Job Discussion Forums

[Red and white]

Hi all,

I'm currently working in Moscow, though not in EFL at the moment. I'm getting increasingly fed up with the notorious bureaucracy and looking to move on, but have a few questions.

About me: male, 35 yo, UK citizen, CELTA, about two years teaching experience in Russia and Azerbaijan.

The plan: get out of Russia (on my own terms!) and move to the EU, reduce my hours and general stress levels and, ultimately move back from teaching to journalism (my first career).

The questions: money. I've seen a couple of breakdowns of costs / salaries which seem to suggest that 15 euro / hour is realistic through a school, going up to 20 working privately. But there's nothing about the tax take. In Russia taxes are fairly optional, but I'm guessing that isn't the same here.

Accommodation: when I see people talking about 400 euro max in Madrid I get excited (I pay about 1000 in central Moscow). But is this shared or single? And how much do rates vary around the country? How easy is it to find reliable accommodation - I've had issues with dodgy landlords in the past and don't wish to repeat that.

Paperwork: as a UK citizen I understand I have the right to work anywhere in the EU where someone wants to employ me. But is there any 'hidden' paperwork (registration etc) that I should be aware of?

At the moment I'm not too clear about a region of Spain - Andalucia appeals, as does Galicia, but I'd be open to most regions. If anyone wants to pitch their patch as the place to be I'd be fascinated to hear more.

Hope to hear from some of you soon, and if anyone wants advice about Russia I promise not to be too jaded about working in a country which can be wonderful, but seems to come with a sell-by date!

Cheers!

[rafaella]

Hi Red and white,

In response to your questions ...

1) Money
The rates you quote are about right although they do vary a little depending on where you are based. As you said, paying tax is not optional here and you are required to do a tax return once a year regardless of income.

2) Accommodation
I have never shared accommodation as I like my own space so I can't help you too much on that point. However, I believe loquo.com carries a lot of ads for flat shares so that might be worth exploring. If you'd prefer to rent something on your own, take a look at enalquiler.com. You choose the location you are interested in and a list of available properties will come up. This is a good way of getting a feel for prices in different areas. They vary very widely. Dodgy landlords? Well, they exist everywhere but I haven't come across too many problems. Just make sure your rental contract is clear and fair.

3) Paperwork
Yes, as an EU citizen you have the right to work anywhere within the EU. The red tape isn't too bad. You need to register at the local police station and obtain an NIE number. You will also need to obtain a social security number so that you can get treatment on the national health service. In addition, you should register with the local town hall. It is usually quite a painless process but I think it has changed a little since I did it so I doubt it would be helpful to relate my experience. Any reputable employer will let you know how to go about these things.

4) Regions
Every region of Spain has its own distinct character and appeal. It really depends what you are interested in. Nightlife? Culture? Is climate important? The north can be very cold in winter while the south is normally exceedingly hot in summer. If you can tell me more about your likes, dislikes and requirements, I'll try to be more specific.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

[Red and white]

Rafaella,

Thanks for that, very helpful. I'll check out the accommodation links in due course and start doing some sums. Ideally I'll be able to afford a place of my own - does not play well with others, as they said at school!

With tax, what is the standard rate of income tax? Are there any little extras for newly arrived foreigners (equivalent to UK emergency tax, or Russia's 30% for six months before you go to the standard 13%, for example). How does it impact my take-home pay?

Paperwork: that sounds fairly normal. If I was working entirely freelance (one of the major attractions of returning to the EU) would that have any impact on the registration process?

Regions: I'm basically a city person, especially keen on live music and sport. Climate isn't such a big deal (cold doesn't bother me after Moscow, extreme heat might be more of a problem - hence my worries about Andalucia). The other thing that might be relevant would be an expat community large enough to support a locally-produced English-language media, if I'm planning to move back towards journalism at some point (and won't be able to write for publication in Spanish any time soon). The Costas obviously offer that, but I don't know so much about other areas.

[rafaella]

The basic rate of income tax for those employed by a company is 24%, rising to 43% for those on higher salaries. The system is much like that in the UK with the employer deducting tax and social security from your salary. Once a year, you complete a tax return and, based on that, you might get a refund or have to pay a little more. I have never come across emergency rate tax here or a initial higher rate tax such as that you mention in Russia.

If you are self-employed things are rather more complicated. You are required to register with both the tax authorities and social security and numerous accounts have to be submitted and paid on an annual and quaterly basis.

In your situation, I would definitely look at coming here as an employee as it is far less complicated and your employer will be able to guide you through the registration process. I don't think I'd like to move to a new country without a firm grasp of the language (sorry, I'm assuming you are not fluent) and red tape and try to sort it all out without any support. Once you are in the system, your NIE number and social security number are yours for life. After a year, you'll have found your feet and you'll be better placed to decide what you want to do.

Regarding location, Madrid and Barcelona are obvious choices. However, you might also like to consider Alicante or Malaga as both are lively cities and have large ex-pat communities where you might be able to pursue your career in journalism.

Back on the subject of climate, bear in mind that homes here are generally built with a warm climate in mind and therefore can get very cold in winter (tiled floors and walls, etc). Although the south can get very hot, it is considerably cooler by the coast than inland and usually quite tolerable.

[Red and white]

Thanks a lot for that. Very helpful.

In the first instance I would almost certainly come as an employee (if I can find an employer). Setting up in a new country is always a hassle, and having a regular pay cheque (even a small one) is reassuring.

Malaga was one of the places I was looking at (local newspaper, cheap flights to my native NE England, good access to Andalucia, which I loved when I visited last year). Will start crunching some numbers and looking at a few job ads.

Many thanks again.

[rafaella]

Yes, it sounds like Malaga could be a good choice. I hope it works out for you.