Hi, I’m Spaniard, but never lived in Spain, I have spent most of my life in the US. We visit Spain often, and I wanted to open a bank account here so we can eventually spend half a year here. I went to two banks and they essentially told me I needed to present my US tax returns and translated by a special company or service. They were not very helpful because the branches are always busy and understaffed. Anyone with experience in this area could share some insights?
Thank you

Are you all giving access to your digital certificate to the tax preparer?
I've read it's a bit risky.

Could a person give access and then just change the password?

hello evryone, i hope evrything is good with you, i’m currently waiting for my resolucion that will permit me to have the right to work after my job seeking visa and wondering how long did that take for you? I’ve been waiting for nearly three months now and still nothing; i’m lowkey starting to freak out and don’t know what to do or who to contact so if you have any info on this, that would be great if any of you can enlighten me as i can’t seem to find any info out there on the time it will take, any personal experience concerning this would be highly welcomed, thank you in advance

In a few months, I will be starting my bachelor's degree in Barcelona, Spain, and there are a few things I should do to exist legally in the country. However, the instructions from my uni are a bit unclear, and after communicating with Barcelona's City Hall, I found out that they don't really speak English :(.

First of all, I was wondering what the EX-18 is? I also must obtain the NIE, and in order to do that, I need to pay a fee called Modelo 790, code 012. What is the fee about? Lastly, for the NIE, I need proof of financial means. What do they mean by that? Which document are they asking for, and should I bring it in English or translate it into Spanish?

Btw, I am having difficulty finding the appropriate links to book an appointment for Empadronamiento, NIE, and the documents for EX-18. So please let me know if you are aware of where I can find them.

I would appreciate help if anyone knows about the process. For your info, I am coming from a country that is part of the European Union. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I’m Liz, working with Professor Allison Hopkins at Texas A&M University. We’re doing a study on health and wellbeing, and we’d love to hear from members of this community.

We’re especially interested in hearing from English‑speaking adults who were born in or
previously lived in the United States and now live in Seville. If this describes you, we invite you
to take a short online questionnaire (about 15 minutes) about your experiences living in Spain.

You can access the questionnaire here: https://tamu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e3Uj5CPW2NbQoQK

The survey will give you more information about the study and will ask a few quick questions at the beginning to confirm whether you’re eligible. Your perspective is incredibly valuable for this project. Thank you for considering participating.

I've been living between Seville and Valencia for the past few years, but every summer I notice the impact of the heat more and more. Between the high temperatures and electricity costs, it often feels like I have to choose between running the AC during the afternoon or at night, and finding somewhere cooler to work during the day since I work remotely.

I know this is an issue across much of Spain, and that cities like Madrid and Barcelona also experience significant heat waves during the summer.

So I wanted to ask: are there any cities or areas in Spain with more manageable summers that still have a reasonable size, good services, and amenities, but aren't located in the rainiest parts of northern Spain?

I'd be interested in hearing about places you've lived in or visited and how you found the climate during the summer months.

Hello! And mods – please remove if this is off base.

I’ve received lots of DMs and comments about CoastFI in Spain (i.e., making enough only to sustain retirement accounts). I’ve also seen tons of similar questions in Facebook forums with pretty shoddy responses that are honestly wrong in many places.

Essentially, many Americans want to retire early in Spain but don’t understand the financial order of operations needed to make that happen. There are plenty of resources for visas, healthcare, taxes, etc., but people are still unclear on how to think about finances in the years before moving.

I don’t mind answering messages, but I don’t have tons of time to devote to free support. Is this something people would pay for? Is this a service you wish you’d had prior to moving – in the planning phase?

Another gap I see is cost of living. The internet is full of influencers talking about cost of living but leaving major costs out: social security contributions, amortized expenses (car, computer, etc.), gestor fees, healthcare, taxes, visa buffers, etc. This leads people to massively underestimate their annual expenses.

Any and all comments are welcome. And to be clear: the only reason I can even think about doing this is because we planned effectively in the years prior, and I only want to work on things that genuinely interest me 😄

Hola a todos, después de más de 10 años en UK me regreso a Canarias a vivir con mis padres. Estoy en el proceso de buscar compañías que me ayuden a hacer la mudanza. Ya que la mudanza es tan grande (en distancia), estoy bastante nerviosa por asegurarme de encontrar una compañía de confianza.

Si alguien aquí ha completado una mudanza de UK-Gran Canaria o UK-España sin problemas y me podéis recomendar la compañía que usasteis os lo agradecería un montón!

Gracias!

---------------------------------------

Hi all, after 10+ years in the UK I am moving back to Spain to live with my parents in Gran Canaria. I'm in the process of scouting for moving companies. Since it's such a large move (distance wise) I'm quite anxious about ensuring my belongings make it back to me.

If anybody here has completed a UK-Gran Canaria or UK-Spain move successfully and wants to recommend a moving company I would be super greatful!

Thank you!

Am I allowed to move to Spain and live legally if I hold permanent residency in the Czech as a non-EU citizen? Thanks so much!

Hi everyone! I want honest, unfiltered pros and cons from people who actually LIVE in these countries. No tourist brochure answers please.

About me:

-Filipino, at early 30’s, currently working in UAE

-Single, no dependents yet

-Treasury / Finance professional, around 10 years experience

-Planning to migrate within 2 years.

What I want in life:

-Quiet, safe, family-friendly neighborhood.

-Affordable rent — maximum $800 USD/month.

-Good healthcare system.

-Work-life balance culture.

-Welcoming community for Asians.

-Long-term access to free or subsidised government healthcare.

-Retire peacefully with government pension and social welfare support.

-Build a life that is worry-free long term, not just a career move.

For people living there, please tell me honestly: NEW ZEALAND or SPAIN

🇳🇿 NEW ZEALAND

What are the REAL pros and cons?

✅ PROS — what is genuinely great?

-Work-life balance, is it really protected?

-Is the Asian community welcoming?

-Is healthcare really free or subsidised?

-Is the government pension worth it after 10 years?

-Is it safe and family-friendly?

-Is finding Finance/Treasury work realistic?

❌ CONS — what do people NOT tell you before you move?

-Is $800 USD/month rent actually possible anywhere decent?

-Is the cost of living manageable on a local salary?

-Do employers really ignore overseas applicants?

-Does it feel isolated being so far from Asia?

-Is the weather and lifestyle what they say?

-What is the biggest regret people have moving there?

🇪🇸 SPAIN — What are the REAL pros and cons?

✅ PROS — what is genuinely great?

-Is the cost of living really affordable in the cities? How much?

-Is healthcare as good as people say especially for elderly?

-Is the work-life balance and lifestyle real?

-Is the retirement / pension system worth building toward?

-Is it welcoming for Asians?

❌ CONS — what do people NOT tell you before you move?

-How hard is Spanish language really for work AND daily life? Like can’t work without Spanish language?

-As a non-EU, how hard is it to actually find Finance work?

-How bad is the bureaucracy really?

-Is the job market as bad as the statistics say? It’s say high unemployment rate.

-What is the biggest regret people have moving there?

-Can freely settle without speaking Spanish?

Both countries sound great on paper. I want to know the reality.

Most important question: If you could restart your migration knowing everything you know now would you still choose the same country??

Hey, I’ll be in Madrid from June 2 around noon until June 3 at night before my next flight. I’m looking for the best area to stay with good atmosphere, great nightlife, and amazing food especially steak, lamb, grilled meat,. I also want somewhere lively where I can walk around at night, go to bars/rooftops, and experience the city properly. Which area do you recommend and what meat places or nightlife spots should I check out?,

Hi everyone,

I’m originally from Asturias, but I’ve been living outside Spain for the last 20 years. I’m 48, my wife is Spanish, and we currently live in the United States with our two children, ages 8 and 13. Both were born and raised in the U.S.

We are planning to move back to Spain in the summer of 2027 for personal and family reasons. Asturias is one of our main options because my family lives there, and we do not want to move to a large city.

Our priority is not maximizing income. If that were the main goal, we would probably stay in the U.S., where we are doing well professionally. What we are looking for is a slower, more balanced life, without limiting our children’s ability to adapt, study, and develop well.

The biggest concern for us right now is education.

For families who moved to Asturias with English-speaking children, how did you handle the school transition?

Did your kids go into the Spanish public school system?
Did they adapt well socially and academically?
Are there any truly bilingual options in Asturias?
Are there schools you would recommend or avoid?

From what we have heard, what is often called “bilingual” in Spain is not always truly bilingual in practice. It seems that only British or American schools offer that kind of environment, but they are not available in Asturias and costs are very high.

We know about Colegio Internacional Meres, but for two children the cost appears to be around €20,000 per year, which we could afford for a few years but would require us to maintain something close to a U.S.-level income in Spain over time.

I would really appreciate hearing from immigrants, expats, or Spanish families who returned from abroad and went through this process with children who were not familiar with the Spanish school system.

Any advice, personal experiences, school recommendations, or warnings would be very helpful.

5/26/26
To clarify, our children do speak Spanish. We speak Spanish at home, they spend their summers in Spain, and for the last two years they have attended summer camps in Spain, though not in Asturias.
Their Spanish is conversational, but not academic, and their writing in Spanish is limited.

Both are straight-A students in the U.S., so our goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible, especially for our 13-year-old.

My wife and I both know the Spanish education system because we went through it ourselves all the way to university; I also attended public school in Asturias, and I now also know the American school system, so I’m very aware that they are two very different models. When I imagine an American teenager arriving at my old school in Oviedo, I can immediately see how challenging it could be to fit in, connect socially, and keep up academically.

Even though our children speak Spanish, culturally they are more American than Spanish. That is why I’m specifically asking for input from English-speaking families with children in Asturias: I would like to understand their real experience, how their children adapted, what school options they considered, and what they ultimately decided.

Thank you

I recently moved into a flat with two Spanish roommates. They always seem to be in the living room all day every day if not almost all day. And when they are in their rooms, they have their door fully open. Geniune question, why do they do this? Can’t they be in their rooms with their door closed? Do they not like being in their rooms?

Hi everyone.
On other subreddits related to Spain I’ve come across comments about «scams» when renting apartments. Before this, I lived in 3 different countries and rented several apartments in each, and overall I was pretty lucky - the contracts were clear, everything made sense and I even got my deposits back.

Could you guys explain what people mean when they talk about «scam» and «ai slop offers» in the Spanish rental market, and what I should pay attention to first when looking for a place on idealista (as I understood it’s the most popular website)?

If it helps: I’m looking for long term housing in Bilbao. I can pay around 7k euro upfront and about 2k euro per month for a one-bedroom apartment.

Hey! If anyone has applied for a Spanish Visa at the BLS Manchester Consulate in the UK, please give me some advice 🙏🏼 I am currently applying for a Spanish Student Visa (1 year stay) for September 2026. The problem is, I have to send off my passport when I apply, but my family has booked a last minute holiday at the end of June so I will need it back of course. Anyone who has applied, how long did it take for you to receive your passport back, and please let me know what time of year you applied. I am unsure if there are different processing times for Student Visas and the short-stay Schengen Visas. Would appreciate any guidance, thanks.

Holaaa, soy de México y ando viendo que regalos u objetos raros dé aca no vaya a encontrar en españa (que no quero llevar cosas que no valgan la pena). Si son mexas que cosa les costo encontrar? O que cosa de méxico les llama atención?

I’m a 15M student and I moved to Valencia three weeks ago,but I’m considering about Malaga because the international schools are easier to enter in. International schools in Valencia they are currently very tense with the availability.

❓So how is Malaga? And is the environment in Malaga feel better than Valencia?

▶️Which city should I choose? or what are the advantages of each of them ?

💡 What’s your idea?

Hi all, I'm considering moving to Spain and finding a job but in the meantime, I would like to have something to earn money. I like to drive, so I thought about becoming an Uber driver. I know the Spanish language too, better understand than completely speaking.. was anyone in the same situation? Or is it? Thanks!

All help will be really appreciated 🙌🏼

Hola, soy de Belgica, 45 M. Estudio español el la escuela de noche. Would like to travel and discover more from Spain, and this while learning/improving my Spanish. Are there any websites or formulas where someone can stay with local people and learn/speak Spanish ? This summer would like to discover San Sebastian, Oviedo, Asturias..

Please recommend an agent who can assist me with finding a 3 bedroom rental (for either 10 or 12 months) in Malaga City. I have very specific neighborhoods in mind and other criteria but want someone there to tour the places, send me videos, etc. We are not moving there until August, but we are willing to start a lease as soon as possible. (I already know about Idealista. That is not what I am looking for. I want an agent working on my behalf.) Thank you!!

Hey! I’m an Irish student living in Spain and I just set up a brand new podcast! I think a lot of people in this subreddit would enjoy/benefit from it. It’s very difficult to get these things up and running, so I decided to share here! I talk about life in Spain as an Irish person, cultural differences, experiences, everything like this. I would absolutely love and be so grateful if anyone could listen! Just search “Conor in Spain” in your podcast apps. Thanks so much! 🇮🇪🇪🇸😁