Working on the Costa Blanca: what you need to know

Living where others spend their holidays: it sounds good and it can be done. But anyone who wants to work on the Costa Blanca runs into paperwork first. This is the order that works, pitfalls included.

Start with your NIE number

Without a NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) you can do almost nothing in Spain. No employment contract, no bank account, no rental contract in your name. You apply for it at the national police or in advance through a Spanish consulate. Book an appointment online (cita previa) and count on several weeks of waiting in high season.

Next comes the empadronamiento: registration with your town hall. You will need that proof of registration later for healthcare, school and tax matters. It costs one morning at the town hall plus a rental contract or deed as proof of address.

Employment or autónomo?

In employment, your employer arranges social contributions and health insurance. Jobs are found mainly in tourism, hospitality, real estate and services for the international community. If you speak Dutch, English and a little Spanish, estate agents and insurers along the coast will look at you twice.

If you work for yourself, you become autónomo, the Spanish self-employed. You register with the tax office (Hacienda) and social security (Seguridad Social). Starters pay a reduced monthly rate in the first year; after that the contribution grows with your profit. A gestoría (administration office) costs a few tens of euros a month and saves you a great deal of research; virtually every foreign entrepreneur here has one.

Working remotely

If you work remotely for a Dutch or Belgian employer, look at the Spanish digital nomad visa or, as an EU citizen, simply at the registration requirement after three months of residence. Important: anyone who lives in Spain more than 183 days a year is liable for tax here. Arrange that in advance with an adviser who knows both countries, or you will pay twice or face a bill later.

Want to know more about this way of living? Also read our article on working as a digital nomad on the Costa Blanca.

Practical: what stands out

• The minimum wage and salaries are lower than in northern Europe; so are the fixed costs. Do your own sums first. Our guide to the cost of living helps.
• Spanish is not a formality. In Alicante city you can manage with English; at official offices you cannot. Bring someone or hire an interpreter for appointments.
• Everything runs on the cita previa. No appointment means no counter, however long you queue.

Once you get through the paperwork, you will notice the rhythm here is different. The working day starts early, pauses around lunch and runs on until about eight. You get used to it fast, especially with the sea around the corner.

About the authorMilo Schuijt

Milo Schuijt is an entrepreneur and DJ on the Costa Blanca. He writes about the places where he lives, works and plays: from beach bars to the housing market.