Working in Spain:

Working in Spain is easy for an EU citizen. The EU citizen can just come to Spain and fill in the requiered form there before to start working. For the EU citizen there is no more obliagtion regarding applying for working permits. In order to be able to work in Spain you will need a NIE number (identification number for foreigners in Spain), a public health number and registrated as a resident in Spain.

The ones who don´t have a job yet but want to register as unemployed and looking for work need to be registered in the Padron before they can register in the unemployment office of their region/city. This of course sounds all very easy but in the practice you will find out that contracting a company that arranges the paperwork for you and tells you to which government office of which unit you will have to go is very helpfull and will safe you time and stress.

We of ByTheSea helps lots of customers with the applications of the requiered documents in the area of Alicante. When a EU citizen works in Spain it is required that they contribute to the Spanish public health care, this is done throught the employer.

As EU citizen you will also have the benefits from the Spanish public health care. In some cases the employer will also contribute to a pension plan in your name so that you have the benefits from a pension when you are a that age, ask this to your employer.

As employee in Spain you have the right to a detailed pay slip, make sure that you receive this each week and exceed that your salary or a part of it is paid through your Spanish bank account. You will also have the right to have holiday´s, ask at the job interview how much holiday´s you will have and how to spend them.

¿What is the NIE?

The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjeros) is an identification number for foreigners in Spain. With foreigners we mean everybody that doesn´t have the Spanish nationality, being from a country that is a member of the European Union and being from a country that is not a member of the European Union.

The NIE, is a personal, unique and exclusive identification number, the number can only be given out by the general direction of the National Police and the Civil Guard.

¿For what do you need the NIE?

The NIE is for those that want to come to Spain to live or to have a relation with Spain for a social, economical or professional interest.

For example, the NIE number permits the holder of the number to work inside the Spanish territory, buy or sell a house or company registered in Spain, ask for a mortgage to a Spanish bank, start a company, pay tax, etc. For all these things you will need to identify yourself with NIE number.

¿How and where can you apply for the NIE number?

The NIE you can apply for inside Spain and outside Spain. In both cases it has to be the one that needs the number in person explaining his motives to apply for the NIE number. In the case that you want another person to apply for your NIE number through a power of attorney, we of ByTheSea recommend that in this case you always contract a solicitor to do this on your be halve.

You can apply for the NIE number inside Spain or in the country where you live in the Spanish embassy or consulate.

The time that it takes to get the NIE number varies from 1 day until various weeks; this depending on the police station where you have applied. When you wish to apply through the Spanish embassy your country you should count on several months to receive the NIE number.

What do you need to obtain a NIE number:

* Official application form

* Passport, both for EU citizens as not EU citizens

* Documentation to proof your motives for application

* Official fees, paid in a Spanish bank

In the case that you apply for the NIE number in Spain you need documents proving that you are not staying in Spain in a not legal way.