Money for a flight
Hostel accommodation while looking for a room & job, ( it can take you several weeks to find an apartment)
Deposit + 1 month’s rent (at least)
Food, travel and subsistence
Enough money to cover you until you receive your first pay from your employer. Note most employers will pay you monthly