Things to know before moving to Madrid
Starting your adventure in Spain? It sounds quite exciting, but let us help you with these few things to know before moving to Madrid.
If you're leaving your motherland, your parents house and comfort zone for the first time, you may be a little scared. But you have to know that this also will probably turn into one of the best experiences you’ll ever live!
Madrid will surprise you with its charm, its cherish and international atmosphere. This historical yet modern and cosmopolitan city has everything to offer: you’ll be able to meet so many people from all over the world, get to know their cultures and languages. This will allow you to broaden your horizons and improve your skills, as you never did before.
And such a great chapter certainly includes good planning. Check out our tips and start thinking about the most important things to know before moving to Madrid.
Moving to Madrid, capital Spain
What moving to Madrid means to a young international? You are about to land in the epicenter in Spain, where the Spanish culture comes to life, mixing and matching with multicultural vibes.
But what do you need to know before the beginning of your expat life here?
Discover more about the cost of living in Madrid, the local culture, the life in town and all those aspects that could make a real difference in your experience.
Madrid is well known all over the world for its great quality of life. The Spanish capital city is extremely welcoming, friendly and it has everything to offer.
Why moving to Madrid? Where should we start? First of all, it has an enchanting look: majestic architecture, several green areas and parks, art museums, quality restaurants with international cuisines, big shopping avenues, uncountable bars and clubs.
Madrid has a general low cost of living, compared to other European cities, but its public services are great anyway. Public transport, healthcare system, attractive prices for the real estate market, bike lanes, great educational system.
Moreover, it’s located in the geographical centre of Spain. You’ll be able to travel to mountains, beaches, countryside. And you could reach in a very few hours not only other destinations in Europe but also in Latin America, the west coast of USA and Northern Africa.
One of the first steps to take before moving to Madrid is deciding where to live: type of accommodation and neighbourhood.
Whether you’re moving to Madrid as a student or as a young professional, our tip is to begin your adventure by renting a room in Madrid (or a studio) for a short period of time.
This way you will be able to discover all the areas and choose, along your first months in the city, which place suits you better.
Moreover, sharing a flat in Madrid allows you to meet other young internationals to live this adventure abroad with.
What to expect from the prices in the housing rental market? In general, Spain is one of the cheapest in Europe, but Madrid is a little above the average of the other Spanish cities (since it is the capital). You can rent a nice room in the central areas of Madrid for a price from 400 to 600 euros; it depends on room and apartment features, what’s included or not, etc.
As you know, the moments before your arrival can be confusing and we recognize that moving abroad can be a bit difficult, especially in the early days. Fortunately we thought about this too; in fact, thanks to he exclusive collaboration we have reserved for you with Anyvan, we offer our tenants the best parcel shipping service on the market. This way you can send or receive parcels of any size and weight, quickly and safely, as well as personalized service and low costs.
Settle into your expat life in Madrid
Getting legal in Madrid
*The information below has been collected by the helpHousing team. Please, keep in mind that we are not directly related to any legal or government office and the information may change.
If you're planning on moving to Madrid and staying here for a medium-long period, you need to learn everything about legal paperwork and immigration laws. First thing to do is the application for your NIE (Número de Identidad Extranjeros) or TIE (equivalent to NIE for Non-Europeans). After the online request for an appointment (here), the main documents you need to take with you that day are:
- Proof of appointment & application form
- Receipt of the tax you have to pay at the bank - 012 tax fee (model 790)
- Passport (original and copy)
- 2 pictures of you (the size of the passport)
- (Empadronamiento) Certificate of residency .
- Your private health insurance (original and copy)
- Document to certify the reason for your stay in Spain: University letter of acceptance, job contract (internship), etc.
Check out informative Spain Immigration Explained Guide by our friends at Citylife Madrid, which explains everything about Spanish immigration laws and how to deal with the hassle of these procedures!
Get your Spanish insurance
Another topic when moving to Madrid is about healthcare in Spain. You need to know that the public healthcare system in this country (and specifically in Madrid) is one of the best in the world.
How to get access to it? It is free for citizens and residents. So, if you get your Empadronamiento in Madrid (residency card) you can use free healthcare services. But our tip for Non-EU citizens coming here as students is to purchase a private health insurance plan for Spain.
Open a bank account in Spain
There are a couple considerations you should make before opening a Spanish bank account.
Ask yourself how long are you going to stay in Madrid. If your stay is longer than 6 months, then yes, you should think about opening a local bank account.
Are you a worker or a student? If you’re going to work you definitely need a Spanish bank account in order to receive your salary. It’s not necessary at all for students, but our tip for Non-EU citizens is to open a Spanish bank account to save on commissions and costs.
How to open your bank account? Some banks nowadays let you do it online, but sometimes you need some specific documents you can only get once you’re in Spain.
For more information, check out Citylife's guide to the best banks in Spain for internationals.
Then, you can choose if opening the account as a resident, by using the foreigners identification card (NIE or TIE), or as a non-resident in Spain.
This is the compulsory documentation you’ll be asked to take with you:
- A valid passport or ID card of your country.
- Your reason to open the bank account (it could be the university letter of acceptance or the Spanish job contract)
- Your address in Spain.
- NIE/TIE number if you want to open the bank account as a resident.
Learning Spanish in Madrid
Now it comes the fun part!
In Madrid there’s plenty of people who speak English ( but do not expect a fluent level from older people). But if you really want to integrate with the local culture and get a job in Spain, you have to learn Spanish.
How to quickly learn Spanish? Just like every language, Spanish needs to be practiced and improved by hanging out with locals and native speakers. How? Once you arrive in Madrid you should join language exchange groups on Facebook, where you can meet Spanish or Latino people that want to practice another language.
But this Spanish language, unlike English, has a quite complex grammar and vocabulary. So, if you have never studied it before, we suggest taking some classes before or upon your arrival here.
To check out more amazing ways that you can learn Spanish during your time in Madrid, make sure to also read Citylife's comprehensive guide on learning Spanish in Madrid!
Well, these few tips are good points to start planning your expat life in Madrid! Are you ready?