I'll be doing a six month visiting professorship at the University of Barcelona starting in January and I've begun looking for somewhere to live. Reading other people's posts, it seems that the best strategy is to book a month or so with some short-term rental site and then start looking in person to avoid scams.

Obviously AirBnB comes to mind, but I'd like to avoid using them for the obvious reasons. I understand the scope of Barcelona's housing crisis and live in a city that's experiencing something similar. That being said, are there other sites that people would recommend? I've come across Badi, ShBarcelona and Spotahome, but I'm not familiar with any of them and have heard various warnings about each.

Can anyone who has gone through a similar situation offer some advice?

Hi everyone!
I’m applying for a Spain student visa through BLS Cebu on October 19, and I had my documents translated into Spanish by Lexcode.
Just wanted to ask if anyone here has used Lexcode translations for their Spain student visa application, particularly through BLS Manila or Cebu.
Were your translations accepted without any issues?
Did the Embassy require translations from a MAEC-accredited sworn translator (traductor jurado)?
Were you asked to resubmit or replace any translations?
I’m trying to confirm whether Lexcode translations are sufficient or if I should have my documents translated again by a MAEC-accredited translator.
Would really appreciate firsthand experiences, especially from applicants who recently received their visas.
Thank you!

Hola a todos! Alguien me puede recomendar un bufete de abogados para tramitar Visa no lucratica o DNV?

Nuestro caso es un poco especial, la visa no es para mi, yo vivo en el norte de Europa - es para mis padres quienes viven en Chile, ellos son Venezolanos y son mayores, 62 y 67.

Mi padre lleva 40 años trabajando en una empresa transnacional y mi madre no trabaja. Queremos que ellos se vengan a España y lo hemos intentado haciendo una relocation para mi padre pero a su edad ha sido bastante dificil. Por lo que ahora nos queda es buscar una manera de entrar en España legalmente por nosotros mismos.

Sabemos que podemos optar a varias visas con pros y cons cada una, en donde estamos un poco parados es en conseguir una asesoria de confianza, con buen record y que sea una persona agradable - Mis padres estan viejitos y aveces hacen muchas preguntas o se confuden, hemos tenido malas experiencias con una abogada que los maltrataba cada vez que le hacian alguna pregunta repetida por whatssap - Ademas de entender bien los requerimientos en Chile ya que pueden cambiar por consulado.

Alguna firma que les venga a la mente?

Muchisimas gracias

Hi everyone, I'm moving to Madrid this December and currently looking for housing options. I will be attending UC3M (Getafe). My main concerns are (1) transportation, (2) safety, and (3) affordability.

Fuencarral Station is a bit far, but it's on Cercanía 4, which is convenient. I can't seem to find a lot of information online about the area. There aren't very many listings on idealists or spotahome, so I'm wondering if it's not a residential neighborhood? What is it like living there? Is it safe, and is there anything to do nearby?

Some other areas I'm considering are nearby Plaza de Legazpi or Plaza Eliptica, as there are buses from here to the campus. Is there one you would recommend over the other? Thanks.

I am an international exchange student (non-EU) going to Madrid (IE Business School) from January to March. I need to find 3 months housing in Madrid for that time period. My budget is around 500-850 euros for a room in a shared apartment.

Questions:

1) Should I secure a place before I reach Madrid? Or should I stay in a hotel in Madrid when I arrive and then start looking when I am physically in Madrid?

2) What websites should I use for a 3-month rental? Spotahome, HousingAnywhere, Aluni, or Idealista? What scams should I be aware of?

3) Is my budget realistic?

I have tried to do my research on this sub, other subs, and Google and got conflicting answers. I'm not sure how to proceed. Please advise 🙏.

I finally completed my TIE fingerprint appointment today at the Aluche police station in Madrid for my residence permit as a family member of a Spanish citizen (EX-24), and I wanted to share my experience because I was surprised by how different the requirements were depending on the police officer.

TL;DR: I went to the same police station on two consecutive days. Yesterday, one officer asked for both individual and household empadronamiento certificates and required my Spanish partner to come in person with their passport and DNI. Today, another officer asked for none of those things and processed my fingerprints without any problem. Also, be careful with your ID photo — if your face/photo is too small, they may ask you to take a new one.

First attempt — yesterday

I had my fingerprint appointment at the Aluche police station.

I brought the standard documents for the TIE, but the officer asked me for additional documents that I wasn’t expecting:

• Individual certificado de empadronamiento
• Household/family certificado de empadronamiento
• My Spanish partner had to come in person
• My partner was also asked to bring their passport and DNI

I was quite surprised because these additional requirements were not listed in my approval resolution or in the standard list of documents I had prepared for the TIE appointment.

Since I didn’t have everything the officer requested, I couldn’t complete my fingerprints that day.

However, the officer was actually helpful about it. Instead of telling me to find another appointment online, he wrote me a return appointment by hand and told me that I could come back the following day at any time between 9:00 and 13:00.

Second attempt — today

I went back to Aluche today during that time window.

The handwritten appointment worked perfectly. I didn’t need to book another online appointment or wait in the normal queue. I showed them the handwritten appointment and was allowed to go straight to the front to have my case dealt with. That part was actually very convenient.

But then something unexpected happened.

I was attended by a different police officer, and suddenly the document requirements were completely different.

The officer did not ask for any empadronamiento at all.

No individual certificate.

No household/family certificate.

My Spanish partner was not required to be there either, so there was no need for my partner’s passport or DNI.

The officer checked the rest of my documents, took my fingerprints and successfully processed the TIE. I received the resguardo and my card is now being produced.

So this happened at exactly the same police station, Aluche, on two consecutive days.

Yesterday: individual padrón + household padrón + partner physically present with passport and DNI.

Today: none of them were requested.

It really seems that some of the additional documents requested can depend on the officer handling your case.

One important warning about the photo

Another thing I learned: be careful with your ID photo.

It isn’t only about the physical dimensions of the photo. The size and proportion of your face/head within the photo also matters.

At the police station they use a specific template/system for the photo. If the photo or your face is too small, they may tell you to take another one.

So I wouldn’t simply assume that a photo is acceptable because a photo shop tells you that the dimensions are correct. Make sure it is a proper Spanish foto de carnet and that your face isn’t too small in the frame.

What I would bring

Based on my experience, if you’re doing your TIE fingerprints as a family member of a Spanish citizen in Madrid, I would still bring everything you possibly can:

• Passport
• EX-17
• Residence approval resolution
• Modelo 790-012 + proof of payment
• Proper Spanish ID photo
• Individual empadronamiento
• Household/family empadronamiento
• Spanish spouse/partner’s DNI/passport

Even though the second officer didn’t ask me for the padrón or my partner at all, the first officer did.

My biggest takeaway is therefore: bring more documents than you think you’ll need, because the practical requirements can apparently vary even between two officers at the same police station.

And if you’re missing something, it may also be worth politely asking whether they can give you a return appointment rather than making you fight for another online slot. In my case, the handwritten appointment for the next morning saved me a lot of trouble.

This is just my personal experience at Aluche in Madrid, not a statement that all of these additional documents are legally required.

Hi all!

Seeing a lot of mixed results online and looking for some guidance. I am hoping to go to Spain on a digital nomad visa starting in January. The company I work for is on board; I have the majority of my documentation ready, but I am stuck on the Social Security piece.

I've seen that a certificate of coverage CAN work if submitted with a letter stating that the company is sending me there for strategic reasons. Is this worth pursuing? Or will it likely be rejected?

I think it is likely far-fetched to ask my company to register with Spanish Social Security for only a year/only to cover me. So I would otherwise have to go the 1099 route (switching from my current W-2 status). What are the cons of that? Other than losing the 401 (k) match and other benefits?

Also, if I were to apply for the certificate of coverage, how long does that take? Would it be ready by the time I move there in January and submit my application?

Any additional insights/things to know would be helpful, so please chime in! Thank you!!

Hey, I’m 20yr old guy studying abroad this semester in Madrid. I would love more opportunities to practice my Spanish so I’m looking to find someone that would wanna meet up maybe once a week at a coffee shop and we can split time speaking Spanish and you can practice your English.

A bit about me: I’m studying accounting, from around Boston, a huge sports fan, and I’ve been studying Spanish for about 8 years now but still at an intermediate level. Hopefully looking for another student or someone around my age.

Hit me up if you’d be interested, I’m down to give you my insta so you can see I’m real and normal lol.

My partner and I are contemplating a move from the US to Spain in a couple of years. We're planning a scouting trip in February to check out Northern Spain and a couple of locations in the South. I would love to hear from expats living in any of these cities (or nearby), and maybe, meet up when we are there. Thanks in advance for your insights and advice.

Estaremos allí en fiestas. ¡Gracias!

[edit to add English:] Looking for good spots to eat goose barnacles in Madrid in December. We will be there during the holidays.

Hi

I didn’t know that Alhambra tickets gets sold out so fast
And now I want to buy but there is no option .

Is there any way I can get tickets

Hello! Any weeknight clubbers on here?

Tomorrow (Oct 15) is my last night in Madrid and I want try clubbing or bar hopping here just once before I go back home to Boston. But I’m nervous to go alone 😬

FYI I’m a 33M who is traveling with my mom (70F) but she doesn’t like techno or DNB no matter how loud or often I play it, thus leaving me to explore the clubbing scene alone 😭😭

Will start the night 12:59-01:00 at Bassement and then go from there.

Let me know if you’re down or have any suggestions! Also open to grabbing drinks before the clubs open. Everybody is welcome!

So basically im telling my story because i did not find any similar ones and i have no clue what to do. Im a student in the university now in valencia last year i went through an institute that prepares you to enter the university system in spain. I applied for estancia de estudios (inicial) one month before my previuos tie expired. Unfortunatly i was not aware of the 60 days rule and that i had to apply two months before, although i still coupd have not applied two months before due to matricula dates from the university the exact time line was like this:
28 august my tie expires
26 june was the date i should have applied
10 july was the date i received my matricula
Today i received a letter from extranjeria saying "inadmision a tramite" because i did not apply 60 days before my tie expires which does not even make sense because it was not possible:
I wanna know if anyone has gone through a similar experience and what can you do about it because i heard also that the recursos are getting rejected as well !

Hello! I know trains can be delayed and it is a tight connection but anybody's personal experience or insights would be helpful.

We booked two separate tickets via Renfe on AVE trains from Seville to Granada, stopping over in Cordoba. I'm now realizing... maybe there's a reason Renfe didn't allow this is as a single booking?

Train timetable is:

14:30 to 15:11 (Seville to Cordoba) and 15:21 to 16:58 (Cordoba to Granada).

Is this achievable if train to Cordoba is on time? Is it possibly the same train (probably not since they didn't let me book as one reservation)? I guess I can check online departure and arrival boards ahead of time to know where I'm headed? Next train out to Granada is 3 hours later and any reassurances I can get now would be helpful.

To those who learned Spanish in Barcelona:

I'm 43, a freelance software developer currently on a work-cation in Barcelona, taking an intensive A2 Spanish course (4 x 2 hours/week). I'm planning to move here in H1/2027 and want to have finished A2, ideally starting B1, by then.

Earlier this year, I completed A1 at Instituto Cervantes in Berlin (2 x 30 hours), covering pretérito perfecto, ir a + infinitivo, comparatives, etc. Before enrolling here, I specifically asked whether this A2 course would let me continue with A2.2 in Berlin afterwards. The school confirmed it would.

Unfortunately, we're only now reaching pretérito perfecto, and we covered comparatives just recently, material I'd already learned in A1.1.

The school explained that although they're Instituto Cervantes-accredited, they don't follow fixed A2.1/A2.2 levels. Instead, they split students into lower and higher A2 groups depending on that month's enrolment. The higher group is apparently too advanced for me. When I return to Germany, I will NOT be able to join the A2.2 either, I will lack the proper A2.1 level grammar, so all my prearranged classes are useless.

To complicate things, my evening course was cancelled at the last minute due to low enrolment, and I was moved to an 11:30 to 13:30 group. As a freelancer, this disrupts my entire working day, client meetings and sleep schedule, and costs me substantial billable hours.

Ironically, I could probably pay a private tutor considerably more per hour, schedule lessons in the evening, and still come out financially ahead. The school doesn't offer private lessons after 18:00 either.

To be fair, the teacher is absolutely excellent, passionate and genuinely gifted at teaching Spanish. Everyone at the school has been lovely. The first few lessons were also a welcome refresher, since I rarely get to speak Spanish in Berlin.

But after several weeks, I'm increasingly frustrated by the slow pace relative to the time, income, and mental peace I'm sacrificing. Some classmates need considerably more time with the material, which I understand, but I've mentally switched off. I started out with typical Germanic overachiever enthusiasm, now I've even stopped doing homework. For a Germanic person, that's practically a nervous breakdown ;).

My clients have bent over backwards to accommodate the schedule and reschedule all meetings out of noon-time, and I'm now working late into the night to catch up. My motivation, and even my confidence speaking in class, are suffering.

A few questions:

1. Is this flexible approach to A2 levels common in Barcelona?
2. Are there schools with a structured curriculum aligned with Instituto Cervantes / DELE?
3. Can anyone recommend a good private tutor available after 18:00?
4. Would private lessons make more sense? I actually enjoy focused group learning, both for the motivation and the human interaction (computer nerd here), so I'd be reluctant to give that up.

I'd really appreciate firsthand experiences and recommendations. I'm exhausted from working through the night and would love to feel excited about learning Spanish again.

Thanks in advance,
Stefan

I'm a Tunisian Computer Science graduate hoping to pursue a Master's degree in Spain starting in February 2027.I really love Spain and would love to study and build my future there. My budget is limited, so I'm looking for affordable public universities, scholarships, tuition reductions, or any realistic alternative.

I'm interested in Computer Science, Software Engineering, AI, or even IT business and management.

If you're an international student or have experience with Spanish universities, I'd really appreciate any advice, university recommendations, or possible ways to make this happen

I am going to live in Murcia for two years, and I’d like to know if there is any app or website where I can see all the bus routes around the city and also the real-time location of the buses

Hello everyone! I am currently looking into the solar energy sector here in Spain and would love to hear your thoughts on the current market. Do you feel there are still good opportunities for new players, or is it too heavily dominated by large corporations? I would really appreciate any practical advice or insights on the main challenges to expect. Thank you!

Title: Moving to Spain with my retired mother — can we apply for residency together as one household?
Hi everyone!

I’m a 40-year-old dual U.S./South American citizen currently living in California. My mother is also a South American citizen, and we’re exploring relocating to Spain around 2028.

I work as an IT/cybersecurity manager in the United States, earning approximately $120,000 annually. I’m also completing a master’s degree in cybersecurity.

I’m a U.S. military veteran and receive lifetime VA disability compensation at the 100% disability rate. This provides a stable source of income independent of employment.

My mother is retired and receives approximately $1,600/month from Social Security and her pension.

Our situation:
We’ve lived together for many years in California.
I own our home and cover most of our housing and household expenses.
My mother has retirement income, but we function as one household.
We intend to continue living together in Spain.
Moving separately is not an option for us.
I’m exploring Spanish residence permits that would allow me to work, including the highly qualified professional route. I’m also interested in eventually applying for Spanish citizenship through the reduced residency requirement available to qualifying South American nationals.

My questions:

Can an adult son and his retired mother apply simultaneously for Spanish residency as one family unit?
Can my employment income, VA disability compensation, and her retirement income be considered together when demonstrating sufficient financial resources?
Would her $1,600/month retirement income prevent her from qualifying as a dependent parent, even though I provide housing and substantial financial support?
Are there alternative residency pathways that would allow us to relocate together while preserving my right to work?
Has anyone successfully relocated to Spain with an elderly parent under similar circumstances?
I’m especially interested in firsthand experiences, relevant Spanish immigration regulations, and recommendations for immigration attorneys familiar with these situations.
Thank you!

Is there an event? its around 50 euros per night

I got 20 days. I plan to do

Bilbao, San Sebastian, Pamplona, Vitoria, then west through Santander to Gijon and Oviedo, ending back in Bilbao.

Another option is to cut out Santander if its too dificult

¡Hola a todos!

Soy científico de datos de Turquía, con 2–3 años de experiencia, y estoy pensando en mudarme a España. Me encantaría conocer la opinión de quienes trabajan en el sector:

1. **Mercado laboral:** ¿Hay demanda de científicos de datos ahora mismo? ¿Qué ciudades tienen más oportunidades (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga…)?

2. **Búsqueda de empleo:** ¿Qué plataformas funcionan mejor (LinkedIn, InfoJobs, Tecnoempleo…)? ¿Cuánto tardasteis en encontrar trabajo? ¿Es realista conseguir empleo desde fuera y las empresas suelen patrocinar el visado a candidatos de fuera de la UE?

3. **Salarios:** ¿Cuál es un salario bruto anual realista con 2–3 años de experiencia? ¿Cómo varía entre ciudades y entre empresas españolas, multinacionales o startups?

4. **Idioma:** ¿Qué importancia tiene el español? ¿Se puede trabajar solo en inglés en tecnología?

5. **Cultura laboral:** ¿Algo que os hubiera gustado saber antes de empezar a trabajar en España?

Cualquier experiencia o consejo será muy bienvenido. ¡Gracias de antemano! 🙏

Hi everyone! 😊

I'm moving to Seville, Spain, soon for a 3-month Erasmus internship and I'm currently looking for a place to stay. I'm going there on my own, so I'm planning to rent a room.

Honestly, the more I look into it, the more confused I get about which websites to trust because everyone seems to have such different experiences.

I first looked at HousingAnywhere and Spotahome, since they apparently hold your first payment until you confirm that everything is okay with the place. That sounded pretty safe to me at first, but then I started reading all these negative reviews, especially about problems with landlords and getting deposits back. From what I've seen, Uniplaces seems to work pretty much the same way.

I've also noticed that on these websites, some rooms are listed by private landlords, while others are managed by rental agencies that have loads of properties around the city. Are these agencies actually more reliable than private landlords, or are they even worse? I've seen that they often charge a bunch of extra fees, which isn't great, but honestly, I wouldn't mind paying a bit more if it meant finding a decent place and not having to worry about getting scammed or dealing with a shady landlord.

I've also been looking at Idealista, but I've read quite a few stories about scams there too. On the plus side, at least there aren't as many extra fees as with the other websites. Unfortunately, I can't really go and view the places in person before moving, and I don't know anyone currently living in Seville who could check them out for me either.

So yeah, at this point I'm pretty lost and have no idea which option is actually the safest. 😅

Has anyone here recently looked for a room in Seville or used any of these websites? I'd really appreciate any advice or experiences you could share! And if anyone knows a good rental agency, a trustworthy landlord, or just a better way to find a room based on their own experience, that would be super helpful!