Spanish News Today Spanish Living Factsheets

Basic factsheets about everyday life in Spain

This selection of basic information has been designed to help English speakers moving to Spain or those already living in Spain to find the answers to a whole range of generalised questions about everyday life in Spain.

There are many aspects to Spanish bureaucracy which expats find alien and a great deal of inconvenience ( and expense!) can be saved by simply having a little local help from those who live and work here.

Financial:
Mortgages:
1.    What is the Euribor.Click What is the Euribor

Legal

Living in Spain

1. Signing on the municipal padrón ( registering with your local council) Click padrón

2. Voting in Spain, How to vote in local, European and UK elections, registering to vote in Spain, Click Voting in Spain

3. Obtaining an NIE number in Spain, what is the NIE and how to apply for one, Click Obtaining an NIE in Spain

4. Passport applications, renewals or replacement for UK nationals now resident in Spain, Click Applying for a replacement, lost or new passport

5. Registering for the EU Residency Certificate ( NB This has replaced the Spanish Identity card formerly issued) Click, EU Residency Certificate

 

Property

1. The Cédula de Habitabilida. ( Certificate of occupancy) Click Cédula de Habitabilida
2. Community of owners, Comunidad de propietarios. Click Community of Owners

Motoring

1. Driving with children in Spain. Seatbelt regulations and child restraints. Click Driving with children in Spain.

2. Riding a 125cc motorbike in Spain with a UK car driver’s licence: Riding a 125cc bike

3. Spanish Car Rental companies require DVLA codes as driving licence regs change: DVLA licence changes

4. Don´t pop to the shops in your flipflops: Wear sensible footwear when driving or you could end up with a nasty fine

Health

1. Moving to Spain? Think about your healthcare. Video. Click Think about Spanish healthcare

2. Registering the birth of a baby in Spain: Registering a baby birth

Miscellaneous everyday living

1. Bin laws: Why throwing away rubbish at the wrong time can bring you a big fine: Spanish bin laws

2. Swimming pool and bathing safety advice: Swimming pools, wells, embalses and safe bathing

3. How can hourly billing electric smart metres save you money by choosing the right time to use energy hungry devices: Electric smart metres

4. Basic gas bottle facts: Taking out a contract, storing and transporting gas bottles, how many can I legally have at a given time.

5. Staying sane in Spain: dealing with bureaucracy

Internet and using forums

1. Beware internet fraudsters: 8 things your bank will never ask you: Beware internet fraudsters

2. Watch out for Paypal scammers asking you to GIFT money, Paypal Gift scam

Animals and pets

1. Beware: Stephanotis pods can kill dogs: This sweet scented plant can kill your pets

2.Are dogs allowed on Spanish beaches? Dogs and beaches Spain

Gardens

1. Watch out for the Datura stramonium: it can kill pets and make children very ill: white trumpet killer

2. The Cochinilla del Carmina kills prickly pears: this appears as white splodges all over the plants

3.Beware: Stephanotis pods can kill dogs: This sweet scented plant can kill your pets

Crime
1. Basic procedures if your Spanish property is burgled. The most basic advice about who to call and what to do

2. Its a steal, protect yourself from pickpockets and thieves when in Spain: How pickpockets can ruin your holiday

3. Thieves target summer holidaymakers in Spain: Basic tips for staying safe in Spain

4. Gas scams. These are very common, how to protect yourself from scammers: Spanish gas scams, the facts

5. Frequent scams used by supermarket thieves: Distraction techniques are all designed to create that split second opportunity to steal your handbag or purse

Travel

1.How to check status of flights to and from Spain: Link to official flights information

Drugs

1. Is it legal to grow marijuana for private use in Spain? How many plants can I grow legally in Spain?

Weather

1. Hailstorms in Spain can be somewhat fierce: Click protecting against hail