By Rob Carlton
There are many reasons people are interested in living in Spain. The climate is favorable, which draws many people from Northern Europe to the area. Work relocation and family reasons are other common reasons for relocation. You will need to know about work permits and residency permits. If you don't speak Spanish, you will need to study the Spanish language.
Living in Spain: Work and Language
A common reason for relocating to Spain is job relocation. There are professional relocation companies that can help you make a smooth transition to your new home. These companies have a multi lingual staff to assist you. They can help with finding a home, school for your children, residency permits and help with registering vehicles. The staff also has knowledge of the Spanish culture.
To work in Spain, you will need work permits. There are various permits, depending on the type of work and time limit.
Type A Permits are for seasonal work. These are valid for nine months. They are often limited to specific geographical regions.
Type B Permits are the initial work permit. They are given for a specific profession and geographic region. They are valid for one year and can be renewed for a maximum of two years.
Type C Permits are valid for any job. These are not limited to a specific region. They are valid for up to three years.
Type D Permits are given to people who are self employed. They are valid for one year and can be renewed for up to two years. These can be limited to a certain geographical area. In some cases, there are limits on the job activity. This depends on your individual situation.
Type E Permits have no geographic limitation. These are valid for up to three years.
Permanent work permits are valid for any work activity with no limit on geographic location. They are issued to people employed with an employer as well as self employed individuals. These are obtained when the Type C or Type E permit expires.
You will also need a new foreigner's identification card. This contains your photograph and personal information. These are needed for all people living in Spain for longer than three months.
Living in Spain: Residency Permits
The residency requirements for Spain depend on how long you will be living there. Another consideration is the country you are from. There are differences for European Union and non EU countries. If you are from an EU country and will be staying between three months and one year, you will need a temporary residency card.
If you plan to stay over a year, you will need a residency card. These are valid for five years and are renewable. You will need to show that you have the means to live in Spain. You will need to provide information about your income, bank account information, a copy of a work contract and proof of health insurance. There are fines for not having the proper documents.
Citizens of countries that are not part of the European Economic Community will need the proper visa for an extended stay in Spain. For a vacation, an in transit visa is needed. These are good for less than five days. Students need a temporary visa. These are good for three months per school semester. They can be renewed as long as you are enrolled in school.
If you plan to stay longer in the country, you will need a residency visa. Residency visas are granted to foreign born people who wish to live in Spain. Common reasons for this are work, family, asylum and retired people who love the climate.
The initial residency permit is valid for one year. This can be renewed for two years total. After that time, you will get an ordinary residency permit, which is valid for three years. If you plan to stay forever, a permanent visa would then be issued.
You can get residency permits at the Oficinas de Extranjeros and at some police stations. You need to show your residency visa, passport, proof of means of support, documentation that you have no criminal record in your home country, proof of health insurance and a certificate of good health.
About the Author: Robert Carlton is publishing almost entirely for http://www.alicante-spain.com , an online publication with information about living . You might see his writings on Living in Spain over at http://www.alicante-spain.com .
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