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11. Moving to Barcelona

Barcelona at a Glance

Moving to Barcelona

Moving to Barcelona is very popular among expats.

Upon your move to Barcelona, you will quickly find yourself in the most cosmopolitan and most exciting city in Spain. The bars, restaurants, and museums as well as the busy seaside are definitely a reason for moving to Barcelona. However, the city also impresses expats with its history and tradition, an aspect the locals are particularly proud of.

Moving to Barcelona: Location

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. With about 1.6 million inhabitants, Barcelona is also the second biggest city in Spain, right after Madrid. The city is considered Europe’s largest urban center on the Mediterranean Sea. It is enveloped by the rivers Llobregat and Besòs.

Upon moving to Barcelona, you will discover different small hill tops around the city which lend their names to the neighborhoods that have developed on them. Montjuic for instance offers an exquisite view of the harbor and is home to a fortress and several cultural venues. Expats moving to Barcelona benefit from its close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, where the water is warm in the weather is balmy almost all year round. On the other side of the city, in the west, expats moving to Barcelona find Collserola ridge with vast woodlands, meadows and fields.

Move to Barcelona: Politics and Language

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and, due to Catalonia’s political autonomy within Spain, has an important status within the region. Catalonia is ruled by the Generalitat which has its seat in Barcelona. The first version of this autonomous government dates back to medieval times when the Diputació General de Catalunya was in power. Due to the Catalan Statute of Autonomy, Barcelona’s city government enjoys a high amount of decision-making authority.

Expats moving to Barcelona will soon find that Castilian, Spain’s official language, is not the only language spoken in Barcelona. Instead, Catalan is the second official language and it is widely used in Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia. In fact, both languages are used interchangeably in Barcelona. Catalonians are not obligated to fall back on Spanish, even for official purposes. For expats moving to Barcelona, this poses an entirely new language barrier which is not easily overcome.

Moving to Barcelona: Acquiring an Identity Number

EU- and non-EU nationals are subject to different requirements and restrictions. EU/EEA citizens simply need a valid passport or ID when moving to Barcelona. For a stay exceeding three months, an NIE (Número de Indentificación de Extranjeros), an identity number for foreigners, is required as well. This number is essential if you want to move to Barcelona. You will need it to rent or buy property, open a bank account, or simply work in Barcelona.

There are many Departments of Foreigners (Oficina de Extranjeros) in Barcelona which handle all bureaucratic issues of expats and other foreigners moving to Barcelona. In order to apply for an NIE, you need to submit the following documents at the responsible office:

• Original application form
• Your passport
• Your current address
• Your reason for moving to Barcelona