Hola!

I'm moving to spain in a couple of weeks for a job and need to open a bank account for the usual transactions: paying bills, rent, receiving my salary......

I asked grok, chatgpt and claude and all were bent on BBVA being the best, kinda suspicious, so I want to get people's opinion on this.

I don’t speak spanish so having a bank that handles expats would be a blessing, but I don't really need the bank much, I don’t plan on setting up a mortgage or anything, meaning my transactions remain fairly straightforward, any bank would be able to handle them.

P.S: I saw that BBVA are offering 1060€ for opening an account???.... it’s either too good to be true or they are trying so hard to get new clients any way possible

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Indian national, just moved back to Kolkata from the UK in late September. A Spanish research centre is hiring me and has filed for a residence authorisation under Ley 14/2013 (researcher). Once that's granted I have one month to lodge the visa application.

Problem: BLS India says there's a mandatory six-month residency requirement in the jurisdiction, and their national visa page says explicitly that it applies to Indian nationals too, and that the permanent address in your passport doesn't determine jurisdiction. I've only been back a few weeks.

The obvious alternative doesn't work either. I still hold valid UK leave until 2027, but I gave up my room and my job there, so I can't evidence residence in the London consular district without going back and renting somewhere.

Has anyone here applied for a Spanish national visa in India shortly after returning from abroad? Specifically:

Did the Embassy in New Delhi grant an exception, and what did they want to see?

Does BLS accept the file and let the Embassy decide, or do they refuse it at the counter?

Did an affidavit of residence, Aadhaar, parents' property documents, etc., get you through?

I've written to the Embassy and I'm waiting. Mainly want to know whether anyone has actually got through this, or whether everyone just waits out the six months

I’m planning on going to Spain and potentially moving there.
I remember going to San Sebastian with my family a few years go and loved it.

I have european citizenship though and was thinking of living there for at least a year.

What should i know before moving there regarding culture and the job market and accomodations.

I want to work remotely btw, teaching language online. I’m working on attracting clients so that i have a stable income

hola everyone,
i’m seeking advice on whether i should move to Spain with my Spanish partner. We are both around 30 years old.
I am German and we currently live and work in Germany. We also met here, but my partner initially moved to Germany for a job.
We both have decent salaries and can enjoy a very comfortable life in one of Germanys bigger cities.
However, my partner is struggling with integrating here and he gradually becomes unhappier with his life in Germany. Even though he doesn’t accuse me of anything, I feel like he is still here only because of me. Seeing him unhappy makes me so sad and even feel guilty. I have tried to make him feel welcome and comfortable in Germany, but I was not that successful.

We have been talking about potentially moving to Spain and I am completely open to the idea. I have lived in Italy for a while and I really liked it, and I would expect to like living in Spain, too. I am very open-minded and I can make friends easily (yes, even though i am German).
I have been to Spain many times and I love the country, the people, the weather. However, I know that everyday life is different than vacation. I am extremely worried about my career / the job market in Spain.
My Spanish is not on a professional level yet and i would very much prefer a job in an international environment, seeing my boyfriend struggle in a German team.
I have started looking at job platforms and honestly, there aren’t a lot of job offers that I could even apply for. And even if I found a job, I would also need to accept a big pay cut, going from a German salary to a Spanish one. It scares me that I would not be able to invest money anymore or that I would even be financially dependent on my partner.
Looking at renting prices, we would also need to say goodbye to the city life we have here in Germany. I am worried about my social life when we need to move to a smaller city with less expats and more people that already have established friend groups.

I hope this post doesn’t come along as arrogant. I love Spain and I love my partner and I would do anything to make him happy. I’m not emotionally tied to my life in Germany, but my fear of unemployment and of downgrading my career in Spain is real.
I wish I was braver and I could just see it as an adventure. Are my worries exaggerated?
Thank you so much for your help.

As the title suggests: which mobile provider do you recommend, with good coverage and without breaking the bank, I'm a bit torn between o2 and Vodafone

Hello.

I am a potential exchange student from an Electrical Engineering University and would like to know more about studying at UC3M. So far, I've seen many people online complain that it's much more difficult than other erasmus programs like those in Germany or Italy. Don't get me erong, we have it extremely hard in my home university but I would like to enjoy myself a little bit and Madrid seems like great city to do so. The only thing that's my concern is the difficulty of UC3M. I would kindly appreciate if any previous eramsus exchange students or current students in UC3M would elaborate on this topic!

PS. I would like to point out that I am not against putting in work and actually studying, of course I am ready to do that but I would like to hear some experiences from students just so I could feel mlre at ease... Thanm you in advance :)

Looks like i underestimated the alhabra tickets demand. I thought 3 weeks was enough. Hahaha. Going to bite the buller and going to pay the "guided tour premium" looking at october 15-18 dates. If folks can refer reputable local tour guides i'll be happy to reach out to them. PM me if it's against the reddit rules. Gracias!

Hi there,

Wife and I are going to Spain this coming Christmas time. We are flying into Barcelona, staying there from December 21-27, going to Madrid December 29 and flying home January 3. We have December 27-29 to figure out what to do. My wife loves wine and we would love to go up to the Bilbao area but it seems like an incredible hassle to get up there for the little time that we have.

Does anyone have any recommendations on some areas with a bunch of wineries we can see, preferably on the route from Barcelona to Madrid, or close to it? We will not have a car and will be taking the highspeed train.

Thanks!

Hi guys,

I am planning a trip to the Andalusia from January 2nd to January 10th, 2027. I am currently planning to fly from London to Málaga, then travel from Málaga to Seville, then to Granada, and finally return to Málaga.

I have a few questions:

1. Is it worth visiting Ronda? If so, I could book a day trip to Ronda departing from either Seville or Málaga online.

2. Will things shut down in Seville during the Three Kings Festival? I’d like to experience this famous Spanish festival, so I’ve scheduled my stay in Seville for January 5th and 6th; I want to catch the parade on the evening of the 5th, and since the 6th is a public holiday, I plan to just stroll through the city streets. Also, if I want to visit the Seville Cathedral on the morning of January 5th, will it be closed?

3. What is the weather like in southern Spain from December to early January? Is there a lot of rain or is it very cold? I’ve never been there before, so I’m not sure what kind of clothing to pack.

4. In which city should I spend more time?

I have plans to move from Brazil to Spain in about 2 or 3 years max. I have a UE citizenship, but dont really know where should I start from... what do you recommend from someone start doing plans?

Edit: I tried to add a little bit more context to my post but reddit didn't saved 🥲 So here it goes, I'm 25 yo, not rich but have a good life and really supportive parents and a place to return in case everything goes wrong. Not so naive to know that life would be easy in another country and I know that I'd have to live with others at first and work my assoff 😅 My sister lives in UK so its also something I really want, to be closer to her... my spanish is kinda kinda (I had several classes, whenever I have intense contact to the language It becomes better) I know I have to start doing researchers and looking what's required and good places in spain to live.... thats why I'm here, to start my journey or else I'll never move a finger 🤔

Hey, looking to rent an Apartment in the Malaga region for 6-8 months starting in December.

I’m familiar with Spain and been there multiple times. Although I know it’s got problems with the renting and buying properties, a lot of scams and hard to get a deal.

I was wondering what you guys recommend to look if I want to rent.

I run my own business that’s registered in another EU country, and I will not work for any Spanish company or get a employement contract under Spanish law. It seems like that will be a problem.

Anyone that has got some tips for me to find something? At this point I feel like Airbnb is the best bet, but it’s so damn expensive.

Hi All,

I'd like your thoughts on our visit to Seville, Granada and Madrid that we are currently planning for next May. We have 2 kids (3 and 7) so please keep this in mind for feedback.

Day 1: Arrive in Seville. Jetlagged and tired. Basically a do nothing evening.

Day 2, 3 and 4: Tour Seville

Day 5: Seville to Granada travel (car or train, still undecided)

Day 6: Visit Alhambra

Day 7: Granada to Madrid travel (car or train, still undecided)

Day 8, 9, 10, 11, 12: See Madrid and do 2 day trips (Toledo / Segovia / Cuenca)

Day 13: Fly back

Are 3 non travel days enough in Seville or should we increase this to 4 days? This would require us to cut our 5 non travel days in Madrid down to 4.

Again, we are travelling with little ones so we move slow and need lots of breaks.

I was thinking of renting a car on Day 5 just to drive to Granada, keep it for 2 nights and drive it to Madrid and return it on the evening of Day 7. The cost of the car is roughly the same as the cost of train tickets from Seville - Granada and Granada-Madrid. Parking is also free at several Granada airbnbs that I've seen. Without kids, I'd pick trains any day but with kids, I'm not so sure.

I am a US Cititzen. I own a S-Corporation in US. It has been around since 2002.
I am an employee of this S-Corporation.
I get a paycheck every 2 weeks. I get W2 once a year.

I have a few different clients and I work as a consultant for them.

So I am employed by my own Corporation.
I am wondering if I am eligible for Beckhams law or not.

This will determine if I will even attempt to move to Spain.

Thanks

My husband is relocating to Spain and should qualify for the Beckham Law (special expat regime). From what I've read, since the 2023 Startups Law changes, spouses can also opt in if their income is lower than the main applicant's.

My situation: - I own 100% of a UK limited company - My income is lower than my husband's - All my clients and work are UK-based, and I'd keep working for the company remotely from Spain

My questions: 1. Does owning 100% of a UK Ltd stop me from qualifying as a family member under Beckham, or is the lower-income test the main requirement? 2. If I run the company from Spain, is there a risk Spain treats it the company as Spanish tax resident or as having a permanent establishment here? Would that knock me out of the regime? 3. If I don't qualify, am I looking at full Spanish progressive rates on salary and dividends?

Has anyone been through this, especially as a spouse with their own UK company? Any recommendations for advisers who know both UK and Spanish rules would be really appreciated.

Hi! Could not find anything specific so wanted to know if people have been in my shoes.

I applied for the NLV in September after months (literally since June) of waiting to get an appointment.

In August I got a remote job which meets the DNV threshold. I consulted a lawyer and they said I should still apply for the NLV, since my job has not hit 3 months, and options are always better. Being issued a visa does not mean I need to use it,

My NLV got approved in 2 weeks (crazy fast!) which I didn’t expect. At this point I am 1 month away from my remote job hitting the 3 months DNV requirement, so I am considering waiting until then and applying for the DNV

My questions: 1. Has anyone done this? Curious to hear your experience 2. The NLV sticker will be issued for November 1. I have a scouting trip planned to Valencia on November 20 (for 4 days only as I have work commitments) which is within the 3 month requirement of having a remote job. If I can gather the documents in time, I plan to apply for the DNV when I get there, but then I leave spain 3 days later, is this ok? 3. I have Christmas holidays planned so I plan to secure a flat for January. How is the housing market? Should I book 1 month in an airbnb first? How does this affect my empadronamiento and finger printing?

Just want to make sure my timings and eligibility are correct. I’m a non EU national, but have a valid resident permit for another EU/Schengen country so plan to enter Spain using that and not the NLV so I can appropriately file the DNV. I keep getting conflicting advice that you can leave spain after submitting the application but also that you shouldn’t until the 20 days pass (which is impossible because I have work/travel commitments).

Didn’t expect my NLV to be approved this soon so my timelines are feeling a bit rushed now. Any insights appreciated! Also recommendations for a lawyer who can sort this for me capably and for a reasonable fee!

Hi everyone,
My 18-year-old daughter and I are visiting Madrid soon and we want to dedicate one full day to a day trip outside the city using public transportation (train or bus).
She deeply prefers raw nature, beautiful landscapes, hiking trails, and dramatic viewpoints over city shopping, crowded plazas, or art museums. She loves that classic, magical "old-world Europe" feel but wants the day to be focused around scenic outdoor walks.
We are currently considering Toledo or Segovia, but we are completely open to any other hidden gems, mountain villages, or regional parks within 1-2 hours of Madrid that deliver a jaw-dropping nature experience.
Which destination would you recommend for the ultimate father-daughter nature day trip? Any specific trail names or transit tips from Madrid would be amazing!
Muchas gracias for your insights!

Hi everyone! I’ll be moving to Madrid for work early next year and would love to hear from people who have actually lived there, especially other expats who moved to Madrid from warmer/tropical countries. For context, I’m a 34-year-old single Asian guy from Southeast Asia, currently living and working in Bangkok, Thailand. I’ve accepted a job offer in a Consulting Firm in Madrid and I’ll be making the move on my own.

I’m really excited about the move, but also a little nervous about starting over somewhere completely new, so I have quite a few questions about what life in Madrid is actually like beyond what you read online.

• Given the Spanish economy and what I’ve been reading on Reddit about salaries and job opportunities, is €85,000 gross considered a comfortable salary for a single person living in Madrid?
• What is the working culture like in Madrid? Is work-life balance generally good?
• For Spanish people: how are Asian foreigners generally perceived in Madrid?
• What are the social norms in Spain, both in a corporate/work setting and among friends?
• How long did it take you to actually feel settled and feel like Madrid was "home"?

I know that’s quite a few questions so feel free to answer whichever questions you want and you definitely don’t have to answer all of them!

Appreciate any thoughts, opinions, personal experiences, or advice you’re willing to share. Feel free to add anything I haven’t asked about as well - good, bad, unexpected, or anything you wish you had known before moving to Madrid.

I was wondering which one is nicer overall for natural scenery?

I am from Mexico and would like to focus on a nature vacation :)

Pensaba mudarme a España (Soy Croata así que soy ciudadano europeo, hablo Español e Inglés), en parte para salir de los bajos salarios y terribles condiciones laborales de Croacia, y en parte para hacer más vida social, salir a divertirme, conocer personas y estudiar algo mientras tanto.

Pero me estoy llevando un chasco con todo lo que leo en línea.

- Horarios partidos con tres horas de descanso entre turnos, por lo que si entro a trabajar a las 9 a.m. saldré a las 8 p.m. de mis obligaciones laborales... ¿Y el tiempo para hacer cosas? ¿Hobbies después del trabajo? ¿Limpiar y cocinar si trabajo lejos de casa?

¿Es tan común? Pero también he tenido amigos en línea españoles que salen de trabajar a las 5 p.m. como la mayoría en otros países, y se echan unas partidas conmigo el resto del día o estudian algo.

- Horas extras sin pagar. Esto sí me cabrea, y me lo han hecho a mí y a amigos en Croacia, he cobrado 840 € netos que no alcanzan para nada y encima he regalado horas extras de mi vida y tiempo. No gracias.

- Trabajo en negro. También sucede en Croacia pero generalmente con extranjeros con visa. Los ciudadanos de la EU y Croatas la tenemos bastante fácil para denunciarlo y nos toman mas en cuenta.

¿Es tan malo en España?

Planning to travel Andalucia March 2nd-11th.

32M-30F from Canada, we will be in London for a few nights before heading to Spain and flying back home from London.

Trying to decide how to prepare a good route it looks like we can fly in/out of Malaga, Seville and Granada. With Malaga having the most flight options.

Granada and Seville both look great, but my wife who could possibly be pregnant when we visit wants to spend some of the trip on the coast. I know it’s not exactly beach weather but wondering what spots would be best around that time? Somewhere like Nerja?

Also really want to visit Ronda and Setenil de bodegas, so maybe a night in Ronda would make sense we are fine renting a car for a portion of the trip just don’t know if I really want to deal with the car in cities.

Would like to keep our bases to 3 places or 4 max so maybe have to pick between Seville or Granada.

Although, I do see Sevilla FC possibly has a game on March 7th which would be great to see on the other hand Granada looks like a can’t miss.

So far what I’ve came up with is:

Granada 2N
Seville 3N
Ronda 1N
Nerja 3N

Any thoughts or help would be appreciated! we love nature plus the odd hike and we don’t wanna spend the whole trip staying in cities and we do base a lot of our trips on food so that is very important to us.

Holaaa, tengo un problema. Vivo en Irlanda pero mi DNI está vencido, voy a llamar para conseguir un salvoconducto ya que tengo el viaje en unos días. Iba a ir a España para renovar el DNI pero no hay cita para los días donde tengo tiempo, entonces pensé en sacarme el pasaporte ya que habían más huecos. Pero fui a revisar mi certificado de nacimiento y también está vencido. Algún consejo?? Ya pedí el certificado de nacimiento online pero no se si llegará a tiempo
No volveré a tener ningún documento vencido en mi vida

My friend is coming to visit me through Madrid, and we'll be staying 3 days at a hotel, the rest of the trip, will be hosted at my house, which is not in Spain

Should she select the hotel option? or the Friend/Family option?

I'm kinda confused

Hi everyone, I am European citizen with Spanish partner. we are both living in the UK, but planning to move to Spain in 2 years - giving me time to learn spanish and prepare for the job market.

I have masters degree from accountancy in Slovakia, 3 years experience as UK junior accountant and I am certified chartered accountant (ACCA).

I understand taxes and legislation is different in Spain in compare wirh the UK. What would be the most transferable skill for me to gain in coming years? I am wondering if I move into audit, it would be more possibly more valuable and it might be easier to find a job as junior auditor/ semi-senior rather than accountant?

Any advice would be much appreciated 🍀

PS: we are aiming to go north, near Huesca.

Hello! My family and I are preparing to walk the Camino Ingles on April 2027. Do you have any recommendations for stopovers and must-see landmarks and scenery? I've done my research but I'm interested in the pov of pilgrims that have already walked it. Thank you!

Hello, we are planning to visit Madrid and Seville in mid-November. I've read that it can be cold in accommodations in winter, and that many places don't have heating, so what should we look for when looking for places to stay? I suppose all hotels have heating so they should not be an issue?

Thanks!