Ever since the arrival of its digital nomad visa program, Spain has been a real hit in the digital nomad community. No surprise there – what’s better than sipping on a pina colada while getting some work done on a laptop at your nearest beach?
At the same time, living in a foreign country can be quite a culture shock, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. To make the transition smoother, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to take the stress out of the equation and make your new life taste the sweetest.
Pre-departure essentials
-
Connectivity
Before you decide to take off, it’s a good idea to do some essential preparations. First things first: how are you going to address your connectivity needs? As a digital nomad, having access to the internet is most likely directly connected with your financial survival, so it’s an issue that’s not to be taken lightly. Nowadays, most digital nomads opt to get a Spain eSIM Card well ahead of their travels, so they don’t have to mess about with getting a local SIM card or rely on the dreaded data roaming that can send your costs through the roof at any moment.
In comparison to data roaming, eSIM cards are a cost-effective solution that’s fit exactly for this purpose and there are many different plans available to accommodate the duration of your travels. Most users report they’re hassle-free to activate as well and the costs are fully transparent. This will ensure that you always have a way to access the internet, even in the unfortunate event that your hotel or rental turns out to have a shoddy Wi-Fi (pro tip: don’t gamble your livelihood on it).
-
Visa
Next, you have to research the visa options in relation to your country of origin, as the rules may not be quite alike for different nationalities. For EU citizens, going to Spain is straightforward, and since you’re allowed to travel freely across Europe with nothing but your passport, you’re going to have easy access to Spain as well. For American citizens and others, you may have to acquire a visa first. Have a look at the country’s Golden Visa program and whatever digital nomad incentives and visa requirements are currently in effect, as this can change over time.
-
Miscellaneous
Other than that, make sure to pack any cosmetics or essentials you cannot get anywhere else – for most ordinary items, there’s no need to worry as they’re freely available. This is Europe after all.
-
Decide on a place to live
Spain covers a lot of ground, so there will be plenty of options to find the ideal spot to call home. Do you want to live near the beach? Would you say you’re quite budget-oriented? These are all factors you need to factor into your decision. In general, as long as you steer clear of the touristy areas, most people would say that Spain can be quite affordable, especially if you can sniff out a good deal. In fact, statistics suggest that renting in Spain can be 85% more affordable compared to the US.
For instance, a good alternative to Barcelona or Madrid can be Seville, Valencia, and the Canary Islands. Each of these has its own distinct cultural vibes, and the architecture itself is reason enough to walk around the street with your camera ready to snap some photos.
Dreaming about waking up to this? What’s stopping you?
-
Study the transportation options
Transportation options in Spain largely depend on where you’re staying. In the cities, there’s going to be more optionality compared to the rural areas. For public transportation, there’s buses, trains, as well as taxis. If you prefer ride-hailing, Uber is the main app in Spain for that purpose. There’s also the option of renting a car. And, unless your target destination is really far away, don’t forget that travelling by foot is also something to consider. You’ll get to explore the country much more this way. Plus, it’s good for your health.
Uber is the go-to ride-hailing app in Spain.
-
A word on safety in Spain
Generally, Spain is a safe country, but you do need to have your wits about you. Don’t flash expensive jewellery, keep your documents and valuables locked up, and so forth. Also, every region in Spain is its own separate story as far as safety and crime go. For instance, Seville and Madrid are generally safe, while there is an increased presence of crime in Barcelona for some reason. Since this can also change over time, it’s best to check it on Numbeo or other similar websites to get the latest data.
-
Conclusion
Spain can be a fantastic place to relocate, particularly if you enjoy sunny weather and the open-space feeling of it all. This guide has given you all the essentials you need to change your lifestyle. Now, it’s on you to take that daring step and improve the quality of your life.