Living and Working in Barcelona | Job Guide

Are you wanting to Living and Working in Barcelona?  If yes this is for you

Thinking of living and working in Barcelona? We don’t blame you!  Barcelona attracts many expats each year due to its vibrant culture, beautiful array of beaches and high quality of life that many Northern European countries can only dream of.  Our team at DeRoundTable Job wish to make your transition as easy as possible.  So here is our guide for anyone that’s considering the move!

Barcelona is one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities, attracting people from all corners of the globe to set up shop and home here in Catalonia. Here’s some starting advice if you want to come and join us…

So you’ve decided to up sticks and move to balmy Barcelona? Well who could blame you! With its stunning Modernista architecture, courtesy of Gaudi and co., the lifestyle of eating tapas al fresco and drinking Cava and cocktails until dawn, and of course the beautiful array of beaches and reliably good weather, Barcelona offers a quality of life that many Northern Europeans can only dream about. In short you’ve made the right decision. But just to make sure your expat experience goes according to plan you might want to peruse this page to make the most out of living and working in Barcelona.

Language and Culture in Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia, an autonomous region with hopes of independence from the rest of Spain.   Barcelona is a bilingual city: Catalan and Spanish are both official languages and widely spoken.

If you’re planning on living and working in Barcelona then you should definitely spend time learning the language.  There are plenty of language schools.  For day-to-day purposes, you might be able to get by in English but for most situations you will need Spanish.

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The first thing to bear in mind when moving to Barcelona, is that whilst outsiders tend to consider Barcelona part of Spain, the native Catalans consider Barcelona as the capital of Catalonia, an autonomous region with dreams of complete independence. In fact, if you’ve been watching the news for over the last few years you can hardly have missed their point! Even as it stands, with Catalonia as part of Spain, Catalan is the first official language of the the city and region, with road signs, metro instructions and other public notices often appearing in Catalan and not Spanish, whilst Catalan is spoken in all public institutions – such as schools.

Fear not Spanish-speakers however, Castilian is still very much the lingua franca of Barcelona due to the large number of non-Catalans (including expats) who live and work in city, and the fact that all Catalans speak Spanish as well – albeit reluctantly in some cases on account of their regional pride. For these reasons, if you’re planning on spending any time in Barcelona, then you should definitely do your best to pick up at least basic Spanish, and there’s certainly no shortage of language schools in Barcelona willing to help you. For day-to-day purposes, you might be able to get by in English but for emergencies and for dealing with household situations, Spanish is essential – finding an English-speaking locksmith for example isn’t easy!

The Catalan culture on a superficial level is quite similar to Spanish culture (no doubt many tourists have left here quite oblivious to the notion of “Catalunya”!), however some of the famous associations you hold with Spain don’t wash here in Catalonia. Bull-fighting has been illegal here for some time (and indeed the Catalans reject the bull as their national animal, selecting the Catalan donkey instead), the sardana is preferred to flamenco, and people don’t usually sleep during siesta (they do shut their shops however, much to the irritation of expats/foreigners used to more regular hours).

Catalans pride themselves on their mix of seny and rauxa, common sense and passion, and with their rich heritage of artists, such as Joan Miro, writers, like Joan Maragall, and – of course – architects, it would be churlish not to differentiate between the two cultures. A good way to ground yourself in your new locale would be to read some of the better books about Barcelona and Catalonia.

Whether you’re pro-independent, a Spanish unionist, or politically indifferent, there’s plenty to celebrate in both Catalan and Spanish culture here in Barcelona where these two worlds collide. It’s rarely boring!

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Visa Requirements

EU/EEA citizens and their family members have the right to live and work in Spain under the same conditions as Spanish citizens.  Non-EU/EEA residents need to apply for a visa and a work permit before moving to Spain for work.  A work permit can be requested at the Foreigners Office in Spain as well as the Spanish consulate office in the applicant’s home country.

Working in Barcelona

Salaries may be lower than other EU countries, but a better work-life balance and buoyant social scene remain big draws for international workings.  In one day you can have an engaging business meeting, take a quick ride on the metro, take a swim in the Med after work and meet international people at any hour of the day or night.

Despite being hit hard by the recession, there are still plenty of opportunities for job seekers in Barcelona.  In particular, there are jobs for those who speak Spanish and/or Catalan along with English.  Job opportunities lie in the fields of business administration, management, consultancy, engineering, architecture and linguistics.  The city has a number of international customer service centres attached to big corporations.  For more information on live job vacancies in Barcelona click here.

In addition, the city is trying to be recognised as a global IT and technology hub (dubbed 22@).  Barcelona has established a solid digital ecosystem that includes more than 200 active digital startups across eCommerce, mobile, B2B, gaming and travel.  For more information on the start up scene in Barcelona click here.

Jobs & Employment

In some ways, Spain and Barcelona were still recovering from the global economic crisis of the late 2000s, when COVID-19 struck at the start of the decade – the fallout of which is yet to become apparent.

However, for all the grumblings about unemployment and gripes with government spending (and more recently coronavirus related regulations), Barcelona in particular is a resilient and dynamic city. With its geographical situation as a port city, great road and public transport infrastructure, a fantastic lifestyle, which attracts multinationals and foreign businesses, and of course the city’s huge tourism industry there are still plenty of opportunities for job searchers, especially for those who speak Spanish and/or Catalan along with English. Banking and logistics sectors are particularly big, and currently the city is successfully transforming the district of Poblenou into an IT and technology hub (dubbed 22@) in the style of Silicon valley, as Barcelona sets itself for further growth.

For more casual, seasonal or short term work then you might be best contacting restaurants, hotels and bars with your CV, whilst plenty of opportunities also exist working as nannies or au pairs, or teaching English as a foreign language.

As usual the Internet is the best tool for beginning your search and a little Googling should reveal some handy resources. Jobs in Barcelona is a great place to start, whilst Craigslist has a mixed bag of opportunities.

Self Employment

Spain famously – to the chagrin of every autonomo (the word for freelancer here!) – has the largest self-employment fees in Europe. A whopping €300 before you’ve even sent an invoice. But, it’s not as bad as all that. New freelancers pay just €60 a month in social security, and you won’t have to pay full whack until 2 years have passed – by which time you’ve hopefully established a nice client base for yourself and regular income.

Getting a gestor (accountant) is pretty much mandatory for a foreigner hoping to freelance in Spain, as the paperwork can be confusing for a foreigner. Luckily these tend to be cheap and efficient and make the process fairly painless. The good news is that the tax rates are pretty favourable and you can count the social security payments as an expense, so once you get to about 30k salary you might actually pay less tax than in the UK for example.

Coworking Spaces

One thing that has made self employment a lot more fun over the last decade or so in Barcelona are the raft of fantastic coworking spaces that have sprung up in nearly every barrio.

Working for Barcelona Life

If you’re a self-motivated sales person then read up on our current sales opportunities with Barcelona Life for a chance to join our team! We’re looking for a business partner who can help monetise this wonderful website, which is currently run by a bunch of Bohemian artist types.

Living and Working in Barcelona | Job Guide

Registering for your NIE

For any legal employment in Spain you will first need to get your hands on a NIE. NIE stands for Número de identidad de extranjero (Foreigner’s Identity Number) and is legally required for any foreigner living in Barcelona, which for EU citizens means anyway staying longer than 3 months. It is required for opening a bank account, buying property, finding employment, registering as self-employed or for getting your Bicing Card (for the city’s shared bike system).

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Getting one is a bit of a pain in the @ss. No doubt we’ll return to the topic in time, with some step by step instructions, but in the mean time one easy way to get one is by employing an immigrant specialist to help you book your appointment at the police station and have all the paperwork in correct order. Amongst the English speaking lawyers in Barcelona, the law firm Murla i Contreras are a safe bet!

Lifestyle and Leisure

For many people the chance to live in Barcelona is motivation enough, above any financial rewards, and indeed many expats leave well-paid jobs in their home countries to take up less well-paid positions in Spain… but few complain about having a bit less cash to play with. When the sun shines (virtually) every day and you can spend your weekends lazing on Barcelona’s beaches, sipping mojitos at chiringuitos, nibbling on Spanish and Catalan delicacies on open squares in Barri Gotic, El Born and El Raval, and maybe supplementing these epicurean pursuits with some high culture in the form of opera at the Liceu Theatre or a classical performance at the Palau de la Musica Catalana, then you can truly say life is good.

What’s more, as well as the infamous nightlife and parties in a seemingly infinite number of great bars and clubs, there’s wide range of entertainment to enjoy in the form of festivals, live music and a constant procession of great events.

Naturally sports fans can drool at the prospect of seeing the mighty Barca FC compete on a regular basis at Camp Nou, and there’s a tonne of outdoor pursuits to take part in as well – from skiing in Andorra nearby during winter, to mountain biking and kitesurfing during summer.

With the Pyrenees up the road, the Costa Brava coastline, and the beautiful countryside of Catalonia all nearby, life in Barcelona never need be dull! Weekend trips to Madrid and Valencia, and even San Sebastian are all possible as well.

Food & Drink

Spanish food is world famous, and after the weather many would put the local cuisine as one of the main reasons for relocating to Spain. Tapas is the most famous, but is in fact a style of cuisine rather than a specific type of dish – anything served in small portions designed to be shared can be called a tapa, and we recommend you read our article on tapas dishes and restaurants in Barcelona for the lowdown.

Paella and sangria are typical holiday-maker fare, but in Catalonia a bit more rare (or at least not consumed by locals). Traditional Catalan food tends to be earthy rustic fare, but thanks to a culinary revolution in recent years, modern Catalan cuisine is considered some of the best in the world, with chefs like Ferran Adria blazing a trail. You’ll find his Tickets Bar amongst our recommendations in our guide to eating out in Barcelona.

Drinks-wise you’re in right in the heart of Spain/Catalonia’s Cava country. The Penedes region is where you’ll find a host of vineyards producing both fine table and sparkling wines. You’ll find a scattering of authentic Cava bars for trying it yourself, or else sign up for a wine tour.

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Whilst your sophisticated taste buds are sure to appreciate these sensory pleasures, there will naturally be some times when you simply want to get your hands on some of the familiar food and drink you know from back home. Major international supermarkets like Carrefour and Lidl should stock many of the global brands you know and love, whilst the odd jar of Jamie Oliver’s chili pasta sauce has been spotted even in the Spanish supermercados.

Bars & Hangouts

Knowing a few friendly bars where you kick back with a beer in good company can make any transition a lot easier, and in Barcelona there are no shortage of international bars, restaurants and hang outs.

For those feeling nostalgic for home there are a glut of great British and Irish pubs that welcome the homesick with a pint of Guinness. I’ll give a special mention to both Flaherty’s and the Wild Rover, two charismatic boozers at the bottom of Las Ramblas that are also reliable bets for all your Premier League and other sporting needs.

Younger expats in particular will love Belushi’s Bar, where its easy to bond with travellers and international folk over a game of pool, table tennis or beer pong.

For great cocktails and brunch try any of Marmalade, Milk or Firebug, three Irish-owned bars with great customer service and cosmopolitan patrons.

More recently the city has been blessed with a blossoming of craft beer bars, so check out CocoVail and Garage too, if you love a good session IPA or fruity saison.

Living and Working in Barcelona | Job Guide

Writing a Spanish CV

There are certain key requirements of a Spanish CV that may be different to your country of origin.

Cost of Living in Barcelona

In general, Spain is not an expensive country to live in but prices have risen since the introduction of the Euro.  Although the cost of living in Barcelona is higher than in other regions in Spain, the salaries are also higher.

Accommodation eats up the biggest part of the salary.  As well as rent, you will have to pay gastos (expenses) such as water, electricity and internet.

When renting an apartment or studio expect to pay between 1-3 months deposit.  If you go through an agency, their fee will usually be a month’s rent and will not be refunded. This is why so many people live in shared flats (a great opportunity to meet new people).

Food

Eating is an extremely important social activity in Catalonia.  Eating out remains a major pastime, whether in the evening with friends, at lunch in a local bar with colleagues, or the traditional Sunday family feast. Although Barcelona is a fast-paced city, mealtimes, especially lunchtime, are still respected.  The whole city shifts into low gear between the hours of 2 and 4pm.  Many people either head home or crowd into a local restaurant for a three-course menú del día (lunch of the day).

In Barcelona, the diet is typically Mediterranean, with an abundance of fish, legumes and vegetables.

Health Advice

 Public Healthcare

Obviously one important aspect that the prudent will want to resolve as swiftly as possible is your health coverage. Whilst your European Health Insurance Card will cover you in the short term, it is intended to be used for emergencies by those travelling, and not for those who are relocating to Spain. To access the same health privileges as native Spanish / Catalan residents you need to register for your Tarjeta Sanitaria, aka Cat Salut.

Private Healthcare

Access to public healthcare is a must, but like many healthcare systems, you could find yourself waiting for a long time for non-emergency services and operations, and it’s worth considering private health insurance. You may get this as part of your employment package, whereas some banks have deals with certain providers, otherwise you will want to do some research and shop around.

Mental Health

Moving to a new city can be the experience of your lifetime, but it’s certainly not without its challenges, especially if you’re one half of a couple and/or bringing your family with you. Some expert advice can help you navigate such issues, and the English-speaking psychologists at PsIcare Health specialise in supporting expats with their move to Spain.

More Doctors & Practitioners

For a list of doctors, medical centres and more, read our full length advice on health and healthcare. We also list several health practitioners in our Services section, from English-speaking doctors to HIV testing clinics.

Kids

Obviously if you’re moving your whole family to Barcelona, you’ve got more to think about than just yourself. We invited a local writer who’s been through the process to pen these tips on moving to Spain with children.

Other Practicalities

Naturally there are a thousand other considerations and practicalities to take into account if you’re thinking of joining Barcelona’s expat community in the sunny Med. We’ll come back and update this page with some info on international schools, living costs, finding accommodation, including house-buying, and much more. In the meantime you might want to check out our the business directory where we have some handy information on everything from English-speaking doctors to accountants.