Moving to Spain from South Africa

While one of the most popular European holiday destinations, Spain is also a favoured haven for expats. In fact, about 15% of Spain’s population is foreign-born.⁵

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people relocate to Spain for its high quality of life, extremely favourable climate, and easy access to other EU countries which is beneficial both for business and personal purposes.⁶

For South Africans looking for a new country to call home, Spain has shot up to the top of the list of preferred destinations.

If you’re thinking about relocating to Spain from South Africa, this article will cover some tips on how to prepare for moving to Spain, including the cost of living in Spain vs South Africa, how to find a job in Spain, and how to open a bank account as a South African in Spain. \

We will also introduce you to Wise, a money service provider specialising in international money transfers⁴.

Moving to Spain from South Africa (quick facts)

Here are a few quick about moving to Spain from South Africa:

Currency	Euros (EUR)
Population	47.5 million⁷
Capital	Madrid
Language(s)	Spanish, Catalan, Euskara, and Gallego.
Weather	Mediterranean climate - hot and dry summers, mild winters. Warmer areas of Spain include the Andalucia and Murcia regions.
% of expats	15%⁵
Biggest cities	Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville.
Average yearly salary	Full-time employees earned an average of €29,000/year for the tax year ending on 5 April 2022.⁸

Send money from Spain to South Africa using the mid-market exchange rate

As a bank alternative, Wise can help South African expats living in Spain save money¹ when making international payments to South Africa.

While some Spanish banks support international payments, they usually add a markup on top of the mid-market exchange rate for this transaction that customers end up paying.

Wise uses the mid-market rate for international payments, which is the fairest exchange rate. We also only apply a small transparent fee to make an international payment¹.

This means that with Wise, South African expats could save money¹ when making overseas transactions from Spain.

Spain visa types and requirements for South Africans

There are a number of different Spanish visa types for South Africans looking to move to Spain. All applicants need a valid passport to submit a visa application.

Regular Work Visa

A regular work visa for employees must be applied for in advance. You will need to have proof of an employment contract to apply for this visa.

Skilled Worker Visa

The skilled worker visa is issued for highly skilled professionals, or South Africans subject to intra-company transfers. The procedure to apply for this type of working visa must be completed by the employer, while the Spanish company will also need to file evidence that it couldn’t find a Spanish national (or person from another EU country) to fill this vacancy.

Self-Employed Work Visa

This visa is for self-employed South Africans who either want to continue working for themselves or entrepreneurs who wish to start their own business in Spain.

Capital Investor Visa

For South Africans who want to make a significant capital investment in Spain, the Capital Investor Visa can offer them residence in the country. There is also the Golden Visa Program for South Africans looking to invest in the Spanish Real Estate market.

Gaining residency in Spain

South Africans who gain residence in Spain are then permitted to live and work in the country. They can also visit other nations in the Schengen region freely and without a visa.

Cost of living in Spain

The cost of living in Spain is an essential consideration for South Africans thinking about relocating to the country.

Compared to the rest of Western Europe, the price of rent, food, and utilities are among the lowest in the continent.

Estimated monthly costs for a single person (without rent)	676 EUR (13.493 ZAR)¹⁸
Average monthly cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre	750 EUR per month (14.970 ZAR)¹⁸
Average monthly price of a one-bedroom apartment outside the centre	611 EUR monthly (12.195 ZAR)¹⁸

The cost of living in Barcelona and Madrid will be slightly higher than these average figures, however, Madrid is considered one of the cheaper European capital cities to relocate to.

How to open a bank account in Spain?

For expats living in Spain, opening a bank account is one of the first things you’ll need to do when you move.

Most Spanish banks let you complete the vast majority of the process online, however, you must visit the branch office in person to finalise the process.

Keep in mind that Spanish banks usually close early at 2 pm every day, and taking a Spanish speaker with you will make the process a lot easier.

To open a bank account in Spain, you will need to submit:

• Spanish NIE (Foreigner Identity Number)
• Valid passport or national ID card
• Documents that confirm your income source (i.e. employment contract, student card or unemployment paperwork)
• Proof of your Spanish address

Maintenance fees and charges

When you open a bank account in Spain, you might be faced with a few different fees. These are usually higher and less transparent than in other countries. Some of the associated fees could be as follows.

• Maintenance fee
• Transfer fees
• Holding fees (for debit cards)

When you open your account and sign any contracts with the bank, make sure to double-check for possible fee increases in the future, as they might not notify you.

Finding a job in Spain

Finding a job in Spain is a lot more informal than in other countries. For example, you might be able to find work through word-of-mouth, networking, and speculative applications. Knowing Spanish (and Catalan if you’re living in Barcelona) can greatly increase your employability.

You can find work through the following recruitment or staffing agencies:

• Adecco⁹
• Talentoo¹⁰

There are also many job postings on online job portals:

• Indeed¹¹
• Glassdoor¹²
• infoempleo.com¹³

Requirement for students moving to Spain from South Africa

For students from South Africa who want to move to Spain to study, they will need to submit the following documents¹⁴:

• National visa application form. If the student is a minor, this will need to be signed by a parent.
• Photograph
• Valid passport
• Proof of acceptance for the study
• Proof of financial means to cover the expenses of the student's stay and return
• Copy of health insurance
• Criminal record check certificate
• Medical certificate (for stays more than 180 days)
• Proof of residence in consular district
• Proof of the representative’s identity and capacity
• Authorization of legal representatives
• Payment of visa fee (80 EUR / 1646 ZAR)

Requirements for professionals moving to Spain from South Africa

South African professionals moving to Spain must file the following documents with the Spanish embassy once their Spanish employer starts the immigration procedures:

• ID (usually represented by a valid passport)
• Clean criminal record for the past 5 years
• Health certificate
• Copy of employment contract

Make friends and socialise

It can be difficult living in Spain as a foreigner, especially when it comes to making friends and socialising.

Taking advantage of the internet to meet new people is a great way to expand your social circle. There are a number of great online groups for South Africans living in Spain.

• Meetup can help you find friends with similar interests.¹⁵
• Facebook groups like ‘South Africans in Spain’¹⁵ and ‘South Africans in sunny Spain’¹⁶ can help you find other South African expats in the country.

7 biggest mistakes when moving to Spain from South Africa

Unsurprisingly, relocating to Spain from South Africa can have its challenges. These are some of the 7 biggest mistakes when moving to Spain:

Not learning Spanish

You don’t need to be fluent in Spanish to move to Spain. However, knowing the basics will not only help you apply for more jobs, but you’ll also be able to meet more people if you can converse a little in the local language.

Relocating based on Spanish stereotypes

While Spain does have a lot of beaches, sun, and great paella, that’s not everything the country has. It’s important to do your research into Spain before you decide to move over. For example, each of Spain’s autonomous communities is vastly different when it comes to culture, food, and even weather.

Underestimating the bureautic process

The Spanish bureaucracy is very slow. It’s not uncommon for documents to take anywhere from two months to two years to process. It’s important to keep this in mind when applying to move to Spain from South Africa.

Not doing your paperwork immediately

Speaking of processing documents, it’s essential to do your paperwork immediately after you move to Spain. You’ll need to apply for the following in order to set up your new life abroad:

• Residence permit or TIE (Tarjeta de identidad de extranjero)
• Empadronamiento certificate by registering your address at the city hall
• NIE (Foreigner Identity Number)
• Social security number

Not researching Spanish banks

Choosing the right Spanish bank is important, especially if you’re receiving a new salary or paying money back home. Before you move to Spain, do your research into which bank is best for you.

For example, choosing a bank that offers good customer service in English or other foreign languages can be extremely helpful when first relocating to Spain.

Alternatively, you could take advantage of Wise for receiving salaries, and also send money back to your loved ones in South Africa at the mid-market exchange rate¹!

Not familiarising yourself with Spanish cultural practices

Spanish culture is very diverse and there are a number of cultural practices you’ll need to familiarise yourself with if you want to integrate into Spanish life.

• Eating lunch around 14:00 and dinner around 22:00.
• Taking time eating food - lunch and dinner is a chance to catch up with friends so expect several hours eating, drinking and talking.
• Greeting new people with two kisses on the cheek.

Only sticking with the international community

It might seem tempting to want to immediately meet other South Africans living in Spain. However, only making friends with the international community will prevent you from experiencing true Spanish culture, and also learning the local language.

Healthcare in Spain

Spain is consistently ranked highly for having some of the most affordable and high-quality healthcare in the world. There are both public and private healthcare options available, and prices vary depending on the amount of coverage.

You can use Spain’s public healthcare system _for free _if you are registered in the country and have a valid residency permit.

Is it worth moving to Spain from South Africa

While there are lots of advantages to moving to Spain from South Africa, naturally, there are also lots of disadvantages to relocating to this country.

Pros	Cons
The cost of living in Spain is among the lowest in Western Europe.	Learning a new language can be difficult for non-language learners.
The Mediterranean climate means the majority of Spain is warm and sunny for most of the year.	Spanish bureaucracy is very slow and processing documents can take a long time.
There is a large number of expats living in Spain and a huge international community.	Some parts of Spain can be rainy and cold - similar to the climate in the UK.
Access to high-quality healthcare is free for residents.	Finding a job is a more informal process and can be more about who you know.
There are many different employment and student visas you can apply for.	Opening a bank account in Spain isn’t always straightforward and can incur hidden costs.

For South African nationals considering moving to Spain, considering the above pros and cons is essential. In particular, researching important practicalities like how to apply for the correct paperwork to live in Spain, and how to open a bank account in the country.

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When it comes to money management, Wise is a great alternative to money service providers or even other multi-currency accounts for both local and international⁴ payments.

Join Wise!

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Sources

1. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
2. Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.
3. Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
4. Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visitwww.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
5. _https://www.expatica.com/es/moving/about/expats-in-spain-10-questions-answered-175554/ _
6. https://www.statista.com/statistics/445930/migration-flow-in-spain/
7. _https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/spain-population/ _
8. _https://www.statista.com/statistics/419513/average-annual-wages-spain-y-on-y-in-euros/ _
9. https://www.adecco.es/
10. https://talentoo.net/en/employers/
11. https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Spain&from=mobRdr&utm_source=%2Fm%2F&utm_medium=redir&utm_campaign=dt&vjk=c8c0ab0e8e489aa3
12. https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Reviews/spain-reviews-SRCH_IL.0,5_IN219.htm
13. https://www.infoempleo.com/
14. https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/Manchester/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-estudios.aspx
15. https://www.meetup.com/
16. https://www.facebook.com/groups/southafricansinspain/
17. https://www.facebook.com/groups/841553579991784/
18. Numbeo.com