The Royal Decree 240/2007 requires that everybody planning to reside in Spain for more than six months should obtain a Residence Certificate or Card at the local Oficina de Extranjeros.  The TIE card is issued to Non-EU foreigners legally resident in Spain, hence it is a useful document to have to prove your status.

The "padrón" is a municipal list of residents. A "certificado de empadronamiento" refers to a certificate the town hall will give you on request to demonstrate that you are registered on the padron. The process to register is simple and does not require that you have your residency papers in order. It is free and does not incur any additional taxes.

It can be quite a culture shock to up sticks and live abroad. Many people decide to settle in Andalucia, after many years of spending pleasant vacations in this beautiful part of Spain. However, if you have been used to hotels, rented accommodation or perhaps staying with friends and family.

Every year Andalucía welcomes thousands of tourists, business people and new residents from other countries. Although many have a good understanding of the Spanish language, at one time or another they will usually all need the services of either a translator, who converts the written word of one language into another, or an interpreter who does the same with the spoken word.

Every year Andalucía welcomes thousands of tourists, business people and new residents from other countries. Although many have a good understanding of the Spanish language, at one time or another they will usually all need the services of either a translator, who converts written texts from one language into another, or an interpreter who does the same with the spoken word.

The issues faced by owning a car and driving in Andalucia are similar to those faced in the rest of Spain. Some of these issues outlined below are different depending on whether you hold a license from Spain, or another EU country, or if you hold a non-EU license. Listed below is information on a variety of car and driver-related topics.

The National Institute of Social Security or branded as 'Seguredad Social' (used known to everyone as the INSS) is the state body that administers Social Security Health Care and state retirement and disability Pensions. They have a network of offices throughout Spain.

An increasing number of people are either bringing their pets with them when they move to Spain, or else acquiring them here, reassured by the fact that, if they have to move for any reason, their pet doesn't have to be left behind.

If you are going to be a regular visitor to Spain or Andalucia, you may want to buy a SIM card and a Spanish mobile phone rather than rely on the roaming service provided by your home providor.

With the increasing trend of people moving more frequently between countries, either to find their place in the sun in Andalucía, for work purposes, or to return to their native lands, the thought of moving all their belongings can sometimes pose a problem.

Foreign currency issues can have a significant impact on the cost of your purchase. In securing property abroad, purchasers are likely to spend more time searching for the right property via their estate agent and researching the best method of financing their purchase rather than considering the financial implications of transferring money overseas. The transmission of funds for property acquisitions is often done at the last minute. This leaves the buyer exposed to the prevailing exchange rate and can significantly alter the eventual total cost of the property.

Many people come to Andalucia, especially to the Costa del Sol, to make it their home. If you're thinking of moving to this part of Spain, you will need somewhere to stay while you look for your new apartment or house. In this situation, you'll be looking for a long-term rental.