
WEEK 3: Paperwork
Welcome to the third blog of our theme month. The entire month of May in 2022 we organised the Work in Barcelona! month.
This month was all about providing you with the ultimate guide to working in Barcelona, where we dived into a different topic every week. On the right you can see the different theme weeks.
We shared our best tips on how to improve your employability through CV writing and your social media presence. As well as, how the Spanish work culture works, what kind of paperwork and documents you’ll need and lastly living in Barcelona.
In this third week’s blog, we talked all about paperwork. You’ve found a job, but now what?! Then comes the arranging of all your Spanish paperwork, which can be a long and dreadful process if you don’t know how everything works or if you don’t speak the language.
We discussed everything you will need to work and live in Barcelona and how to arrange your NIE, empadronamiento, seguridad social, amongst other things. We explained what these things are, whether you need it and if so, where you can get it. On our website, we have the best database of companies and agents who are experts in guiding you through the process and, if desired, arranging everything for you.
Since this is one of the most important steps when moving to Barcelona, make sure you keep reading!


WEEKLY RECAP
Monday – How to obtain your NIE
How can I get my NIE in Barcelona?! A question that we receive very often. No need to worry, we are here to help!
We will discuss the answers to all your questions, ranging from
- What is a NIE?
- What is the difference between NIE and TIE?
- How to get your NIE?
- What to do when your NIE gets stolen?
Check out this blog for all the answers!
ALSO! Did you know there is an app to arrange the appointment for your NIE?!
Check out our blog for the app!
Empadronamiento
An ‘empadronamiento’ is the certificate that says you’re officially registered within the municipality and which makes you a citizen of the city in which you live.
For all our student readers, you only need this when you’re planning on staying in Barcelona for more than 6 months!
The details on how to apply are explained step by step in our blog!
Tuesday – Banking
When starting your job here in Barcelona, you will also probably have to open a Spanish bank account. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when opening a bank account in Spain:
- Before you get to this step, you have to make sure you have obtained your NIE (see Monday’s post!).
- Banks in Barcelona are usually open from 9am – 2pm, Monday to Saturday, and often don’t have English speaking staff. This is important to keep in mind when deciding what bank you want to set up an account at!
- Non-Spanish documents will have to be officially translated.
Above you can see a list of everything you need in order to open a Spanish bank! Once you have finished the paperwork, the accounts are usually opened within 1-5 working days, with the documentation and credit cards dispatched within two weeks.
Check out our blog for more information on general paperwork in Barcelona!
Wednesday – Seguridad Social
One of the documents you need to live, study and work in BCN is your Seguridad Social. This is one of the first things you need to arrange after moving to Barcelona. Without this, you won’t be able to work, pay your contributions to Spain’s Social Security system or access the public healthcare system.
How can you get one?!
Often your employer arranges / helps you arrange your social security number. However, if not, you can do this yourself at the closest General Treasury of the Social Security System office.
Read our blog for the direct links to the places you need to be!
Thursday – Certificado Digital VS Cl@ve Pin
These are two electronic services that enable you to identify yourself online. These can be very helpful when having to make quick arrangements and skip the step of going into a physical office for identification. Some applications even require you to have one of the two!
Below you can find an overview of the differences and what they are used for. In our blog, we explain to you how you can obtain each one.
Friday – Taxes in Spain
Taxes are another thing that can cause a lot of stress and headaches for those who are new to the Spanish tax sytem.
In this infographic, we have highlighted some of the most important (/beneficial!) tax laws for expats.
In the blog ‘Taxes in Spain’, we provide you with a very detailed explanation on how each of them works and how you can file your tax returns. However, since this can be quite chaotic, we advise everyone to hire a gestor to help you with this and to make sure you won’t make any costly mistakes!
On our website, we have a database of the best tax organisations in Barcelona.
WORK IN BARCELONA! JOB FAIR
The 24th of May we organized the Work in Barcelona! Job Fair. This time we tried taking a different approach. We talked business but in a casual setting, at the beach bar: Club Soda!
The fair was the perfect opportunity for everyone looking for or interested in working in Barcelona to explore the job opportunities in Barcelona! At the fair several recruitment agencies attended, but also companies focused on helping expats with anything related to starting work life in Barcelona!



This weeks sponsor: Teleperformance Spain
We would like to thank our sponsor of this week: Teleperformance Spain.
Teleperformance Spain is an International Company with more than 40 years of experience offering customer service to global remarkable brands, transforming passion into excellence.
As one of the main employers within the private sector, their strategy is to attract and retain the best people, as well as provide the best work environment. Inspiring their teams around the world is their challenge to get satisfied employees who create the best experience, satisfaction and customer retention.
WORK IN BARCELONA MONTH (sponsored by Telus International AI Data Solutions)
Did you miss out on one of our other theme weeks of the month? Not to worry, you can find those blogs here:
Week 1 – Job Search Tools and Social Media Presence
During our first week we provided you with the necessary information to kick-start your job search and career. Including job search tools, a Barcelonian style CV and how to present yourself on social media.
(Don’t forget to check our blog for the first week)
Week 2 – Spanish Work Culture
The second week has been all about providing you with all the information necessary to help you integrate into the real Spanish working lifestyle. Think about cultural differences, what companies are located in Barcelona, and Spanish pay slips.
(Don’t forget to check our blog for the second week)
Week 4 – Living in Barcelona (sponsored by Webfleet Solutions)
We closed this month off with discussing everything that comes with living in Barcelona apart from work. Think about establishing a social life, transport, healthcare, language learning, and housing.
(Don’t forget to check our blog for the fourth week)

Seri
30 May 2022 at 10:13Hi, thank you for your detailed blog post! I am currently in the process of applying for my Empadronamiento and wondering if it is still necessary to apply for the "Residencia", too? I have read that before but can't find any info here 🙂
Thanks so much, have a good day!
koen
20 June 2022 at 14:17Dear Seri,
It is important to have the residency certificate if you live permanently in Spain, since the Empadronamiento has a expiration date. The residency certificate might be needed for administrative purposes.
If you have any further questions feel free to comment or mail to info@barcelonaexpatlife.com
Have a wonderful day!
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