Living in Barcelona
- Rent can be anywhere from 300 – 420€ a month (if arranged through us).
- If you eat at home then expect to spend about 200 euros a month in groceries.
- If you travel by metro or bus twice a day from Monday to Friday it’s approximately 40€ a month.
- The rest would depend on what your lifestyle is like. Here’s some useful information about prices:
- Cinema — about 8€
- Nightclubs — about 15€ entrance fee with drink included
- Beer at a normal bar — 2.50€
- Eating at a restaurant ordering “menu del día” — 10-15€
NIE
Amidst all the excitement of moving to Barcelona, sorting out your paperwork is an important step. Acquiring legal residency and applying for an NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjeros) as an EU citizen isn’t as overwhelming as it seems – just follow this easy guide and you’ll still have enough time to head to the beach later!
Note
If you're planning on staying in Barcelona for more than three months and need to apply for NIE, you're better off just applying for residency as you'll be issued a NIE number automatically.
Anywhere you go, from opening a bank account to identification for club entry will probably ask for a DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) number. This unique number is given to Spanish citizens over the age of 14, but as a non-native you don’t need to worry about this. The equivalent is the NIE, which, as you probably guessed, is a form of identity given on a printed sheet of paper with your personal details and a unique number.
The NIE was created as a requirement for all individuals involved in the financial transactions of any item, including the purchasing or selling of a property, obtaining a mortgage, starting up a business or buying a car because of tax identification purposes. It is also mandatory when registering with social services, applying for a driving license or taking out any type of contract such as water, phone, internet and of course employment - so if you are planning on working out here, don’t forget to get the number before handing out your CV’s!
Applying for the NIE number whilst in Spain is easy enough, whether you’re an EU or non-EU citizen. The most important thing to do before going anywhere is preparing all the documentation, which will save you a lot of time in the long run. You’ll need
- Your passport and a photocopy of the main page (which has your personal details, photo etc.)
- Although not officially required, as a photo won’t appear anywhere on the printed sheet of paper, it’s safe to take three recent coloured passport sized photo’s with you, as there have been reports of some officers insisting on it.
- An original document (plus a photocopy) justifying your reasons for applying for this number. For example, deeds of purchase or private contract of sale if you want the NIE to buy a property.
- For non-EU citizens: you will also need to take along a document that shows your legal entry into Spain. This is the form that you fill in at the immigration desk at the point of entry (i.e. the airport) called the declaración de entrada.
- Two completed copies of the following official form: www.mir.es/SGACAVT/modelos/extranjeria/modelos_extranje/ex_14.pdf
Hint: it’s probably easier to fill the form in online, print off two copies and you’re set!
Now you have all your documentation prepared, you need to head down to the nearest appropriate police station. At the time of writing this article, there is only one in the Barcelona city centre where you can do this - Paseo Juan de Borbó, 32 in the Barceloneta district.
The office is open from 9am to 2pm, but it’s a good idea to go earlier as people normally start queuing from about 8am. On the plus side, queuing to get your NIE is a great way to meet fellow new-arrivals to Barcelona!
When it comes to your turn, present all the documentation and then you’ll have to pay about €10 processing fee when you applying. You will be given a payment form when you submit your application and told which bank to deposit it into on the day. When you come to collect your NIE, you will have to show proof of the payment, which is normally the stamped receipt from the bank.
It normally takes 10-15 working days for the NIE number to arrive back at the same police station and all you need to collect it is the payment receipt and the official receipt (resguardo) given at the time of the application. You do not have to collect your NIE in person - anyone can collect it for you if they have the official receipt you were given when you submitted your application.
If you do not have time here in Spain, or would prefer to get this all sorted before you arrive, you can also apply via a Spanish consulate in any country, though the process is a bit more complicated. It’s best to pop into your home country’s consulate for more information. For a detailed list of Spanish consulates around the world, see www.embassiesabroad.com.
Another to guide for getting the NIE:
http://www.barcelonaconnect.com/showlevel1.asp?pid=4467&langId=2
Empadronamiento
This process should be simple enough. It serves several purposes
- it gives the local council an idea how many people live in its district
- you get the nearest doctor assigned
- you get a social security number assigned, once you start working
To register all you need is your passport or DNI and proof of address. Hehe, easier said than done! how many of you live in a flat with 4 others and have nothing in your name? how many of you live in a flat and don't even know whose name is on the tenancy agreement. And if you know the name, do you know the person? Not to panic. There are ways.
The easiest is the tenancy agreement, a water, gas, electricity or phone bill. No mobile phone bill allowed. Telefónica is always appreciated and in theory Menta(Auna) should work too, but you'd be suprised at the confusion such a document can cause. if you plan on using a menta bill, make sure you don't budge and persist on the fact that it is a land line, not a mobile and that it is valid according to their own rules.
Should you not have any such document but know the person whose name is on the tenancy agreement you can ask for a form which they have to fill in and sign and you can go together with that form and a copy of the tenancy agreement to register. Better if the person in question comes with you with his passport, just to be on the safe side.
You are supposed to sign up at your local town hall, but if you're not sure where that is then you can visit the main building in charge of Ciutad Vella and sign up there too, to be found on C/ Ramellers 13 facing the square where Kasparo is situated.