What if I want to stay in Seville after my Erasmus+?
Coming to visit Seville for a 3 month Erasmus+ internship is a great opportunity, especially if you want to learn more about the city and its culture. We have many students coming through 3Si that decide to stay living in Seville after their internship has finished. 3 months may seem like a long time, but it sure goes quickly!
If you’d like to stay living in Seville after your internship, here are the steps you need to take. (Please note that there may be some changes to this process depending on the outcome of Brexit negotiations.)
First Step: Get a NIE
For British Nationals:
As Britain is now in the transition period, the steps undertaken to get residency documents for them have become more complicated. You now have to follow a two-step process:
A) La Oficina de Extranjería
One of the most important things you need to do to legally stay in Spain is to obtain your residency and NIE number. You can do this by booking an appointment at La Oficina de Extranjería, the Spanish equivalent of the Immigration Office.
Firstly, you will need to get your appointment by sending an email to: cita_previa_extranjeria.sevilla@correo.gob.es
Once confirmed, you need to take the following documents with you:
Everybody:
– A completed EX20 form, which you can download here (link[Office1] ). Please note that you must fill this out in Spanish, although there is an English version of the form to help you.
– Your passport, plus a copy of your passport.
– Documentation that proves you are residing in Spain. If you already have your own flat, this can be your certificado de empadronamiento. If not, 3Si can provide you with a letter that proves that you are living in Spain for the duration of your internship.
If you are Employed:
– Proof that you will have employment whilst living in Spain. This could be a job contract, or a letter from a future employer stating their intention to employ you.
If you are Unemployed:
– Health insurance that provides coverage in Spain during your period of residence equivalent to that provided by the National Health System.
– Proof of sufficient resources to show that you will not need social assistance in Spain during your period of residence.
B) Cuerpo Nacional de Policía
Once your residency document has been granted, you must request the TIE (Tarjeta de Identificación de Extranjeros) to the appropriate police unit. This requires another in-person appointment.
You can do that by following this link: https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/index.html
– Choose the province (Sevilla)
– Choose: trámites cuerpo nacional de policía
– Choose: Exp. Tarjeta asociada al acuerdo de retirada ciudadanos británicos y sus familiares (Brexit).
If you’re struggling to get an appointment, it is best to try at 8am or 8.30am which is when they publish new appointment slots.
When you get your appointment, you need to take the following documents with you:
– A completed EX23 form
– Your passport, plus a copy of your passport
– Proof that you have paid the fee (Model 790, Code 012) – Link https://sede.policia.gob.es:38089/Tasa790_012/
– One photograph that matches the requirements for national identity document regulations
Once the documents have been issued, you must collect them in person with your passport.
For EU Nationals
For those who hold an EU Passport, you will just need to request your NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjeros). You will also need to get an in-person appointment for this.
You can do that by following this link: https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/index.html
– Choose the province (Sevilla)
– Choose: trámites cuerpo nacional de policía
– Choose: Asignación de Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE).
If you’re struggling to get an appointment, it is best to try at 8am or 8.30am which is when they publish new appointment slots.
When you get your appointment, you need to take the following documents with you:
– A completed EX15 form
– Your passport, plus a copy of your passport
– Proof that you have paid the fee (Model 790, Code 012) – Link https://sede.policia.gob.es:38089/Tasa790_012/
____________
After your NIE and/or TIE has been granted, it is recommended that you get a certificado digital (digital certificate), which is a downloadable file issued by the government which can be used as a form of ID for procedures done online. This will make things easier when applying for your Número de Seguridad Social (Social Security Number), which is mandatory for your work contract.
Second Step: Get a room or flat
Obviously one of the most important things about staying in Spain is finding somewhere to live! There are plenty of websites where you can find whole apartments or rooms to let in Spain, similar to Rightmove or Zoopla in the UK. Some of the most popular websites for finding somewhere to live are:
Some things to think about:
- Decide your budget before you go looking for somewhere to live, including for bills and utilities. You might also want to decide how much you would be willing to go over your budget by for the perfect place!
- The area you want to live in: is it more important to be close to work, close to the city centre, or close to other people you know in Seville?
- If you’re looking for a room share: how many other people do you want to live with, is it important that they speak English, do a similar job to you, or are a similar age to you?
Third Step: Get a job
Finding work is another key part of your new life in Seville! There may be different options for you depending on which internship you have been on, but some great websites to find work are:
Fourth Step: Get a bank account
Having a Spanish bank account is not a requirement, and you may find you don’t need one if you just want to stay in Seville for a few months. You should check with your banking provider about any extra charges you may incur as a result of this. If you want to open a Spanish bank account, it’s important to know that very few are free in Spain (although many basic accounts are low cost).
Generally, to get a Spanish bank account, you need the following documents:
- Your Spanish NIE number
- A document to prove your Spanish address, such as a utility bill
- Your passport
- Proof of your employment status, such as your job contract
Some web sites that could be help you with their bank account recommendations are Transferwise and Expatica.
Fifth Step: Improve your Spanish
Although living in Spain is probably the number one way to learn Spanish, taking a class can be extremely beneficial too. This is especially true if you have a specific area you know you need to work on! There are plenty of language schools in Seville that teach Spanish classes – here are a few that we recommend: