Spain is well known, among other things, for its excellent quality of life, the open-minded character of its people and the wealth of opportunities on offer, both in the fields of education and culture and in the worlds of sport and leisure. Spain has a wide range of public and private hospitals and a buoyant housing market. All of which, when combined with the assurance provided by a system of law enforcement that works, make Spain an ideal country in which to live and work.

It comes as no surprise that Spain has been ranked among the top world list of tourist destinations, not only in terms of visitor numbers but also in terms of revenues generated. A brief description of these aspects follows in this chapter, along with description of other aspects of interest for foreigners relocating to Spain, such as work and residence permits, Alien Identification Numbers and practical information on education, healthcare, law and order, the climate, housing, banks, the language, driving licenses and leisure activities.

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Work and residence permits
• Steps for obtaining a nie (alien identification number)
• Practical aspects

Prepared by Garrigues

Last updated: 24|02|2010