Expats make up more than 10 per cent of the population in Spain, and it is no surprise why.
The country has warm temperatures, beautiful beaches and a great social scene – but one man stressed the importance of doing your research before relocating. He added the bureaucracy is often underestimated by those looking to move.
Opening up on the YouTube channel Spain Speaks, an expat said there are a few things he wishes he had known before moving, and that there are some common misconceptions about life in Spain.
He said: “Lots of people romanticise about moving to a country like Spain and think it’s going to be a breeze and be a piece of cake, but it’s not the case.
There are also different rules and customs in Spain, such as meal times, shop opening hours and bureaucracy that may prove surprising.
The expat continued: “There will be culture shocks, there will be bureaucratic nightmares and other things that will catch you off guard when you move to this country.
“Believe me, it’s not just the usual things like language barriers and homesickness. Let’s be honest, it’s much more than that.”
He highlighted bureaucracy as one of the worst things about moving to the European hotspot, and the difficulties of this are well documented. Still, he said it is even worse than people realise.
An expat said others may be surprised with how much paperwork there will be when moving
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Despite this, “until you come and live here, you can’t understand just how hard it is”.
He urged expats to be prepared for “endless bureaucratic tasks” that he compared to an Olympic sport – “it’s more than just paperwork”.
Unexpected or surprisingly time-consuming tasks may include registering for the healthcare system, sorting accommodation and getting your ID, according to the expat.
