Table Of Contentliving in Madrid
The expat’s handbook
living in Madrid
The Expat's handbook
April 2011
LIVING IN MADRID. THE EXPAT’S HANDBOOK Index
April 2011
INDEX 2
FORWARD 5
1. INTRODUCTION 9
Spain: local, regional and national government
Madrid, the capital of Spain
Symbols of Madrid
City areas
Madrid´s economic activity
Climate
Time Difference
2. TAKING UP RESIDENCE IN MADRID 23
Entering Spain, staying, and acquiring residency: legal requirements
Registering as a resident in Madrid
Useful links and application procedures
3. LIVE IN MADRID 40
Temporary accommodation
Residential areas
Renting
Buying a property
Registration or name changes with utilities companies: water,
electricity, gas, telephone
4. FINANCIAL SYSTEM AND TAXES 55
Banks and Savings Banks
Taxes
LIVING IN MADRID. THE EXPAT’S HANDBOOK Index
April 2011
5. COMMUNICATIONS 65
Telephone
Internet access
Media
Postal services
6. TRANSPORT 76
Madrid-Barajas Airport
Road access
By train
Urban transportation: Metro, bus and taxi
Driving licenses
Driving in Madrid
7. HEALTHCARE 91
Public healthcare
Private healthcare
Other information
8. EDUCATION 99
The Spanish educational system
Bilingual education and international schools
After school activities
The academic year
University studies
Foreign university transcript equivalencies
Non oficial post graduats studies: master courses, specialisations, and expert,
and other courses
LIVING IN MADRID. THE EXPAT’S HANDBOOK Index
April 2011
9. CULTURE AND LEISURE 114
Learning the language
Culture
Gastronomy
Tipping
Leisure
Religious worship
Green Madrid
Shopping
Festivals
Madrid’s nightlife
Music and shows
Activities for kids
10. OTHER INFORMATION 155
Cosumer protection
Security forces
Safety tips
Firearms
Pets
Useful telephone numbers
Public holidays
Common courtesies
LIVING IN MADRID. THE EXPAT’S HANDBOOK Foreword
PRESENTATION
Welcome to Madrid, an attractive, friendly and welcoming city
Thousands of people from all over the world have experienced that
Madrid is an attractive, friendly and welcoming city and thus have
chosen to work and live here, either temporarily or permanently. Over
the last two decades, the influx of people from 172 different countries
and the warm welcome they have received from Madrid’s residents have
made the city a truly cosmopolitan place, open to new cultures, and a
perfect setting for letting talent flourish and enjoying life.
Thanks to its manageable size and its friendly residents Madrid is a very
pleasant place to live, even though – like in all major cities – there is
some degree of congestion and chaos, it is surprisingly easy to get about
in Madrid. The city is wel l sign-posted, the public transport system is
first-class, and locals are always willing to como to the rescue of lost
visitors.
Furthermore, Madrid is home to some of the world’s most outstanding
monuments and landmarks. Wherever you look there is always
something interesting to see or do, be it a monument or historic
building, an exhibition, or a day trip to a charming medieval town. In
Madrid, all these places of interest are within easy reach.
It is always challenging to move to another country, and having to adapt
to living and work in a new city, particularly if you have arrived with your
family. Some time is needed to get used to different customs and to pick
up the cultural reference points. Madrid Emprende, the Madrid City
Council Economic Development Agency, has put this guide together
with two aims in mind: first, to warmly welcome you to Madrid, and, after
that, to help you settle in the city.
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LIVING IN MADRID. THE EXPAT’S HANDBOOK Foreword
‘Gran Vía’ street
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LIVING IN MADRID. THE EXPAT’S HANDBOOK Foreword
As an introduction, Chapter 1 provides an overall picture of Madrid, its
history and symbols, its different regions, its economic activities, the
climate and many other subjects of interest.
Chapter 2 focuses on entering, staying and living in Spain and provides
information on work and residence permits, which are essential for
accessing all the different services available to you and for exercising
your rights.
This guide provides comprehensive information to help you find a home,
be it temporary accommodation or a permanent residence. We also
cover other basics such as water, electricity and telephone connections,
finding domestic help, etc.
Next, you will learn about the most practical aspects of Spain’s banking
and tax system, communications, types of telephone contracts (landline,
mobile), Internet, Spanish and international media (press, radio and
television) and transportation.
The health and education systems are covered in Chapters 7 and 8.
Lastly, we take a look at Madrid’s cultural and leisure opportunities,
covering everything from a pleasant stroll in one of the city’s many parks
to visiting one of the world’s leading art galleries, and touching on the
wide variety in music, theatre and gastronomy.
We have also included other miscellaneous topics that may be of use,
such as safety recommendations, travelling with pets, useful and
emergency telephone numbers and public holidays.
We hope that the Living in Madrid Expatriate Guide will be useful in
helping you get settled in our city, as a reference both before you arrive
and while residing in Madrid.
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LIVING IN MADRID. THE EXPAT’S HANDBOOK Foreword
‘Casa de campo’
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LIVING IN MADRID. THE EXPAT’S HANDBOOK
INTRODUCTION
Spain: local, regional and national government
Madrid, the capital of Spain
1
History and information about the city
Symbols of Madrid
The bear and the strawberry tree
City areas
Madrid, organised by districts
Madrid’s economy activity
A constantly evolving city
Climate
The weather in Madrid
Time Difference
LIVING IN MADRID. THE EXPAT’S HANDBOOK 1. Introduction
Spain: local, regional and national government
The Kingdom of Spain, the second largest country in the European
Union, has a surface area of over 500,000 km² in the southwest corner of
the continent. Spain covers most of the Iberian Peninsula, which it
shares with Portugal, and includes the Balearic Islands in the
Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and the
cities of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa.
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 establishes the State as a
parliamentary monarchy (the King is the Head of State) and confers
national sovereignty on the people by means of universal right to vote.
The Constitution assigns legislative power to the Cortes Generales (the
bicameral parliament made up of the Congreso de los Diputados
(Congress of Deputies) and the Senado (Senate), executive power to the
national government headed by the Prime Minister, and judicial power
to judges and magistrates.
‘La Real Casa de Correos’
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