After some time I chickened out and went back to London. The expat job market is a bit different. I have been hesitant due to my experience last summer, which was good but which also left me wondering whether I would be able to cope with all the cons, namely the job market being a little saturated, the issues related to tourism and learning Catalan:). Excellent, I’m happy to have helped! I am planning a trip to Barcelona this December to suss things out. They try to replicate the home they have/had back home. Hasta la proxima! Anyway, things changed quickly on a personal level for her, but my son, found a passion with the Academy (his third year with a scholarship), while she has worked several jobs using her multi-language skills. Choosing a hobby to pursue will not only allow you to meet new people, it’s also a way to get to know yourself better and give yourself the chance to be the person you always dreamt of. Yes I know what you’re thinking: “Why don’t you just set aside some time or certain days of the week when you speak only Spanish to each other?”. I wish you the best! Thanks again for your comment and please leave another to update us on what you end up doing. If you’re moving to Barcelona because you want to learn Spanish then be aware that it might not be as straight forward as you’d first think. There are a few towns nearby, as well. Somewhere like AirBnB possibly? Some posts may contain affiliate links that make me a tiny bit of money: enough for a bus ticket or a couple of espressos, perhaps. That means they really need English speakers! To find out about cool events in Barcelona, I usually use either Time Out or Barcelona Metropolitan. #1. Your articles come in handy ! Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. *Thanks to Nestpick for helping with this post! If you’re moving to Barcelona because you want to learn Spanish then be aware that it might not be as straight forward as you’d first think. This might seem like an obvious one, but you’d be surprised by the number of expats who don’t learn the local language. I’m a 23 year old senior in college graduating in May and for my graduation present I am going to Barcelona for about 10 days. The cost of groceries, restaurants and, all importantly, rent is considerably lower in the capital of Catalonia than in the capital of the UK. Take any and all documentation you have to each appointment, just in case. Barcelona is a wonderful city. Gracias Conor! Then there’s my work, of course, which involves me writing (in English) from home (where no one speaks Spanish). I am saving it in my bookmarks as I am thinking of moving to Barcelona next month. As an American, it was not easy to move to Spain. Make yourself less of a target by riding a rather unremarkable bike and, above all else, invest in a couple of sturdy locks. Or maybe you’d like to sign up for some kind of course? My pleasure – hope the dream becomes a reality for you one day. If you do plan to be an English teacher, look for job offers at schools where they also run Spanish courses – they normally offer discounted classes for employees. I was 25 years old at the time and it was, in absolutely every sense, a complete whirlwind romance of an experience. Related article: Making a Career Move to Barcelona This will probably be cheaper and more comfortable than staying in a hotel. In general I think it’s just a case of being on the defence. I would love to here back from you as soon as you can, it would help me massively. What do we have to show to qualify for residency In terms of cash money? Nice article….with really nice tips! moving to and living in Barcelona. What if you don’t find a job in that timeframe? It can also be hard making friends in a new place. I just started learning Spanish and I not fluent in either speaking/understanding. Let me know if I/we can help at all! We’re in our early 30’s. Graicas Tayo – best of luck with your move! As a local person I met recently said recently: “It’s funny, I meet a lot of English speakers that live here who don’t speak Spanish.” Exactly! I’ve always got lucky and found places privately – the flat I’m now belongs to some students of a friend of mine, who teaches them English. Gracias Sam, really appreciate your comment. But it’s only worked out because I kept trying different ways to make it “my own”. I lived in a fairly large modern house back in the UK. However, from what I can tell they are not that friendly/helpful to the Spanish/Catalans, so I doubt they’d be all that friendly/helpful with non-residents. It’s just about taking the first step. Something I would love, despite understanding the low Spanish wage may not comfortably cover accommodation, bills and quality of life. Be sure to come back and leave us more comments so we can follow your adventures in Barcelona! Your encouragement shines through. Sounds like you guys have a lot to be excited about. Here’s how you can do all of this! I know people who booked themselves into a hotel for two weeks (TWO!) I’d love to have a little more access to nature or a smaller community. It should be something you really, really want to do as it’s not an easy task. Learn how your comment data is processed. Hablas español? An equivalent floorspace, two flights above on the front of the building with views over the city and the sea, was recently advertised just under 700€. Best of luck and please come back and leave us all another comment with an update once you get settled! Thanks a lot. I’ve been spending a lot of time in Gracia, El Raval and Poble Sec and am getting a little burnt out on the density/crowded feel. It seems that the bureaucracy is a killer – any further insights on how best to deal with everything required once a flat rental has actually been secured. I love the city, it’s people, architecture, the mountains, etc plus I am intrigued having read BCN is home to one of the largest populations of over 65 yr olds. Aside from its many sights, attractions and events, it’s the lifestyle and quality of life that most people appreciate. It sounds like a great plan to me – I love Sitges. Not sure when yet it will happen. I’ve made some truly fantastic friends, lifelong friends, in Barcelona and it’s broken my heart to see so many of them move back to the US and other parts of the world. And yes, Brexit is a big worry, for many reasons. Thanks so much! And just incase you weren’t aware, which I wasn’t when I first arrived (also very embarrassing), the Catalans speak Catalan, which is a completely different language. Is one of the most wonderful cities in the world and certainly one of the best to live in. I would absolutely recommend Tarragona. All in all, though, it has been an amazing experience which we wouldn’t change for the world. Glad you enjoyed it – was quite a special post for me. You’ll undoubtedly hear horror stories of people queueing for hours to get their NIE (resident’s ID) only to be turned away at the last minute. If so then you will find it almost impossible. It’s tough finding a place to stay in Barcelona, regardless of your employment situation. When I first came to Barcelona the concept of a “smartphone” didn’t even exist. Obviously I don’t know what you guys do for a living, so it’s difficult to say, but unless you’re highly qualified (perhaps a doctor or scientist), it’s going to be a bit of a challenge. Then long-term you’d want to start checking out the sites I mentioned in this post (above), such as Idealista and Fotocasa. I miss London, also miss living in an English-speaking country… but I guess you can’t have it all. As I was saying earlier, it’s easy to meet other expats in Barcelona, but most of the communities and technology services are basically designed to simply help you meet other expats – not necessarily good if you’re specifically interested in connecting with other people who have similar interests as you. I’m back! Me and my husband live in US and we both love Barcelona and we are considering to go there for 1 year and hopefully make a living there. You’ve got to work out what works for you, and make it happen…. 5. Any advice you can give me will be so appreciated. There are thousands of people in Barcelona who are desperate to practise their hard-earned English speaking skills. Barcelona is an incredibly creative city, which attracts open-minded people who have a desire to pursue the good things in life. While most of these stories will be true, don’t let them get you down or put you off. I moved to barceloneta in 2012 and had a beautiful rental flat waiting for me as I arrived, thanks to Rebecca Holt. By the way, if you want to debate the nuances of the words immigrant and expat, I’ve got an article just for you. Enjoy your travels, and your time here in Barcelona. Where are you originally from with that name? Nice to hear from you again – no worries! I’m certainly not the first person realise how much of a haven Barcelona is for expats. Required fields are marked *. Lots of people I know have moved out to more rural parts of Spain, or to less touristy/international cities, just to surround themselves with people who speak nothing but Spanish. For non-EU citizens, you’ll also need a TIE: Step 2: Register with town hall (“empadronamiento”): Step 4: Get a medical card with CatSalut: For more information, these are the official government links (though these are frequently confusing and difficult to navigate): It’s always a good idea to make an appointment (“cita previa”) if you can. Yes indeed- no where is perfect. Learn how your comment data is processed.

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