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11. Working in Madrid

Madrid at a Glance

Working in Madrid

The driving force behind Madrid's business world is the service industry.

With Madrid ranking second among EU cities in terms of population, it is no wonder that it is a common destination for expatriates looking for new job opportunities. It is the third largest urban agglomeration in Europe, offering people who consider working in Madrid a number of employment opportunities. The 20% increase of the foreign population living and working in Madrid since 2001 has contributed greatly to the city’s economic activity, increasing its pool of human resources.  

An astounding 85% of the labor force working in Madrid belongs to the service sector. The service boom is also due to the fact that the tourist industry has been thriving again since early 2010. If you are an expat with excellent Spanish skills, and are thinking of working in Madrid’s publishing business, you should know that Madrid is the major publishing center for the Spanish-speaking world.

Working in Madrid: Business Etiquette

Madrid has a fairly laid back attitude to life, which, at first glance, seems to be reflected in the work ethic. An expat from a different country, e.g. from the Anglo-Saxon world, might confuse this mellow mindset of working in Madrid with inefficiency. On the contrary, Spanish business people require this relaxed atmosphere to work productively. Their long lunch hours are not simply dedicated to eating, but create an environment for discussing business, settling deals, and establishing contacts.

Foreigners working in Madrid must also adapt to local office hours: Almost no business is open before 9a.m. and closes before 8p.m. Although working in Madrid has become increasingly more similar to working conditions in other parts of Europe, it is important to be aware of potential differences between your own business culture and that of working in Madrid.

Working in Madrid: Do’s and Don’ts

Here are some do’s and don’ts to look out for when you start working in Madrid:

• Do not plan on scheduling a meeting before 10a.m.
• Do not expect anyone to show up on time to the scheduled meeting: A 15-minute wait is standard.
• Do care about how you present yourself. Conservative and carefully selected clothing is imperative for business people working in Madrid.
• Do not launch into a topic of business immediately. Small talk is an important way of warming up in Spain.
• Do expect your Spanish contacts to take their time when negotiating a business deal. Discussions are part of the charm of bargains!
• Do pick out a relatively expensive and good quality restaurant when organizing a lunch or dinner meeting with colleagues and/or business partners while working in Madrid. Madrileños (the inhabitants of Madrid) are very savvy when it comes to delicious food and decent wine.
• Do expect to pick up the bill and argue about who will pay when ending a business meal in a restaurant.
• Do print your business cards two-sided in both English and Spanish. Remember to present them to bosses, employees, partners and colleagues with the Spanish side facing up while working in Madrid.

Working in Madrid: Obtaining a NIE

The first and foremost thing any foreign national working in Madrid needs is a Número de Identificación de Extranjeros (NIE). It also serves as a Spanish tax number. To obtain a NIE, bring the completed application form and a copy of the form, your passport, a passport photo and proof of your current address in Madrid to the nearest Oficina de Extranjeros (Department of Foreigners).

The time between handing in your application and receiving your NIE can take between one and five weeks: Be sure to apply for it before you start working in Madrid. If you plan on working in Madrid as an EU citizen (or a national of Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein), you only need the NIE itself. You don’t need an additional work permit for Spain.